General Overview
There are several overarching philosophical principles that serve as the framework for the training program at NMSU. First and foremost, the Counseling Center makes every effort to provide clients and the university community with the highest quality service possible. The training program is a valued aspect of the Center and is given the greatest level of agency commitment, secondary only to client service. As a result, interns are offered training opportunities and didactic instruction in providing quality services to our clientele. We are dedicated to promoting the development and training of the interns in becoming distinctive, professional service providers. A primary goal of the training program is the commitment to preparing interns to be "generalist" practitioners as well as professionals who are skilled in specialty areas of interest. As a result, all interns will be trained in the same general competencies that are functions typically required of any of the professional staff employed within a university Counseling Center as well as in other employment settings. Additionally, interns can choose to be involved in 1-2 specialty areas that uniquely tailor the training experience for individual interns. The internship year is viewed as a transitional one-from the student role to the professional role. Interns are encouraged to use this year as an opportunity to master and fine-tune those skills necessary for professional practice. The educational model underlying the training of the interns' is a combination of the scientist/practitioner and practitioner/scholar models depending upon the educational background and training of the intern as well as the professional path the intern has determined for him/herself. Both models are viewed as having legitimacy in the practice of psychology. Interns are encouraged to choose specialty areas that enhance their continuing education within either educational model dependent upon the intern's future career goals. Emphasis throughout the training program is placed on the richness of cultural diversity among peoples, particularly NMSU students. The student body is very diverse in that there is a blending of three predominant cultures-Latino/a, American Indian, and Anglo in addition to other cultures (for example, international students, Asian American, African American). Another goal of the internship program is to offer training in exploring cultural diversity from a variety of perspectives-racial, ethnic, age, gender, religious, sexual orientation, and physical to name a few of the perspectives. Interns are encouraged to examine their own cultural experiences as part of their training, as well as appreciate the similarities and differences among their peers, colleagues, supervisors and clients. Diversity is not only addressed in the Multicultural Seminar but is integrated throughout all of the competency areas as it is viewed as the interwoven thread that runs through all of our professional work. An additional goal of the training program is based upon the belief that learning is best accomplished when conducted in a setting that provides both a challenge in terms of the professional experience as well as a warm supportive atmosphere from which interns can participate in self-reflection, processing and integrating their experience. This type of learning atmosphere is emphasized in the individual supervision as well as the group supervision and training seminars. Interns are encouraged to use the internship experience as a vehicle by which they can have the opportunity for personal and professional exploration. Interns will benefit the most from their internship experience with us if they are willing to share their knowledge and experience while still wanting to grow as a professional and be open to obtaining feedback.