PURPOSE OF FIELD EXPERIENCES
Field experiences are part of all graduate-level counseling programs, with internships marking the synthesis and culmination of the academic preparation to become a professional counselor. These field experiences provide Counselors-In-Training (CITs) with an opportunity to demonstrate and improve knowledge and skills learned in the classroom setting. During the MHS 6401: Counseling Techniques course, the focus is on developing individual counseling micro skills and interviewing skills such as active listening. The MHS 6800 Practicum course experience represents the first field experience in which CITs see actual clients. Practicum requires a total of 100 hours, 40 of which must be in direct service (counseling services provided directly to actual clients). CITs must receive a passing grade in Practicum to progress to Internship. The first Practicum happens at the Community Counseling & Education Center (CCEC).
Internships provide supervised learning experiences to meet the professional needs and goals of the CIT while providing a service to the site. During internships, the focus is on face-to-face direct service including individual, group, couple, and/or family counseling as well as indirect service hours that enable the intern to learn about site operations and practices including assessment, staff meetings, professional development, budgets, and reimbursement, record keeping, and other information that helps a student move toward becoming a professional in the field. Students must complete a cumulative total of at least 600 internship hours, 240 of which must be direct counseling hours, usually over the course of multiple semesters. The first internship continues at the CCEC. Some CITs move to community sites for their second internship.
Interns must also have an opportunity to perform various other professional activities, such as the opportunity to make audio or video recordings with clients for supervision (using Supervision Assist) or be directly observed and evaluated, and the opportunity to be exposed to professional literature, research, information, assessment instruments, technology, data, student/client records, and print and non-print media.
On-site experience should include but is not limited to:
• Participating in orientation to the agency/site.
• Providing individual and group counseling (as appropriate to prior course preparation).
• Consulting with other professionals or client systems.
• Engaging in intake and/or initial assessment procedures.
• Providing psychoeducational activities.
• Engaging in other activities specific to the setting (such as presentations, staff meetings, or coordination for counselors).
• Training for site or specialized counseling techniques (e.g. attend in-service training sessions, if available).
Field Experience Links
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Field Experience Required Hours
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Field Experience Manual
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Supervision Resources
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Hosting Site Information
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Information about Clinical Mental Health Counseling field experiences is available
by contacting
Eileen Cherbini, MA, LMHC, NCC, ACS- Clinical Coordinator/Supervisor, echerbini@fgcu.edu or call 239-590-1380.
Internship Sites
Clinical Mental Health Sites: This is a sampling of sites that host our Counselors-in-Training (CITs) during their internships.
- AB&C Therapeutic Solutions
- Abuse Counseling and Treatment Center (ACT)
- AVOW
- Big Cypress Counseling, LLC
- Charlotte Behavioral Health Care
- Children's Advocacy Center of Naples
- Children’s Advocacy Center of SW Florida
- Community Health Partners - Emotional Wellness
- Counseling of Southwest Florida
- De La Salle Academy
- Elite DNA
- Family Resource Center of SW Florida
- FGCU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- FGCU Community Counseling & Education Center (CCEC)
- Florida Art Therapy Services, LLC
- Lee Health System
- Nextstep Counseling and Clinical Services
- Pace Center for Girls, Lee County
- Peace Therapy, LLC
- Prisma Recovery Center
- Project Help, Inc.
- Restoration Counseling
- SalusCare
- School District of Lee County
- Second Mile Education
- Sunshine State Counseling Center
- Veterans Affairs - Bay Pines
- Wellpath Behavioral and Psychological Services
