University of Redlands
During practicum, you will engage in practical, relevant, and meaningful experiences in a clinical setting. Practicum is your opportunity to observe the workings of counseling sites, apply the knowledge gained in the classroom, and continue to develop your counseling practice through supervised clinical experience. You are strongly encouraged to immerse yourself in the hands-on learning processes – learning beyond what’s simply required is essential for professional and personal growth.
During the second year of your program, you will begin your practicum experience in a clinical setting. To enter the field as a counselor trainee, please follow the steps outlined below.
Students are expected to develop a professional identity through membership in professional organizations. These organizations provide professional development opportunities through workshops, seminars, conferences, and professional publications at little to no additional cost to their student members.
As a CMHC student, you are required to join the ACA as a student member. Student membership provides discounted professional liability insurance, which is required for practicum.
Students considering licensure in California as an LPCC or LMFT should also consider joining other organizations such as:
While completing your first year of coursework, begin to think about your areas of interest within clinical counseling and how your practicum experience will align with your professional and personal goals. As practicum plays a central role in your development as a clinical counselor, it is the time for you to explore and learn about the counseling services, spaces, and populations that interest you the most.
You can begin to identify your professional and personal goals by:
In February of each year, the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (OLC) partners with the Department of Counseling and Human Services (DCHS) to host a Practicum Fieldwork Fair. The fair aims to help counseling students explore practicum/fieldwork settings, foster greater understanding of programs and services that align to school and clinical counseling, and share resources and expectations related to practicum/fieldwork. First-year students are expected to attend the fair as it will help prepare them for a successful transition to the field.
To learn more about the fair, please visit the Practicum Fieldwork Fair page.
When considering where you will complete your practicum experience, you should consider how each potential site will help you meet your professional and personal goals. You should identify how each site's mission, purpose, and direct and indirect services offered will align with your values and allow you to explore your areas of interest. The Office of Career and Professional Development can provide you with services and support as you prepare to locate and apply to practicum sites.
Note: If you are interested in an organization not currently partnered with the university, please notify the Office of Licensures and Credentialing (olc@redlands.edu) via e-mail as new practicum partnerships require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Redlands and the site.
Once you have identified the sites that interest you the most, you will submit your applications, recognizing that each site is likely to have its own application deadlines. It is advisable that you work with the Office of Career and Professional Development prior to applying so you can obtain help and feedback on your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letters.
Please note that students who pass the first review, based on their written materials, will usually be invited to the next step–an interview.
Upon selection by the site for practicum placement, you will be responsible for sumbitting a completed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum Site Agreement by the stated deadline for the term. Counselor trainees electing to continue at their current site must also submit a practicum agreement by the stated deadline.
You will need to sign the document and secure your site supervisor's signature before submitting the document to the Office of Licensures and Credentialing through the Practicum Agreement Submission Form.
Before you commence at the site, become familiar with their policies and procedures and participate in an Orientation. Establish a weekly training and supervison schedule with your clinical supervisior. Be sure to disclose to each client that you are a Counselor in Training and have them complete an Informed Consent Form.
