University of Maryland Baltimore County
University Counseling Services
Externship Program

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Objectives
The externship program is designed for doctoral students in clinical psychology and counseling psychology who are interested in developing their clinical skills and building their theoretical knowledge.  The emphasis within the training program is primarily on brief psychotherapy.  The practical application of this knowledge is in the treatment of a university population.  Supervisors utilize a number of theoretical orientations. Psychodynamic conceptualization is an integral part of staff’s work. 

Setting
The University Counseling Services serves part time and full time UMBC students.  As such, externs can expect to gain experience with a late adolescent and adult population.  UCS is an ideal setting for externs to learn to work with a wide variety of presenting concerns and broad range of diagnoses.  Additionally, the student population also offers the opportunity to work with clients from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds as UMBC is the second most diverse campus in the continental US.  The center is open 8:30-5:00 Monday thru Friday.  Occasional evening hours may be required for outreach programming.

Schedule of Weekly Activities
The externship requires from 16-20 hours per week dependent on the externs interests and the requirements of their program (This includes administrative responsibilities and supervision preparation).  The following is an outline of weekly activities.  Externs are required to be in the center on Wednesdays from 9:00 -2:00pm.  Externs may choose to work 2 days per week or 3 shorter days.  Externs will need to be available to work Tuesday or Thursday in addition to Wednesday or be available to work afternoons on Monday and Friday due to space constraints within the center.    

1. Individual Therapy (6-7 hours per week)
   Clients are generally seen once a week.  Sessions take place at the Counseling Center. All sessions with clients are audio-taped.  Audio taping equipment is provided.  Externs caseloads in the fall will be smaller and build as the semester progresses.
2. Supervision on Individual Therapy Cases (2 hours per week).  Each extern will have two supervisors which will each provide one hour of supervision.  At least one of the supervisors will be a licensed psychologist. 
3. Assessment (1-2 hour per week).  Learning to assess the client and the client’s situation so as to help them make the most of their counseling is essential to the work at the Center.  In order to provide training and supervised experience in this area, each extern will first observe intakes conducted by staff, and will later do actual intakes observed by staff and receive supervision on his/her work.  Externs will do 2-3 intakes per week in the month of September and early October (when client loads are building), and one intake per week later in the semester.  Externs may conduct independent intakes in the spring once determined that they are ready to do so by their supervisor
4. Seminars (2.5 hours per week).  Externs are required to attend.
   (a)  Selected Topics Seminar  (Wednesdays, 12:30-1:45).  This seminar focuses on a number of clinical areas in depth including: psychotherapy in a college counseling center,  work with specific populations, contemporary psychodynamic theory.  Most topics are presented by UCS staff with occasional seminars provided by outside speakers.  Readings for the seminar are generally assigned in advance of class.  The reading materials are provided by UCS.
   (b)  Brief Therapy Seminar (Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00) This seminar focuses on brief therapy models.  Case presentation is an integral part of the experience.
5. Case Conference (1 hour per week)  (Wednesdays 11-12:00).  Externs are required to attend. This conference is attended by staff members and interns in addition to externs. All attendees present a case at some point during the year and to discuss particular problems or issues related to their work with this client.
6. Outreach.  Each extern will conduct a 4 week Skills for Success program.  Additionally, each extern will be involved in 1-2 other outreach/tabling programs within the University community.
7. Assignment Meeting.  (1 hour per week)  (Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00).  Externs are required to attend.  Externs meet with the counseling center staff to review cases and decide appropriate disposition.
8. Evaluation and Feedback.  Feedback on progress will be provided in individual        
   supervision as well as more formally each semester.  Externs are evaluated based on
   their ability to establish rapport with clients, integrate theory and practice, conceptualization of clients and ability to use this understanding to help clients.

Self-Disclosure Policy
Training staff at the UMBC University Counseling Center value the power and complexity of the therapeutic relationship.  Because of this value, in our intervention, supervision, and training activities there is a focus on the “person-of-the-therapist” and how this may impact the quality and effectiveness of work with clients and consultees. Trainees may be asked to reflect upon and share the ways that their own personal qualities, experiences and reactions influence and are impacted by their clinical work in supervision and other training settings. Such exploration and disclosure is not intended to serve as psychotherapy for the trainee, and is focused on enhancing self-awareness and professional development as related to the trainee’s clinical practice during the internship. Supervisors and other training staff are expected to explore relevant information in a respectful, non-coercive manner, within the context of a safe and supportive professional relationship.
Also in accordance with APA ethics code, section 7.5, it is important for trainees to be aware that the due process procedures for our training programs indicate that the staff may require trainees to obtain psychotherapy in those cases in which a trainee is deemed problematic.

Application and Selection Procedures
Students must be enrolled in an accredited counseling psychology or clinical psychology program for the doctoral degree.  Students should have completed at least one psychotherapy practicum/field placement.  Applications must be received by February 28th.  Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early if possible. Applicants should allow one week mailing time unless using overnight mail or hand delivery.   Submit application packet to: University Counseling Services, 118 Student Success and Development Center, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD   21250.  Application includes completed application form, completed Training Director form, official transcript and two letters of recommendation. Application materials are located online at www.umbc.edu/counseling/training.   Application materials must be submitted all together in one envelope.  Transcripts and letters of recommendation should be signed across the seal.   Upon review of applications, the Coordinator of Training will arrange interviews with those applicants under consideration.