Orientation Program
Interns receive a comprehensive orientation to the Counseling Center. They meet with each staff member and gain familiarity with the variety of therapeutic and supervisory orientations, as well as with the special interests and areas of responsibility represented by the staff. Interns receive a Policies and Procedures Handbook to review and discuss during this time. These materials include descriptions of Counseling Center services and programs, internship guidelines and objectives, information about seminars and training experiences available in our affiliated training agencies, relevant Florida statutes, and all relevant policies, procedures, and forms concerning training and general Counseling Center operations. During the orientation program, the interns visit each of the affiliated training agencies and meet with the training director to become familiar with these agencies and to begin collecting information about potential training experiences (seminars and external rotations). Finally, staff and consultants provide several seminars during orientation, and the interns have an opportunity to begin to gain familiarity with other University resources.  

Supervision and Evaluation
High quality supervision is the foundation of the internship program. Each intern receives a minimum of three hours of individual supervision each week. Licensed psychologists supervise all psychodiagnostic and psychotherapy experiences in the Counseling Center and in our affiliated agencies. Supervision within the Center occurs through direct observation, collaboration, and video and audio recordings of client sessions.

In determining supervisory assignments for each rotation, interns submit their preferences to the Training Committee, along with a rationale for their choices, their training needs and goals for the rotation, and how they believe their choices might facilitate their goal attainment. The Training Committee then discusses these choices with the interns before making final assignments.

In addition to formally scheduled individual supervision, interns work with staff in co-intake and co-therapy experiences and discuss these cases following each session. Interns also receive supervision of their group psychotherapy work, attend an ongoing case supervision seminar in which they present their own cases, and consult with staff informally regarding particular clients. Interns who supervise practicum students receive weekly supervision in this activity. Finally, inservice training and case presentations provide opportunities for informal supervision and learning.

Evaluations of interns' performance and progress is conducted formally and informally throughout the year. Supervision and evaluation within the Center is on-going and occurs through direct observation, participation, collaboration, presentations, and video and audio recordings of clinical materials. The weekly intern administration meeting with the Training Director offers the interns a more focused and individualized review of professional development experiences, issues, and concerns. At the end of each rotation, interns and supervisors are asked to complete written evaluations. These evaluations represent the formal aspect of an on-going interactive process between the intern and the supervisor, and provide a forum for the supervisor to assess the progress and skills of the intern, and for the intern to assess the quality and effectiveness of supervision and the internship experience. As is the case with all professional staff, interns also receive anonymous evaluations from a sample of their clients each semester.