Supervised CACREP Accredited Internship
The purpose of the internship is to allow counseling students to apply their knowledge, skills, and professional values to professional practice settings specific to their chosen specialization. The experience provides an opportunity to integrate theory and practice within a professional setting such as a local community organization or healthcare facility, school, or university counseling center. The internship is a reciprocal arrangement: students exchange their work in return for on-the-job training and experience in the field within an approved internship site. The end result is ultimately the promotion of professional development, integration of skills and knowledge, and reinforcement of professional competence.
The counseling setting, the interaction of staff and clients, the realities and responsibilities of the helping process, and the conscious application of ethical principles combine to promote personal knowledge and commitment to enter the counseling field. As with practicum, students must carry professional liability insurance before participating in an internship experience.
Students may choose to complete their 600 hours of CACREP-accredited internship (for a particular specialization) at up to 2 sites per semester and in 1 or 2 semesters. Students must register for at least 3 credits of internship per semester. Group supervision seminars for internships are at most 12 students, per CACREP standards. Students select internship sites with faculty approval. Internship courses are only offered in the fall and spring semesters.
Internship Content Overview
Students complete supervised internship experiences that total a minimum of 600 clock hours. Internship includes the following:
- a minimum of 40% of the 600 clock hours to be direct service work with clientele appropriate to the student’s specialization;
- a minimum of 1 hour per week of individual supervision with an approved on-site supervisor;
- an average of 1.5 hours per week of faculty supervision on a regular schedule on campus in a classroom setting that counts towards the total internship hours;
- opportunities for the student to become familiar with professional activities other than direct service;
- opportunities for digital/audio/video recording of counselor-client interactions for use in supervision or live supervision;
- opportunities for the student to gain knowledge and experience through client contact and supervision in the use of professional tools and resources such as assessment instruments, computer systems, and print and non-print media, as well as professional research and theory literature; and
- a mid-term and final formal evaluation of the student’s performance during the internship by the site supervisor with consultation provided by the CCD faculty internship supervisor.
Quality Direct Supervision
Each site supervisor who provides internship supervision must have met the criteria to be set as an approved site supervisor. An approved site supervisor meets the following criteria:
- a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related profession;
- relevant certifications and/or licenses;
- Clinical Mental Health specialization – Hold full licensure of approved licensure in the state of Colorado: LPC, LCSW, LP, LMFT.
- School Counseling specialization – School counseling license approved by the Colorado Department of Education.
- Career Counseling specialization – Either holds full licensure of approved licensure in the state of Colorado: LPC, LCSW, LP, LMFT; OR relevant certifications pending the environment the internship is held.
- a minimum of two years of pertinent professional experience in the specialty area in which the student is enrolled;
- knowledge of the program’s expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students;
- relevant training in counseling supervision
- Clinical Mental Health specialization – Must follow Colorado HB20-1206 requirements outlining minimum requirements for clinical supervisors. Check out the Colorado Counseling Association 3-3-4 Rule guideline for more information.
Internship sites
Quality Faculty Supervision
Each faculty member who provides on-campus practicum supervision has a degree from a program in counselor education or a closely related field, relevant professional experience, relevant professional credentials, and counseling supervision training and experience. Group supervision seminars for internship are at most 12 students, per CACREP standards.
Tevera – Fieldwork Management Software
As a part of the program fee, students entering practicum are provided with a Tevera online account. Tevera is an online fieldwork education management software that the CCD program has adopted. The Tevera portal assists in the management of internship experiences. Students and site supervisors use Tevera throughout the program to engage in various fieldwork and program tasks and access their semesterly student reviews completed by their site supervisors. Additionally, upon graduation, CCD alums are granted lifetime access to a Tevera alum account which can be used to track hours toward state licensure.
Current CCD Students
More information can be found by reviewing the program handbook and modules within the CCD Advising Portal by logging in with your ColoState NetID.