Graduate Training Program

Become a Mental Health Professional

The Counseling Center at East Texas A&M offers training opportunities for students seeking a graduate degree in community mental health counseling.

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Our interns and trainees are a vital and valued part of our staff and can expect to be engaged in all activities associated with working in a university counseling center.

Master's level students in the Community Mental Health Counseling program are encouraged to read through our center’s training philosophy and application information on the adjacent pages. If you are interested and meet the listed criteria, please complete the necessary forms and submit them to Associate Director of Training, Supervision, and Education Juliana Dewitt.

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Training Philosophy

We believe in providing a supportive yet challenging environment for trainees. Our approach allows trainees to feel comfortable in consulting and collaborating with our team toward their own personal and professional growth. We also believe it is important for trainees to have the opportunity to tailor their training and experience based on areas of clinical interest, and to receive mentorship and guidance to develop a varied portfolio.

We are committed to providing culturally competent services. We believe it is important for trainees to be competent in working with clients, colleagues and community members from various backgrounds. We foster this competence by providing training on identity and culture, encouraging trainees to consult and collaborate with staff members inside the Counseling Center and taking initiative toward becoming more culturally competent. The Counseling Center also strives to move beyond cultural competence by encouraging personal reflection and growth through cultural humility. Our center challenges trainees to reflect on their own personal and cultural experiences and how these affect their work with clients during training and supervision.

Training Experiences and Skill Development

All of our master's level trainees develop the following competencies over the course of a practicum and intern semester or year.

  • Individual counseling skills
  • Co-facilitating a therapy or psychoeducational group
  • Treatment planning
  • Interpretation and utilization of assessment results in treatment
  • Case management skills essential to working within college campus environment
  • Risk assessment
  • Becoming trauma-informed through center training
  • Outreach planning and delivery to campus groups and liaisons on various topics
  • Case conceptualization and treatment from various theoretical orientations
  • Ability to work effectively with all people
  • Development of a strong professional identity
  • Use of self-awareness and personal reflection in working with clients
  • Development of, and adherence to, strong ethical standards and practice

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Applicants are asked to submit the following:

  1. One page summary of interests and goals
  2. Brief vita highlighting course work and any prior clinical experience
  3. Master's Practicum/Internship Application Form
  4. Three references from advisors, professors or previous supervisors on the reference form provided by the Counseling Center (make copies of the attached form as needed)

Please observe the following application deadlines for the semester you would like to begin work at the Counseling Center.

Fall Deadline

June 24, 2025*

Program

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Dates are the formal deadlines for applications to be submitted. The Counseling Center may accept and process applications after the deadline if space is available.

*Selection process begins as soon as the application is received. Please note that the dates are subject to change from semester to semester. Please contact the Associate Director of Training, Supervision, and Education for additional information at 903.886.5145 or ju[email protected]

In addition to the required coursework by CACREP to begin your practicum/internship site, it is strongly recommended that you complete the following courses prior to the start of your training and practicum/internship.

  • Counseling Varied Populations
  • Group Counseling
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Ethics and Treatment Planning)

Note: If you have not completed the courses listed above, supplemental material may be required prior to beginning clinical work including any workshops, training or seminars in the areas listed above.

  • You cannot receive counseling services at the Counseling Center while participating in training.
  • You must attend orientation prior to the beginning of the semester. Orientation for the training site typically occurs the Friday before classes begin.
  • You must attend weekly supervision meetings and monthly team supervision throughout the semester in which you are enrolled and any subsequent between-semester hours.
  • For graduate assistantship positions, be advised that in order to qualify for assistantship funding, you must be enrolled in academic hours for the semesters that you are receiving funding. Check with the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding this requirement.
  • While diagnosis is not a core aspect of our training philosophy, we recognize its importance as a part of future employment for many trainees and we integrate training around the DSM through case presentations and conceptualizations.

All inquiries, correspondence and application materials for all master's level training should be directed to:

Juliana Dewitt, MS, LPC-S
Associate Director of Training, Supervision, and Education
[email protected]

Contact Us

  • Halladay Student Services, 203
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3011
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