Counselor Education and Family Studies Department Policies and Procedures

Program Handbook

• Read the program handbook carefully.

• It contains important information about the program and how to proceed.

• Updated by program directors every summer.

• Consult faculty advising mentors for additional information.

Intensives

• Intensives are required for all programs.

• Involve coming to campus for a week for skills-based classes.

• Typically include 505 and 512 courses for school counseling, marriage and family, and clinical mental health programs.

• Provide opportunities to meet faculty and peers, practice skills in groups.

Group Class

• $COUC \, 512$ is a required group class where students participate in group.

• CACREP requires at least 10 hours of group experience, which this meets.

• Attendance for the entirety of the intensive is mandatory.

• Arriving late or not attending all classes is not permitted due to accreditation standards.

• Some synchronous classes meet weekly for these courses, which are still being refined.

• Attending intensives offers the opportunity to experience the Liberty campus.

Personal Counseling

• Intensives and group classes may trigger personal issues, revealing a need for personal counseling.

• Seeking counseling is normal and encouraged.

• Counselors should break the stigma around seeking mental health care.

• Recommendation to attend a few counseling sessions to understand the client perspective.

Video Assignments

• Courses include video-based assignments for assessment and basic skills practice.

• Aims to create connection and observe counselor development.

• Students often feel anxious about being on video.

• Vulnerability and openness to feedback are necessary for counselor training.

Confidentiality

• Personal information may be revealed in classes and field experiences e.g., $COUC \, 505$ and $COUC \, 512$.

• Maintaining confidentiality is crucial.

• Integrity in handling sensitive information is paramount.

Comprehensive Exams

• Programs require final/exit comprehensive exams.

  • Clinical Mental Health: CPCE (prepares for NCE) and integration exam (specific to 506 class).

  • School Counseling: Practice exam (state-determined) and portfolio.

General Guidelines

• Keep all syllabi for licensure applications.

• Create a digital folder or shared drive to store them.

• Take Notes: Taking notes is essential for information retention and preparation for the CPCE and practice exams.

• Keep textbooks, especially for the eight core areas.

Eight Core Areas

• Foundation for all counselors, regardless of specialization.

  • Professional counseling orientation and ethics.

  • Social and cultural diversity (COUC 504).

    • Consider joining AMCD (American Multicultural Counseling Division).

  • Human growth and development.

  • Career development.

  • Counseling and helping relationships (COUC 505).

  • Group counseling (COUC 512).

  • Assessment and testing.

    • School counselors: COSC 622 (assessment in schools).

    • Clinical and marriage and family: COUC 521 (assessment).

  • Research and program evaluation (COUC 515).

Practicum and Internship

• Practicum and internship are non-negotiable requirements.

• School counseling, clinical mental health, and marriage and family counseling programs differ in site selection.

  • Clinical tracks (marriage and family therapy, clinical mental health, addictions counseling): Students find their own sites.

    • Start looking early for sites for professional practice as an intern/practicum student.

    • Commitment is for an entire year (practicum to internship).

    • Practicum: 100 hours total, with 40 face-to-face hours.

    • Internship: 600 hours.

    • Apply early, prepare a resume (Career Center can assist).

  • School counseling: Sites are assigned by the Department of Education.

    • Field placement team provides assistance.

Academic Policies

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA to graduate.

• Falling below 3.0 results in academic caution.

• Must have a 3.0 GPA to enter practicum/internship.

• Maximum of two C grades allowed in the program (towards degree requirements).

• Repeat policy: Courses with a C can be retaken (new grade replaces the old), but this policy can only be used twice.

• Failure for non-attendance: Missing 22 days of class results in being dropped from the course.

  • This can have financial aid consequences.

• If unable to finish a course, contact academic advising to explore options (dropping, withdrawing).

• Missing an entire academic year is considered broken enrollment; reapplication to the program is required under the new admission standards.