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Practicum is the term used to describe the clinical training which occurs concurrently with academic training while in our program. Students are placed at an agency in the community where direct clinical services are provided to patients by the student. Students also participate in treatment planning with other professionals, trainings, and clinical paperwork.
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For two-year students, the first practicum begins in the spring semester in the first year of the program. For three-year students, the first practicum begins in the spring semester in the second year of the program. For both two-year and three-year students a second practicum continues for the full academic year in the final year of the program.
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The first practicum is a 16 hour a week commitment for the entire spring semester. The second practicum is a 20 hour a week commitment for both fall and spring semesters in the final year in the program.
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While doing the first practicum, full-time students are also in full-day classes on Tuesday and Thursdays. Part-time students are in full-day classes on Thursday. During the second practicum in the final year of the program, students are in full-day classes on Tuesdays.
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Some agencies will pay stipends, especially for Spanish-speaking clinicians; however, most of the practicum experiences are unpaid trainee-ships.
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Yes, the majority of hours spent in practicum training are counted towards the 3,000 accumulated hours needed to apply for licensure with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
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Yes, students are supervised for all the clinical work they perform. Agreements are made with all the contracted agencies where students provide clinical services to receive the proper supervision which meets the California Board of Behavioral Sciences ratios and protocols. Students also receive specialized art therapy supervision by a registered art therapist who is able to give feedback and direction regarding the use of art therapy. The art therapy supervisor also supports, guides, and mentors the student towards developing a professional identity.
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The Practicum Coordinator works collaboratively with students and agencies to arrange for practicum training that meets each student's strengths and individual training needs.
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No, the first and second practicum trainings typically occur at different training sites.
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There are many different types of agencies where our students provide services and complete practicum training. Typically the first practicum trainings occur at agencies that are short-term treatment providers such as substance abuse treatment centers, in-patient and out-patient psychiatric services and school-based treatment. The second-year practicum trainings take place in a variety of community mental health centers that work with children and families.
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Some of the agencies LMU contracts with for practicum training also hire our students after graduation if there is an opening.