OrientationforClinicalPlacementSites

NaropaUniversityGraduateSchoolofCounseling&PsychologyMAinClinicalMentalHealthCounseling

Overview

ThisdocumentisdesignedtohelpSiteSupervisorsgainanunderstandingofNaropaUniversity’scultureandtheClinicalMentalHealthCounselingeducation.Itexplainsour6concentrationswithinthe

GraduateSchoolofCounselingandPsychology.Itdescribesthenatureofthe3yearMaster’sdegreeprogram,specificallyregardingtheclinicalplacementexperiencesstudentswillreceive,andgoesover

thepurpose,requirements,andproceduresoftheclinicalplacements.

TableofContents

• AnintroductiontoNaropaUniversity,itsculture,andeducation– TheFounderofNaropa– MissionStatement– Values

• WhatisContemplativeEducation?• ClinicalMentalHealthCounselingDegreeProgram

– Naropa’sSixConcentrationsandHybridProgram• TheGSCPClinicalPlacementTeam• ThreeYearMaster’sDegree

– 1st year– PracticeClients– 2nd year- Practicum– 3rd year– Internship

TheNaropaUniversityCultureandEducation

TheFounderofNaropa

• TrainedasaBuddhistscholarandeducatedatOxfordUniversity,ChögyamTrungpaRinpochewantedtocreateaplacewherestudentscouldstudyEasternandWesterntraditions,writing,psychology,science,andtheartswhilealsoreceivingcontemplativeandmeditationtraining.

• HemodeledNaropaafterNalandaUniversity,aBuddhistuniversitythatflourishedinIndiafromthesixthtothe12th centuries,attractingscholarsfromawidevarietyofdisciplinesandreligioustraditions.

• “Naropa,”wasaBuddhistscholarandsaintatNalandaUniversity,who,accordingtolegendembarkedonaspiritualjourneytofindthemeaningbehindthetextshestudied.Likethefamoussaint,NaropaUniversitywasestablishedtohelpstudents—throughmeditationandcontemplativepractice—findthedeepermeaningintheiracademicdisciplinesandartisticwork.”

MISSIONSTATEMENT

• NaropahasamissionthatisuniqueamongAmerica’sinstitutionsofhigherlearning:Wearetheonlyschoolinthecountrythatgroundsthestudentexperienceincontemplativeeducationprinciples.

• Throughrigorousacademics,contemplativepractice,andexperientiallearning,welooktopreparepeoplewithknowledge,wisdom,andskillssotheycan“bethechange”intheirworkplacesandcommunities,andlivejoyous,meaningfullives.

• ANaropaeducation—reflectingtheinterplayofdisciplineanddelight—preparesitsgraduatesbothtomeettheworldasitisandtochangeitforthebetter.

VALUESWearefundamentallya contemplativeeducation institution.Thiscoremissioninspireseverythingwedoandasksallcommunitymemberstolivewithawarenessandrespectforoneanotherandtheworld.

•Inkeepingwiththismission,NaropaUniversityholdsthefollowingvalues:

– ContemplativeEducation.WeareBuddhist-inspired,ecumenical,andnonsectarianwelcomingfaculty,staff,andstudentsofallfaithsaswellasthosewhodon’tascribetoanyreligion.

– Wefiercelyembracediversityandinclusivity. Throughadmissions,hiring,andourcurriculumwestrivetofosteranenvironmentof“belongingwithdifferences,”workingconsciouslytoincludepersonsofdifferentraces,ethnicities,genderidentities,sexualorientations,veteranstatus,perspectives,socioeconomicbackgrounds,ages,disabilities,nationalorigins,and,ofcourse,religions.

– Werespecttheworldasourhomeandarecommittedtoitssustainability.Tothatendwearemovingtowardzerowaste,climateneutrality,and100percentrenewableenergy,recognizingthatthe“practice”ofsustainabilityconnectsusmoredeeplytoourselves,otherbeings,andthenaturalworld.

WhatisContemplativeEducation?

’Contemplative’heredoesn’tmeanonetamesthoughtoronedwellsonsomeparticularthemealot.Insteaditmeansbeingwithdisciplinefullyandthoroughlyasahungrymaneatsfoodorathirstymandrinkswater.”-ChögyamTrungpaRinpoche

Naroparecognizestheinherentgoodnessandwisdomofeachhumanbeing.Iteducatesthewholeperson,cultivatingacademicexcellenceandcontemplativeinsightinordertoinfuseknowledgewithwisdom.Theuniversitynurturesinitsstudentsalifelongjoyinlearning,acriticalintellect,thesenseofpurposethataccompaniescompassionateservicetotheworld,andtheopennessandequanimitythatarisefromauthenticinsightandself-understanding.Ultimately,Naropastudentsexploretheinnerresourcesneededtoengagecourageouslywithacomplexandchallengingworld,tohelptransformthatworldthroughskillandcompassion,andtoattaindeeperlevelsofhappinessandmeaningintheirlives.

ClinicalMentalHealthCounselingDegreeProgram

IntheGraduateSchoolofCounseling&Psychology(GSCP),allstudentsarestudyingathreeyearresidentialMaster’sDegree,inClinicalMentalHealthCounseling,withan

emphasisinoneofNaropa’s6differentconcentrations,oratwoyearHybridMaster’sDegreeinClinicalMentalHealth

CounselingwithanemphasisinMindfulness-basedTranspersonalCounseling.

MAClinicalMentalHealthCounselingThe6Concentrations

• ContemplativePsychotherapyandBuddhistPsychology(CPBP)

• Somatic:DanceMovementTherapy(DMT)• Somatic:BodyPsychotherapy(BP)• TranspersonalArtTherapy(TAT)• TranspersonalWildernessTherapy(TWT)• Mindfulness-basedTranspersonalCounseling(MTC)

CONTEMPLATIVEPSYCHOTHERAPYANDBUDDHISTPSYCHOLOGY(CPBP)

TheContemplativePsychotherapyandBuddhistPsychologyconcentrationisacounseling psychologyprogramthatgroundsitselfintheBuddhistcontemplativewisdomtraditionandincludescurrenthumanisticpsychologicalapproachestogivestudentstheinsightandskillstoshowupfullyforthemselvesandothers.

Studentsdevelopinsight, connectionsandskillinlargeandsmallgroupprocessclasses.Theyalsocultivate selfawarenessthroughmeditationclassesandretreats,anddiscovertheirinherent compassiontoguideotherswithhumilityandgrace.

SOMATIC:DANCEMOVEMENTTHERAPY(DMT)

IntheSomaticCounseling:Dance/MovementTherapyconcentration,studentshavethechancetoweavedanceandcreativeexpressionwiththestudyofapproachestopsychotherapythatemphasizemulticulturalcompetence,mindfulness,inclusivity,andthebody.

Thisrigorous,experientiallybasedprogramintegratesthestudyofclassicalaswellasinnovativeformsofdance/movementtherapy—particularlytheGestalt-basedMovingCycle,AuthenticMovement,andcurrentmodelsofsensorimotortracking—withmindfulnesspracticeand815hoursofclinicalwork.

SOMATIC:BODYPSYCHOTHERAPY(BP)

IntheSomatic,BodyPsychotherapyconcentration,studentscombinethestudyofclinicalmentalhealththeoryandpracticewithworkinbodypsychotherapy.Studentsalsolearnaboutthewaysthatpowerandprivilegeimpactthecounselingrelationshipandgainessentialskillsinworkingtherapeuticallywiththebodyacrossareasofdifference.

Studentslearntousemindfulnesstraining,breathwork,interoceptiveawarenessandothersomatictechniquestohelpotherseasesuffering,supportmentalhealth,andsustainchangeforimprovedliving.Naropa’sBodyPsychotherapyconcentrationtakesaverybroadviewofthewaysthatthebody/mindconnectioninpsychotherapyhavebeenusedandarebeingapplied.Thisprogramfindssomeofitsstrengthinnotbeingdogmaticallyattachedtoanyparticularsomaticlineage,whilegivingauniquesolidgroundinginthepracticeofbeingsomaticallyinformedasacounselor.

Naropa’sSomaticCounseling: BodyPsychotherapyconcentrationisanISMETA(InternationalSomaticEducationandTherapyAssociation)approvedtrainingprogram.

TRANSPERSONALARTTHERAPY(TAT)

IntheTranspersonalArtTherapyprogram,studentshavetheopportunitytoexploretheroleofartandcreativityintheirownlives—andhowtoskillfullyuseartinthetherapeuticrelationship.

NaropaUniversity’s ArtTherapyprogramisuniqueinthattheycombinetranspersonalpsychologywithcontemplativestudies,clinicalfieldwork,andcivicengagement.Thegoalistobecomeaskilled,self-aware,andsociallyengagedcounselor,artist,andarttherapist.

Naropa’sTranspersonalArtTherapyconcentrationisanAATA(AmericanArtTherapyAssociation)approvedtrainingprogram..

TRANSPERSONALWILDERNESSTHERAPY(TWT)

TheTranspersonalWildernessTherapyprogramisaninterdisciplinary,multiculturalprogramthatpreparesstudentstopracticeasapsychotherapistinamyriadofsettings,bothoutdoorsandwithinclinicalmentalhealthagencies.

Inadditiontothestudyofmindfulnessandtranspersonalpsychology,thisintenselyexperientialdegreeprogramgivesstudentstenweeks’directexperienceinthewilderness,acquiringoutdoorskillsalongwithmentalhealthinterventionsthatincorporatethenaturalworldintothetherapeuticrelationship.

MINDFULNESS-BASEDTRANSPERSONALCOUNSELING(MTC)

IntheMindfulness-BasedTranspersonalCounselingconcentration,studentsnotonlyexplorehumanmentalandemotionalhealth,buttheyalsodelveintomindfulness,meditation,Gestaltawarenessaswellasdifferentstatesofconsciousness,andthenatureofcreativitytohelpclients—andthemselves—livethemostjoyouslifepossible.

Throughacademiccoursework,deepintrospection,includingtheirownpsychotherapyandmindfulnesstraining,andclinicalexperience,theywillcometoagreaterunderstandingofthemselves,theworld,andhowtoeasethepathforothers.

HYBRIDPROGRAM:MINDFULNESS-BASEDTRANSPERSONALCOUNSELING

IntheHybridProgramforMindfulness-basedTranspersonalCounseling,studentscompletetheirMaster’sdegreeinClinicalMentalHealthCounselingintwoyears.ThisprogramfollowsthesamecurriculumastheresidentialMindfulness-basedTranspersonalCounselingProgram,andconsistsof45%oncampusandretreatintensivesand55%on-linebasedcourses.

GSCPClinicalPlacementOurVisionNaropa’s GSCPClinicalPlacementTeamfostersthepersonalandprofessionaldevelopmentofstudentsintocompassionate,embodied,ethical,competentandself-awarecounselorsbyoffering individualizedsupportthroughoutenrichingpracticumandinternshipplacements.

OurMissionTheClinicalPlacementTeamcreatesandmaintainsenriching,collaborativerelationshipswithmentalhealthorganizations.Theserelationshipsnurturestudents'developmentoftheircounseloridentityastheybecomemembersofthelargercommunityinserviceasclinicalmentalhealthcounselors.

Meettheteam• LyndsayFarrant,MA,LPCc - GSCPClinicalPlacementCoordinator,303-245-4763• DanielleSwaser,MA,LPCc - GSCPClinicalPlacementAdministrativeCoordinator,303-245-4774

OurAnnualInternshipandPracticumFairAswevalueourpartnerships,welookforwardtohostinganannualInternshipandPracticumFairatthebeginningofDecember,andinviteallsitestoattend.ThisisagreatopportunityforyoutoexperienceNaropa,builduponourrelationship,andmeetwithourstudentsasprospectivepracticumstudentsandinterns.

ClinicalMentalHealthCounseling:3YearMaster’sDegree

CounselingExperientialandMaitriRetreats

Ourstudentspersonallyunderstandthepowerofcounseling.Asarequirementoftheprogram,theyneedtoengageinaminimumof30personaltherapysessionsthroughouttheir3yearprogram.

TheonlyexceptionareourContemplativePsychotherapyandBuddhistPsychologystudents.InsteadoftheCounselingExperiential,studentsattendfiveMaitricoursesthatareretreatcomponentsofthecurriculumoftheir3yearprogram. TheMaitriretreatsprovideanopportunityforstudentstocontinueanddeepenthetrainingandeducationthattheyreceiveintheCPBPProgram,withparticularemphasisonthedevelopmentofunconditionalfriendlinesstowardoneselfandothers.Thisunconditionalfriendlinessbecomesanimportantfoundationforclinicalinternshipandforsubsequentclinicalpractice.Theprogramsconsistofintensivesittingandwalkingmeditationpractice,silence,courseworkinBuddhistpsychology,andtheexperienceoflivingandworkingincommunity.

1st year– PracticeClientsInthe1st year,studentswillgainintroductoryexperienceintobeginningtherapeuticrelationshipsandcreatingrapportwithfellowclassmatesandpracticeclients.Inthesesessions,studentslearnbasictherapeuticskillsandmodalities,aswellaspracticetherapythroughtheirconcentrationspecificlenses.

ConcentrationSpecificRequirements:CPBP:

– Inthesecondsemester,studentshavefour50minutesessionswithfourdifferentpracticeclients

DMT,BP:– Inthefirstsemester,studentshaveone50minutesessionwithonepracticeclient.– Inthesecondsemester,studentshavefive50minutesessionswithonepracticeclient.

TAT,TWT,MTC:– Inthefirstsemester,studentshavea50minutesessionwiththreedifferentpracticeclients.– Inthesecondsemester,studentshavesix50minutesessionswithonepracticeclient.

2nd year- PracticumInthe2nd year,studentsbeginapracticum,whichtakesplaceatavarietyofclinicalplacementsettingswithinthecommunity.Thepracticumexperienceiscarriedoutforthedurationofonesemester.

– CPBP,DMT,BP,andMTCconcentrationsstartintheFallsemester– TATandTWTstartintheSpringsemester.

Thepurposeofpracticum:• Practicumprovidesforthecontinueddevelopmentofcounselingskillsthroughfieldworkata

communityagencywithon-siteconsultationandsupervision,andisdesignedtoprovideasupportiveandinstructionalforumforstudents’initialexperiencesworkingwithclientsincommunitysettings.

• Throughouttheirpracticumexperiencestudentsbecomefamiliarwithethicalguidelinesinrelationtothecounselingprofessionanddiscuss,withinasupportiveclassroomenvironment,professionalandpersonalissuesastheyrelatetotheirdevelopmentasbeginningcounselors.

• Asthefirstoftwoclinicalplacementexperiences,practicumservesasakeygatewayprocessforinternship.Throughoutthesemesterthatthestudentiscarryingouttheirpracticum,thestudent,sitesupervisorandfacultysupervisorworktogethertoidentifystrengthsandareasofdevelopmentconcerningspecificcounselingcompetencies.Iftherearesignificantdeficitsidentifiedthatrelatetoeitherprofessionalorcounselingcompetencies,internshipmaybepostponed.

2nd year- PracticumApplicationprocess• FallSemesterpracticum

– StudentsareabletostartapplyingtopracticumsitesonFebruary2nd tostartinthefollowingAugust- December.

• SpringSemesterpracticum– StudentsareabletostartapplyingtopracticumsitesonMay1st tostartthefollowingJanuary

– May

Duringtheclinicalpracticumplacement,studentswill:• Putintopracticevariousobservationskillsandtechniquesthatwillhelpthemtodiscern

transferenceandcountertransferenceaswellascultivatecompassionforclientsandthemselves.• Begintounderstandagencyphilosophiesandgoalsandhowtherapyisusedwithinthechosen

setting.• Considerthecounselor’sroleinthetherapeuticmilieu.• Developanunderstandingofthefunctionofassessmenttools,diagnosticaids,treatmentplanning,

andgoalsettinginthetherapeuticmilieu.Theywillgainanawarenessoftheinterpersonalandintra-personaldynamicsinherentinindividualandgrouptherapyformatsinadditiontoinstitutionalandsocioculturalinfluences.

• Practicepresent-centeredawarenesswheninteractingwithbothclientsandstaffonsite.

Practicum:OverallHoursRequirement

• 100hoursintotal(70on-siteand30infacultysupervision)• 70hoursonsite=minimum40hoursofdirectclientcontactandtheremaindernon-directclient

contact• 6hoursofindividual/triadicsupervisionprovidedbyalicensedSiteSupervisor(LPC,LMFT,LCSW,or

alicensedpsychologistorpsychiatrist)• 4hoursofindividual/triadicsupervisionprovidedbyClinicalSupporttoCounselingPracticumClass

(thesehoursareinadditiontothe70hoursgainedon-site)

ConcentrationSpecificRequirements:TAT:–Studentneedstohavetheabilitytouseorobserveartinthetherapeuticprocessatthesite.–StudentisrequiredtocompleteatleastoneArt-BasedAssessmentthatisappropriatefortheclienttheyareworkingwith.

Practicum:EvaluationProcedure

Studentswillhaveamid-termevaluationandafinalevaluation.Itisthestudents’responsibilitytocoordinateandcompletetheevaluationprocedure.

Thestudentandthesitesupervisorwillindividuallycompleteahardcopyoftheevaluationformandthenreviewthemtogetherduringsupervision.Afinalcopywillbefilledouttogether.

Thisisrecommendedtoencouragestudents'abilitytoself-evaluateaswellasreceivefeedbackfromsupervisors.

3rd year- InternshipInthe3rd year,studentsareinaninternshipforthedurationoftwosemesters,withanoptiontostartinthesummer.Internshipisdefinedasbasicandintermediateclinicalandeducationalexposureinaclinicaltreatmentsettingwheretheinternisanactivememberofatreatmentteam.

Thepurposeofinternshipis:• Topreparethestudenttobeaprofessionalcounselorrelevanttotheirspecificmodality,capableof

practicingindiversesettings.• Toprovidethestudentwithanopportunitytoutilizeeffectivecounselinginterventionsincluding

treatmentplanning,assessment,andarefinedcapacitytoconceptualizecasematerial.• Togivethestudenttheopportunitytoexperiencethemselvesinaprofessional,supervisedrolein

ordertorefineanddevelopaprofessionalidentityinpreparationforacareerincounseling.• Tofamiliarizethestudentwiththeinnerworkingsofamilieu,agency,school,hospitalorother

setting.• Toprovidethestudentwithanopportunitytosynthesizecourseworkwithon-sitesupervised

fieldworkexperience.• Todevelopthestudent’sunderstandingofcounselingtheoryandpracticesaswellashelpthemto

cultivateanunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweentheirspecificcounselingmodalityandothertherapeuticdisciplinespracticedinvarioussettings.

3rd year- Internship

ApplicationprocessStudentswillbeabletostartapplyingforinternshiponJanuary2nd andcanbegininternshipasearlyasMay22nd toensurethatstudentshavepassedtheirsecondyearclasses.IfsitesrequirestudentstostartpriortoMay22nd,studentswilltechnicallybeavolunteeratthesite,untilgradeshavecomeout.Uponpassingallsecondyearclasses,studentswillthenbeabletoretroactivelycounthourstheycompleted.

ConcentrationSpecific:CPBP:

– Studentswillbeona2weekMaitriretreatthatwilloccurattheendofFebruary-beginningofMarch.Itwillbethestudentsresponsibilitytonotifysitesprior.Pleasenotethatstudentswillnothaveaccesstointernetofphonewhileonthisretreat.

3rd year- Internship

Duringtheclinicalinternshipplacement,studentswillexperience:• Accesstoprovidingclinicalmentalhealthcounselingandconcentrationspecialtyadequateclient

contact.• Leadershipofindividual,couples,familyand/orgroupsessions.• Maintenanceofprimarycaseload.• In-servicetraining.• Access,input,andfeedbacktoappropriateteammeetingsortreatmentreviews.• Weeklyindividualsupervisionbyalicensedsupervisor(LPC,LMFT,LCSW,oralicensedpsychologist

orpsychiatrist).

Internship:OverallHoursRequirement

ConcentrationSpecificRequirementsinTermsofHours:

TWT,CPBPandMTC:• Aminimumof300ofthe700-hourinternshipneedtobedirectclientcontact.Milieuhoursare

cappedat100hoursofthe300hours.

TAT,DMTandBP:• Aminimumof350ofthe700-hourinternshipneedtobedirectclientcontact.Milieuhoursare

cappedat150hoursofthe300hours.– TAT – ofthe350hoursofdirectclientcontact,175minimumneedtobearttherapyrelated

whichisarequirementoftheAATA.– DMTandBP – ofthe350directclientcontacthours,150minimumneedstobeleadinggroup,

family,coupleorindividualBodyPsychotherapyorDance/MovementTherapysessions.

Internship:EvaluationProcedure

Thestudent,thefacultysupervisor/internshipcoordinatorandthesitesupervisorarerequiredtomeetatleasttwiceonsitetoreviewthestudent’sprogress.Thestudentisresponsibleforarrangingthesemeetings.Thestudentandfacultysupervisor/interncoordinatorwillhaveafinalevaluationmeetingattheendoftheinternship.

InitialInternshipSiteMeeting• Thismeetingshouldtakeplacewithinthefirsttwomonth’sofplacement.Itisthestudent’s

responsibilitytoschedulethismeeting.• Thefacultysupervisor/internshipcoordinatormeetswiththestudentandsitesupervisortoagree

onhowthestudentwillspendtimeintheinternship,tofurtheracquaintthesitesupervisorwithNaropaUniversity’sapproachtotrainingpsychotherapists,andtolearnmoreaboutthesettingofthestudent'sinternship.Finally,asignificantportionofthismeetingwillbedevotedtoassistingthestudentwithgoal-setting.

Internship:EvaluationProcedure

Mid-PlacementInternshipEvaluationMeeting• Thismeetingoccurswhenthestudenthascompletedapproximatelyhalfoftherequiredinternship

hours(usuallyinDecemberorJanuary).• Priortothismeeting,thestudentandthesitesupervisorindividuallycompleteahardcopyofthe

evaluationformandthenreviewthemtogetherduringsupervision.Afinalcopywillbefilledouttogether.Thisisrecommendedtoencouragestudents'abilitytoself-evaluateaswellasreceivefeedbackfromsupervisors.

• Thisfinalversionofthemid-placementevaluationwill bereviewedwiththefacultysupervisor/internshipcoordinator,studentandsitesupervisoratamid-placementmeetingatthesite.

FinalInternshipEvaluationMeeting• Thismeetingshouldtakeplaceduringthelastcoupleofweeksoftheinternship.• Priortothismeeting,thestudentandthesitesupervisorindividuallycompleteahardcopyofthe

evaluationformandthenreviewthemtogetherduringsupervision.Afinalcopywillbefilledouttogether.

AQuickTesttoCheckYourUnderstanding

1. Whoarethesites’maincontactpeopleontheClinicalPlacementTeam?

2. Whatistherequiredcredentialsforasitesupervisortosupervisestudents?

3. InwhatyearoftheClinicalMentalHealthCounselingdegreeprogramdoespracticumstartforstudents?Whatisthelengthofthepracticum?

4. InwhatyearoftheClinicalMentalHealthCounselingdegreeprogramdoesinternshipstartforstudents?Whatisthelengthoftheinternship?

5. WhatmakesNaropastudents’educationunique?

Wealwaysstrivetoworkwithotherstofacilitateabetterunderstandingof,andincreaseknowledgeaboutNaropaUniversity.Ifyouhaveanycomments,questions,orideaspleasecontactDanielleSwaseratdswaser@naropa.edu.