The Counseling and Student Development Center
The Counseling Center at Bentley University serves the entire full and part-time, undergraduate and graduate populations. Nearly 85% of undergraduates live on campus while most graduate students live off campus. The office is staffed by four psychologists, all of whom have a PhD. The office is also home to the coordinator of disability services, a licensed rehabilitation counselor masters’ level professional who works closely with the clinical staff on cases and cross-referrals. Additionally, a consulting psychiatrist is in the office at least six hours each week during the academic year and there is a strong connection to the Center for Health and Wellness with regular joint meetings and consultation.
Although a wide range of theoretical orientations are represented by the staff, the office holds a strong student development bias and works closely with many offices on campus. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for short term therapy with the length of treatment determined by client needs.
The center is a pleasant space for staff and clients and we maintain an informal atmosphere that seems best for the students; however, staff members are held to the highest professional expectations at all times and the relaxed atmosphere should not be mistaken for relaxed standards.
The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students should not plan on working when the office is closed. Parking is free and close to the office. Additionally, a cafeteria, dining room and ATM are conveniently located in the building.
Training Program
The work year for our practicum students begins the last week in August and continues through the middle of May. The school is closed for one week between the Christmas and New Year holidays. Other time away from the office can be negotiated, particularly when classes are not in session. Every effort is made to meet any program requirements for contact hours with clients and for supervision. Trainees are expected to have their own liability insurance and will be asked to provide documentation for office records.
Trainees work 20-24 hours weekly, depending on their program requirements. Trainees determine their own work schedules during office hours, but this schedule must include being present for the weekly case conferences and staff meeting which are usually on the same day. Case conference is attended by all clinical staff and is used to present topical areas relevant to college counseling for training purposes and to discuss cases and other clinical issues. Trainees are expected to make one formal case presentation during the academic year. On a monthly basis, the consulting psychiatrist and staff from the Center for Health and Wellness attend these meetings. Other professionals in the university may be invited to provide trainees an overview of the various offices and student groups who comprise the Bentley community.
Trainees generally carry 10-12 cases during the academic year. Although the center operates with a short term model, trainees can work on a longer term with some clients for training purposes. Trainees are encouraged to co-facilitate any groups offered by the center and are expected to engage in outreach or community prevention efforts for residence halls, student organizations, or academic classes or work groups when the opportunity is available.
In addition to the case consultation time, each trainee has a primary and a secondary supervisor who are licensed psychologists and who provide consistently scheduled hourly individual supervision per week. Although two hours of supervision are scheduled, the entire staff is responsive to trainee needs and informal consultation with any clinician is welcomed and encouraged.
Taping is encouraged for all sessions and tapes and audio recorders will be provided. Supervisors vary in their emphasis on the use of tapes during supervision. Psychological testing is not done on a routine basis. Students who have an interest in this area should work with their supervisors to identify appropriate clients for testing.
The center uses an electronic scheduling and documentation system, Titanium, which streamlines the documentation process. Trainees are responsible for completing appropriate documentation in a timely manner.
An orientation to Titanium, office policies and procedures, and the University occurs during the last week of August before the start of classes. The exact dates of this three day orientation are determined toward the end of the summer. In addition, an informal time during orientation is scheduled with each staff member to encourage better integration and comfort with the entire staff.
Past trainees comment on the collegiality of our staff and our openness to working with them on all professional issues. In addition, the wide range of presenting concerns, the quality of the supervision and staff, and the outside psycho-educational opportunities make this a well-rounded experience for students in training.
Application Process.
Applications will be accepted in January for the following academic year. There is no deadline for applications, but positions will be filled on a rolling basis, selecting the first who apply and are qualified. Applications are reviewed by the entire staff and selected applicants are invited to interview. Students are encouraged to apply in early in January. Three students are accepted each academic year and all three positions carry a stipend. Both previous experience and degrees are considered but the most competitive candidates have significant counseling/therapy experience with a firm academic grounding. Trainees usually have been doctoral students with a master’s degree or equivalent as well as previous counseling experience.
Interested students should apply electronically and include:
Please send the application to Dr. Brenda Hawks, Associate Director and Training Coordinator. bhawks@bentley.edu