NJCU Counseling Center - Clinical Training ProgramThe Counseling Center provides a variety of services and resources, which promote the enhancement of mental, emotional, psychological, and developmental well-being of students at NJCU. The services offered are short-term individual counseling, couples counseling, workshops, support groups, Let’s Talk, crisis intervention and resources, and case management/referrals.

The core of our training program consists of staff who provide opportunities for master’s level graduate students studying counseling and social work. Below is a summary of the training and service opportunities available during the internship experience, including instructions for applying and/or inquiring about the program. 

Internship Experience

1. On site
   1. One candidate will be chosen to work on site at the NJCU Counseling Center with the expectation that they participate weekly supervision, case conference, and check ins with the director of the Counseling Center.
   2. Candidates chosen for this position will be trained in Counseling Center emergency protocols.
2. Remote
   1. One candidate will be chosen to work remotely (via Doxy.me) with the expectation that they participate in weekly supervision, case conference, and check ins with the director of the Counseling Center.
   2. Candidates chosen for this position will be trained in after-hours emergency protocols. 
   3. Evening hours preferred.
   4. Candidate encouraged to attend on site events when available.
3. Residence Life
   1. One candidate will be chosen to work in West Campus village with the expectation that they will participate in weekly supervision, case conference, and check ins with the director of the Counseling Center.
   2. Candidates chosen for this position will be trained in Counseling Center and Residence Life emergency protocols.
   3. Candidate will facilitate RA support group or other group depending on student need.

Please note that the intern’s weekly schedule will vary depending on the requirements of the trainee’s academic program. Each intern will receive on-site training and be engaged in professional development opportunities. Additionally, if the program requires video or audio recordings of sessions, the center highly recommends audio recordings be conducted to ensure confidentiality. 

Individual Counseling

• Intakes, 1-2 hours per week
• Individual clients, 10-12 hours per week
• Organizational/Preparation Time (notes, outreach, etc.), 2-3 hours

Supervision/Training

• Individual, 1 hour
• Clinical meeting/case conference, 1 hour 

How many hours/weeks are expected of an intern? Two to three days a week is preferred depending upon the needs of the program.

Do you provide a stipend? If so, how much: Any grant money that is available will be discussed during the interview.

Types of Services

Intake

Practicum students participate in initial intake assessments of students. The intake session offers the practicum student a range of training experiences, including assessing student risk, conducting bio-psycho-social assessments, and creating diagnostic impressions of a student’s concerns.

Individual Counseling

The Counseling Center offers students the opportunity to handle counseling with a variety of undergraduate students. Student issues cover a variety of concerns (e.g., depression, college pressures, anxiety, stress, etc.). Individual counseling consists of 6 short-term sessions, with the possibility of extending this longer if the center does not have a waitlist or based on clinical need. Students will predictably meet with 10 to 12 individual clients weekly with the possibility of seeing at least one client the entire semester (14 weeks).

Group Therapy

Students are provided with the opportunity to facilitate or co-facilitate group counseling sessions. A co-facilitator will have the option to collaborate with another staff member, counselor, or intern at the center in implementing strategies and leading group sessions. You will develop the counseling skills that are significant to group therapy and share the responsibility of creating a safe, supportive environment with another member at the center. Students are highly encouraged to present ideas for implementation of groups based on needs that arise throughout the semester.

Outreach

We encourage students to become involved or assist us in multiple aspects of our outreach programming. The Counseling Center provides planned presentations, training sessions, tabling, and/or event support as a collaborative effort with other departments/campus community. We also encourage practicum students to assist us in event planning and suggest ideas beneficial to outreach efforts.

Crisis Intervention (Let’s Talk)

Let’s Talk provides students with informal, one-on-one confidential 25-minute sessions. These one-time, 25-minute sessions are not meant to be a substitute for psychotherapy, but rather a meeting with a counselor that is goal oriented.

Students will have the opportunity of working with students who are dealing with personal issues deemed as tense, traumatic, or a situation that is a crisis. Internship students will be able to provide confidential 25-minute sessions to aid students with specific personal concerns (e.g., relationship conflicts, advice regarding disagreement with a roommate, stress management skills, academic struggles).

Supervision

Each student receives one to two hours of individual supervision weekly and one hour of group supervision weekly (case conference), which will alternate with training on a variety of topics.

Supervision focuses on supervisee’s goals and growth areas (e.g., note writing, assessment interpretation). Supervision also aims to enhance multiple aspects of counseling work (e.g., conceptualization and treatment planning) and professional development. Supervisors will provide evaluations as needed by the respective program.

Evaluation Procedures

All staff involved in training will give feedback designed to both support and challenge the trainee’s development. Clinical Supervisor(s) will complete evaluations as required by the program. 

Internship Application

We prefer individuals who can make the commitment to do a full academic year of training. Our center allows for a strong clinical experience with a wide range of issues. This is an unpaid opportunity, unless otherwise noted, but training and supervision are provided.

Interview process: Interviews are individual, not group. All interviews are held via zoom. The interview process is approximately 1 hour long and consists of the following parts (in no particular order):

• Individual interview with the Director and/or clinical supervisor.
• Case presentations are not a part of the interview, but candidates will be asked to respond to hypothetical case situations.
• Informal meeting with current practicum students (depending on availability).

Apply

To apply, email the following to Danielle Bachant, Director of the Counseling Center:

1. Letter of Interest, which outlines your professional goals, as well as describing why you are seeking to work at the Counseling Center with a university population. 
2. Resume or CV
3. Three references (Attachment with names and contact information, letters are not necessary)

Email: dbachant@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3517

Gilligan Student Union Room 308