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Updated 3/16/08


Index

Overview of the Counseling Center
Bowling Green and Northwest Ohio

The University

Division of Student Affairs

Program  Goals
Counseling Center Training Philosophy
Statement on Intern Self-Disclosure
Internship Activities

Staff Members
Application Information


Overview of the Counseling Center

Description (return to index)
The Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Counseling Center is the primary psychological service facility on campus. Administratively, the Counseling Center is located within the Division of Student Affairs and under the purview of the Assistant Vice-President for Student Affairs. The Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and is a member of the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA), the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD), and the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (ACCCCS).

The Counseling Center staff is multidisciplinary. There are four licensed psychologists (Clinical and Counseling) and three psychology residents serving as full-time staff in addition to the pre-doctoral interns. Serving in a part-time capacity, we have one licensed independent social worker, one psychiatrist, and one licensed psychologist and four doctoral students in clinical psychology (graduate assistants). The Counseling Center staff adheres to the legal, professional, and ethical standards of the Ohio Psychology Law and Rules of the Board, Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, and the Accreditation Guidelines of the International Association of Counseling Services.

The Counseling Center is located at 422 Saddlemire at North Conklin and is open Mondays 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Tuesday- Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. The Counseling Center provides individual counseling and psychotherapy, couples counseling, group counseling and psychotherapy, psychological assessment, crisis intervention, consultation and outreach. Our goal is to provide quality services in as short a time as possible, usually within 16 sessions or less.  Counseling services are limited to enrolled BGSU students and are provided at no charge.  Issues often addressed in counseling include: depression; anxiety; relationship concerns; study/test taking concerns; stress/anxiety reduction; family concerns; eating disorders; sexual concerns; grief and loss; coming out issues; experiences of physical/sexual assault and other concerns.

The Counseling Center maintains liaison offices in three residence halls for the provision of consultation and outreach services to residence hall staff and students. In addition, the Counseling Center maintains a liaison position with the College of Arts & Sciences for the provision of consultation and outreach services to faculty, staff and students within the College. 

Mission (return to index)
The Counseling Center staff strives to promote the psychological wellbeing of students from diverse backgrounds; to foster their development, learning and academic success; and to provide appropriate intervention when students are experiencing serious mental health concerns.

We accomplish this mission through providing psychological consultation to the Bowling Green State University community, including its faculty, staff, students and their families.   We also achieve our mission through the provision of a variety of other psychological services including assessment, counseling (group, individual, and couples), crisis intervention, psychiatric services, training, psychoeducational programming, on-line psychological resources, supervision, testing, and referral.

 

In providing such services, we strive to be sensitive to the diverse needs, backgrounds, values and characteristics of the members of our campus community.

Diversity Statement (return to index)
The Counseling Center staff welcomes all students. We aspire to respect cultural, individual, and role differences. Our goal is to create a safe, supportive and affirming climate for individuals of all races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, ages, abilities, sizes, socioeconomic statuses, languages, and cultures.

Counseling Center Committees (return to index)
The Counseling Center Committees generate proposals and recommendations that are forwarded to the Executive Committee; in some instances, their role will also involve implementing proposals that have been approved by the Executive Committee. The following is a complete listing of the Counseling Center’s Committees and their function:

Clinical Committee
Function: To discuss strategies and implement changes to manage and enhance the provision of direct clinical services and to address problems that arise in this area.

Executive Committee
Function: To make decisions about major issues that arise in the Center. To review proposals submitted by the other committees and to determine appropriate action to be taken.

Lean Higher Education Committee
Function: Responsible for planning and implementing changes to Counseling Center procedures, as well as continually assessing the effectiveness of those changes. 

Outreach, Consultation and Liaison Committee
Function: To examine the specific ways in which our Center is interfacing with other segments of the University community; to explore options for enhancing our connections with other offices and departments; to determine optimal ways of utilizing resources outside of the Counseling Center; and to generate strategies for educating others about how they can access our services.

Staff Development Committee
Function: To solicit input from staff regarding their professional development needs and interests and to use the information gathered in planning and coordinating the Center’s staff development programs.

Technology Committee
Function: To consider ways that technology can be used to facilitate daily center operations, to promote interoffice and intra-office communications, to simplify case/records management, and to assist with service delivery.

Training Committee
Function: To make recommendations of programs, practices, and strategies for providing orientation and training to the Center staff (including all interns and graduate assistants).

Bowling Green and Northwest Ohio (return to index)
Bowling Green State University's personal atmosphere is enhanced by its physically compact campus located with the Bowling Green community. Most restaurants and businesses are within walking or biking distance of the campus. The city of Bowling Green, Ohio, population 29,600 (including students), is located in northwest Ohio about 20 miles south of Toledo.

Outdoor recreation activities are readily available, including the beauty and recreational opportunities of Lake Erie. Camping, hiking, biking, canoeing and other outdoor activities are merely minutes away. However, Bowling Green is also within a comfortable driving distance of all major cities in Ohio (Cleveland - 2 hours, Columbus - 2.5 hours, and Cincinnati - 3 hours). In addition, Detroit, Michigan is less than an hour and a half away and Chicago is a four hour drive.

The University (return to index)
Bowling Green State University combines the personal atmosphere of a small college with the opportunities of a major university. With more than 200 undergraduate majors and programs, our learning community provides high-quality faculty members who care about their students, an appreciation for diversity, and the latest in information technology. Of the 20,200 students enrolled at BGSU, 17,300 are undergraduate students, 10 percent come from outside the state of Ohio (including more than 540 from other countries), and more than 1,680 are African American, Native American, Hispanic, or Asian American.

Integral to campus life are the core values: respect for one another, cooperation, intellectual and spiritual growth, creative imaginings, and pride in a job well done.

BGSU Vision Statement (return to index)
Bowling Green State University aspires to be the premier learning community in Ohio, and one of the best in the nation. Through the interdependence of teaching, learning, scholarship and service we will create an academic environment grounded in intellectual discovery and guided by rational discourse and civility.

Bowling Green State University serves the diverse and multicultural communities of Ohio, the United States, and the world.

Division of Student Affairs (return to index)
The Counseling Center is administratively housed within the Division of Student Affairs which consists of a variety of departments that promote a positive environment for student success. Services offered range from student housing and dining services to athletics and health-related services.

The mission statement for the division follows:

The Division of Student Affairs complements Bowling Green State University’s mission to be the premier learning community in Ohio, and one of the best in the Nation. This is accomplished by the following practices:

  • We enhance student learning and achievement through innovative programs, services, and facilities that meet students’ developmental, social, physical and psychological health, and academic needs and interests.
  • We challenge and engage students by creating a supportive, learning-centered environment that encourages intellectual exchange, cultural literacy, self-assurance, respect for others, and the responsible exercise of individual expression.
  • We strive, in partnership with Academic Affairs, to help students integrate learning experiences and develop competence in critical thinking, written and oral communication, interpersonal relations, and leadership. Achievement of these learning outcomes prepares our students for life-long personal and professional growth.
  • Our aim is to prepare Bowling Green State University graduates for leadership in their communities, and meaningful involvement in an increasingly diverse, technologically sophisticated, and complex global society.

Program Goals (return to index)
The six goals of the internship training program in the practice of professional psychology include Clinical Competence, Provision of Clinical Supervision, Outreach and Consultation, Multicultural Competence, Ethics and Law, and Professional Identity.

  • The Clinical Competence goal focuses on interns’ development of competencies in individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and clinical assessment and competence in using supervision and other available resources toward growth in clinical competence, professional identity, and professional autonomy.
  • The Provision of Supervision goal focuses on interns’ development of competence in the provision of clinical supervision.
  • The Outreach and Consultation goal focuses on interns’ development of competencies in the provision of outreach and consultation services to members of the University community and other service providers.
  • The Multicultural Competence goal focuses on interns’ developing sensitivity to, knowledge about, and clinical skills to practice effectively within a multicultural framework.
  • The Ethics and Law goal focuses on interns’ acquisition of a working knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the ethics and laws affecting the practice of psychology; and application of these in their clinical work, research, consultations, and relationships with colleagues.
  • The Professional Identity goal focuses on each intern’s development of an identity as a psychologist who engages in reflective professional practice and ongoing learning.

Counseling Center Training Philosophy (return to index)
The BGSU Counseling Center internship prepares trainees as strong generalists in the practice of psychology. The training is agency-based with opportunities to gain experience in counseling center functions such as individual, couples, and group counseling/psychotherapy; consultation; outreach; supervision and training; and crisis intervention. Interns may choose to specialize in topic-oriented areas such as diversity, eating disorders and body esteem, sexual offenses, or working with student athletes.

Consistent with the vision of the University, we adhere to a practitioner-scholar model. As such, interns are expected to participate in a scholarly activity and share the results with the clinical staff. We believe that professionals in training learn best by practicing their skills in an environment that is both supportive and challenging. All members of staff are expected to provide services which are grounded in scientific and ethical principles. Interns are considered to be colleagues who actively and cooperatively participate in full staff professional development programming as well as in structured and sequenced training seminars.

The Counseling Center pre-doctoral internship training program incorporates the values of Bowling Green State University as follows:

  • Respect for one another. The Counseling Center, the Division of Student Affairs, and the University are inclusive and embrace differences related to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, size, social class, language and culture. We are guided by the principle that celebrating diversity enriches and empowers the lives of all people.
  • Cooperation. The professional staff and trainees of the Counseling Center work cooperatively to fulfill the mission and functions of the Center. Interns and the Training Committee will coordinate a learning experience that balances individual interests with experiences that encourage risk-taking and growth. Collaborative programming with other units in Student Affairs and throughout the University is encouraged.
  • Intellectual and spiritual growth. Through the support and challenge of new experiences, formal and informal intellectual discourse, and supervision, interns and all staff continue to develop intellectually and ethically. It is a goal of our training program and our Center to be “good citizens” of the profession of psychology. That is, staff and pre-doctoral interns are expected to abide by the relevant ethical guidelines, applicable state laws, current research and other professional standards of their profession.
  • Creative imaginings. Interns are encouraged to be creative as they practice the art and science of therapy as well as in research and other professional activities. We welcome and appreciate the creative contributions and feedback that interns may offer. We view the internship experiences as a mutually growth-enhancing experience for all staff.
  • Pride in a job well done. Our goal is that interns have on-going experiences with success as well as completing a year of training resulting in:
    • Professional and ethical excellence
    • An increased appreciation for human differences and multicultural competency
    • The ability to function independently as a psychologist

Statement on Intern Self-Disclosure    (return to index)
The BGSU Counseling Center chooses to adhere to Standard 7.04 of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002) by identifying our expectations of trainees with respect to self-disclosure of personal information during training. We believe that self-awareness and the ability to continually reflect on one's own personal dynamics are critical to the development of effective professional skills. Towards this aim, interns may be asked to engage in a process of personal exploration with their supervisors and trainers. In this process, supervisors will encourage interns to discuss and reflect upon how their experiences, personal qualities, and interpersonal dynamics relate to their professional functioning. Supervisors take care to create a training relationship characterized by trust, safety, and respect. Supervisors also take care to differentiate between therapy and supervision. As such, the focus of the discussion is always directly related to the interns' professional functioning and development. Risk-taking in the level of self-disclosure of interns’ personal reactions is respected and encouraged; however, appropriate limits to such disclosures are also respected. As noted in the Ethical Principles, we may require self-disclosure of personal information if “the information is necessary to evaluate or obtain assistance for students whose personal problems could reasonably be judged to be preventing them from performing their training or professionally related activities in a competent manner or posing a threat to the students or others (APA, 2002).” Our training program adheres to the APA Ethical Principles in this and every aspect of our training program.

American Psychological Association (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073.

Adapted from statements used by Arizona State University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Akron.

Internship Activities (return to index)
Internship activities have been developed to complement the training philosophy and developmental needs of advanced doctoral students as they become professionals in the field of psychology. To this end, we combine the service activities typical of a counseling center with training seminars and supervision. As an intern progresses through the year, training and supervision experiences provide more opportunities for independence based upon individual needs and abilities.

Interns are supported in their professional and training activities. Each intern will be provided an office equipped with a computer, telephone, and audio/video equipment. A large group room is available for intern meetings, seminars, and group counseling. Clerical support is also provided to interns for their Counseling Center related work.

Training Activities (return to index)
As is evident by the extensive list of training activities provided, we are committed to building upon the skills and abilities of the interns through a multitude of training opportunities. Each of the activities is considered to be an integral component of a well-trained psychologist’s repertoire of skills, abilities, and experiences.

Intern Orientation
A comprehensive, structured two to three week orientation to the internship begins the first day of the internship. Interns are provided with information on all facets of the training program including administrative details, service activities, training activities, and referral sources. The orientation program is coordinated by the Training Director and developed with input from the Training Committee.

Individual Supervision
Each intern spends a minimum of two hours per week in one-to-one supervision with a licensed psychologist. The Training Director makes the supervisory assignments with input from both the professional staff and interns. Interests and experience of staff members and interns are taken into consideration in making these assignments. The supervisory assignments are made at the beginning of the internship following introductions between staff and interns. The initial supervisory relationship concludes at the end of the Fall semester and a new assignments begin in January. Supervision focuses on the intern’s professional and personal growth as a therapist, case conceptualization, skill development, and case management.  Each intern completes a self assessment of their clinical skills at the beginning of the internship year and the supervisor is provided with this information to assist in targeting specific training needs and developmental level.

Intern Training Seminar/Client Consultation
This weekly 2 hour seminar introduces the interns to various topics including facilitating group therapy, conducting brief therapy, and psychiatric topics.  In the Spring semester, additional topics are determined in consultation with the interns regarding interest and training needs.  Some of the topics that have been covered previously include: trauma/PTSD, grief and crisis post-vention, eating disorders, couples therapy, evidenced based practices, and substance use/abuse/ACOA issues.  Three times per semester each intern presents a client consultation, receiving feedback from peers and staff.

Consultation and Outreach
The consultation and outreach training component assists interns in being able to consult with the campus community about mental health concerns and in being able to provide psycho-educational programs and training to campus constituents. The seminar focuses on developing the interns’ presentation skills and awareness of audience learning styles. Also, the interns become familiar with different models of consultation.

Assessment Seminar/Supervision
The assessment training component addresses a variety of psychological assessments.  Interns have an opportunity to use psychological assessments with their on-going clients. This experience enhances an intern’s use of assessments as tools to complement clinical work.

Group Therapy/Supervision
Group work is a valuable facet of our clinical services. For many clients, this is the most relevant and effective treatment modality. Therefore, interns are usually paired with a senior staff psychologist to co-lead a group in the fall and with a graduate assistant in the spring. Groups may be related to various topics, needs, and student populations.

Diversity Seminar
The diversity seminar provides opportunities for readings, experiential activities, client discussion and consultation regarding diverse clients. Diversity awareness, training experiences, and opportunities are also integrated throughout our internship program. In addition, because a major component of cultural competency is self-awareness, interns have opportunities to focus on their own internal development related to diversity issues.

Crisis Intervention Seminar
The Counseling Center provides crisis intervention and post-vention services during business hours and, in the event of campus tragedies, these services may be provided outside of regular business hours. “On-call” clinical staff members typically handle all emergencies during their specified coverage times. The on-call counselors respond to both telephone and in-person requests for emergency services from students or university staff members.

At the beginning of the internship year, interns are trained during the crisis seminar to respond to crisis situations.  Initially interns shadow a staff member during on-call coverage.  However, this transitions into the intern providing on-call coverage with supervision.

Supervision Seminar/Supervision
Each intern provides secondary supervision to a Clinical Psychology doctoral student.  Prior to providing supervision, this seminar prepares interns for their supervisory role. While interns are supervising, they meet 2 hours a week with two licensed psychologists for group supervision of their supervision.

Scholarly Activity/ Scholarly Project
Interns are expected to engage in scholarly project/research and present the findings to the clinical staff. Interns are given the opportunity to select the project in consultation with the Training Director.  The project/activity is decided prior to the conclusion of the Fall semester. Interns may choose to work alone or as a team to complete the project. Possible projects include:

a. A presentation about their research (e.g. dissertation or a current research project).

b. Involvement in a research project as an individual or cohort group regarding clinical services, counseling center policy, etc.

c. Development of a needs assessment and proposal for addressing either campus or counseling center needs and a proposal for action.

Client Presentation
Interns are expected to present a sample of their clinical work that is informed by current research regarding the treating modality, client population, and clinical practice.  This presentation will be given to the entire staff near the conclusion of the training year.

Peer Consultation/Assignment Meetings
Each week, the intern will meet in peer consultation groups consisting of an intern and several senior staff for the purposes of group supervision.  This meeting is used for staff client consultation, review/approval of treatment plans (extensions, long-term reviews), and client assignment. 

Professional Development
Several times during each semester, the entire professional staff and occasionally the support staff will meet for professional development. The topics may be related to clinical issues, university policies and procedures, national and international issues, etc. The topics for professional development are generated through staff surveys and recommendations from staff members, including the intern cohort.

Staff/Committee Meetings
Interns will participate in regular staff meetings, with the exception of Executive Committee meetings and/or those that involve discussions of intern performance. These meetings will cover topics such as Counseling Center policies and procedures, relevant clinical issues, accreditation issues, and the general business of the center. In addition, interns will have an opportunity to serve on one or more of the Counseling Center’s committees.

Meetings with Training Director
The Training Director will meet bi-weekly with the interns to assess how the internship training is meeting the interns’ needs and to solicit feedback about the training program.

Training Activities

Training Activity
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Intern Orientation
Yes
-
-
Individual Supervision
2
2
2
Intern Training Seminar/Consult
2
2
-
Consultation and Outreach Seminar
.5*
-
-
Assessment Seminar/Supervision
.5*
.5*
-
Peer Consultation/Client Assignment
1
1
1
Diversity Seminar
.5
.5
-
Group Therapy Supervision
1
 
-
Crisis Seminar/Supervision
.5
-
1**
Supervision Seminar/Supervision
.5
2
 2 (optional)
Professional Development
1
1
-
Staff/Committee Meetings
1.5
1.5
1.5
Meeting with Training Director
.5
.5
1

*.5 denotes a one hour meeting, every other week
** This indicates a weekly meeting only at the beginning of the internship.

Provision of Psychological Services (return to index)
The type of service activity and the minimal amount of time spent in each of these areas were carefully developed to provide a balance between acquiring experience and the opportunity to receive training. In addition, the activities are consistent with the typical duties of a psychologist in a university counseling center setting. These activities include:

Walk-In Coverage/Consultation & Assessment
Interns are typically expected to allot at least four hours per week for assessments. This duty will consist of three hours per week of walk-in coverage. This activity is designed to give interns experience with assessment, referral, short-term treatment intervention, crisis intervention and psychiatric consultation.

Individual/Couples Therapy
Interns will provide therapy to students who present with a wide range of issues such as depression; anxiety; interpersonal relationship problems; grief and loss; suicidal ideation; sexual and physical assault; identity and self-esteem; personality disorders; and personality development. Interns will typically carry a caseload of 10-15 clients per week.

Group Therapy
Interns will be given the opportunity to co-facilitate either a process-oriented therapy group or a structured, support, or psycho-educational group during the fall and spring semesters. Interns will usually be paired with a senior staff psychologist to co-lead the group in the Fall. In the past, the Counseling Center has offered time-limited interpersonal process-oriented groups, general therapy groups, and psycho-educational groups. Interns often have the opportunity to co-facilitate a group with a clinical psychology graduate assistant in the Spring.  Interns are encouraged to explore the possibility of developing a group based upon individual interests and campus needs.

Crisis Intervention
Interns will have the experience of providing on-call crisis intervention services and consultation services to students, faculty, and staff. During the fall semester, interns will be paired with senior staff psychologists and assist them in responding to crisis situations that arise on campus. Interns can expect to spend four hours per week performing these services. Interns will gain experience in crisis intervention, assessment, referral and psychiatric consultation.

Consultation, Outreach and Liaison
In collaboration with the Outreach Coordinator, interns will provide training, consultation, and psycho-educational workshops to the campus community. Programs on topics such as time management, stress management, healthy relationships, and test anxiety are often requested by the Office of Residence Life, Athletic Department, and other student affairs and academic units. Interns are required to present and conduct four outreach presentations per semester.  In addition, interns have the opportunity to develop and deliver a variety of psycho-educational services via a liaison relationship.  Interns will collaborate with the Training Director to determine which campus unit they would prefer to develop this relationship.

Provision of Supervision
Interns will have the experience of providing supervision to a doctoral student from Bowling Green State University’s APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology. Each intern will be expected to supervise during the Spring semester.  In addition, interns may have the opportunity to provide supervision during the Summer session.

Psychological Services

Service Activity
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Individual/Couples Therapy hours
10-15
10-15
10-15
Group Therapy
1.5
1.5
-
Crisis Intervention
4
4
4-8
Walk-In Coverage
4
4
0-4
Consultation and Outreach
1-4
1-4
1-4
Provision of Supervision
-
1
0-2

Additional Activities (return to index)
In addition to the training and service delivery components of the internship, time is provided for other activities. Case management time includes time to complete paperwork, review therapy tapes, complete readings, and contact clients as needed. Time is also provided to support interns as they complete their dissertations or continue in their professional development.

Additional Activities
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Case Management
2-4
3-4
3-6
Dissertation/Readings
2
2
5
Supervision Prep Time
1
2
1-2

Evaluation (return to index)
The interns will be provided with formative evaluations throughout the internship as well as summative evaluations. At least twice a year the internship program conducts formal written evaluations of each trainee's performance. These evaluations are based upon input from individual supervisors, seminar leaders, group supervisors, and the Director of Training.

Sample Work Week (return to index)

Psychological Services
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Individual/Couples Therapy Hours
12
10
12-16
Group Therapy
1.5
1.5
0.0
Walk-In Coverage 4.0 4.0 0-4
Crisis Intervention
4.0
4.0
4.0
Consultation and Outreach
1.0
1.0
0.0
Provision of Supervision
0.0
1.0
2.0
Training Activities
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Individual Supervision
2.0
2.0
2.0
Intern Training Seminar/Consult
2.0
2.0
0.0
Consultation and Outreach Seminar
0.5
0.0
0.0
Assessment Seminar/Supervision
0.5
0.5
0.0
Group Therapy Supervision
1
1
0.0
Diversity Seminar
0.5
0.5
0.0
Crisis Seminar/Supervision
0.5
0.0
1.0
Supervision Seminar/Supervision
0.5
2.0
2.0
Peer Consultation/Client Assignment Meeting 1.0 1.0 1.0
Professional Development
1.0
1.0
0.0
Staff/Committee Meetings
1.0
1.0
2.0
Meeting with Training Director
0.5
0.5
1.0
Additional Activities
Hours Per Week
 
Fall
Spring
Summer
Case Management
3.0
2.5
5.0
Dissertation/Professional Dev.
2.0
2.0
5.0
Misc. (Adm., report writing, etc.)
2.0
2.0
2.0
Total
40.0