Thank you for writing this piece. I recently started my practicum in counseling. Our university requires we find our own site. I was very surprised to discover the low number of call backs and non-responses to my emails and resume especially from community mental health and hospitals. My classmates found it difficult and frustrating as well. It is not easy finding a site on your own to ask someone to put such a strong amount of time, energy, and resources into someone they do not know. I was fortunate and was given an opportunity from a private practice site and my supervisor is incredibly helpful, supportive, and professional. I realize those of us wanting to be counselors and therapists are not that lucky. I really hope things change, because my institution is accepting new students every semester, and we indeed need those quality supervision hours/internship experiences in order to graduate and go onto become therapists.
This article hit on so many key components regarding ways system is fractured. Higher Ed programs are driven by admissions/enrollment increases, “get students in the program” mindset/increase revenue. Focusing on how to support those students 2nd year of school with training has dropped. I love the suggestion of universities financially supporting CMH training sites.
Thank you for writing this piece. I recently started my practicum in counseling. Our university requires we find our own site. I was very surprised to discover the low number of call backs and non-responses to my emails and resume especially from community mental health and hospitals. My classmates found it difficult and frustrating as well. It is not easy finding a site on your own to ask someone to put such a strong amount of time, energy, and resources into someone they do not know. I was fortunate and was given an opportunity from a private practice site and my supervisor is incredibly helpful, supportive, and professional. I realize those of us wanting to be counselors and therapists are not that lucky. I really hope things change, because my institution is accepting new students every semester, and we indeed need those quality supervision hours/internship experiences in order to graduate and go onto become therapists.
I wish all legislators could read this article. The architecture needs a fix. We are in a mental health crisis that affects all of society.
This article hit on so many key components regarding ways system is fractured. Higher Ed programs are driven by admissions/enrollment increases, “get students in the program” mindset/increase revenue. Focusing on how to support those students 2nd year of school with training has dropped. I love the suggestion of universities financially supporting CMH training sites.