Counseling Clinical Placement FAQs

Do I have to find my own placement?

Walsh University provides field experience support for counseling students to help coordinate suitable practicum and internship sites. The field experience team will guide students through this process, offering resources and direction to assist them in securing an approved practicum or internship site. 

Students are encouraged to begin networking with potential internship supervisors who may be willing to work with a student in upcoming semesters.

Counseling Programs

Walsh University provides support and helps our students along the way during their field experience in the following programs:

Practicum and Internships Close to Home

At Walsh University, students are expected to secure a Practicum/Internship site that meets CACREP expectations and Licensure Boards’ requirements. Walsh faculty and field experience team will support and assist students in their search for an adequate site that meets the expectations for this field experience.

Field experiences are integral pieces to students’ development as aspiring counselors. Prior to enrolling in field experience courses, students will need a secured site that meets CACREP accreditation standards and is approved by Walsh University faculty. Students will be provided with the parameters that constitute an approved site during field experience orientation.

Field Experience Support Services

For online MCHD Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling or Dual Specialization students, the field experience hours gained through practicum and internships will assist students in fulfilling the requirements for licensure.

Our Field Experience Coordinators will:

  • Provide students with the parameters that constitute an approved site during field experience toward fulfilling expectations for licensure in their respective states.
  • Provide students with administrative assistance when securing a site. This includes providing access to the field experience application, the internship agreement, supervisor qualifications, and the Field Experience Student Handbook. 
  • Verify that students have met all the prerequisites necessary to move forward in field experience.
  • Serve as liaison between the student and their site if problems should arise in meeting either the University or the site standards.

 

Online Counseling Field Experience FAQs

 

Do I Have to Find My Own Practicum / Internship Sites

Students are responsible for securing their field experience site(s). Walsh University’s field experience team will support counseling students through this process, assisting them in securing an approved practicum or internship site. All sites must meet accreditation standards and must be approved by CHD faculty. They must also meet expectations outlined in the Field Experience Student Handbook.

Students are encouraged to begin networking with potential internship supervisors who may be willing to work with a student in upcoming semesters.

How many practicum hours are required?

For all CHD concentrations, students must complete a supervised counseling practicum experience that is 16 weeks in length. Practicum hours required are as follows:

CMHC: 100 hours (40 hours Direct Service)

School Counseling: 100 hours (40 hours Direct Service)

Dual (CMHC and SC): 120 hours (80 hours Direct Service)

Direct service hours allow the student hands-on experience working with clients and/or students to develop their counseling skills. Hours that qualify as both direct and indirect services are described in the Filed Experience Student Handbook.

How many internship hours are required?

After students have successfully completed their practicum experience, they will start their internships.  Internship hours required are as follows:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students: Must complete two 300-hour internships. During each internship, students must accrue a minimum of 120 direct client contact hours and a minimum of 180 indirect contact hours.

School Counseling students: Must complete two 300-hour internships. During each internship, students must accrue a minimum of 120 direct client contact hours and a minimum of 180 indirect contact hours.

Dual Concentration students: Must complete four 300-hour internships (in both concentrations). During each internship, students must accrue a minimum of 120 direct client contact hours and a minimum of 180 indirect contact hours.

All students must receive a minimum of one hour of supervision from their site supervisor and 90 minutes of group supervision from their faculty supervisor weekly while enrolled in field experience.

AM I ABLE TO WORK WHILE COMPLETING THE PROGRAM?

Our counseling program is designed for working professionals, with coursework able to be completed 100% online, with no on-campus visits required. While the online coursework remains flexible, it is important to note that while completing your field experience hours, you may need to adjust your work schedule to accommodate your practicum and internship hour requirements.

How many transfer credits do you accept?

Walsh University will consider up to nine transfer credits from a CACREP accredited counseling program. Students may petition for the transfer of credits to the CHD Program Chair. Transfer credits will be considered once transcripts and syllabi are evaluated by the program faculty. Walsh University reserves the right to accept or not accept transfer credits based upon transcripts and syllabi evaluation. 

 

Have additional questions about field experience?

Walsh is proud to support students by providing comprehensive field experience support. If you have additional questions, please schedule a convenient time to talk with an admissions counselor using our easy online appointment scheduler.

Looking for information on clinical placement services for our online nursing programs? Visit our Clinical Placement page.