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Syllabus

COUNSELING 064A PRACTICUM I

INSTRUCTORS: MARIANNE FLATLAND, MFT

Marianne.Flatland@solano.edu  864-7000 EXT 4496

KIMBERLY COULTER, MS

Kimberly.Coulter@solano.ed 864-7000 EXT 5262

Welcome to Practicum! Counseling 064A is designed to offer Human Service students “hands on” experience in the field of Human Services. The Practicum class combines this professional experience (100 hours) and the required two-hour per week lecture and discussion to ensure students apply their Human Services education and skills in supportive and professionally accountable environments.

Text: The Human Services Internship “Getting the Most from Your Experience”

Pamela Kiser

1. Team Class Participation: Because of the nature of our lifelong learning as helpers, we use each other and our resources to best support our clients. It is essential that we are each “present” in mind, body, and spirit in each class. When doing so we create a community of “helpers helping helpers”. Out of respect for all of us, an active, punctual, and consistent weekly commitment to participating vocally is required.  Often exercises and readings from your text are utilized in class. Points are earned for active and vocal class participation.

 Professional Practicum Participation: Includes a minimum of 100 hours of supervised experience at an approved site. You have a fabulous opportunity to gain practical experience utilizing your helping skills and are encouraged to pick one of the “Approved Practicum Sites” (see booklet). Occasionally other sites may be suitable, HOWEVER, it must be first be approved by M. Flatland or K. Coulter. In order for a site to be evaluated, your professors will need a detailed account of the type of duties and experiences involved at your alternate placement. Please submit a description of the site, the contact information for your site supervisor/mentor, and your duties no later than the second-class meeting.

3. Professionalism: Behaving professionally is a MUST!!!: Active, punctual and professional weekly commitment to your practicum site is required e.g. notify supervisor in advance if for some reason you cannot work on any given day, dress appropriately, be courteous, respectful, maintain professional boundaries (limit personal disclosures and no dual relationships) and be sure to end the relationship with the site and your clients in a thoughtful, professional and accountable manner. This represents a brief description of professional behavior, more to come 😊

Professionalism and Policies Contract: This is a document that is signed by you and your site supervisor that cements this professional commitment; please submit to your instructors by the second or third week of class. Please be aware that many volunteer placements prefer a two-semester commitment. If you commit for an additional semester you must take Counseling 64B. 

 4. Participation Hourly Logs/Timesheets: These will be signed by your on-site supervisor and submitted to your instructor at the first meeting of each month.

5. Learning goals and Self Care Goals: Evaluations of goals: These are a “student” and a “supervisor” evaluation of your practicum experience. These evaluations will include at least three learning goals developed mutually with yourself and you supervisor. Guidelines for learning goals will be discussed in class. Self-Care goals will be supported and documented with your Empowerment Partner.

 6. Tailored Resume/Cover Letter After receiving resume/cover letter instructions in class, students will be asked to create a resume and accompanying cover letter tailored to a position related to counseling and/or social work.

 7. Five (5) Process Notes. These notes are documents that you create that describe your experiences in an outline form. They MUST BE SUBMITTED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE! You will be supplied outline/template to use for your notes. Each outline documents your experience in the areas of duties, skills, knowledge, ethical/legal issues, your personal and cultural “lens/and perspective, questions/concerns, challenges and successes that occur on a daily basis. Keep as many outlines as you’d like, and submit 5 to us as examples on the due dates noted in the schedule. 

8. Empowerment Partnership: Meetings with Practicum B students and 4 sets of summary notes, directions to follow. 

9. Midterm: Two parts: 1) Questions from your text, 2) Agency Presentation/Networking paper. Guidelines for how to set up this paper will be forthcoming. All students will be asked to share their paper with their classmates by providing copies, hence the networking aspect of the paper. 

10. Final: Several parts: 1) Questions from your text, 2) an Oral “testimonial” of your practicum practice experience- these will be given on a rotating basis beginning the 9th class meeting, folks who were already settled in their placement prior to class beginning will be the first to speak, 3) a written critique on the class and 4) final evaluations and 

Student Learning Outcomes 

1) Professionalism and appropriate demonstration of interest and attention in class and onsite.  

2) Maintenance of personal/professional boundaries and working within scope of expertise and training 

3) Assessment and action e.g. making an informed and sensible referral, being sure to follow up regarding RED FLAG safety issues and working within the scope of limited experience.  

4 ) Application of the most pertinent culturally appropriate beginning helping skills, e.g. attending, active listening, inquiry and most importantly, empathy. 

5 ) Demonstration of the helping model and knowledge of pertinent legal and ethical issues as described in class and in the text e.g. “Building the relationship and facilitating action” and “client welfare, multicultural competency, informed consent, confidentiality and scope of expertise and practice”.

COUN 64A Requirements:

 Points represent “on time submission”, late assignments will have points deducted 

Grading Scale: A  90-103, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69,  F