Psy 499 Psychology Internship Spring 2008
Dr. Lorna Catford phone: 664-2402
Office: Stevenson 3087 fax: 664-3113
Office hours: By Appointment e-mail: lorna.catford@sonoma.edu
General Information
• The focus of your work will be the time you spend in a community agency or similar setting, applying what you've learned in the classroom in a "real life" situation.
• You will receive 1 unit of credit for each 45 hours worked during the semester. On average that is three hours per week for fifteen weeks. You may enroll for up to 4 units per semester; up to 8 units total.
• Please note that Psych. 499 is offered for CR/NC only. You cannot take it for a grade. It DOES count towards your Upper Division psychology major units.
Learning Objectives
This course is designed to provide the opportunity to:
- Apply your theoretical knowledge and training in an actual field placement;
- Understand the responsibilities, ethics and boundaries of applied psychological work;
- Set and meet appropriate personal and professional development goals;
- Become familiar with the philosophy and objectives of the agency at which you work;
- Develop counseling or other skills appropriate to the specific agency;
- Understand the application of psychological practice in the context of broader social issues and contexts;
- Participate effectively in collaborative case discussions;
- Clarify possible continuing educational and career directions.
Prerequisites
You must complete at least one of the following prerequisites:
- Prior relevant course-work
- Prior relevant applied psychological experience
- Already have a position you wish to make into an internship
To Apply and Register
1. Come to a required Information Meeting. If you have previously completed a Psych 499 internship, you need not attend.
2. Fill out an Internship Application available through the Psychology Department’s Internship page (Web link at foot of this page) or in the Internship File Cabinet in the Psychology Office, Stevenson 3092. Return it, signed by your academic advisor, to Lorna Catford, Stev. 3087, or in her Psych. Office mail box, Stev. 3092, well before the end of the add/drop period. To be eligible, you must have completed at least one of the prerequisites listed on the Application.
3. Obtain an approved placement (paid or unpaid) which has a field supervisor. If your Internship is your regular job, you must select new skills to develop so there is an element of learning to it.
• You may do this on your own; or from information (a) accessible from the Psychology Internship Home Page; (b) on the Internship Bulletin Board (near Stevenson 3092); (c) in the Internship File in the Psychology Office (small black file cabinet at left end of office); or (d) at the Career Resource Center (Salazar 1070), in any Internship Binder (they have internships listed by area, so an education or criminal justice or other one might suit you), or one of the Job Binders.
For further information see the Psychology Internship home page: http://www.sonoma.edu/psychology/internships
4. Complete an Internship Agreement, (Get from Psych. Office or Internship Information Meeting). This is your contract. At the Information Meeting we can help with this.
5. Turn in your completed Internship Agreement (except for Class # at top right & final 3 signatures), with the signature of your on-site supervisor, to Dr. Lorna Catford by the end of the add/drop period, but sooner is better!
• We will get the required SSU signatures for you and send your Internship Agreement to Admissions & Records to register you. (Aren’t we kind?) Don’t do anything, except check that it’s on your schedule after add/drop period. You cannot add it on line!!!
• You may register for up to 16 units in Reg 1. If your internship will put you over 20 units in Reg 2 or later, you MUST complete and attach the Petition for more than 20 units, available from the Psych Office or Admissions & Records. If you go over these totals or don’t petition, you will NOT be registered!
• If you need to have your Internship units on your class schedule ASAP for any reason, please write “Financial Aid (or “Residency” or whatever) – Please expedite” at the top of your Internship Agreement form, and submit it ASAP.
Recommended Texts
Faiver, C., Eisengart, S., & Colonna, R. (2004). The counselor intern’s handbook. (3rd Ed.) Thomson.
Information about most elements of counseling, including how to deal with many specific challenges.
Kiser, P. M. (2004). The human services internship. (2nd Ed.) Thomson.
Detailed “How-To” manual on issues you’ll face as an intern and as a counselor.
Class Meetings (4 Required)
You must attend FOUR meetings: one Information Meeting, followed by three Supervision Meetings.
These meetings will cover the following topics in a collaborative case-conference style where you present at leas one professional development topic or question for discussion, and students (and instructor) respond with ideas and questions to allow you to assess your situation and develop a plan for proceeding:
- Confidentiality
- Reporting abuse
- Professional conduct
- Boundaries
- Appreciation of diverse populations
- Communication and listening skills
- Individual & group counseling techniques
- Skill & confidence building
- Stress management
- Appropriate endings
Please choose ONE Supervision Section (the first Monday afternoon, first Wednesday morning, or first Wednesday lunch-time of the month). If you should miss a Supervision meeting, you MUST attend the Make-Up Meeting to receive credit for the class!!!
Information Meetings for Spring 2008: You MUST attend one of these
• Thur Jan 31, 5-6 p.m., Stevenson 3070
• Tues Feb 5, 9-10 a.m., Stevenson 3070
• Fri Feb 8, 12-1, Stevenson 3070
YOU MUST ATTEND ONE OF THESE MEETINGS IF YOU WANT AN INTERNSHIP THIS FALL.
Select one of the following Supervision Series (A set of 3 REQUIRED once-a-month meetings):
A. Tuesday Morning Supervision Section: • Tues Feb 26, 8.40-10 a.m.,Stevenson
(Last Tuesday of the month) • Tues Mar 25, 8.40-10 a.m.,Stev
• Tues Apr 29, 8.40-10 a.m.,Stev
OR
B. Thursday Afternoon Supervision Section: • Thurs Feb 28, 4.40-6 p.m., Stevenson
(Last Thursday of the month) • Thurs Mar 27, 4.40-6 p.m., Stev.
• Thurs Apt 24, 4.40-6 p.m., Stev.
OR
C. Friday Lunch Time Supervision Section: • Fri Feb 29, 11.40-1, Stevenson
(Last Frday of the month) • Fri Mar 28, 11.40-1, Stev.
• Fri Apr 25, 11.40-1, Stev.
Make-Up Meeting (For any missed Supervision Mtg.): • Thursday May 8, 4.40-6 p.m., Stevenson
It’s your responsibility to tell me as soon as possible your 1st and 2nd choice of Supervision Section (A, B or C). Since I need to balance class size, the sooner you tell me, the morel likely you’ll get your 1st choice. If you don’t tell me, you’ll be placed in the smallest section. If you don’t receive a call or e-mail to confirm your section by the week before your first meeting, you must see the Internship Board near the Psychology Office or contact me for this information.
Course Requirements
1. Apply for and be accepted to Psych. 499.
2. Obtain an approved placement which has a field supervisor. If your Internship is your regular job, you must select new skills to develop so there is an element of learning to it.
3. Complete the Internship Agreement, with your & your field supervisor’s signatures. Turn it in to Lorna Catford.
4. Attend on-campus Information (1) and Supervision (3) Meetings (if you miss a Supervision Meeting, you MUST attend the Make-Up Meeting!!!)
5. Turn in your Entrance Paper at your first Supervision Meeting.
6. Do your Field Work throughout the semester & record your hours on the Psy 499 Time Log.
7. Turn in Exit Paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting. Please include (1) the Internship Summary Page (2) your Time Log signed by your supervisor, (3) Checklist Evaluation from your supervisor, plus (4) a Statement or Evaluation from your supervisor on agency letter-head, to verify that you’ve put in the number of hours required at that agency.
Entrance Paper
Due at your First Supervision Meeting. 1 page, double-spaced, typed.
1. Data: (a) Your name, (b) Your placement, (c) Your field supervisor, (d) Your specific duties.
2. Please say something about your Goals, Expectations, and Concerns regarding your internship placement. What interesting possibilities do you see that you might open up which are not part of the explicitly stated duties? How does it connect with your interests and passions? What issues concern you? What do you hope to learn?
On-Campus Supervision Meetings (3 Required for Credit)
Please think about each meeting before you actually show up to these working case-conferences.
At one or more meetings you are required to share your experiences, especially your challenges, so all participants gain from brainstorming concerns, and also get a glimpse of a variety of placements.
Issues that you might like to discuss may include: how to work with your clients, especially challenges; concerns you are reluctant to talk about with your field supervisor; or even problems with co-workers or with your supervisor. Our goal is to collaboratively be supportive and helpful in regard to all these kinds of issues. You are expected to participate each time, providing feedback and brainstorming for your classmates’ concerns.
Everything discussed is confidential. Your participation in the Internship program implies your agreement to keep professional confidentiality.
Exit Paper
Please turn in this typed, double-spaced paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting. Make sure to include your Internship Summary, Time Log, Evaluation & Letter.
Please provide the following information at the top of the page:
- Your Name
- Date
- Your Placement Agency
- Your field Supervisor's Name
Please answer the 1st 3 questions in about a paragraph each, and write a 2-3 page reflective response to Question 4, making sure to label and address each sub-topic.
1. What are the goals of this agency, or the particular unit of it in which you participated?
2. Briefly describe what you actually did.
3. In your estimation, how did your Internship benefit your clients? Please be specific.
4. Both personally and professionally, what did you learn from your internship experience? Please identify specific skills, content, attitude shifts, personal “stretching”, and other learning.
Internship Summary Page (Please submit with your Exit Paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting)
Part 1:
This page (available on-line or in the Psychology office’s Internship File Cabinet), will be kept on file in the Psychology Office for reference by future students seeking internships. Please briefly provide the following:
• Your name
• Your placement, including specific unit and location.
• Your field supervisor's name & contact information.
• The population you work with. (Be specific – e.g., "Level 14 severely emotionally disturbed adolescents with a history of violence for whom this residential program is the last stop before jail," or "Dual diagnosed (mental health/developmental disabilities) adults at a county day treatment center.")
• Would you recommend this placement to other students in the future? Why or why not?
• What qualities do you think a student needs to be successful in this position? What kind of person do you think would have a hard time in this position?
Time Log (Please submit with your Exit Paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting)
Make sure your supervisor signs your log of hours worked. If you have not yet completed the number of hours you registered for, you may project ahead to the hours you will complete, with permission of your supervisor, who should add a comment on the Time Log that you will in fact do the work.
Supervisor’s Evaluation (Please submit with your Exit Paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting)
You will receive a short evaluation form for your supervisor to complete. If you have her/him do this around mid-semester, you can use it as an opportunity to hone your skills, and submit a revised one at the end.
Supervisor’s Letter (Please submit with your Exit Paper on or before the Make-Up Meeting)
At the start of your internship, let your supervisor know that you will need a final letter from him or her, written on the agency’s letterhead paper.
I suggest that you ask for a detailed (and glowing!) “To whom It May Concern” letter of recommendation that you can use with your résumé when applying for jobs or graduate school. Keep the original and hand in a copy for this class.
Alternately, the letter may be brief -- a simple statement on agency letterhead that you fulfilled your obligations. If you’ll continue in your internship and might need an “official” letter of recommendation later, or if your supervisor is unable to write a recommendation, select this option.
You may turn in assignments at your final Supervision Meeting or any time prior to the Make-Up Meeting if you wish. Some students ask their supervisor for the letter earlier so they get it for sure by the deadline.
Teaching or Research Assistant Opportunity
The internship program is kept up to date by student RAs and TAs who contact agencies, enter agency data into the computer, and assist with the supervision groups. If you are interested in receiving credit for doing this, please see Lorna Catford.
Requirements: Responsibility
Ability to follow through on commitments
Experience in an internship
Benefits: Getting to know the local agencies and their needs
Data entry and Web management experience
Teaching / Group Facilitation experience.
For further information see the Psychology Internship
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