Internship in Counseling
Supervised Counseling Internship Introduction
Students are required to complete an internship in an appropriate agency setting as part of their academic training. It is anticipated that this work experience will provide the student with an opportunity to put into practice the theoretical concepts and skills learned in their course work.
The student and university profit from the internship experience in that the student is given the opportunity to put into practice, theory and skills learned in the classroom. The university’s responsibility is not completed until the students have realistically tried out what they have learned, and feel confident in facing the challenges of the counseling profession.
In addition to providing practical experience to the counseling intern, it is expected that the sponsoring agency will also benefit from the internship experience. The student comes to the agency with an enthusiasm for learning and a willingness to accept guidance and direction from established professionals. Following the orientation and observation phases of the internship, it is anticipated that the counseling intern should be ready to function semi-independently, and carry out many of the duties and responsibilities of a counselor.
In some cases this transition may be difficult, and in most cases it involves testing theory against practice. It provides each student with the opportunity to determine his/her own strengths and weaknesses. If this transition is made with adequate supervision, the student will find greater strength and security in what he/she is doing. Thus, the student has the opportunity to make an adaptation to the professional life he/she is about to enter.
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