Advanced Externship Program

Student Counseling Services offers a 20 hour/week advanced externship for doctoral students enrolled in Counseling and Clinical Psychology programs who have completed at least one prior therapy practicum. The externship begins in August and ends in May. The maximum number of externship positions is determined each year based on agency needs.

Our focus is to provide a strong comprehensive clinical experience for our trainees that integrates development of clinical competence and ethical practice with professional growth and development in a supportive environment. Externs will have exposure to a full range of services, therapeutic perspectives, and interdisciplinary skills found within a University Counseling Center.

Training Experience

• Individual Counseling: Externs will provide bi-weekly therapy services to a diverse population of college students utilizing our short-term therapy model. 
• Triage Assessments: Externs will be trained to conduct triage assessments, which entail assessing presenting concerns, risk, and level of care and making a referral to an appropriate service, whether internal or external to Student Counseling Services.
• Group Counseling: Externs will engage in our robust interpersonal process groups through either process observation and/or co-facilitating a process group with a staff. Groups meet weekly.
• Single Sessions: Externs will be trained to provide effective solution-focused therapeutic intervention within one session.
• Individual Supervision: Externs will receive individual supervision by a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, with emphasis on social justice, inclusion, and diversity.
• The externship is 20 hours per week, requiring a 2-3 day/week commitment. The general time commitment per externship activity (i.e. individual therapy, triage, case management, etc.) will vary depending on the needs of the agency. However, a sample time allocation is below:

Sample Time Allocation

Service Delivery/Experiential Learning	Hours Per Week
Individual Counseling	7
Group Counseling	2
Triage Assessment	1
Single Session	1
Didactic Seminars	1
Clinical Paperwork	3
Supervision	3
Staff Meetings	2
	Total: 20 hours

Application Process

Students are selected on the basis of previous clinical experience, recommendations of faculty from their home program, and personal interviews with the Student Counseling Services staff. Student Counseling Services follows ACEPT guidelines regarding application timelines, the interviewing process, and notification procedures.

The following submissions are required:

• Cover letter explaining interest and goals for externship
• Current vita or resume
• Unofficial Transcripts
• 3 letters of reference

Please submit application materials through ISU’s job portal once the position is posted.

Externship questions may be directed via e-mail to Nicole Anderson at neander@IllinoisState.edu or telephone (309) 438-3655. Interviews take place during the spring semester and are on site.

The advanced practicum (“externship”) at Illinois State University is a security-sensitive position that requires a background check to verify that candidates have no criminal record that would preclude placement at Student Counseling Services. A background check is conducted following the formal offer and the outcome has the potential to preclude placement at our site. For more information regarding the criminal background investigation policy, please see the Criminal Background Investigation Policy .