Integrated Health Practicum Track

The IH Practicum Track is a two-semester, advanced practicum experience that is available through a collaboration between the Counseling and Mental Health Center and University Health Services (UHS). This practicum allows students the opportunity to train with the Integrated Health (IH) Team, a small team of psychologists and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) housed within UHS’s General Medicine clinic (though referrals can come from any UHS department, e.g., Gynecology, Urgent Care, Physical Therapy). Clinical experience gained during this placement would include the delivery of health psychology-focused (and other) interventions to the diverse UT student population while working with a multidisciplinary professional staff. Students present with a variety of concerns including somatization of mental health symptoms; distress and adjustment challenges around new medical diagnoses; as well as presentations seen in traditional college counseling settings such as depression, anxiety, and relational distress (not an exhaustive list). This practicum experience requires a 14 hour per week commitment which includes individual counseling, individual supervision with a licensed clinician, participation in the CMHC Practicum Seminar and weekly IH Team Meeting, and collaboration and consultation with UHS medical professionals. Group intervention experience may also be available.

The goal of this practicum is to provide training and supervision in the following areas:

• Clinical skills and competency in providing individual, short-term counseling in a medical setting with an emphasis on behavioral health interventions.
• Understanding of and competence in the process-level dimension of counseling as well as use of the therapist's self and the counseling relationship as agents of change.
• Working competently and compassionately with clients from diverse life backgrounds and with wide-ranging presenting concerns.
• Developing skills for working with a multidisciplinary professional staff both at the Counseling Center and within University Health Services.
• Understanding and working with the “Use of Self” model of training at CMHC.
• Developing case management and referral skills to manage high acuity needs in short-term clinical work.
• Attending the weekly Integrated Health consultation and team meeting to foster professional development.

Structure of the IH Practicum

The IH Practicum consists of a combination of time dedicated to direct clinical services, individual supervision, participation in a weekly seminar, participation in a weekly team and consult meeting and additional hours for documentation and other administrative tasks. The designated block of direct clinical service time is a minimum of 8 hours per week. Including direct clinical services, supervision, seminar and administrative time, the total minimum commitment to the practicum is 14 hours per week. (Please note that the specific structure of the practicum is subject to change).

Individual Counseling Experience

Each trainee is expected to provide a minimum of eight hours per week for individual counseling sessions. Given the variability in attendance rates and the fact that clients may be seen less frequently than every week, the size of trainees' caseloads will vary. Practicum students working with IH have the opportunity to gain experiences working with clients in brief counseling (generally up to eight sessions). This practicum allows students the opportunity to receive referrals from medical staff as well as other Integrated Health team members.

Time Allocation for the Integrated Health Practicum Track at CMHC

Activity	Time Allotted
	Minimum	Maximum
Direct Clinical Services (Individual and Group Therapy)	8 hrs	Open
Individual Counseling Supervision	2 hrs	2 hrs
Group Counseling Supervision	0 hrs	1 hr
Integrated Health Team Consultation Group	1.5 hrs	1.5 hrs
Practicum Seminar	1.5 hrs	1.5 hrs
Administrative Tasks	1.5 hrs	Open
Medical Staff Meeting (optional)	0 hrs	Open
Totals	14.5 hrs	Open