Spring Quarter Begins: Residency II, Crisis Counseling, and the Road to Internship

Spring has arrived, and with it comes the start of my seventh quarter in the counseling program at Palo Alto University. It is hard to believe that I am already past the halfway mark of this journey, with only four quarters left after this one. This realization brings even more excitement, as the final three quarters will include practicum and internship experiences.

The highlight of this quarter is Residency II, an immersive in-person experience designed to sharpen our counseling skills through intensive practice and direct feedback from faculty and peers. I am looking forward to reconnecting with my cohort, strengthening our relationships, and collaboratively deepening our competencies. Residency II will offer opportunities to practice essential skills such as group counseling, crisis intervention, and advanced counseling techniques. The chance to engage in roles both as a group member and as a co-leader is particularly valuable, as it closely mirrors the professional experiences that lie ahead.

Alongside Residency II, this quarter’s coursework will focus on challenging areas of practice. In Child and Adolescent Counseling, I will gain an in-depth understanding of empirically supported treatments specifically tailored for young clients. This course emphasizes practical skills in case conceptualization, assessment, and treatment planning, which are essential for working effectively with children, adolescents, and their families. It also includes mandatory training required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in child abuse assessment and reporting, a critical aspect of ethical counseling practice.

I am also enrolled in Crisis and Trauma Counseling, a course designed to equip future counselors with the knowledge and skills needed to support clients through intense emotional experiences. This class provides comprehensive training in crisis assessment, trauma treatment, suicide intervention, and domestic violence assessment. I am especially interested in exploring the concept of resilience and how personal and community strengths can facilitate healing and recovery.

In addition to these courses, as spring unfolds, my attention will also turn to the next major milestone: securing a placement for my practicum and internship. With applications opening at various agencies in my area, this quarter will involve exploring potential sites, refining my materials, and preparing for the professional steps that lie ahead.

So, I am ready to embrace these experiences, develop new competencies, and move one step closer to becoming the counselor I aspire to be.

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I will see you next week.