UCS collaborates with the University of Iowa Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations within the College of Education to offer practicum placements to Counseling Psychology doctoral students. Typically, doctoral students from this program participate in two consecutive semesters (1 academic year) of practicum.  

 Beginning and Advanced Practicum Opportunities:  
Counseling Psychology doctoral students who are engaging in initial phases of their clinical training are considered Beginning Practicum students at UCS. Beginning Practicum students will primarily provide individual psychotherapy to University of Iowa students within the short-term model of therapy offered at UCS. Beginning Practicum students can also expect to have other clinical training opportunities to supplement their individual caseload, including but not limited to: engaging in observation of psychosocial assessments, structured intake interviews; learning to conduct thorough risk assessments; observing case management services and providing referrals and follow-up to clients as needed; observe and/or cofacilitate outreach programming such as support groups, workshops, mental health topical presentations, and tabling events; engage in process observation of group psychotherapy.  

As Beginning Practicum students make progress through their first semester and begin their second semester of practicum at UCS, they transition to being considered Advanced Practicum students. With this shift, Advanced Practicum students can expect their caseload number to increase slightly and include more clinical complexity. If an Advanced Practicum student has engaged in process observation of group therapy in the spring semester, they may be eligible to move towards co-facilitating a therapy group with a licensed clinician. Similarly, students who demonstrate readiness and advanced competencies in psychosocial assessments and intake interviews may be eligible to progress towards facilitating their own psychosocial assessments and intakes, supervised by their primary clinical supervisor. Such training decisions will be made in collaboration with the Training Director, Assistant Training Director, and the student’s clinical supervisor.   

All practicum trainees will engage in both mid- and end-of-semester advisory meetings in the fall and spring semesters. These meetings are designed to offer space for the practicum student to receive structured feedback by each member of their supervisors and allow space for the student to provide feedback to UCS about their training experiences, goals, and needs. Faculty from the Counseling Psychology program will be invited to these meetings. 

Specialty Advanced Practicum Opportunity:  

Counseling Psychology students who either complete a year of practicum at UCS and wish to remain and/or return to UCS for an additional year of training in the future, or are in advanced standing within their home program and wish to train at UCS after completing practicums at other sites previously, will be considered Specialty Advanced Practicum students. These advanced year students will have opportunity to select from several clinical emphasis areas to train in across both semesters; examples include training in eating disorder treatment, TLDP, ACT, group therapy, outreach, work with diverse identities or clinical presentations, etc. These areas of specialized training are subject to supervisor availability and will be discussed during practicum interviews.  

Depending on trainee interest and/or developmental need, they may also participate in weekly interdisciplinary group supervision and didactic spaces with other practicum trainees at UCS. This is especially likely if the advanced trainee has never trained at UCS or another university counseling center setting in the past. 

Commitment and Caseload: 

All Counseling Psychology doctoral practicum students invest 16 hours per week. As Beginning Practicum students in the fall semester, students typically carry a caseload of six individual clients. During the spring semester, the students typically carry a caseload of eight individual clients. The number of individual clients will fluctuate depending on other training opportunities a student is engaging in during a particular semester (e.g. process observing group therapy, observation of psychosocial assessments or case management appointments, etc.).  

All practicum students will engage in 1 hour of weekly individual supervision with their primary clinical supervisor. In addition to weekly one-hour individual supervision with their primary clinical supervision, Beginning and Advanced Practicum students will be expected to participate in a weekly two-hour interdisciplinary seminar with other practicum students from different training programs represented at UCS. This two-hour block will contain both case conference and didactic portions. If engaging in group therapy process observation or facilitation, an additional half-hour of supervision will be added with the licensed clinician running the group. Additional changes to time commitment or caseload will be made in consultation with the Training Director, Assistant Training Director, and the student’s primary clinical supervisor.  

Students will engage in video recording of all their clinical work, unless otherwise directed or approved by their clinical supervisor. 

There will be a 2-day required orientation during the week prior to the beginning of Fall classes for counseling psychology doctoral practicum students. Participation between semesters will be optional. Practicum students may be placed within the UCS main location at Westlawn or in one of several embedded locations on campus. Dates for the coming year’s orientation will be determined and communicated to students during the interview phase of the spring semester prior to practicum beginning in the fall. 

Selection Process 

The selection process for all Counseling Psychology doctoral practicum students at any level of practicum will occur within the spring semester each year. Prospective practicum students will engage in an interview at UCS to discern their developmental training level and for students to reflect on and communicate their hopes for their training and supervision experiences. If you have additional questions, please contact Marie Adams, Ph.D., UCS Assistant Training Director and Psychology Practicum Coordinator at marie-adams@uiowa.edu. 

UCS collaborates with the University of Iowa School of Social Work to offer both Generalist and Clinical Specialist practicum opportunities. More information on the application process, and requirements for these practicum types are available through the School of Social Work on IPT: http://www.runipt.com/ and details on School of Social Work timelines and forms are located here: https://socialwork.uiowa.edu/practicum-education/placement-search-process-and-timelines.  

The selection process for the Generalist practicum will occur mid Fall and the selection process for the Clinical Specialist practicum will occur mid spring each year. Below is detailed information on what students can expect in each practicum type at UCS. If you have additional questions, please contact Heidi Schmitt, LISW, UCS Assistant Director of Special Projects and Social Work Practicum Coordinator at heidi-r-reynolds@uiowa.edu.  

Generalist Practicum Opportunity: 
Generalist practicum students will have the opportunity to provide case management services and outreach programming for university students. For case management appointments, practicum students will meet directly with student clients, assess the clients' needs and resources, provide referrals and follow up as needed. Students will attend, observe, and facilitate outreach programming such as support groups, workshops, and other mental health presentations. Students will also support the planning of large mental health events such as Mental Health Around the World and may work closely with student organizations and campus partners to support mental health prevention and awareness on campus. Students will participate in a weekly two-hour interdisciplinary seminar which has both case conference and didactic portions. 

Students will have opportunities to gain experience specialized skills around risk assessment, health promotion and program assessment working closely with supervisors in specialty areas such as social media, mental health event planning, care coordination and crisis assessment.  These skills serve as a clear foundation for moving into a specialist practicum in either clinical or leadership specialization.  

Students will engage in video recording of all their clinical work, unless otherwise directed or approved by their clinical supervisor. 

There will be a 1-day required orientation during the week prior to the beginning of Spring classes. Practicum students may be placed within the UCS main location at Westlawn or in one of several embedded locations on campus. Orientation dates will be communicated during the interview phase. 

Clinical Specialist Practicum Opportunity: 
Specialist practicum students will have the opportunity to provide direct clinical services such as psychotherapy, group counseling, clinical case management as well as outreach programming for university students. Students will video record their provision of psychotherapy so that they can receive feedback through individual and group supervision. Practicum students will largely provide independent psychotherapy services using a brief therapy model. Practicum students will also observe and conduct psychosocial assessments with increasing independence throughout the year. For case management appointments, the practicum students will meet directly with student clients, assess the clients' needs and resources, and provide referrals. Students will attend, observe, and facilitate outreach programming such as support groups, workshops, and other mental health presentations. Students will participate in a weekly two-hour interdisciplinary seminar which has both case conference and didactic portions.  

UCS offers several unique opportunities for specialist practicum students. Students will have opportunities to gain experience and implement specialized skills for risk assessment skills within psychosocial assessment and case management. Students may also collaborate with supervisors in several specialty areas such as trauma, eating disorders, grief/loss, or substance use. The skills developed at UCS are highly transferable to other practice settings. Historically, many practicum students have continued to work at UCS after graduation. 

Students will engage in video recording of all their clinical work, unless otherwise directed or approved by their clinical supervisor. 

There will be a 2-day required orientation during the week prior to the beginning of Fall classes for clinical specialist practicum students. Participation between semesters will be optional. Practicum students may be placed within the UCS main location at Westlawn or in one of several embedded locations on campus. Dates for the coming year’s orientation will be determined and communicated to students during the interview phase of the spring semester prior to practicum beginning in the fall. 

Students who are enrolled in the University of Iowa’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are eligible to apply for placement at University Counseling Service for their practicum and internship.  

Selection Process and Caseload 

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students should apply for a placement during the early part of the spring semester. Please submit your portfolio materials as instructed by your faculty. Interviews will take place in mid-February to early-March.   

During students’ fall practicum placement, students carry a caseload of approximately six individual clients and receive an hour of weekly individual supervision. Practicum counselors will also take part in a 2-hour weekly interdisciplinary group practicum seminar, consisting of case conference and didactic elements. Practicum students also offer regular outreach a prevention programming. As time allows, practicum students may also observe or co-facilitate interpersonal process therapy groups, support groups, or psychoeducational workshops.  Practicum students may shadow psychosocial assessments. Practicum activities are designed to total 150 total hours (60 direct). 

During students’ spring internship placement, students carry a caseload of approximately 15 individual clients and receive an hour of weekly individual supervision.  Clinical Mental Health Counseling interns will shadow and work towards facilitation of psychosocial assessments. They will also offer interpersonal process therapy groups, support groups, or psychoeducational workshops.  Clinical Mental Health Counseling interns will continue to participate in the weekly 2-hour interdisciplinary group practicum seminar, which includes case conference and didactic elements. Internship activities are designed to total 600 total hours (240 direct). 

Students will engage in video recording of all their clinical work, unless otherwise directed or approved by their clinical supervisor.  

There will be a 2-day required orientation during the week prior to the beginning of Fall classes for clinical mental health counseling practicum students. Participation between semesters will be optional. Practicum students may be placed within the UCS main location at Westlawn or in one of several embedded locations on campus. Dates for the coming year’s orientation will be determined and communicated to students during the interview phase of the spring semester prior to practicum beginning in the fall.