Internship in Counseling
INFORMATION for ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-2008
The Cushing Center for Counseling and Academic Support (CCAS) offers a counseling internship to students in the advanced stages of study in master's level programs in counseling. (Doctoral students are considered on a case-by-case basis.) The site’s primary mission is to provide a training opportunity to students in Eastern University’s masters program in counseling; hence EU students are given priority in selection. Qualified applicants from other programs who demonstrate a particular interest in the site may be considered. The internship lasts one academic year (i.e., fall and spring semesters) and involves a minimum of twelve (12) hours a week of service. There is not sufficient activity at the center to support an intern during the summer months. (Part-time placements are atypical, but may be considered on a case-by-case basis.) Because the number of students seeking counseling and the severity of their needs has increased significantly in recent years, only applicants with prior mental health experience and and/or strong recommendations from their academic programs will be given serious consideration. In keeping with the mission of the university, applicants should have a particular interest in the integration of Christianity with psychology/counseling, be able to articulate an interest in the mission of the university, and be able to endorse the university’s doctrinal statement
CCAS:
CCAS provides a range of counseling and academic support services designed to help Eastern University undergraduate students in the college of Arts & Sciences maximize their college experience. Initial evaluation and diagnosis, personal counseling, crisis management (during office hours), and referral to outside services are among the psychological services provided. CCAS academic support services include coaching for students with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, peer tutoring, individualized instruction by the Writing Specialist or Reading Specialist, and contact with the Act 101 Counselor (for eligible students). Psycho-educational workshops and outreach programs on personal and academic topics are also sometimes offered.
Concerns of students who seek counseling at CCAS cover a broad range in terms of type and severity. Issues range from academic stress to serious psychiatric problems. Some students enter counseling to take advantage of this opportunity to work on personal and spiritual growth. Others are seriously struggling and feel they would be unable to remain in school without the support they receive through CCAS. The large majority of students served by CCAS are undergraduate women of traditional college age (i.e., 18-22).
The clientele at CCAS constitute a unique population of verbal, insightful, motivated young adults. This provides counseling interns with a rich opportunity to employ the exploratory counseling approaches they are learning, as well as to provide support to students who truly need it. In addition, interns have a special opportunity to explore ways of integrating spiritual issues into their counseling in response to the needs of the students they see.
STAFF:
| Lisa M. Hemlick Ph.D. |
Director/ Licensed Psychologist |
| Thelma Lunsford-Gray, M.S., M.Div. |
Tutorial Coordinator |
| John Nordof, Ph.D. |
Writing Specialist, Adjunct Professor of English |
| Calvin T. Skinner, M.Div. |
CCAS/Act 101 Counselor; Resident Director |
| Diane Moore, M.S., LPC |
Licensed Professional Counselor |
| Kathy Houlihan, M.A., LPC |
Licensed Professional Counselor |
| Liliana Gravagno, A.A. |
Secretary |
| Lori Dziedziak, M.A. |
Disability Accommodations Counselor |
INTERN ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
Interns are expected to provide a minimum of twelve (12) hours of service per week (for a 300 hour internship) and 24 hours for a 600 hours internship. This includes at least two (2) hours of supervision. These hours must be divided over no fewer than two–three days and should be scheduled in blocks of at least three (3) hours each. Interns may not see clients for more than four hours in a row without a break. Working one or two evenings a week may be approved on a case by case basis; most of the hours must be scheduled between 9AM and 6PM, however. This distribution of hours ensures that interns will have adequate slots to get enough counseling referrals, schedule their supervision hour, and complete paperwork and other administrative duties.
Interns are involved primarily with the "counseling" side of CCAS. Their primary role is to provide intake evaluations, individual counseling, and crisis response during normal hours of operation. Additionally, interns may provide academic coaching (one-on-one help with time management and study skills) for students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or other learning challenges, co-lead therapy groups, conduct workshops, and provide consultation to student groups. Interns are responsible for case documentation, writing reports as needed, and keeping logs of student contacts for statistical purposes. (The paperwork involved in the internship is not extensive.)
An average of six (6) direct client contact hours per week is aimed for a 300 hour internship, and twelve (12) for a 600 hour internship. The actual number of students seen will fluctuate throughout the semester in response to demand for service, etc. Interns are expected to fulfill their weekly hourly commitment at the site through the end of the academic year even if they attain the number of clinical and administrative hours required by their academic program before that time.
SUPERVISION & TRAINING:
One hour of individual supervision per week is provided by one of the CCAS licensed psychologists or counselors. (In some years, supervision might be provided by a doctoral intern or practicum student if that trainee is already licensed.) An additional hour of group supervision may be provided. Interns do not attend the general CCAS staff meetings as these meetings deal primarily with matters other than counseling services. Interns may attend meetings of the clinical staff if these are scheduled when the intern is on site.
Additional training sessions in the following areas may be scheduled throughout the year: Intake Interviewing; Suicide Assessment and Management, College Student Development and Spiritual Formation.
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants should have successfully completed (or expect to complete) all the requirements for internship before fall semester of the internship year. Applicants should be able to articulate an interest in the integration of psychology/counseling and Christianity and should be able to endorse the mission and doctrinal statements of Eastern University (available on the college website: www.eastern.edu – see “About Eastern”).
OPENINGS:
One-two anticipated for the 2008-2009 internship year.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Submit resume, names and contact information for 2 references, and cover letter discussing your interest in the internship to:
Lisa M. Hemlick, Ph.D. Director
Cushing CCAS
210 Walton Hall
Eastern University
1300 Eagle Road
St. Davids, PA 19087
Phone screenings followed by in-person interviews will be offered to applicants under serious consideration.
Interviews will continue until positions are filled. Final selection is expected to be made no later than May 6, 2008.
Please feel free to contact Dr. Lisa Hemlick at (610) 341-5830 or (610) 341-5837 or lhemlick@eastern.edu to express your interest in the internship or request more information.
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