Letter of Introduction and Explanation
Letter of Introduction and Explanation
TO: Cooperating agency/school supervisors-Applied Practices II-Coun. 545
FROM: Drs. Shamshad Ahmed & Janet Muse-Burke, Assistant Professors of Psychology & Counselor Education
The purpose of this note is to assist our graduate students enrolled in Applied Practices II, explain their request for your assistance. The sequence of Applied Practice II experience is the initial field placement experience in the students' program of study. It is expected that they will secure a supervised placement which affords them their first opportunity to do direct contact work as well as to become familiar with a variety of other professional activities provided by an agency or school appropriate to their chosen field of study. We expect the student under direct supervision to gain experience in the realistic counseling setting to which they are aspiring.
Applied Practices II students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours supervised field placement. It is essential that the Applied Practices II student have 40 direct contact hours. 25% of the direct client contact may be group counseling or in the case of school counseling, classroom guidance activities. A practicum student can be a useful addition to your operation and population in many ways. They can be expected to perform many of the individual and group interactions expected of a regular employed staff member on a limited basis and under direct supervision. You can maximize the utility of the student and enhance his/her professional development by:
1. Insuring that four and one half (4 1/2 ) or more hours per week of the practice time is used for direct service work with clientele appropriate to the level of training of the practicum student.
2. Assisting the student in obtaining appropriate clients and providing supervision and consultation regarding their work.
3. Providing the student a minimum of one (1) hour of supervision every week during their assignment at your school/agency.
4. Providing the student opportunities to become familiar with the full range of professional activities and resources which might include (but not be limited to) use of professional resources; appraisal instruments; attendance at staff meetings; participating in consultations/staffings or special service team meetings; access to computers print media, or other communication devices used in your work, etc.
5. Aiding/allowing the practicum student to obtain audio or video tapes for use in supervision sessions, of the student's interactions with clientele served by your school/agency. Your continued willingness to contribute to the professional development of future professional counselors is sincerely appreciated.
Finally, please accept the gratitude of myself and the rest of the counseling faculty, for being willing to make this important contribution to student professional development and the quality of our counseling programs here at Marywood University.
If there are any further questions regarding this field experience, please do not hesitate to call Dr. Shamshad Ahmed (570) -348-6211 x2319, or e-mail at ahmed@.marywood.edu.