School Counseling Internship

Important Points for School Counseling Internships

  • To enroll in COU 596-School Counseling Internship students must have completed COU 594-Practicum.
  • Individuals who have a Master's degree in Counseling and are pursuing school counseling licensure endorsement may also enroll.
  • A copy of the Internship Agreement form must be completed, signed and turned in to your Internship supervisor prior to beginning Internship
  • Students must have proof of liability insurance prior to beginning Internship.
  • Students must complete a total of six credit hours and 600 field experience hours with 240 of those 600 hours being client contact hours. A list of appropriate and acceptable activities is in your internship packet from class.
  • Students may not use the same supervisor that they employ for their regular employment.
  • Site supervisors must have a school counseling license/certification and have at least two years of experience as a school counselor.
  • Internships provide students with opportunities to gain supervised experience through the use of a variety of professional resources including assessment, consultation, individual and group counseling, workshops, individual and group guidance activities, referral services, computer work, classroom activities, etc.
  • Students should locate an internship(s) site that reflects their career goals and they should interview as well as be interviewed by school personnel to make sure it is a "good fit" for both parties. Samples of interview questions are enclosed on-line.
  • Site supervisors are responsible for completing all written evaluations and communicating with the faculty internship supervisor when needed. Site supervisors will work to expose the intern to every possible aspect of their school counseling job.
  • The site supervisor will provide a minimum of one hour of live individual supervision per week.
  • Students are required to meet with the faculty internship supervisor and other interns during seminars in the internship class.
  • Students will receive a Pass or Fail grade for this class
  • Students are responsible for making sure that all evaluations and documentation paperwork are completed and turned into the internship supervisor prior to the end of the semester.
  • Ultimately, students are responsible to know and understand the contents of their graduate catalog and their internship handbook as they relate to successful completion of their Internship(s).

Examples of School Counselor Activities

Curriculum - Structured Groups/classroom Presentations*
  • Test interpretation, orientation, and proctoring
  • Co-facilitate group
  • Assist in developing a developmental, comprehensive school counseling program
  • Assist with peer tutoring/assistance programs
  • Assist with scholarships and financial aid
  • Provide in-service training for teachers on topics of interest
  • Plan a peer mediation program
  • Attend financial aid workshop
  • Provide scholarship, college information to students
  • Provide career information

** Thc academic, career, and personal/social domains will be integrated within the curricular units.

Individual Planning - Advisement/Assessment/Placement/Follow-up
  • Course advising for classes and career planning
  • Computer career information - work with students on the Ohio Career Information System (OCIS)
  • Test interpretation
  • Individual Counseling
  • Discuss college information with students
  • Assist with students on home instruction
  • Assist with IEPs and 504 plans
  • Meet with students to discuss credits
  • Send notes to students
  • Counsel students regarding vocational programs and career interests
  • Registration of new students and course advisement
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Responsive Services - Individual/Group/Consultation/Referral
  • Assist with at-risk students and referral processes
  • Assist with peer tutoring/assistance programs
  • Provide consultation with teachers, parents, etc.
  • Consult on PSOP with interested parties
  • Assist with kindergarten screening and placement decisions
  • Review student grades and class placement/counsel with students

 

System Support - Management/Public Relations/Community Outreach

  • Meet with area agencies
  • Compile a listing of area agencies and available services
  • Research and present information on effective parenting techniques
  • Review school mission statement
  • Develop a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program
  • Attend area counselor meetings
  • Attend in-service on confidentiality with non-certified staff
  • Assist with weekly/monthly guidance statistics
  • Assist with crisis intervention plans
  • Meet with members of the board of education to discuss counseling activities
  • Attend a Board of Education Meeting
  • Meet with college representatives
  • Attend workshops/conferences dealing with school counseling issues
  • Plan a peer mediation program
  • Attend IEP meetings
  • Participate in the Professional Development Committee
  • Prepare transcripts for college applications
  • Write letters of recommendation
  • Meet with representatives of the military
  • Prepare school profile for college applications
  • Assist in counseling department public relations.