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Opportunities for Graduate Students

Practicum/Internship
Counseling Services typically selects about 5-6 graduate students to work as student therapists, mainly during the fall and winter semesters. Eligible applicants are graduate students currently enrolled in a relevant graduate program either at EMU or at another accredited university.  
Graduate students completing their first practicum typically work 20 hours per week during the academic year to obtain the required hours. Doctoral students may request to work fewer hours per week (usually 16) and extend their placement into the spring or summer terms. The following are the key elements of the practicum/internship experience:

    • Individual clients: Masters students generally see about 8 clients per week. Doctoral students on a reduced-hour placement may see about 6 clients per week.
      Intake assessments: Graduate students may conduct or assist with 1-2 intakes each week.
    • Training sessions: Students attend one didactic training session each week (advanced practicum doctoral students may not have this requirement).
    • Individual supervision: Each graduate student will meet weekly with an assigned a licensed senior staff member. Group supervision: Students meet weekly with senior staff for group supervision or case conferences (advanced practicum doctoral students may not have this requirement).
    • Workshops: Workshops are an important part of Counseling Services’ outreach efforts. Graduate students may be asked to design and present one or more workshops or a group during their placement under the guidance of individual supervisors.

If you are considering Counseling Services for your upcoming practicum, please contact Oscar Alcaine, Ph.D. at 734.487.1118 or oalcaine@emich.edu


Counselor-in-Residence
The Counselor-In-Residence (CIR) placement is a joint program offered through EMU Counseling Services and Housing.  It was designed, in part, to make psychological services more accessible to residence hall students and to assistant Housing staff in addressing the mental health needs of their residents.  The CIR is viewed as a senior-level practicum student who works as a liaison to the residence halls.  Advanced graduate students with some clinical experience are eligible to apply for this placement.  Typically two students are selected each year for this placement.  CIRs offer short-term therapy in the evenings (when Counseling Services is closed) in an office in the residence halls.  CIRs also offer multiple educational programs throughout the year.  The following are key elements of the CIR position:

    • Compensation: In exchange for the time given to this position by the CIR, University Housing may offer on-campus, rent-free housing, which is generally available from August through May of that academic year.
    • Time commitment: Each CIR is expected to work 20 hours a week during the academic year.  Most hours are in the late afternoon and evening.  The contract may be extended to include spring and summer semesters if agreed upon by all parties involved.
    • Supervision: The CIR receives weekly supervision for this practicum from a licensed supervisor at Counseling Services.
    • Additionally clinical duties:  For additional clinical experience, each CIR may work some of their 20 hours per week at Counseling Services, if agreed upon by all parties involved.
If you are considering the CIR position, contact Lisa Lauterbach, Ph.D. at 734.487.1118 or llauterba@emich.edu