William Paterson University of New Jersey

Graduate Training Program

An Overview

The Counseling Center is staffed with licensed psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, a consulting psychiatrist, and supervised graduate students in counseling, psychology, and social work. The mission of the Counseling component of the Counseling, Health, and Wellness Center is to provide a welcoming environment for William Paterson University students. The Counseling Center staff members facilitate students' personal, social, and intellectual growth, as well as adjustment to and engagement within the university community. Students are assisted with identifying and working through personal barriers, normal developmental issues and stressors, and clinical problems which could impede academic success.

William Paterson University of New Jersey is set on 370 wooded acres in northern New Jersey; the campus is located just 20 miles west of New York City. The University has over 10,000 students including undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

Purpose

The graduate training program at William Paterson University of New Jersey is designed to help trainees obtain the necessary counseling skills to function as competent clinicians. Trainees will begin to explore their identity as professional clinicians and come to understand and participate in providing the full range of services the Counseling Center offers. Trainees will also learn how the Counseling Center functions within the larger university setting. A developmental approach is used to assess each trainee’s skill level and readiness to complete the different components of the training program.

Activities & Responsibilities

Trainees are required to work a minimum of 16 hours per week, including Monday afternoon. Working 16 hours per week offers trainees a 512-hour practicum experience. Depending on the academic program requirements, the trainee may elect to work up to 24 hours per week for a 750-hour practicum experience. About 50-60% of the time will be devoted to direct service activities, 20-30% to training activities (including individual and group supervision), and 10-20% to related administrative activities such as chart-keeping, scheduling, etc.

Trainees will have the opportunity to gain experience conducting intake interviews, providing individual therapy, performing crisis intervention services, and presenting outreach and educational programs to the University community. Students will be expected to keep up-to-date chart notes, adhere to the code of ethics of his/her professional discipline, and conduct themselves in a professional manner.

Each trainee will be assigned an individual supervisor, who will provide a minimum of 1-hour per week of supervision. Trainees will also meet weekly with the training coordinator for 1.5 hours of group supervision. Trainees will receive weekly didactic training seminars, attend weekly staff meetings, and have the opportunity to present cases and obtain feedback from our multi-disciplinary staff at case conferences.

Trainees will receive on-going informal feedback from their individual and group supervisors. Formal written evaluations will be conducted once each semester.

Duration

The graduate training program will be nine months in duration. It will begin the last week in August with an Orientation to the counseling center, and it will end in May, following graduation. No practicum opportunities will be offered prior to the beginning of the trainees training program in August.

All trainees are allotted 5 personal days for use throughout the year for personal/sick leave. Otherwise, trainees will be expected to follow the academic calendar of William Paterson University of New Jersey in terms breaks and holidays.

Qualifications

Training positions will be open to Master and Doctoral level students who are enrolled in a graduate program in psychology or social work. Completion of coursework in counseling skills, theories of psychotherapy, and psychopathology/abnormal behavior is also expected prior to beginning the practicum. Preference will be given to applicants who have prior clinical experience. What we consider most important is an indication that the student communicates a genuine interested in working with a diverse college student population and exhibits an openness and willingness to learn from our setting.

Current or former clients of the Counseling Center are not eligible to apply for a practicum at the Counseling Center.

Application Procedure

A completed application should include the following:

1) A cover letter explaining how a practicum at the Counseling Center would fit with your short- and long-term professional goals.
2) A current resume/curriculum vita.
3) A copy (photocopy is fine) of your graduate transcript.
4) A letter of recommendation from a faculty member in your academic department.
5) A letter of readiness from your academic department. This must be separate from the letter of recommendation.

Application deadline: Monday, February 8, 2010.

Please address all application materials to:

Jennifer W. Bradford, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Training & Licensed Psychologist
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Counseling Center - Morrison Hall, Room 115
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, NJ 07470

Should have any questions or require additional information please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Bradford at 973-720-2257.