Clinical Training Manual OnlineTABLE OF CONTENTS
CLINICAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION - MASTER'S PROGRAM
CLINICAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION – DIAGNOSTIC & THERAPY
APPENDICIES
Clinical Training is the supervised direct contact of students with a clinical population that takes place within a mental health care delivery system. The purpose of clinical training is to provide the environment and the opportunity for students to apply their theoretical knowledge, to implement and develop clinical techniques based on this knowledge, and to foster the professional and personal attitudes important to the identity of a professional psychologist, counselor, or clinician. Evaluation of student progress in clinical training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes. The foundation of student clinical training in professional psychology is the accurate assessment and understanding of human clinical problems. This assessment and understanding is the basis for the recommendation and/or implementation of effective techniques for the alleviation or resolution of these problems within a climate of absolute respect for the client. Ethical standards of the profession are incorporated into student training. The faculty closely monitors academic and clinical development during all stages of progress through the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg Campus (ASPP) programs. This monitoring, by both academic and clinical field training faculty, addresses the issues of clinical suitability as well as academic achievement. Thus, aspects of students' personal adjustment, interpersonal relationships, and behavior in all settings are relevant to their progress at ASPP. ASPP's goal is to assure that students are well-qualified and have the potential to become competent and ethical professionals. The goal of clinical training is the instruction, by means of supervised direct patient contact, from competent clinicians who are able to deliver basic, effective assessment and therapeutic intervention. The refinement of evaluative criteria for clinical competency and assessment of competency is an on-going institutional concern. The Student Professional Development Committee assists the Director of Clinical Training and the Associate of Director of Clinical Training in formulating policies and procedures regarding standards for clinical training. This Committee also assists in establishing criteria for acceptable training sites, monitoring the suitability of specific sites for training, and reviewing student progress at their practica and internship sites. There are three levels of clinical training and evaluation at ASPP: the Practicum, the Clinical Competency Examination (CCE), and the Internship.
Psy.D. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS - DOCTORAL LEVEL A total of 98 credit hours are distributed as follows: (Starting Fall 08)
**All core course unless otherwise indicated are 3 semester credit courses MASTER of ARTS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY A total of 50 credit hours to be distributed as follows:
This list of requirements does not include additional requirements for LPC Licensure, such as the Course in Counseling Theory and Career and Lifestyle Counseling Please see the Schaumburg Campus section in the Academic Catalog for further description of these requirements.
GENERAL INFORMATION Practica are a required off-site training experience beginning in the student's second year. Psy.D. students must minimally accumulate a total of 2000 hours of supervised practicum training between their diagnostic, psychotherapy, and/or advance practicum to qualify for internship. Students must complete at least 800 hours of diagnostic and 800 of psychotherapy practicum. If students only complete the minimum (i.e., 800 hours) then an Advanced or Supplemental Practicum must be completed. Those students who wish to complete more than 800 hours are still encouraged to consider an Advanced or Supplemental Practicum. The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Program requires a 750 hour practicum. Practicum is treated as a course and carries three (3) credit hours per semester or six (6) credit hours for the academic year. All students enrolled in practica are concurrently enrolled in a weekly Practicum Seminar, which meets on campus throughout the academic year. Depending upon the beginning or end of the student’s practicum, the student may be required to attend a supplemental practicum seminar/consultation during the summer session. For a bullet pointed summary of practicum requirements please see Appendix C. For a timeline of due dates for documentation of practicum training see Appendix F. Content of the Seminar varies according to the practicum program of the enrolled students. Enrollment in Practicum Seminars is mandatory. Practica are graded on a "credit/no credit" basis, and participation in the Practicum Seminar is evaluated and included in the student's academic record. All students are required to participate in a practicum. The specific clinical focus of the practicum varies according to the program in which the student is enrolled. ASPP places students in a wide variety of clinical field sites according to the requirements of the programs in which they are enrolled. Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology students are placed in training sites according to their program goals. Doctoral students in the Clinical Psychology Program are placed in diagnostic practica in their second year of study and psychotherapy practica in their third year of study. A student may also have the option of waiting until all course work is completed before beginning the practicum experience. Practicum placement usually coincides with the academic year, but starting and completion dates may vary. A practicum takes place in a single agency, and the student is strongly encouraged to change agencies from the diagnostic practicum to the psychotherapy practicum. Students are evaluated in writing both by the Seminar faculty and training site supervisor once each semester. The Clinical Training Department assigns credit on a “credit/no-credit” basis. A practicum may not be done in the student's place of employment, nor is any student, under any circumstances, waived from the practicum requirements. Advanced students who come to ASPP with extensive clinical backgrounds are placed in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and have not had previous exposure or learning. Care is taken to provide settings, which enhance such students' clinical acumen. Upon completion of requirements for the M.A. in Clinical Psychology degree, students will have accumulated a minimum of 750 hours of clinical field experience. Prior to entering their internship, PsyD in Clinical Psychology students will have accumulated a minimum of 2000 hours of supervised clinical experience. All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently enroll in a Practicum Seminar. The Seminar meets weekly throughout the practicum year and allows students to reflect on various practicum experiences and acquire additional professional skills and attitudes useful in clinical practice. The specific content and emphasis of the Seminar varies according to the practicum setting, foci of the enrolled students, and the professional expertise of the faculty member.
All students at ASPP on practicum must be covered by professional liability insurance. This coverage is mandatory even if the student is otherwise insured. The school arranges for liability insurance coverage for all students on practicum. Payment for insurance coverage is automatically made through the Student Services Department at the time of practicum registration. Some practica and internship sites require proof of coverage. Students may obtain a Certificate of Liability Insurance from the Clinical Training Department. Students may wish to purchase additional coverage through the American Psychological Association Insurance Trust. An application can be completed online at www.apait.org. All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing and have completed the appropriate academic planning, which will allow for practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. A student must also have been a fully matriculating degree-seeking student at ASPP for a minimum of one year (two semesters) prior to beginning the practicum. The following courses are practicum prerequisite courses, and must be completed and/or waived prior to beginning the practicum.
Prerequisites for the Psy.D. Therapy practicum:
Students apply to various practica sites after consultation with the Clinical Training Director. Upon successful completion of the practicum experience, it is expected that the student will be able to assume clinical responsibilities at an entry level under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other certified mental health care provider, as appropriate to the degree program. The Clinical Psychology Master's Program practica are not intended to substitute for Clinical Doctoral Program diagnostic or psychotherapy practica. M.A. students wishing to apply to the Clinical Doctoral Program will not be waived from doctoral-level practica if they are accepted into the Doctoral Program. All entering students should download a copy of the Clinical Training Manual from the Clinical Training web page. The Manual should be kept as an important student resource for training definitions, policies, procedures, and general information. It should be used for training guidelines from entry into the program through the internship year. During the Fall Semester, all first-year students or students applying for practica, will attend a series of informational meetings conducted by the Clinical Training Department. The purpose of these meetings is to describe the practicum application process, advise students regarding practicum selection, answer students' questions, and distribute informational material. Following these meetings, students planning to apply for a practicum for the following academic year should review the practicum information, including resource materials, which include the practicum site books located in the student lounge. Also available in the Clinical Training Department are files on each training site with additional materials as well as student evaluations of the training sites. These materials contain site names, locations, supervisors' names, descriptions of the specific training experiences available at practicum sites, and site brochures if available. Fellow students are excellent practicum information resources, and new students are urged to contact students engaged in practica at sites in which they are interested. In the Fall Semester, group meetings for all prospective practica students begin. A schedule of meeting times will be posted around the school and online. Students who wish to apply for practica and would also like to discuss this further with the Director of Clinical Training are encouraged to do so. Informational group meetings are conducted by the Clinical Training Department during the Fall Semester for these students. Policies and procedures as outlined remain the same. The meeting is most productive if:
Students choose practica sites through a process of mutual matching, selection, and acceptance, which takes place between the Clinical Training Department, student, and various sites. Following the student's meeting with the Clinical Training Department and review of their written request to apply to preferred sites, the Clinical Training Department notifies students in writing where they are authorized to apply. The focus of the approval process is the appropriate matching of the students' needs, levels of experience, and interests with available approved training experiences. "A good fit" between student and practicum site is a training priority. Students contact prospective practicum supervisors by mail, including a letter of intent, Vitæ, and letters of recommendation. Some sites also request written work samples. Each student is responsible for arranging personal interviews with approved practicum sites. Once the student's materials have been mailed, it is appropriate to call the practicum site only if at least two to three weeks have passed without any contact from the practicum site supervisor. Students may contact training sites only after consultation with the Clinical Training Department. The Director of Clinical Training must approve all field training sites and placement of students. Practicum site supervisors expect that school administrators coordinate all clinical training. Students who do not follow these guidelines can expect disciplinary action. Practica sites vary considerably regarding interviews and selection schedules. ASPP's students, as well as students from other graduate psychology and social work programs, compete for practicum sites. Students should apply, conduct interviews, and accept and decline practicum positions with the utmost professionalism and ethical conduct. It is proper for students to request of an offering site a reasonable time to hear from other prospective practicum sites; this is normally interpreted to mean several days to two weeks. Once an offer is accepted, this verbal acceptance is binding and is viewed as a contractual agreement between ASPP, the practicum site, and the student. The student should notify other sites by ‘phone and in writing of the withdrawal of candidacy and thank them for their consideration. Once a practicum site has been accepted, the Clinical Training Department should be so informed. The student should confirm their acceptance of the offer in writing to the site and forward a copy of their letter to the Clinical Training Department. A blank Practicum Agreement [contact] is available on the Clinical Training Department web page, and is to be completed in collaboration with their practicum site’s Director of Training. This contract will identify the student, site, supervisor, days and times of attendance, and amount of supervision. Contract completion is the student's responsibility. Student, site supervisor, and Director of Clinical Training signatures are needed, and a copy must be received in the Clinical Training Department prior to entering practicum, but no later than the end of August. Without a completed, signed Practicum Agreement submitted to the Clinical Training Department, student progress will not be evaluated, nor will credit for the training be awarded. The diagnostic practicum teaches clinical assessment techniques and diagnostic formulation so that appropriate clinical services can be recommended. Accurate diagnostic assessment procedures are fundamental to the practice of professional psychology. Psychological assessment should consist of at least the first, and often all three, of the following procedures:
Complete psychological assessment involves all of the above procedures. The goal of clinical assessment techniques and procedures is accurate diagnostic case formulation, which leads to effective intervention recommendations. DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEWING
Diagnostic interviewing should be a significant part of the diagnostic practicum. Supervision of interviewing skills through the use of audio- and/or video-tapes, or direct observation through the use of one-way mirrors is encouraged at the practicum site. Students need access to taped diagnostic interviews at the practicum site for use in their weekly Practicum Seminars. ASPP provides proper consent forms. DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEWING: COLLATERAL INFORMANTS PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING The MMPI-2 and other objective personality measures, major intelligence tests, projective measures, the Rorschach Projective Inkblot Test, as well as assessment instruments specific to health psychology and chemical dependency are some of the psychological assessment procedures students will become proficient in administering, scoring, and interpreting during their particular assessment practicum. It is expected that students will complete a minimum of ten to twelve complete psychological test batteries during the nine-to-twelve-month practicum assignment. Batteries should include the traditional psychological tests such as intellectual/cognitive measures, objective tests, and projective tests. Some sites administer psychological tests specific to a given treatment population. Students should have the opportunity to learn these test instruments as well. The integration of data gleaned from several testing instruments, the generation of hypotheses based on patterns of psychological processes observed through interview and test data, case formulation, and psychological test report-writing securely based in the interview and testing, are some of the skills learned during the practicum. The student will be able to conduct a diagnostic interview and generate a psychological report which: (1) can be documented with specific and relevant data; (2) demonstrates case formulation skills; (3) is theoretically consistent and well organized; and (4) can be understood by non-psychologists. Students are expected to demonstrate the necessary psychological knowledge base, learn at least basic clinical assessment skills, and demonstrate appropriate professional attitudes throughout the diagnostic practicum. Evaluation of student progress will be done on these criteria of competency. DIAGNOSTIC SEMINAR The goal of the seminar is to teach clinical skills in the following areas: (1) empathic contact; (2) basic listening on manifest and latent levels; (3) gathering relevant background information; and (4) basic case formulation and theoretical interpretation of clinical material. With these skills the student reaches the competency to successfully pass the 'Diagnostic Interviewing' section of the Clinical Competency Examination (CCE). Students present tapes and written diagnostic reports to practice and refine these clinical skills. During the Spring Semester, students should be prepared to present their CCE diagnostic interview tape to their Seminar Faculty. Students submit a tape, transcript, diagnostic report, and self-critique of a diagnostic interview which has not been submitted to any supervisor, either inside or outside of ASPP, for review and feedback.
Psy.D. PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTICA& M.A. Clinical. PRACTICA The Psy.D. psychotherapy practica & M.A. practica emphasize psychotherapy and intervention skills. Clinical orientations, specific treatment options, and opportunities depend upon the specific site selected. ASPP does not favor a particular theoretical orientation. The Faculty and curriculum are representative of the major clinical orientations. Students are encouraged to keep an open mind in order to get the full benefit of this general theoretical exposure, and to explore and experiment with a variety of treatment modalities. It is hoped that students will, with time and experience, settle into a theoretical orientation and develop an effective personal style. The Psy.D.psychotherapy & M.A. practica present excellent opportunities for this type of learning. Students are cautioned that it is not unrealistic to expect that they can participate in the entire spectrum of clinical experiences and therapy modalities in this single practicum experience; nor will this one practicum definitively decide their clinical futures. These practica require the ability of the student to adjust to and work in an established program in a way that is mutually beneficial to the training site and to the student's professional growth. The learning that takes place in such an environment will transfer to other clinical situations, and becomes an integral part of the foundation for sound clinical practice in the future. Students in the Psy.D. Therapy practicum should be able to conduct at least 250 hours of direct face-to-face psychotherapy during this 800 hour practicum. Approximately one-third of the time spent at the practicum site should be spent doing psychotherapy. Students in the Master in Clinical Psychology practicum should experience no less than 250 hours of direct patient contact during this 750-hour practicum. Because of the individual specific requirements of each practicum site, students are encouraged to use the practicum resource materials available in the Clinical Training Department in order to make appropriate choices. Students are also encouraged to use the application interview with the site supervisor to educate themselves as much as possible on the particulars of each site. Attention should also be paid to the professional relationship with the site supervisor. The supervisory relationship has excellent potential for students to discover important facts about themselves and their impact upon others. Students should also recognize that a universal reaction of novice therapists is some level of anxiety and defensiveness. THERAPY SEMINAR SUMMER PRACTICUM At times, a very few select sites offer intensive, forty-hour per week summer practica. As this training schedule operates outside of the parameters of the normal academic year and seminars are not in session, ASPP requirements for proper supervision and evaluation of such training experiences cannot occur. Thus, such practicum experiences are available only to those students undertaking advanced training in the Doctoral Program. For students whose sites require that they begin during the summer months, or extend beyond the usual ending date of June, ASPP requires that they register for a Directed Study or appropriate Practicum Seminar with a Faculty Consultant. This must occur in collaboration with the Clinical Training Department, and the choice of Faculty Consultant confirmed in writing. If the number of students is large enough to make a summer practicum seminar feasible, this option will be offered instead. On-going monitoring of the practicum experience by ASPP is essential, and is especially so if the usual Practicum Seminar forum is not available. A number of students choose to do advanced training beyond the required diagnostic and psychotherapy requirements (600 hours each); or Master's psychotherapy practica (750 hours). Such students are in good standing, but for a variety of reasons do not begin their internship following their third year; or in the case of students in the Master's programs, do not graduate at the completion of their required practica. The Clinical Training Department oversees this additional training. The student or Clinical Training Department may initiate such training. Students involved in an advanced practicum must register for an advanced Master's, diagnostic, or psychotherapy practicum, and a minimum of two hours of individual consultation per month with a faculty member of their choice. This must be discussed with the Director of Clinical Training, and confirmed by the faculty member and student in writing. Students file a Practicum Agreement with the Clinical Training Department, and the faculty member must fill out an evaluation each semester. Questions regarding advanced training opportunities and policies should be addressed to the Director of Clinical Training. Questions regarding registration can be addressed to the Director of Student Services. Please Note: Under certain circumstances, the student may petition the Clinical Training Department to have the Advanced Practicum fulfill the requirement for one of their elective courses. This may be used to satisfy either an advanced interventions, or special populations elective. The student must submit a written proposal to the Clinical Training Department that articulates the rationale for this, including: learning outcomes such as a scholarly project that integrates clinical practice with theory. This would need to be approved by the Faculty member and the Director of Clinical Training. SUPPLEMENTAL PACTICUM A number of students may choose to do supplemental training beyond the diagnostic and psychotherapy requirements or Master's psychotherapy practica. Supplemental Practicum training hours may vary from 10 to 20 hours per week and their length is much more flexible. The credit hours may vary between 1 to 3 credits depending on the number of hours the student is completing. The Clinical Training Department oversees this additional training. The student or Clinical Training Department may initiate such training. Students involved in a Supplemental Practicum must register for a corresponding seminar. This must be discussed with the Director of Clinical Training, and confirmed by the faculty member and student in writing. Practicum experiences unite the student, practicum agency, supervisor, and School in a working relationship where all parties are responsible to each other in the following ways: STUDENTS
SITE SUPERVISOR
TRAINING DEPARTMENT
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PROGRESS The goal of the practicum is to foster the training of competent clinicians capable of providing basic and effective assessment, and therapeutic interventions. Students' progress in practicum training is evaluated through the use of evaluation forms, which are forwarded to each practicum supervisor and Seminar Faculty each semester. The evaluation form assesses the student's progress in three basic areas of clinical functioning: (1) theoretical knowledge base; (2) clinical skills; and (3) professional attitudes. It is expected that the supervisors will review this written evaluation form with the student and provide direct feedback regarding the student's clinical strengths and weaknesses. Supervisors are responsible for returning this form to the Clinical Training Department on a timely basis. Seminar faculty also evaluates student progress by means of a form provided by ASPP. The Seminar faculty writes a brief narrative regarding the student's progress in acquisition of clinical skills. In addition, Practicum Seminar Faculty are also asked to initiate contact with the practica sites of their students. Practicum Seminar Faculty completes the Practicum Seminar Site Supervisor-Liaison Report each semester. The first Liaison Report is to be completed in mid-October and is due to the Director of Clinical Training no later than the end of October. The second Liaison Report should be completed in mid-March and is due to the Director of Clinical Training no later than the end of March. The Clinical Training Department assigns credit for all practica students. If students are having difficulties of any kind on their practica, they are encouraged and expected to consult with the Director of Clinical Training. One of the major roles of the Clinical Training Department is that of student advocate for student concerns and problems. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner, and they are to be treated at their practicum sites in a similarly professional manner. Practica supervisors are advised to contact the Clinical Training Department with concerns and problems as they arise. If a first-year student is placed on academic warning based on Fall Semester grades, the student may not be able to apply for practicum during Spring Semester. If the student has achieved a G.P.A. that is acceptable when the Spring grades are available, the student may apply for a practicum at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Training. Whatever the decision about the practicum, the student will remain on academic warning. If a first-year student who has accepted a practicum is on probation/academic warning after the Spring grades are received, the student may not attend the practicum if the G.P.A. is unacceptable after the Summer Session I grades are received. If the G.P.A. is acceptable for the student's program after Summer Session I grades are received, the student may begin the practicum at the discretion of the Director of Clinical Training. The Clinical Training Department has the discretion to make decisions on any probationary student who is beyond the first year of attendance. This discretion extends to both application before the practicum and attendance at the practicum. While on a practicum, a student may be placed on clinical warning for receiving an "Incomplete" for failure to submit the required semesterly practicum documentation (Student Practicum Activity Report and Practicum Site Evaluation). Upon receipt of a second "Incomplete", a student will be placed on clinical probation. Receipt of failing grades ("F" or "No Credit") will lead to a student being placed on warning of probation. Additional policies regarding problematic student performance in reference to clinical field placements are discussed below. Requests for minor remediation within the ordinary time frame of practica and internships can be handled informally. This request might come from supervisors, Practica Seminar Faculty, or the Clinical Training Department. Such remediation would be part of on-going course work, and would be handled as would other course assignments. When concern regarding clinical work arises, either the student or the Clinical Training Department may institute a meeting. The goals of such a meeting will be to determine whether deficiencies exist, to agree on areas that need to be addressed, and to develop a remediation plan. The Clinical Training Department will communicate and consult with the Student Professional Development Committee during this process. A complete written plan describing specific areas of deficiency and remediation strategies will be brought before the Clinical Training Committee for its approval. At any point in this process, the student has the option of meeting with the entire Clinical Training Committee or submitting written materials. If remediation includes additional training, a Supplemental Practicum may be required. Like all training activities, the Clinical Training Department must oversee such additional training. If more fundamental clinical deficiencies exist, a Supplemental or Pre-Practicum training experience may be required of the student prior to regular enrollment in a practicum. In such cases, a formal Remediation Plan will be added to the written plan that will specifically address how the training site will afford opportunities to remediate the deficiency areas. This contract will be developed when a remedial site is located, and in consultation with the Clinical Training Department and the student. The Student Professional Development Committee will review it. In some cases the Clinical Training Department may recommend dismissal from ASPP. This recommendation, accompanied by full documentation and rationale, will be forwarded to the Student Conduct Committee for review. All remediation procedures will be developed in close consultation with practica site supervisors and/or training site directors. The American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg has a strong commitment to developing clinical practitioners who demonstrate high levels of professionalism and clinical skill. Its programs are rigorous and demanding, and we require that students continually apply themselves to all aspects of their preparation over an extended period of time. It is a fundamental requirement of ASPP that all students meet the standards of the profession of psychology. Students are required to do more than complete certain academic and clinical requirements; they are expected to conduct themselves in an ethical and appropriate manner at the clinical training site as well as become familiar with the APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists; the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Copies of these professional codes will be provided to students prior to entering practica. Demanding, threatening, or rude behavior is inconsistent with the identity of a professional psychologist. Any activities that appear to violate ASPP's principles of professional standards in the course of the student's education or training will be reviewed carefully by the appropriate committee and/or administrative unit. The following are examples of inappropriate and unethical behaviors on a practicum or internship:
Consequences of unethical or inappropriate behaviors range from a disciplinary letter from the Clinical Training Department sent to the student, the student's academic record, and/or the Student Professional Development Committee. Such behavior may also necessitate intervention by the Student Conduct Committee. STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTY ASPP considers the student as a whole person and realizes a student may have emotional or behavioral problems underlying or related to academic and clinical difficulties. ASPP routinely uses its Faculty to enable students to more readily identify such problems. These problems may be recognized by the student, faculty member, clinical field supervisor, and/or fellow students. Such difficulties may include, but are not limited to the following:
When such difficulties are identified and come to the attention of the Clinical Training Department, the Department will, if possible, consult with the student prior to meeting with the appropriate department head and/or Vice-President for Academic Affairs. If the student difficulties are severe, the student may be referred to the Student Professional Development Committee and/or the Student Conduct Committee. In severe cases this may result in the student being placed on an administrative leave of absence following such consultation. Please see the Argosy University Academic Catalog for further details at www.argosy.edu. The Student Conduct Committee and Student Professional Development Committee Policies & Procedures are outlined in the Argosy University Academic Catalog along with a Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Argosy University Ethical Code of Conduct and Student Right to Appeal procedures. APPEAL OF CLINICAL TRAINING GRADES AND EVALUATIONS A student who desires to seek reconsideration of any matter determined by the Clinical Training Department should contact the Director of Clinical Training. If the matter in question concerns an event at a training site or a supervisor's evaluation of the student, the student should consult with the training site supervisor for reconsideration of the issue. If, after consultation with the supervisor, the student wishes to pursue the matter further, the student should request this in writing to the Clinical Training Department, with an assessment of the situation. The outcome of the assessment will be summarized by the Director of Clinical Training and placed in the student's training file with a copy given to the student. If the matter in question concerns a decision reached by the Clinical Training Department about the student, the student may petition the Clinical Training Committee in writing for reconsideration of the matter. If the student desires, a meeting will be arranged with the Clinical Training Committee for a full discussion of the issue. The outcome will be summarized by the Director of Clinical Training and placed in the student's file with a copy given to the student. If the Student still wishes to appeal an outcome (e.g. Disciplinary action or dismissal), he or she should follow procedures outlined in the Argosy University Catalog, under the heading, “Student Right to Appeal”, and follow those guidelines, accordingly. ASPP’s list of approved training sites includes: state mental health facilities, out-patient clinics, private psychiatric hospitals, psychiatric units and community hospitals, schools, and treatment centers for developmentally disabled, behavior disordered and/or emotionally disturbed adults and children, chemical dependence treatment programs plus a variety of specialized programs such as eating disorders, rehabilitation, etc. The Clinical Training Department grants provisional approval to a site if it is determined that it can provide the type of practitioner training ASPP requires. Full approval is only granted to a new training agency after a student has successfully completed a practicum and both the agency and the Clinical Training Department determine that this has been a positive experience for both the student and the agency. Training sites are selected because of their overall appropriateness in the use of the practitioner model of training graduate-level psychology students. This would include emphasis on the acquisition of clinical skills, relevant treatment population, credentials of staff and site, availability of adequate supervision by experienced clinicians, and an emphasis on training. Every effort is made to be certain that students receive competent supervision within a mentoring relationship in an environment conducive to learning. ASPP requires that students receive no less than (2) hours per week of direct supervision. These supervisory hours must take place at a regular time, which is built into the practicum at its outset and remains constant throughout the training year. Supervision of students at the practicum site is done on a voluntary basis as part of the student's practicum time requirements. ASPP has no financial obligation to its training sites. The Director of Clinical Training and Practicum Seminar Leaders review and monitor all training agencies, both annually and on a semester-by-semester basis. Within this process, practica agencies fill out evaluations of students each semester. Students are also asked to fill out evaluations on their practicum agency each semester with questions covering the quality of supervision and adequacy of training. In addition, Practicum Seminar Faculty are also asked to initiate contact with the practica sites of their students. ASPP, student, and training site enter into a contractual relationship wherein the student's delivery of service and other relevant activities within the training arrangement are exchanged for clinical supervision, exposure to clinical populations and professional role models, case management supervision, and participation in other professional activities such as rounds, staffing, and seminars. Once acceptance of the terms of training have been agreed upon, a Practicum Agreement is completed and signed by the site supervisor, the student, and the Director of Clinical Training. Acceptance of a practicum site by a student is a professional and ethical commitment to a site and its clients. SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS For students in the M.A. program, it is mandatory that the experience include a minimum of two hours of direct supervision weekly by a person who is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), or licensed clinical psychologist. If the supervision took place outside Illinois, the supervisor shall be a Master's level or doctoral level counselor engaged in clinical professional counseling.” Developing New Practica Sites New practica sites are reviewed and developed in the following manner. Any faculty member or student can suggest that a particular agency would make a good training site. This information is brought to the attention of the Clinical Training Department. The potential practicum coordinator is contacted and asked to provide a written proposal describing the types of training opportunities the agency would provide to students. Proposals from potential sites are reviewed by the Clinical Training Department to ensure that the training site would provide students with a valuable practicum experience. This proposal must include a minimum of 16-20 hours per week at the agency over the course of at least nine months. The ideal practicum experience is composed of the following training experiences:
Please see Appendix C for a summary of basic requirements. TRAINING SITES WITH CREEDAL STATEMENTS ASPP has a policy of non-discrimination against students with regard to race, age, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. In addition, ASPP is committed to fostering the training of members of groups currently under-represented in the profession of psychology. Practica and internship sites approved by ASPP are expected to conduct their selection and training in a non-discriminatory manner. Sites are expected to select applicants without regard to race, sex, age, ethnic background, or sexual orientation unless they have compelling legal or therapeutic reasons for limiting the applicant pool. Sites, which have a selection policy that disallows students based on any of the above criteria, must notify ASPP and clarify the legal and/or therapeutic rationale for such policies. ASPP will approve such sites if the Director of Clinical Training, in consultation with the Student Professional Development Committee, determines that an adequate legal and/or therapeutic rationale exists for the selection policies. At the American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg, students may receive a stipend for their practicum experience. This is interpreted to mean that practica sites may offer a modest stipend to support a student's clinical field training. This policy is to be interpreted in light of all other policies and parameters regarding clinical practica. This includes the prohibition against students training in their place of employment, the disconnection of training and "productivity", etc. A practicum stipend must not be a hidden salary that a student receives at a job site. A student must be treated by the practicum site as a student-in-training and not as an employee or independent contractor. Typically, the student's involvement with the site ends at the conclusion of the academic year, as set forth in the Practicum Agreement. Practica that offer a stipend must communicate this intention to ASPP in the form of a written proposal to the Clinical Training Department. ASPP is committed to selecting as training sites those clinical agencies that provide the highest quality of supervised training experiences for students. Of equal importance is the identification of those sites that demonstrate, through modeling and direct statement, endorsement of and conformity with the APA Ethical Principals of Psychologists. As an outgrowth of this concern, ASPP has formulated the following guidelines specifically for those private practice settings, which offer training for students. These guidelines have been delineated in an effort to highlight the focus on training and to minimize the potential for conflict stemming from the agency's interest in quality training and economic survival. As part of the application process, such agencies should submit the following to ASPP:
In addition, such agencies must agree to the following guidelines:
TRAINING IN THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT Clinical training may not be done in the student's place of employment. This restriction recognizes that training most optimally occurs in settings uncomplicated by dual relationships, employment pressures, and financial demands. Students also profit from training in diverse organizational "cultures" or structures. Occasionally, the interpretation of what constitutes "place of employment" is unclear. For example, a large corporation may own several smaller corporations which operate at different sites, managed by different supervisors, serving different populations. A student may request the opportunity to train at a subsidiary of the parent organization in which the student works. Students are required to consult with the Director of Clinical Training, and may be required to submit a formal proposal for review. In order to identify what constitutes a student's "place of employment", the Clinical Training Department has developed the following guidelines:
CLINICAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION (CCE) GENERAL INFORMATION All Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program students are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. The information assessed by the examination covers the courses and material required of students during the two years of study at Argosy University, Schaumburg Campus. The Comprehensive Exam is generally held in July at the conclusion of the second year of study. Students must have successfully completed all required coursework, with the exception of practicum and practicum seminars, to be eligible to take the Comprehensive Exam. Additional information regarding registration, qualification, format, and dates of the exam can be obtained from the Student Services Department or program chair of the MA in Clinical Psychology program. Students who are unable to pass the Comprehensive Examination will be allowed to retake the exam a maximum of two additional times. The exam may be retaken during the next scheduled administration of the exam. Students will receive information from the director of the MA in Clinical Psychology program concerning their performance on the examination and assistance from faculty in constructing additional experiences and instruction aimed at enabling them to pass this program requirement. A third failure will result in dismissal from the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program. CLINICAL COMPETENCY EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS At the master’s level, the Clinical Competency Examination (CCE) consists of a competency-based evaluation designed to evaluate the student’s mastery of basic clinical assessment and therapeutic skills. Students should be capable of demonstrating clinical competence via the Master’s Psychotherapy CCE both conceptually and in application. Argosy University, Schaumburg Campus also expects that students who have learned theoretical and applied concepts in classroom courses will have made use of out-of-class clinical contacts (i.e., practicum, practicum seminar group, visiting lecturers) to refine and extend the skills to be evaluated by the CCE. Therefore, passing the seminar and site evaluation do not guarantee a passing grade on the CCE. DESCRIPTIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION Procedures for the Master’s Psychotherapy CCE require the student to submit a tape, a transcript, a client assessment and progress report, and a self-critique of a therapy session that the student has conducted with a client. The student will have received supervision on this therapy session from the practicum site supervisor, but this session must not have been submitted for review, supervision or critique at Argosy University, Schaumburg Campus or elsewhere prior to submission for satisfying the requirements of the CCE. The Master’s CCE Manual is posted on the Clinical Training Forms page under CCE Guidelines. Please refer to this manual for detailed explanations procedures and grading policies and relevant updates. The CCE is part of Practica Seminar training, but is graded separately. Successful completion of practica pre-requisites and practica does not, therefore, guarantee passing the CCE task and vice versa. Each Seminar faculty will explain criteria for passage of the Master’s Clinical Psychology CCE tapes. CCE is turned in directly to the Seminar Leader. The tapes and case reports are competency examinations; tapes, which are submitted and graded as not acceptable, are dealt with on an individual basis. Students work with faculty and resubmit tapes until mastery is achieved. In the event of a Failure, the CCE may be re-taken only once. Another failure would result in dismissal from the Program.
GENERAL INFORMATION Students in both the doctoral Psychodiagnostic Practicum and the doctoral Psychotherapy Practicum must successfully complete a written and oral clinical proficiency examination in the spring semester. The Clinical Competency Examination (CCE) is composed of a written case conceptualization and self-critique with accompanying audio or video tape, transcript of psychotherapy or diagnostic session, and an oral portion consisting of a discussion of the above issues and other relevant clinical data in the presence of the seminar leader and the other faculty member. Students demonstrate their conceptual abilities, theoretical knowledge, and applied clinical skills obtained through the integration of classroom theoretical work, clinical field training and supervision at their practicum, and in the practicum seminars. In the event that a student passes either the written, oral, or both portions of the CCE with revision, the practicum seminar leader will develop a remediation plan with the student. All revisions must be completed within one semester of the original CCE submission date. The Psychotherapy or Psychodiagnostic CCE is graded “High Pass,” “Pass,” “Pass with Revision,” and “Fail.” In the event that a student passes the CCE with revision, the practicum seminar leader will develop a remediation plan with the student. All revisions must be completed within one semester of the original CCE. Detailed explanations of these procedures are contained in the CCE Diagnostic and Therapy Guidelines which are distributed to practicum seminar faculty and students at the beginning of the fall semester. DESCRIPTIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION Procedures for the Psychotherapy and Psychodiagnostic CCE require the student to submit a tape, a transcript, a client assessment and progress report, and a self-critique of a therapy session or clinical interview that the student has conducted with a client. The student will have received supervision on this session from the practicum site supervisor, but this session must not have been submitted for review, supervision or critique at Argosy University, Schaumburg Campus or elsewhere prior to submission for satisfying the requirements of the CCE. Detailed explanations of these procedures are contained in the CCE Diagnostic and Therapy Guidelines which are distributed by Practicum Seminar faculty at the beginning of the Spring semester and are available online at under clinical training forms. Individual course instructors will explain the grading of the CCE. Detailed explanations of these procedures are contained in the CCE Diagnostic and Therapy Guidelines which are distributed by Practicum Seminar faculty at the beginning of the Spring semester and are available online under clinical training forms. Students should keep in mind that all CCE tasks must be completed prior to the beginning of internship. GENERAL INFORMATION The successful completion of an approved pre-doctoral internship is a requirement for graduating with a PsyD degree in Clinical Psychology. Internships that are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and/or affiliated with the Association of Psychology Post-doctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) are approved by ASPP. All other internships must meet the standards outlined in the policy for approved internship sites. All doctoral students are required to complete either a full-time, 1 year internship, or two half-time (24 months) internships, as a requirement for graduation. The internship must be an APA accredited internship, an APPIC or CAPIC internship or equivalent. The internship is an integral component of the doctoral program and the capstone experience in the clinical training sequence. During the internship the student will be expected to assume significant clinical responsibilities and perform major professional functions under the supervision of qualified psychologists. Because the internship is typically the last step in the student’s pre-doctoral preparation for functioning as an independent professional, the internship experience should provide the student with a variety of appropriate role models, as well as intensive and diverse opportunities to function in the various roles expected of a clinical psychologist. Typically, full-time students will begin the internship during their fourth year of enrollment. Clinical Research Project (CRP) timeline and it’s relationship to internship application are detailed in the 2008 CRP Manual. APPLICATION TIMELINE **Download Timeline** PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE All students at ASPP on internship must be covered by professional liability insurance. This coverage is mandatory even if the student is otherwise insured. Payment for insurance coverage is made through the Student Services Department at the time of internship registration. Can be downloaded on the Clinical Training Forms page. Students may wish to purchase additional coverage through the American Psychological Association Insurance Trust. The Clinical Training Department maintains a supply of these applications for students. TRAINING DEPARTMENT REVIEW FOR READINESS Prior to application for internship, the Clinical Training Department reviews the academic and clinical training files of each intern applicant. The purpose of this review is to focus on information relative to an applicant's professional strengths, weaknesses, and needs; as determined by practicum supervisors, Practicum Seminar faculty, and course instructors. The Clinical Training Department focuses this review on the student's performance, especially with regard to the acquisition of a theoretical knowledge base, clinical skills, and professional attitudes. Each intern applicant meets with the Director of Clinical Training to discuss the student's views and goals regarding the prospective internship experience. The student is asked to assess, in writing, areas of professional competence and bring a one-page personal statement to the meeting. The Clinical Training Department then writes a letter of recommendation based on review of the student and the student's own assessment of strengths and areas for further development. If the Clinical Training Department has reservations about a student's readiness for internship, they will discuss the situation with the student, the student's Advisor, and Seminar Faculty. In cases where there is a shared concern amongst the student's mentors, a plan of remediation prior to internship will be designed by the Clinical Training Department and sent to the Student Professional Development Committee. Internship Application Eligibility
It is the student's responsibility to initiate and follow through on all internship application procedures. To assist the intern applicant, the Clinical Training Department assumes the following obligations:
FOLLOWING INTERNSHIP MATCH & DURING INTERN YEAR **CHECKLIST** Students have varying needs and goals to be satisfied during the internship year. To that end, prior to the beginning of the internship, the Director of Clinical Training will meet with each student to focus on individual strengths, weaknesses, and goals, culminating in a Goals and Priorities Plan. The basic elements of a Learning Contract will be worked out to meet the varying learning objectives of the intern student, as outlined in the Goals and Priorities Plan. This is consonant with the training philosophy that the internship year is primarily a training period, as opposed to a year of work where delivery of services is primary. This process is part of the plan for quality assurance of our graduates encompassing the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for competent professional performance. The Learning Contract will be a written document specifically addressing the student's needs and concerns as outlined in a pre-intern meeting with the Director of Clinical Training. The student is responsible for mailing this Learning Contract to ASPP within thirty (30) days after the internship has begun. The Clinical Training Department may make periodic visits to some internship sites during the internship year. Where distance prohibits actual site visitation, the Clinical Training Department may make periodic ‘phone calls to both the intern and the internship training director. The purpose of these contacts is the clinical review of the student's progress based on the Learning Contract developed by the student and the Clinical Training Director. The Clinical Training Department will make detailed notes for future reference. Interns complete Monthly Internship Activity Reports (MIARs) under the direction of the internship supervisor and/or internship Director of Clinical Training. These must be compiled, signed, and returned to ASPP's Director of Clinical Training for review on a monthly basis. These documents enable ASPP to better monitor the intern's progress in an on-going manner, and timely submission is required in order to receive credit for the internship experience. In addition, twice a year, you will need to complete evaluation forms with the internship site supervisor to demonstrate the effectiveness of the internship experience. The Internship Progress Report enables supervisors to assess the student's progress, competence, and performance in terms of the learning objectives and other factors of importance to the internship site. The Internship Evaluation Form will allow students to indicate their satisfaction relative to the internship site's participation in meeting the specific learning objectives. These forms will be inspected closely by the Clinical Training Department to monitor ratings, progress and areas of difficulty. All evaluations will be kept as part of the student's permanent records. Periodic progress reports will be made to the Clinical Training Committee for consideration of any need for remediation, either in student intern professional functioning or in gaining greater cooperation from the Internship site. If at any point during the internship training a student is in need of remediation, the Remediation Procedures (as outlined in the Practicum section, page 15) will be implemented. The Clinical Training Department makes the final determination whether or not the internship requirements have been met. If post-internship remedial work is required, the written contract specifying clinical areas needing improvement and methods by which such improvement will be achieved will be developed in consultation with the student, the Clinical Training Department, the internship site training director, and the Clinical Training Committee. The usual process of consultation and approval by the Student Professional Development Committee and final approval and/or hearing of student appeals applies to internship remediation. UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR APPROVED INTERNSHIP SITES **Printable Version**
It should be remembered that the above are basic requirements and that some states may have additional internship requirements that must be met for licensure/certification. Students should be familiar with the specific regulations of the state or states in which they wish to practice so that their internship experience conforms to the guidelines of those states.
POLICY REGARDING STUDENT PRIVATE PRACTICES The American School of Professional Psychology, Schaumburg Campus recognizes the responsibility of preparing clinical psychologists by providing training experiences of the highest quality for its students and to ensure that this training protects the best interests of the public. It is entirely consistent with training goals for the institution to require that students not engage in professional activities that may infringe upon a primary commitment to training, have a negative impact on quality of consumer mental health services, or are inconsistent with ethical and legal standards. The participation of students in outside work activities should be secondary to training, and should also uphold and be consistent with the ethical and legal standards of the profession. While matriculating at ASPP, students are specifically prohibited from being involved in private practice unless the following standards are met:
Failure to comply with these policies can result in dismissal from the program.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING POTENTIAL PRACTICUM SITES Approach to Training The agency should submit a mission statement which includes the philosophy and general objectives of the agency. It is preferable that the site indicate interest in training by approaching ASPP, rather than the student approaching the site. The site should have a clearly articulated philosophy of training that is congruent with the training philosophy of ASPP. Students-in-training will provide their services for a fee which is based on a sliding scale structure, and is less than the usual and customary full fee of the agency. The agency adheres to the APA Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Experience in Training Because of the importance of peer learning, the training site should ideally have at least two practicum students. It is preferable that the site has trained students in the past. ASPP will review the experience the site has had with training clinical psychology students, as well as students in other disciplines (e.g., counseling, social work, etc.). The site should have clearly articulated policies and procedures for trainee selection, supervision, didactic and collegial experiences, evaluation and remediation. For supervision, the absolute minimum commitment is one hour of individual and one and one-half hour of group supervision per week. Two hours of individual supervision is highly preferable. It is also desirable that the agency provide didactic and collegial experience in the form of seminars, group supervision, case conferences and workshops. The student's practicum experience should roughly be divided as follows: one-third direct client contact; one-third supervision; and one-third seminars, meetings, administration duties and record keeping. The agency and trainee must communicate the 'student status' to the client. Diagnostic students must have opportunities to conduct diagnostic interviews, as well as for psychological test administration. Staff The site should have at least two qualified and experienced supervisors on staff. Qualifications and credentials of the supervisor(s) include:
ASPP will assess supervisors' attitudes toward students and their ability to provide supportive, helpful, discerning supervision and mentoring. Supervisors must agree to comply with ASPP's procedures, including student evaluations once per semester, audio- or video-taping psychotherapy or diagnostic sessions for Practicum Seminars (in accordance with ethical guidelines), and liaison with Seminar Faculty and the Clinical Training Department. Supervisors should endeavor to provide opportunities for the student to observe professional staff in the delivery of clinical services, as well as to be directly observed by professional staff, particularly in the early stages of the practicum placement. Treatment Orientation Supervisors should be able to articulate their own and the agency's philosophy of treatment, and that statement should meet ASPP's standards. Treatment Population There must be a sufficient number of patients/clients to provide the trainee(s) with treatment opportunities. The population must be appropriate to trainee's level of skill and experience (e.g., sufficiently challenging, but not overwhelming). There must be sufficient variation in the treatment population to provide the trainee(s) with a well-rounded experience;
The treatment population may be appropriate for an experienced trainee seeking advanced or specialized experience. Remediation If there are deficiencies in any of these areas, supervisory staff must be amenable to working with ASPP's Clinical Training Department to develop and strengthen the training program.
Practicum Requirements Summary MA Clinical
Psy.D. Diagnostic
Psy.D. Therapy
Psy.D. Advanced Practicum
CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION An individual may apply for Adjunct Clinical Faculty status at the American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg if he or she meets the following criteria:
Review will include student’s evaluations of their clinical training experiences, including supervision, clinical seminars, and so forth, as provided by the site and supervisor. Professional affiliations and activities of the supervisor. Professional affiliations and activities of the supervisor will also be reviewed, as they may pertain to the mentoring and professional training experiences of students placed with the supervisor. To apply, please submit a letter of application to the Director of Clinical Training at the American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg. Please include a current Vitæ. Application may be made at any time during the Academic/Training Year. The Clinical Training Committee will review applications and make recommendations for appointments to the American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg faculty. The faculty will then review the recommendation and make a motion to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. The Vice-President for Academic Affairs will make appointments. The Vice-President for Academic Affairs or the Director of Clinical Training will make notifications. Appointment to the Adjunct Clinical Faculty is made for a period of three years subject to annual review. Requests for renewal follow the same procedures as specified above. If approval of the training site for American School of Professional Psychology/Schaumburg students is revoked for any reason, the Adjunct Clinical Faculty status is similarly revoked.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS International students must alert the Clinical Training Department about their special status. Involvement in practica and internships can be construed as falling under the rubric of Curricular Practical Training as defined by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Since such field placements are required integral parts of students' programs of study, appropriate permission should be relatively easy and straightforward to secure. Students should make arrangements to meet with the ASPP/Schaumburg Director of Admissions and Financial Aid to receive a full orientation to the INS and School policies and procedures. Students will need to have a memorandum from the Campus Director of Admissions and Financial Aid as well as copies of appropriate INS documentation confirming their compliance with INS and School guidelines forwarded to the Director of Clinical Training. Please contact the DSO/ISA for the campus to obtain the correct paperwork for Homeland Security.
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CLINICAL TRAINING & STUDENTS The Clinical Training Department will utilize the Argosy University email address provided to students for all electronic communications. It is simply too difficult to maintain an up-to-date database of personal email addresses and the result is poor communication and missed messages. Please make sure to activate and regularly check your Argosy email address. Clinical Training will often send attachments in email messages. Also check your “Junk Mail” box regularly. Not infrequently, emails with attachments or mass emails are incorrectly identified as junk mail. You may need to set your email filter accordingly. Please contact Academic and Student Services for assistance if you have any difficulty with utilizing your student email account. Clinical Training will also continue to update the web page with revised documents and other essential and helpful resources. Please utilize this site to download forms and manuals |
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