Internship, Practicum, and Field Placement Handbook: A Guide for the Helping Professions

by Baird, Brian N.

• ISBN13: 9780131181168
• ISBN10: 0131181165
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

A core text/reference for Internships, Practicums, and Field Placements in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, and related helping disciplines. Acknowledging, anticipating, and addressing the everyday questions, anxieties, fears, and concerns of interns, this practical handbook bridges the gap between academic coursework and the knowledge, skills, and emotional challenges that are found in the real world of the helping professions.

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
Foreword	x
Bruce E. Bennett
Preparation	1	(17)
Theory into Practice	1	(1)
Terminology	1	(1)
Meeting with Your Instructor	2	(1)
Finding and Selecting a Placement	3	(1)
Peers and Campus Resources for Locating Internships	3	(1)
Community Resources	4	(1)
Choosing a Placement	4	(4)
Portfolios, Interviews, and Letters	8	(1)
The Rights of Applicants	9	(1)
Internship Agreements	9	(2)
Evaluation	11	(1)
Making the Most of Your Internship	11	(2)
Using This Book	13	(1)
Introduction to Journal Work	14	(2)
References	16	(2)
Getting Started	18	(11)
First Impressions	18	(1)
Enthusiasm Meets Experience	19	(1)
The Role of the Intern	20	(1)
The Role of the Professional	20	(1)
Meeting Clients	21	(1)
Age and Experience Issues with Clients and Supervisors	21	(1)
Time Limits	22	(1)
Fees for Service	23	(1)
Is Treatment Effective?	23	(1)
Altruism versus Money	24	(1)
Clinical and Ethical Issues Pertaining to Fees	25	(1)
Inoculation: What Not to Learn	26	(1)
References	27	(2)
Ethical and Legal Issues	29	(29)
Ethical Guidelines of the Helping Professions	29	(1)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)	30	(2)
Competence	32	(1)
Informed Consent	33	(2)
Confidentiality	35	(3)
Exceptions to Confidentiality	38	(4)
Insurance Company Inquiries, Managed Care, and Ethical Practice	42	(2)
Confidentiality with Minors	44	(1)
Dual Relationships	44	(6)
Liability and Insurance	50	(2)
Technology and Ethics	52	(1)
Research Ethics	52	(1)
Summary	53	(1)
References	53	(5)
Internship Classes and Peer Groups	58	(8)
Forming Internship Peer Groups	58	(1)
Models of Peer Group Learning	58	(1)
Elements of Successful Classes and Groups	59	(2)
Video or Audio Recordings of Sessions	61	(1)
Role Plays	62	(1)
Ethics in Classes and Groups	63	(2)
References	65	(1)
Supervision	66	(21)
What is Supervision?	66	(1)
Hopes and Fears	66	(2)
Clarifying Expectations	68	(1)
Frequency and Timing of Supervision	68	(1)
Content of Supervision	69	(1)
Didactic Supervision	70	(1)
Case Notes and Discussions	70	(2)
Tapes and Role Plays	72	(1)
Live Supervision	72	(1)
Observing the Supervisor in Therapy	73	(1)
Remote Supervision---Internet, Telephone, and Other Technologies	73	(1)
Theoretical Orientation	74	(1)
Supervision and Therapy---Differences and Similarities	75	(4)
Transference and Countertransference	79	(1)
Suggested Guidelines for Therapy and Supervision	79	(1)
Conflict in Supervision	80	(2)
Evaluation	82	(2)
Planning for Future Supervision	84	(1)
References	84	(3)
Working with Diversity	87	(14)
Reasons for and Resistance to Diversity Training	87	(2)
Steps toward Working with Differences	89	(1)
Knowing the Diversity within Us	90	(1)
Confronting Our Biases and Acknowledging Our Ignorance	91	(1)
The Historical Context Must Be Acknowledged	92	(1)
The Current Context Must Be Acknowledged	93	(1)
Strengths Must Be Recognized along with Problems	93	(1)
Ethnic Identity Development	94	(1)
One's Own Prejudices and Biases Must Be Acknowledged	94	(1)
A Model of ``White'' Identity Development	95	(1)
Assumptions, Models, and Techniques of Treatment	96	(1)
The Culturally Sensitive Counselor	97	(1)
Culturally Sensitive Intervention Approaches	98	(1)
Additional Resources	98	(1)
Summary	99	(1)
References	99	(2)
Clinical Writing, Treatment Records, and Case Notes	101	(20)
Writing Skills	101	(1)
Writing Can Be Learned	101	(1)
Focusing Reading to Learn Writing	102	(1)
Practice and Feedback	102	(1)
Rewriting	103	(1)
Common Writing Problems	104	(1)
Keys to Good Writing	104	(4)
The Function and Maintenance of Records	108	(1)
What Goes into Records	109	(2)
What Stays Out of Records	111	(1)
Progress Notes and Psychotherapy Notes	112	(2)
Structured Notes Formats	114	(2)
SOAP Notes	116	(1)
Psychotherapy Notes	116	(1)
Process or Progress Notes	117	(1)
Signing Notes	117	(1)
Dictation	117	(1)
Progress Notes and Supervision	118	(1)
Using Your Notes	118	(1)
Other Guidelines	119	(1)
References	119	(2)
Stress and Self-Care	121	(25)
Client after Client, Day after Day	122	(1)
How Common Is Stress among Helping Professionals?	122	(1)
Sources of Stress	123	(1)
The Effects of Stress	124	(3)
Secondary Trauma	127	(1)
Burnout	128	(4)
Self-Care	132	(1)
Time Management	132	(2)
Closing Sessions	134	(1)
Cognitive Self-Care	134	(3)
Physical Self-Care	137	(2)
Emotional Self-Care	139	(1)
Organizational Measures and Peer Support	140	(1)
Multimodal Self-Care	141	(1)
Personal Therapy	141	(1)
Positive Effects on Therapists	142	(1)
Financial Self-Care	143	(1)
References	143	(3)
Assault and Other Risks	146	(11)
The Risks of Assault	147	(1)
Coping with Aggression	147	(1)
Strange Behavior and Strange People Are Not Necessarily Dangerous	148	(1)
Understand Developmental Differences	148	(1)
Understand and Recognize Motivational Factors	148	(1)
Situational Factors and Violence	149	(2)
Recognize Potentially Dangerous Individuals	151	(1)
Early Prevention of Violence	152	(1)
Institutional Responses to Threats of Violence	153	(1)
Prevention of Imminent Violence with Clients	153	(1)
Responding to Assault	154	(1)
Assault Response Training	155	(1)
Aftereffects	155	(1)
References	156	(1)
Closing Cases	157	(9)
Ethical Considerations and Termination	157	(1)
Understanding Client Reactions to Early Termination	157	(2)
Common Problems in Termination	159	(1)
Toward Successful Termination or Transfer	159	(2)
Issues to Address in Termination	161	(1)
Techniques for Termination	162	(1)
Transferring Clients to Other Therapists	163	(1)
References	164	(2)
Finishing the Internship	166	(7)
Concluding the Supervisory Relationship	166	(2)
Letters of Recommendation	168	(1)
Procedures for Those Seeking Letters of Recommendation	169	(1)
Concluding Relationships with Staff	169	(1)
Letters of Thanks	170	(1)
Looking Ahead	170	(1)
Professional, Community, and Political Involvement	171	(1)
References	171	(2)
Frustrations, Lessons, Discoveries, and Joy	173	(4)
Learning from Whatever Happens	173	(1)
Lessons We Wish Were Not True	173	(2)
Lessons about the Lessons	175	(1)
Discoveries and Joy	175	(1)
Closing Comments	176	(1)
Appendix A: Internship Selection Checklist	177	(4)
Appendix B: Placement Information Form	181	(2)
Appendix C: Internship Learning Agreement Record Form	183	(2)
Appendix D: Intern Evaluation: Supervisor Form	185	(5)
Appendix E: Intern Evaluation: Intern Form	190	(5)
Appendix F: Emergency Contact and Procedures Information	195	(2)
Appendix G: Ethical Guidelines	197	(2)
Appendix H: Treatment Agreement and Informed Consent	199	(3)
Appendix I: Supervisor Evaluation Form	202	(4)
Appendix J: Clinical Activities Record Sheet	206	(2)
Indexes	208	(1)
Author Index	208	(4)
Subject Index	212

Excerpts

Professionals and students in the helping professions consider internships, practicums, and field placements among the most influential experiences of their careers. At the same time, however, students also report that their normal coursework typically provides only indirect, and in many cases insufficient, preparation for their first "real world" exposure. This book is designed to bridge the gap between academic coursework and the knowledge, skills, and emotional challenges that are found beyond the classroom. In writing this book, I sought to draw upon the best information available from psychology, social work, counseling, psychiatry, and other helping professions. Toward that end, I conducted extensive literature reviews of the leading journals and texts in each field. I also consulted with numerous faculty and supervisors in each discipline and in various types of academic institutions and internship settings. Drawing upon personal experience in the role of intern, and having supervised hundreds of students and trainees in beginning and advanced placements, I have tried to write a book that will be valuable at many levels. Whether you are an undergraduate student working for the first time in a field placement or a graduate student completing your final internship, I hope this book will help your work and learning be more effective and more rewarding. OVERVIEW OF THE CONTENTS A glance at the table of contents reveals that the book is organized along both chronological and thematic lines. The chapters have been organized sequentially to anticipate the stages interns pass through and the understandings or skills that will be required in those stages. Initial chapters deal with such things as selecting placements and supervisors, meeting staff and clients, and key ethical and legal issues. Middle chapters deal with supervision, working with individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, clinical writing, and self-care. Discussions of termination, finishing the internship, and lessons learned conclude the book. Finally, appendixes provide examples of forms useful for establishing learning plans, supervision agreements, ethical guidelines, evaluations, and other procedures. Because internship training and clinical work involve a constant process of self-exploration and change, the textual material of each chapter is accompanied by self-exploration and experiential learning exercises. I encourage you to use these exercises and be open to the experiences. The more one works in this field the more acutely one realizes the importance of self-examination and understanding. Since the initial publication of this book, the response from students, instructors, and supervisors has been tremendously gratifying. Students are finding many of their questions answered here, and the practical suggestions help them deal more effectively with both the challenges and the opportunities of internships. Instructors have found that students who have read the chapters are better informed and have a greater awareness of issues and information they need to know. Supervisors have reported to me that the interns who are using this book are much better prepared and more knowledgeable than others. Indeed, a number of on-site supervisors have told me they will not supervise any interns unless the intern has read this book. This fourth edition builds on the base established already and incorporates the most recent research and clinical literature in the field. Of particular importance in this new edition is extensive discussion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as it relates to ethical and legal issues. In addition, the role of technology in clinical work continues to grow, and I have expanded the discussion of relevant ethical and clinical issues pertaining to computerized record keeping, electronic communications, and even remote supervision and delivery of clinical s