Counseling Center

Counseling Center Training Philosophy

The BGSU Counseling Center APA-accredited 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 assault, 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 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.

Collaboration. 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 Personal 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 doctoral interns are expected to abide by the relevant ethical guidelines, applicable state laws, current research and other professional standards of their profession.

Creativity and Innovation. 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.

Pursuit of Excellence. 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