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EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Professional Staff
Donelda A. Cook, Ph.D.
Director and Assistant Vice President for Student Development
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Pamela Griffin-Smith, Psy.D.
Associate Director for Clinical Services
George Mason University

Kimberly M. Ewing, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Training
The Ohio State University

Jason Parcover, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Research, Technology, and Outreach
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Chanda Corbett, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Preventive Programs
Temple University

Bridget Rivera, Psy.D.
Assistant Director for Extern Training
California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego

Thomas J. Fillion, Ph.D.
Senior Psychologist & Professional Development Coordinator
Johns Hopkins University

Consulting Psychiatrist
Martha Haile, M.D.
University of California at Los Angeles, School of Medicine

Administrative Support Staff
Kathy Lynch
Office Manager

Linda Kraft
Office Assistant/Receptionist

The Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. Loyola College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Loyola College in Maryland Counseling Center

The Loyola College Counseling Center is located organizationally within the Division of Student Development. As such, our goal is to assist in the psychological growth and development of Loyola students. We offer a range of services including initial assessments, short-term counseling and psychotherapy, crisis intervention and emergency services, referrals, and outreach programs. Currently, we have a multi-disciplinary staff consisting of five full-time psychologists, two part-time psychologists, one part-time psychiatrist, one full-time and two part-time secretaries. We have four licensed psychologists and two psychologists who are accruing hours towards licensure. All members of the staff serve in an integral role in our service and training programs.

Loyola College in Maryland is a Catholic comprehensive university, under the aegis of the Society of Jesus, in collaboration with the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of America. The College is dedicated to the ideals of liberal education. A liberal education in the Jesuit tradition seeks, ultimately, to provide a rigorous intellectual basis for the development of moral convictions, and for a life of continuous learning and action in service of those convictions.

Loyola College was founded in the Jesuit philosophy of "Cura Personalis" or "Care for the whole person." All aspects of human development are addressed by Loyola's many facets. A student will engage the sciences, the businesses, the arts and the humanities in the classroom. In addition, through a host of recreational activities, community service activities, and campus leadership opportunities students are supported in personal and interpersonal development. A Loyola graduate comes away as a human being developed in all areas of life. This is the philosophy of Cura Personalis in action.

Loyola College also derives much of its tradition from the Sisters of Mercy. Their philosophy of "Men and Women for Others" is a tradition followed by the entire Loyola Community and involves reaching out with care and concern to each other and to the community at large. Together these traditions are meant to challenge all Loyola students to lead and serve in a diverse and changing world.

The Counseling Center embodies the philosophies of Loyola College in working with students, faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as within the Center itself. The Counseling Center staff is integrated into training and psycho-educational programming for students, along with providing clinical service. There is constant collaboration with offices both within and outside of the Student Development Division. All staff actively participates on several campus-wide committees and events. Within the Center, our staff demonstrates commitment to collegial support and collaboration built into our work schedules and administrative structure.

Clinical Service 

Externs will spend most of their time providing individual counseling and psychotherapy to students with a wide range of psycho-social and emotional issues. The major focus of these experiences is the development of therapeutic process and conceptualization skills.  The underlying theme of our work with a college student population is developmentally focused, with a therapeutic eye on helping students manage the challenges therein. Externs will explore, with supervision, use of theoretical orientations, therapeutic relationship building, how to facilitate the psychological change and healing process, and crisis intervention, among other skills.

By the extern's second semester and depending on supervisor's assessment of readiness, externs may begin to do initial assessment/intake interviews.  These interviews serve as the first formal contact made with students to assess their concerns and appropriateness for our Center's services.  Externs will gain experience referring students to counseling in the Center, to other campus offices, off campus, group, and/or psychiatric consultation.

The Counseling Center has a growing group program. Groups may be general psychotherapy, theme-oriented, or structured groups. Externs are not required to co-facilitate groups, but depending on the number of groups available and the supervisor's assessment of the extern's readiness, some involvement may be possible. Externs may be able to co-facilitate or serve as process observers for groups.

Outreach & Consultation

Consultation and educational programming activities are an integral component of the Counseling Center's developmental and educational mission at Loyola. If schedules allow, externs will have the opportunity to participate in outreach activities and are encouraged to pursue activities that reflect their own areas of interest. Primary prevention, education and training programs are offered to the Loyola community, including various student groups, student life staff, peer educators, campus police and other administrators. The Counseling Center develops outreach activities aimed at personal growth, teaching important skills and fostering a sense of community among the participants. Examples of such endeavors include: workshops for students with social and public speaking anxiety; self-care workshops such as assertiveness, relaxation and stress management programs; and academic workshops such as time management and study skills programs.

Training and Development

At the beginning of the fall semester, externs will receive initial training and orientation sessions.  During this time, externs will develop personal training goals based on an assessment of their experience and skills.

Supervision of individual caseload
Each extern will receive a minimum of one hour of weekly, individual supervision. Supervision will be designed to support and enhance the extern's progress throughout that year. Supervision will cover the extern's individual cases, intake assessments and outreach activities.  Supervision is provided by senior staff members and post-doctoral fellows.

Supervision of group work
Externs who co-facilitate or process observe groups will be supervised in weekly supervision by the senior staff person(s) who facilitate the group. This supervision will be designed to discuss the group's process, to integrate group theory with practical experience and to help externs examine and improve group facilitation skills.

Extern Case Conference
All trainees will participate in a weekly group meeting to discuss cases in a collaborative setting. Senior staff members or post-doctoral fellows facilitate these meetings.  Trainees will rotate presenting cases and showing video tapes of sessions.

Identity Exploration Seminar
Identity exploration seminar is held weekly for all trainees.  It is designed to increase the extern’s personal and professional growth in the area of diversity.  Diversity is understood in terms of dimensions of identity, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, SES and religion/spirituality.  Identity exploration seminar is facilitated by members of senior staff.

Duration
The externship program is a one year, part-time position. The specific number of hours trainees contract for is determined by the expectations of their program; however, externs are expected to be available for 16- 20 hours per week,and carry an average caseload of 6-8 clients. Applicants are asked to speak with the Externship Coordinator to settle on a suitable and appropriate number of hours for the externship year.

Eligibility
Candidates should be enrolled in a master's or doctoral psychology program. Candidates should have completed preliminary course work including counseling skills, theories, ethics and at least one year of supervised clinical experience.

We will begin reviewing applications in Spring 2008, for the following Fall 2008. Candidates with complete applications will be notified of their status the week of March 10, 2008.  Our selection process is rolling, so completed applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we will continue until both positions are filled.

Application Procedure
1) Cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in the externship;
2) Current vitae;
3) Three letters of recommendation--one from a faculty member discussing your academic standing and progress, two from clinical supervisors discussing your clinical skill.  Extern Recommendation Form can be completed by your reference either in addition to, or in lieu of a letter of recommendation. Three total recommendations are required.

Send all application materials to:
Bridget Rivera, Psy.D.
Assistant Director for Extern Training
Loyola College
Counseling Center, 150 Humanities Center
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
(410) 617-5109