Counseling Psychology Portfolio

(REVISED JUNE 2007)

Goal 1:  Students will be knowledgeable in the foundations of psychology as a science and as a profession. 

        Objectives:

• Students will achieve a broad knowledge base in the biological aspects of behavior, the cognitive/affective aspects of behavior, the social aspects of behavior, individual differences, and the history and systems of psychology.
• Students will achieve a broad and thorough knowledge of current scientific issues in psychology.

Portfolio

a.  Transcript of grades/curriculum documentation form (current at time of portfolio submission)*

• 2 term papers, one from a core psychology course and one from a counseling psychology course, that document broad knowledge in psychology*

Goal 2:  Students will demonstrate competence in the areas of research design, implementation, and evaluation.

        Objectives:

• Students will achieve a knowledge base in the following areas: research design, research methods, data analysis, and interpretation of data.
• Students will demonstrate an ability to critique research and evaluate its quality and contribution to the field.
• Students will be able to conduct independent research.

Portfolio

• 1 paper, student first or second author, submitted to a refereed journal#
• 1 paper, student first or second author, presented at a peer-reviewed convention#

(of the above, one must be empirical, with an existing data base or where the student assisted in gathering data; of the above, the content must be different although both could be in the same general area such as health psychology; of the above, the student must have played a primary role in conceptualizing the research consistent with authorship)

• grades in statistics and measurement courses*
• a scholarly paper prepared according to attached guidelines+

Goal 3:  Students will develop a professional identity as a counseling psychologist.

        Objectives:

• Students will be knowledgeable about current professional issues and can formulate informed opinions about these issues.
• Students will actively involve themselves in current professional activities related to counseling psychology, and to psychology more broadly.
• Students will have a working knowledge of the history of counseling psychology.

Portfolio

• Attend 1 conference (e.g., IPA, APA) including 1 invited talk, 5 presentations, and 1 poster session. Write a reflective paper or conference journal/diary at the time of attendance which documents the sessions attended and reflects on the conference experience. (This experience should occur before the third year.)#
• Volunteer for 1 professional activity within counseling psychology (examples are hosting suite, serving as local representative for national group)#
• Document affiliation with 2 national/local organizations relevant to the professional identity of counseling psychology and with the student’s own interests (examples are Division 17 SAG, Division 45 SAG; these memberships must be at least one year in duration at the time of the portfolio review)#

Goal 4:  Students will self-identify and function as scientist-practitioners in their assessment and practice, and in their preparation, work, and employment.

        Objectives:

• Students will have an ability to integrate science and practice, with science informing practice and vice versa.
• Students will conceptualize current societal issues of a psychological nature from the perspective of both science and practice.
• Students will administer and interpret a variety of psychological tests.
• Students will conduct psychological diagnosis and will relate diagnosis to treatment.
• Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of the DSM-IV.
• Students will conduct individual psychotherapy in various modalities.
• Students will be able to conduct psychoeducational workshops.
• Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of a number of current empirically validated treatments.
• Students will develop an ability to conduct therapy with a diversity of clients from a multicultural perspective.

Portfolio

• A formal case presentation.  This case presentation is an oral presentation during the defense and a paper included in the portfolio.  The case may be focused on assessment, therapy or both.  This case presentation must include assessment and DSM-IV information, evidence of science-practice integration, formal written treatment summary, attention to diversity, and explicit discussion of evidence based/supported treatments with the client*+
• All practicum evaluations”*+
• Grades in 3 psychotherapy courses*
• Materials from 1 psychoeducational workshop and evaluations of same*

Goal 5:  Students will demonstrate sensitivity to and awareness of all aspects of diversity, including issues related to racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity, as well as diversity related to age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.  This awareness will be incorporated across science and practice.

        Objectives:

• Students will be able to identify issues relevant to diversity.
• Students will understand their own identity and assumptions and the impact of these on both research and clinical work.
• Students will become multiculturally competent.

Portfolio

• Grade in multicultural course*
• Documentation of clinical work with diverse clients*
• Evidence of commitment to increasing knowledge, skills and attitudes in multicultural competence to include at least one targeted long-term activity (e.g., advanced multicultural course, research team, targeted practicum)* This targeted long-term activity should focus on some aspect of diversity/multiculturalism such as race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, or ability issues to name a few.  Diversity/multicultural communities are those who have faced some historical and/or contemporary oppression and marginalization due to their cultural identity.

Goal 6:  Students will demonstrate a thorough knowledge of ethical principles and will effectively apply them to clinical and research situations.

        Objectives:

• Students will develop a working knowledge of the Ethical Principles for Psychologists as well as other relevant documents and will know when and how to seek consultation.
• Students will be able to apply ethical principles to a variety of situations utilizing appropriate models (e.g., Kitchener) and cultural sensitivity.

Portfolio

• As part of the portfolio defense, you will need to orally present a resolution to an ethical dilemma or current ethical issue. Your advisor will develop the question(s) and present them to you in the meeting.  You will need to cite and support your answers+
• A reflective summary of an ethical dilemma and its resolution*
• Grade in ethics and issues course*

Goal 7:  Students will be treated as individuals and will be encouraged to develop their own interests, areas of expertise, and professional goals.             

        Objectives:

• Students will be exposed to a variety of theoretical orientations and will be encouraged to develop their own approach to counseling and psychotherapy

Portfolio

• A reflective paper, minimum of 20 pages, that summarizes the following:  the student’s theoretical orientation to therapy, including the development of pathology, with relevant citations of theoretical and research support of various components of the orientation; how this orientation influences the student’s in-session work with clients, including assessment and intervention, with examples of how this orientation has worked (or not worked) with several specific clients; and how multiculturalism fits with this theoretical approach and its practical implications, including the strengths and limitations of this approach with racial/ethnic groups and other cultural groups+ (The advisor will provide feedback on a first draft only.)

Goal 8:  Students will demonstrate competence in developing effective professional relationships with other health care providers.

        Objectives:

• Students will understand their role as counseling psychologists within the larger system of health care service.
• Students will effectively seek consultation from other providers when it is in the client’s best interest.
• Students will be aware of professional boundaries and respectful of appropriate practice domains.

 Portfolio

• One documented experience (research, clinical, service) within an interdisciplinary team, with a written reflective summary of what the student learned about counseling psychology’s relation to other disciplines*

Additional Portfolio contents

• Student’s curriculum vitae+
• Documented 1 semester volunteer (nonpaid) experience within larger community to serve a social action role (participation within an established organization which focuses on social justice, equality, and the betterment of the community), with a reflective summary of what the student learned#.  A one-semester volunteer experience is 15 contiguous weeks, and at least 2 hours per week.

d.   Description of any awards or honors#

Key

*to be completed during a course or practicum

# to be completed outside usual courses/practicum

+ to be completed for the portfolio review

Scholarly Paper Guidelines

The purposes of the scholarly paper are to (a) aid the student’s development of a specialty clinical and research interest area, (b) potentially serve as the literature review of a student’s dissertation, and (c) allow the faculty to assess the student’s ability to conceptualize, review, critique, and write an independent scholarly research paper.

The scholarly paper should adhere to the following guidelines to be acceptable.

• Written in APA style and format
• The length should be approximately 50-60 double spaced pages.  This does not include title page, abstract, or references.
• Will consist of two to three chapters and reflects the counseling psychology faculty’s expectations for a dissertation proposal.  The first chapter (or introduction and literature review in a combined format) may be an introduction (not to exceed 7-9 pages). The second chapter, typically the literature review, will be a review of the theoretical and empirical literature of a particular research area that may be the focus of the student’s dissertation).  The third chapter, typically the methods section, will be the methodology which will allow the student to empirically examine the topic of interest.
• In general, the format should also include a title page, an abstract, references, and any tables or figures necessary for illustration.

During the portfolio assessment, the student will receive feedback on the scholarly paper from his/her committee.  Students may be asked to rewrite the paper and resubmit it to the committee until it is approved and considered passing.  The approval may involve another meeting with the committee.  The student may consult with his/her advisor on subsequent revisions to the scholarly paper.

Although the scholarly paper should be the dissertation proposal for the student, students may opt to write on a separate dissertation topic.  The portfolio committee’s review of the scholarly paper is NOT the dissertation proposal.  Students must convene a separate dissertation proposal meeting and follow the Graduate College and Counseling Psychology Program requirements for committee members and process.