PCE 905 GCU Counselors in Training in A School Based Counseling Practicum Responses
Provide a response to each of my peer's response to the following question.
Question:
Academic engagement through active participation in instructional activities related to the course objectives is paramount to your success in this course and future courses. Through interaction with your instructor and classmates, you will explore the course material and be provided with the best opportunity for objective and competency mastery. To begin this class, review the course objectives for each Topic, and then answer the following questions as this will help guide your instructor for course instruction.
Which weekly objectives do you have prior knowledge of and to what extent?
Which weekly objectives do you have no prior knowledge of?
What course-related topics would you like to discuss with your instructor and classmates? What questions or concerns do you have about this course?
Yolanda’s reply:
I have reviewed the objectives (1-6) of the course listed at the beginning of the syllabus.
I have prior knowledge of each objective which aligns with CACREP standards. However, I am least familiar wtih #5, which requires: demonstrating methods for an understanding of evaluating counseling effectiveness. [CACREP 6.B.1.c, 6.B.1.e, 6.B.1.f, 6.B.5.i]. Despite this being a part of my practicum experience as I earned my Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling; addressing it as one who in the near future will be responsible for demonstrating an understanding of evaluating counseling effectiveness is new.
I don't have a topic to discuss at this time. I am an experiential learner and often questions evolve for me within a given experience process, and/or conversation. Nevertheless, I do have questions about using the school's zoom for recordings. I utilize a HIPPA (ZOOM) approved platform for client sessions, class "Live" sessions and supervisory meetings. If I can determine how to legally and ethically share is that permissible?
Reference
https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/2016-cacrep-standards/
Jacquelyn’s Reply:
I have prior knowledge of practicum work and what is expected out of me as a practicum student. I know that the weekly objective is to obtain hours to get closer to finishing the required number of hours for this course. I am also aware that the objectives of a practicum course is to have open and honest weekly conversations with the other cohort members regarding our clients while not disclosing identifying information. The reason for this process is to learn from each other and to receive and provide feedback.
The weekly objective that I am not familiar with is the lopes tracker however I am interested in using this tool to help me keep track of hours. I can see how that will be helpful in keeping track of hours with everything else that is going on inside and outside of the course.
I do have one question and it is more of a question that my supervisor has and that is what is the supervisor's expectation for this course. He would like to know how frequently I will need to meet with him so we can build that within our schedule.
Tara’s Reply:
I have prior knowledge of the practicum experience, which seems odd for me to say considering I am in the doctoral program, but this is an area which brought me great fear in my master's program. I was excited to be with clients, but that initial day and session was scary for me. I am now comfortable with sitting across from clients and know how a session should go, the note-taking expectations, how to do the scheduling, and being responsible for the billing, but I know I have more to learn.
I am not familiar with the Lopes Activity Tracker and when I went into the application, there was nothing there. I started to worry, but realized there is a form available in the event this issue occurs, so I was relieved.
I do not have any specific questions right now, however, I am hoping the lines of communication are open and flowing. I want to be sure I do everything correctly and do my best at the same time.
I appreciate this course and look forward to each week to see what it brings with my clients.
Lajona’s Reply:
I have past knowledge of a practicum experience with group supervision in person which was three years ago. In doing so, I kept track of indirect and direct hours for school with GCU from the master’s program I completed through the school. I have been tracking hours for supervision hours through tracking log that is provided from the Arizona Board of Behavior Health Examiner’s office with a licensure as an associate counselor. The activity log for the advanced counseling internship is like the clinical activities with therapeutic sessions for my current job duties which I had for two and a half years, as well as training during that time that must be recorded and documented. I am familiar with assessments, evaluations, and case study staffing in the clinical team setting which will be helpful when working on case conceptualizations. Attending group supervision and providing reflection is a new concept for me and I look forward to skill development and education. I am interested in the doctoral professional identity, internship experiences, and resources to discuss from the instructor and classmates. By reviewing the objective for the course, I was able to find the tracking form that I was able to download and print, get an understanding about weekly expectations. I reviewed assignments and gained a better understanding of what to complete for class from the practicum which will be useful while learning to navigate, meet with staff, and provide service for the practicum site. I would like to ask if we have group supervision with the instructor and whether there is zoom virtual supervision with the class?
Donterio’s Reply:
After reviewing the course syllabus, topics, and resources, it does appear that the expectations of this course are for doctoral learners to actively engage at their practicum sites as well as engage in intentional behaviors to refine professional skills as counselors in preparation of progressing this this program. I am familiar with all of the outlined objectives for this course. From previous practicum/internship experience within my graduate program, I am accustomed to tracking the activities that I engage through the use of the Typhon Group tracking system. I am not familiar with the use of Lopes Activity Tracker. I have attempted to access this through the Student Portal, but it does not appear that I have access as of yet. But I was able to locate the PCE-905 Service Hour Log Form within the class resources. Do you know the timeline of access to the Lopes Activity Tracker system? Also, can additional clarity be offered associated with the PCE-905 Group Supervisions? What are the logistics to include platform of use, dates, times, etc.? Lastly, what are the expectations to responding to at least three peers and/or the instructor for participation? Should these responses include a reference?
Regina’s Reply:
After reviewing the course syllabus and resources, I am aware of what the objectives, task and assignments are for each week. After reviewing each week’s assignments and task, I have a complete idea of everything that will be required of me to be successful in this course. One of the course related topics that I would like to discuss with the instructor and my classmates is the requirements for the zoom meetings for this course. My questions for the instructor are how to we log hours? I noticed we have a post that ask the number of hours, but is there an overall location or form that we will keep track of our hours, and will we be required to turn these into the instructor at the end of the class or to our field experience representative?
Lastly, I would like to know if there is an expectation for post responses each week, as required in previous courses.
Darcy’s Reply:
The weekly objectives that you have prior knowledge of are weeks 1,2 4, 8 and 10. The syllabus makes it clear what the assignment is and what you need to do in regards with what the assignment is. It also tells you in the syllabus what reading assignments you will need to do ahead of time. The weekly objectives from what I can that you have no prior knowledge of are weeks 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9. At this time the only questions I have are, does this mean on these weeks we will have assignments when these weeks get closer? And is there a log that we fill out for hours or do we keep our own? Thank you and looking forward to the class.