THE COUNSELING CENTER PREMASTERS TRAINING PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida is among the nation’s largest universities, with an enrollment of nearly 44,000 students. As a major metropolitan research university, UCF plays a large role in Central Florida’s fast-paced growth through its community and corporate partnerships, research programs, regional campuses and its nearly 4,800 employees. UCF is one of 11 member institutions of the State University System and offers 86 baccalaureate programs, 68 master’s degree programs, 3 specialist programs, and 24 doctoral programs. UCF main campus is located 13 miles east of the city of Orlando, 45 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Kennedy, and 100 miles from Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico.
Counseling Center Mission Statement
The Counseling Center at the University of Central Florida is a department in the Division of Student Development and enrollment Services (SDES). Our mission is to serve as an essential resource for UCF students with developmental and psychological concerns. We provide short-term and culturally sensitive counseling, consultation, training and other collaborative and programmatic services.
Counseling Center Services
The Counseling Center provides counseling and psychological services to enrolled students at the University of Central Florida. Students come to the Counseling Center with an array of developmental and mental health concerns ranging from minor adjustment issues to various kinds of severe psychological disturbance. Among the services offered by the Counseling Center are intake assessment, brief individual and couples counseling, assessment services, consultation, group therapy and workshops, career assessment and counseling, crisis intervention, consultation services, and preventive and developmental programming and presentations. The UCF Counseling Center is located in Counseling, building 27, by the Student Health Services building. Please visit our web site (http://www.counseling.sdes.ucf.edu/) for more detailed information about our Center hours and location, services, staff, and programs.
Accreditation
The Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc (IACS).
Counseling Center Staff
The UCF Counseling Center staff is diverse in a number of areas including background, educational training, theoretical orientation, supervision style and areas of special interest and expertise. This diversity provides a breadth of perspective and richness that is essential in the service delivery of students, mentoring and supervision of trainees, and professional dialogue between staff members and our constituents for whom we serve.
The administrative staff at the Counseling Center is comprised of the Director, Associate Directors and several professional counseling staff members, who are responsible for distinct areas of Center coordination and/or Center partnership with other campus offices. The Center also has an Administrative Assistant, Secretarial staff, and a Computer Specialist. Our staff is committed to providing high quality training and supervision, and we consider trainees to be an integral part of the staff.
The Training Program
The UCF Counseling Center provides training and supervision for trainees from the departments of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and Counselor Education. The training program may be full-time (32-40 hours per week) or part-time (20-30 hours per week) depending on the trainee’s academic program requirements. Trainees are provided with weekly individual and group supervision which includes training sessions on a variety of topics during the year. Our training program is modeled after a pre-doctoral professional psychology intership training program. Please read our training model and philosophy.
TRAINING PROGRAM AND SUPERVISION ACTIVITIES
Orientation
Trainees are introduced to the training program during a two week orientation period which begins sometime in August before UCF fall academic semester starts. The orientation includes opportunities for trainees to become acquainted with Center staff, policies and procedures, record-keeping and scheduling systems, and to learn about the range of referral resources. In addition, training is provided in the areas of brief therapy, intake assessment and report-writing, legal and ethical issues, and lethality/risk assessment. Finally, the orientation period is utilized for the initial baseline assessment of trainee skills to assist in the individualization of the training structure for each trainee and to facilitate the monitoring of trainee progress throughout the program. Participating in the orientation is a must to be considered for this internship.
Individual Supervision
Trainees receive 1-2 hour of weekly individual supervision from a licensed staff member. A Clinical Supervision Agreement will be completed by each trainee/supervisor to clarify training goals, responsibilities and roles, evaluation procedures, and expectations of supervision.
A variety of theoretical orientations are represented by the supervising staff. Individual supervision may focus on review of videotaped sessions, case conceptualization skills, exploration of trainee reactions to clients, or caseload management and paperwork tasks. Supervision may be educational, supportive, experiential or administrative or a combination of all based on the needs and developmental level of the trainee and the style of the supervisor. Trainees are may rotate primary individual supervisors each semester in order to acquire alternative styles of supervision and a breadth of perspective. Each semester, trainees will have the opportunity to rank order their preferences for supervisors, and supervisory assignments are made by the Training Coordinator who takes these preferences into account along with supervisor preferences.
Group Therapy Supervision
Trainees who serve as a process-observer or co-facilitator of a therapy group will receive supervision from their senior staff co-facilitators for each group being conducted. This is usually for 30 minutes to 45 minutes and happens right after the group.
Training Seminar
MHC Center trainees are required to attend a weekly didactic training seminar taught on WEDNESDAYS by various members of the Center staff which are geared toward the following areas of competency:
1. Brief Individual Therapy
2. Group Psychotherapy
3. Multicultural Competence
4. Special Clinical Practice Topics
NOTE: Social Work trainees and practicum students are not required to attend the training seminars. They can attend if they want, but it will not be part of their 20 hours.
Case Conference
All interns and trainees are required to attend a weekly case conference on Fridays or Wednesdays which is co-facilitated by the Training Director or other senior staff member. In this meeting, interns will make formal and informal case presentations and have opportunities to engage in professional and clinical dialogues with colleagues regarding their work with clients. Open discussion and appropriate feedback is expected by all interns and trainees in order to most effectively serve the needs of the intern presenting the case and her/his client. Each intern and trainee is expected to prepare two (2) formal case presentations during the year (guidelines to be provided by the Training Director).
Sample Weekly Schedule
A sample of schedules and allotment of time committed to each area of training, direct service and supervision is presented below based on a thirty-two (32) hour per-week schedule for Mental Health Counseling & Counselor Education trainees, and twenty (20) hour per-week schedule for Social Work trainees and Pre-doctoral Practicum students. Please note that the time spent in each category may vary slightly for each trainee based on their program requirements, training interests/goals, number of hours worked, and Counseling Center needs.
Sample Schedule:
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Education Trainees
Direct Services Training and Supervision Other Training Activities/Meetings 32 Hours Per Week |
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Social Work Trainees Sample Schedule
Direct Services Training and Supervision Other Training Activities/Meetings 20 Hours Per Week |
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Pre-doctoral Practicum Sample Work Schedule
Pre-Doctoral Practicum (20hrs.) Training and Supervision Other Training Activities/Meetings Outreach and Consultation Services 0-2 (min. each semester) Administrative Prep Time/ Documentation 5.5 Case Disposition Meeting (optional) 0 Meet w/ Training Director .5 (bi-monthly) 20 Hours Per Week |
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APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Instructions
In order to apply, candidates must:
• Complete the Graduate Training Application form in full.
• Have your graduate program chairperson send a letter stating your eligibility for training.
•Provide an official graduate transcript from your institution(s).
• Provide two letters of recommendation. One should be from your academic program.
• Provide a copy of your resume or vitae.
• Commit to a minimum of 30-32 hours per week to our site (20 hours for MSW trainees).
Application Deadline
Applications must be received by Monday, March 24, 2008 in order to receive full consideration. Interviews will be held between April 7-11th 2008 for qualified applicants.
Eligibility Issues
There may be issues that impact your eligibility for selection as a trainee at the Counseling Center such as being a client or former client. Applications from current and former Counseling Center clients will be processed in the same manner as any other application. On the application, all applicants will be asked to identify whether they have been a former client and, if so, when they received counseling and the name(s) of their previous counselor(s) at the Center. In the event that the selection committee extends an interview to an applicant who has been a Center client, the applicant will be required to meet with each current and former counselor(s). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss any potential conflicts/dual relationships issues that might arise should they ultimately accept an offer to become a trainee at the Center.
Applicants will be informed that they will not be considered as a trainee at the Counseling Center if they have been in counseling within 6 months prior to starting their training position. Training typically begins mid-August of each academic year. Also, applicants may not be accepted for placement at this training site if they have been seen for therapy at the Counseling Center by multiple therapists who are actively involved in the training program, since this may ultimately hinder or limit the applicant’s participation in the various training activities within the program.
Selection
Following the application deadline, we review all materials and determine candidates to invite for an on-site interview. The number of trainees selected each year is dependent upon available funding and other factors determined by the Center. Interviews of finalists will take place in April. The number of trainees selected can vary each year.
Program Duration
The training program begins for all trainees in August 4. The training ends on or around May 2.
Contact Information
For further information about the application process or training program, contact the training coordinator below. Send all application materials to:
Karen Hofmann , Ph.D.
Associate Director, Training
Counseling Center
University of Central Florida
P.O. Box 163170
Orlando, FL 32816-3170
Phone: (407) 823-2811
FAX: (407) 823-5415
Email: khofmann@mail.ucf.edu
Director
David Wallance, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Associate Director, Training
Karen Hofmann, Ph.D. , Licensed Psychologist
Associate Director, Clinical Services
Vivian Yamada , PsyD., Licensed Psychologist
Associate Director, Prevention
Teresa Chemlir, Ph.D. LMHC
Professional Staff
Wade Arnold, Ph.D., Psychological Resident
Andrew Blair, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Cindy Blecha, LMHC, NCC, Specialist, Student Counseling
Cathy Connolly, Ph.D., Psychological Resident
Luis Cruz-Ortega, LMHC, NCC, Specialist, Student Counseling
Shari-Ann James, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Andrew Luchner, Psy.D., Psychological Resident
Larry Marks, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Casey Moser, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist
Valeska Wilson, LMHC, NCC, Specialist, Student Counseling
Jacquie Withers, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Part-Time OPS Staff
Many Albaugh, M.A., Registered Intern
Kelly Burton, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist
Kristy Forare, Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist
Clymene Wilkins, M.A., Registered Intern
Computer Specialist
Aaron Misiano, B.A.in Information Technology
Support Staff
Kristen Kontogiorgis
Barbara Sherwood
Shelly Hall
Gavita
CURRENT TRAINEES
2007-2008
Jessica Woods, Rollins College, MHC
Shalini Roy -Rollins College, MHC
Zhaleh Mostofi -University of Central Florida, MHC
Christy McNamara -University of Central Florida, SW
Nicole Keating -University of Central Florida, SW
Brian Dragstedt -Argosy, FL- Pre-doc prac
Angela Williams -Pacifica University, CA -Pre-doc prac
PAST TRAINEES
2006-2007
Tiffany Braley -University of Central Florida, MHC
Melissa Coral -University of Central Florida, SW
Jessica Blair -University of Central Florida, MHC
Erika Shoemaker -Rollins College, MHC
2005-2006
Alina Aloma, Rollins College
Claire Mauer, Rollins College
Hans Meyer, University of Central Florida
Valerie Smith, University of Central Florida
Clymene Wilkins, Rollins College 2004-2005
Liz Abrams, Rollins College
Heidi Hanna, Rollins College
Leanne Wawrzaszek , Rollins College
Marie Armantrout, University of Central Florida
Francesca Eferstein, University of Central Florida
Micheal Schwing, University of Central Florida
2003-2004
Ashley Carson, Rollins College
Kathy Milbrath, Rollins College
Patty Reyenga, University of Central Florida
Angie Rogowski, University of Central Florida
Andrea Stair, Rollins College
Katie Shepard, University of Central Florida
Emily Tow, University of Central Florida
Lorie Welsh, University of Central Florida
2002-2003
Marie Crawford, Fielding Institute
Cindy Fabico, University of Central Florida
Maryline Kruger, Rollins College
2001-2002
Marie Crawford, Fielding Institute
Megan Greene, University of Central Florida
2000-2001
Jennifer Finn, Rollins College
Randy Langford, University of Central Florida
Jan Murray, University of Central Florida
Karin Sieger, University of Central Florida
1999-2000
Frank Crane, University of Central Florida
Amy Enkling, University of Central Florida
Amanda Frost, Rollins College
Nicole Tepper, University of Central Florida
1998-1999
Cindy Blecha, Rollins College
Brian Fisak, University of Central Florida
Albina Pavicic, California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego
Alethea Welch, University of Central Florida
Dewey Wooden, Rollins College
August 13, 2008 11:21 AM
