Counseling Center - Clinical Training Program

Although our staff have a wide range of theoretical orientations, our focus is on helping our Advanced Practicum Students develop and enhance their own clinical identity through a developmental model. 

Our staff includes:

• Six licensed psychologists
• One consulting psychiatrist (in office at least 10 hours per week during the academic year)
• Administrative staff 

• Advanced Practicum Students generally carry 15 to 25+ cases during the academic year, depending on their weekly schedule. Advanced Practicum Students will have clients they see for shorter-term treatment, while also having the opportunity to work with some clients throughout the academic year. Trainees typically see 10 to 15 clients per week.
• Audiotaping/Videotaping is required for all sessions. 
• The Counseling Center uses Titanium, an electronic scheduling and documentation system that streamlines the documentation process. Documentation and scheduling must be completed in a timely manner. 
• Advanced Practicum Students will gain experience with crisis intervention and risk assessment via emergency appointments and intakes.
• Advanced Practicum Students may have the opportunity to run or co-lead a group on campus, however that is dependent on student interest and availability and is not guaranteed.
• Advanced Practicum Students are required to engage in outreach and/or community prevention efforts for residence halls, student organizations, or academic classes or work groups when the opportunity is available.
• Advanced Practicum Students are also required to present one case presentation during the fall semester and one again during the spring semester. They will also participate in weekly peer supervision and a wide variety of didactic trainings.
• Advanced Practicum Students must carry their own liability insurance and will be asked to provide documentation for office records at the start of their training.
• For Advanced Practicum Students with specific interests or unique training needs, our staff will do its best to accommodate when possible.

In addition to case consultation time, Advanced Practicum Students are assigned a primary and a secondary supervisor. Both supervisors are licensed psychologists and provide consistent, scheduled hourly individual supervision each week. Although two hours of supervision are scheduled, the entire staff is responsive to our Advanced Practicum Students' needs, and informal consultation with any clinician is welcomed and encouraged. Advanced Practicum Students will also receive thirty minutes of group supervision each week when groups are running. In addition, Advanced Practicum Students will attend biweekly peer supervision meetings where their audio/video recordings are presented.

The training year begins the second to last week in August and continues through the middle to end of May, depending on program requirements. We require that Advanced Practicum Students work a minimum of 24 hours per week, however many  work 27-30 hours depending on program requirements. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We believe in encouraging and modeling a good work life balance so Advanced Practicum Students should not plan on working when the office is closed.

Advanced Practicum Students and the training coordinator work together to determine their schedule, however Advanced Practicum Students must be present for our weekly case conference and the weekly training/peer supervision hour on Tuesday mornings (8:30 a.m. to Noon). The case conference is attended by all clinical staff, Advanced Practicum Students, and the consulting psychiatrist. The first hour focuses on case management while the second hour typically covers consultation with other departments and topical areas relevant to college counseling.

On a bi-weekly basis staff from the Center for Health and Wellness attend these meetings. Other professionals in the university will also be invited to provide our Advanced Practicum Students with an overview of relevant offices and student groups comprising the Bentley community.

A mandatory three-day orientation to Titanium, office policies and procedures, and the university occurs during the second to last week of August before the start of classes. The exact dates of this orientation are determined by early summer. In addition, orientation includes informal time with each staff member to encourage better integration and comfort with our entire staff.

Bentley is closed for one week between the Christmas and New Year holidays. Other time away from the office can be negotiated, particularly when classes are not in session. Every effort is made to meet program requirements for contact hours with clients and for supervision.

Our site is participating in the Practicum Training Collaborative (PTC) and will therefore be following their deadlines.

Applications are accepted starting December 1, 2024 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Our application deadline is Monday January 6, 2025. Applications are reviewed by the entire staff and selected applicants are invited to interview. Position notification day is Monday February 10, 2025. All three positions currently carry a stipend of $6,000 each.

When selecting Advanced Practicum Students, both previous experience and degrees are considered; however, the most competitive candidates typically have counseling/therapy-related supervised experience of at least one to two years. Advanced Practicum Students are typically enrolled in a doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology. 

To apply, send the following to Meghan Van Keuren, Psy.D, training coordinator: 

• Letter of interest
• Resume or CV
• Three references