Stafford County School Counseling

School counselors are professional support personnel within the school division. SCPS School counselors offer a wide range of support services to their schools, including classroom lessons, individual and group counseling, consultation with staff and parents, peer and community education, risk assessments, and crisis management. This internship will allow students to work in the school system under the supervision of such personnel.

After the student contacts the agency contact, she will then determine whether the internship can be offered in any particular semester or summer. Interns may be assigned to different schools depending upon availability. That determination will be based on the request of the building principal and the site supervisor.

NOTE: Please be aware that due to issues of confidentiality and consent, you are unlikely to be able to observe any counseling sessions or some other types of meetings between staff and students/families. You will still have opportunities to learn about this career and have a great learning experience.

Duties

Depending on student preparation and the needs and opportunities at the agency, the student may participate in:

  • Behavioral observations in various settings
  • Individual tutorials
  • Supervised group work
  • Case-study preparation
  • Institution-school transitions
  • Career education and planning
  • College planning
  • Consultation and outreach
  • Special education classes
  • Sessions with school counselors and/or psychologists
  • Participation in related professional development meetings

Pre-Requisites

  1. Must meet all UMW and Department of Psychological Science internship requirements.
  2. Successful completion of a background check, fingerprinting, and a test for tuberculosis.  Background check and fingerprinting coordinated and paid for by Stafford County Public Schools.
  3. Required courses:
    • PSYC 315 – Foundations of Clinical Psychology
    • PSYC 231 – Developmental Psychology: The Infant and Child or PSYC 232 – Developmental Psychology: The Adolescent and Adult
  4. Recommended courses:
    • PSYC 320 – Psychology of Exceptional Children and Youth
    • PSYC 242 – Psychology of Personality

Assessment

  • 42 hours of work per credit hour (most interns do 3 credits with 126 hours of work)
  • Grade is based on on-campus supervision, agency evaluation, reflective journal, and a final paper

Agency Contact

Internship Placement Coordinator

NOTE: Please indicate in an introductory email that you are interested in the School Counseling Internship.

Maggie Morganti

morgantimr@staffordschools.net

(540) 658-6535

Website: website