Practicum Training Program
Âé¶¹Çø Counseling Services Practicum Training Program (2026-27)
Âé¶¹Çø Counseling Services promotes the emotional, interpersonal, physical, and psychological well-being of all students. Counseling Services seeks to provide effective, ethical, and professional services to help prevent, assess, and treat mental health concerns of Âé¶¹Çø students. We are committed to affirming diversity in its broadest form and to serve as an advocate for social justice in our college community. We strive to build a multicultural learning community and engage in collaborative partnerships with Student Affairs and the entire university community. Counseling Services is a department within Student Affairs and is housed in the Buehler Health and Wellness Suites
Counseling Services promotes a supportive atmosphere committed to training future counselors and psychologists. We typically host 2-3 part-time practicum training positions each academic year (August to May). These practica are available to doctoral and master's level students enrolled in Clinical or Counseling Psychology programs. There is also a stipend available to each trainee, which is approximately $1000 per academic year (before tax), intended to reimburse trainees for their travel expenses while commuting to Âé¶¹Çø. Stipends are distributed in full at the end of the academic year.
ÌýDescription of practicum training program
Counseling Services provides a wide variety of training activities and opportunities for our practicum students. ÌýOur program is designed to allow trainees to learn and develop knowledge, skills, awareness, and practical experiences related to professional work at a university counseling center. ÌýAs such, we incorporate didactic training seminars, individual and group supervision with case consultation, outreach programming, and clinical experiences into weekly training activity.
Each trainee is expected to be on site at Counseling Services for a minimum of 20 hours and three days per week during regular office hours (M-F 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). ÌýSchedules are flexible with the exception of Friday, when each trainee is required to be present for clinical case staffing, didactic seminar, group supervision/case consultation and clinical case presentations. ÌýHowever, there may be certain weeks during the year when Friday training activities are conducted virtually.
In addition to clinical experiences, outreach is an important aspect of the training program. ÌýAs such, trainees are expected to participate in these programs throughout the academic year.ÌýTrainees will also be particularly encouraged to participate in any outreach activities that align with their clinical and professional interests.
ÌýThe approximate breakdown of a typical week for trainees is as follows:
|
Time (hour) |
Training experiences |
|
10 |
Individual and group therapy |
|
2 |
Initial Consultation/Intake Assessment |
|
1 |
Individual supervisionÌý |
|
2 |
Didactic seminar and group supervision/case consultation |
|
1 |
Outreach programming |
|
4 |
Case management/paperwork |
|
20Ìý |
Weekly total |
Additional staff development opportunities for Âé¶¹Çø and/or Counseling Services staff may be available to trainees during the year. ÌýEach trainee has access to private office equipped with a desktop computer, camera/recording, encrypted flash drive, a Âé¶¹Çø email account, and an office telephone.
Individual and group therapy
DePauw's Counseling Services are available to all enrolled DePauw students. ÌýClients may present with a variety of issues, the most common being relationship problems with family or significant others, depression, anxiety, eating/body image issues, substance abuse, trauma recovery, stress management and academic concerns.
Trainees may have the opportunity to co-facilitate psychotherapy and support groups with a senior staff member.Ìý Groups offered at Counseling Services vary depending on the semester and students’ needs, and have included: Understanding Self and Others Group, Sexual Assault Survivors Support Group, Coping Skills Group, Men's Process Group, LGBTQIA+ Support Group and Anxiety Support Group.
Individual and group supervision
Our training program embraces the use of counselor self-awareness as part of our training model. We value personal exploration and expect trainees to examine the qualities and dynamics they bring to interactions with clients, peers, and other work-related relationships. ÌýWe believe such discussions, as they relate to trainees' activities throughout the year, can be particularly useful when attempting to understand transference and counter-transference issues and in facilitating professional growth. ÌýThis may call for trainees to reflect on and discuss personal reactions that might influence their clinical practice. ÌýSuch disclosure frequently occurs within a supervisory relationship characterized by safety, trust, and respect. ÌýIn addition to developing specific clinical skills, supervision includes a focus on personal exploration that is also meant to enhance a trainee’s effectiveness as a clinician.
Our culturally and professionally diverse clinical staff includes a licensed and HSPP-endorsed psychologist and four full-time licensed mental health counselors. We also work closely with a mental health and wellness educator in addition to our office manager and two part-time, consulting psychiatrists. All of our clinical staff are engaged in the training program, and we are committed to providing a quality training experience.
Didactic seminar
Didactic seminars are an integral part of the training program. ÌýThe seminar format includes discussion and process-oriented components.Ìý A wide variety of topics are covered that pertain to major areas of knowledge needed to build clinical and multicultural competencies for a clinician in training.Ìý Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
|
Ìý
Outreach
Trainees are involved in outreach programming that Counseling Services offers to the Âé¶¹Çø community each semester. ÌýTopics typically include, but are not limited to:
|
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Practicum training program brochure
How to applyÌý
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit the following materials byÌýFebruary 9, 2026 for 2026-2027 school year, via email or postal mail.
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A letter of interestÌýthat addresses the following four prompts:
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Self-Introduction: Who are you? ÌýTell us about your background, experiences, interests, , etc.
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How did you become interested in pursuing graduate work in psychology? ÌýWhat are your professional career goals?
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What interests you about completing a practicum at aÌýuniversity counseling center?Ìý Is thereÌýanything specific about Âé¶¹Çø Counseling Services that appeals to you?
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What experiences have you had (paid/unpaid or formal/informal) that have helped prepare you for working inÌýtheÌýcounseling profession?Ìý
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A current CV/resume
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Two completedÌýrecommendation forms – templates available atÌýRecommendationÌýForm (Word) and RecommendationÌýFrom (PDF)
Please submit your materials and direct any questions to:
Heather Woodall, Office Manager
Âé¶¹Çø Counseling Services
Buehler Health and Wellness Suites, 1 East Olive, Lilly Center, 2033
Greencastle, IN 46135
Phone: (765) 658-4268
Email:Ìýheatherwoodall@depauw.edu
We look forward to hearing from you!
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