It is that time of year and we are excited to announce that applications for our Graduate Practicum Training Program opened on January 2, 2025!
Palomar Family Counseling Service, Inc (PFCS) has been providing practicum experience to students from various master degree programs (such as Marriage & Family Therapy, Social Work, and Clinical Counseling) for more than 30 years. Our trainees are able to gain diverse experience working as clinicians at one to two school-based sites, preschool through high school, in Oceanside, Vista, Valley Center, Escondido, and/or Fallbrook.
Trainees accrue the majority of their hours working in our School-Based Counseling program. Trainees work with students individually or in groups. Depending on caregiver availability, there may be opportunities to include caregivers in sessions. We also have other programs that are connected to our school based programs such as:
- Screening to Care (S2C): S2C is a school-based program provided in partnership with local school districts. S2C is offered to all students in grades 6th – 8th at selected middle schools. S2C uses comprehensive screening, small group lessons, and linkage to services in the school and community to maximize students’ social and emotional learning. S2C is designed to help all students improve their mental and emotional health, improve overall well being, increase positive school outcomes, and improve social and family relationships.
- Incredible Years® School-Based Prevention Early Intervention Program: The Incredible Years® model is utilized as a prevention & early intervention strategy for children preschool to 3rd grade to mitigate at-risk behaviors and improve overall social, emotional, and academic functioning. Family support and parenting groups are offered to strengthen family well-being and foster parent’s ability to promote children’s social-emotional development.
- Todos Los Niños (TLN): TLN is a four-component program to integrate preventive mental health interventions into instructional practices at early childhood education centers. TLN provides training to teachers on strategies for social skill coaching, positive reinforcement, and behavioral interventions. TLN therapists offer the Incredible Years Dinosaur Curriculum in circle time lessons, followed by activities and promotion of skills throughout the class period. PFCS Therapists provide and model customized support to all children to promote social-emotional development. TLN also offers a 10-week Parent Training Program in the late afternoon.
In addition to our School-Based program, trainees can gain experience at our clinic, which is located in Escondido. We provide services to a diverse clientele, which includes children, individuals, couples and families. Lastly, trainees can gain opportunities participating in groups. We have parenting groups as well as groups for domestic violence offenders.
PFCS trainees will work with committed and dedicated staff and receive high-quality individual and group supervision. Our supervisors are highly experienced, trained in a variety of theoretical frameworks, and greatly enjoy contributing to therapists’ growth and development. Best of all, PFCS hires many trainees upon graduation!
If you are looking for a site that will provide you a diverse experience we strongly encourage you to apply. Applications will close on March 31, 2025 and interviews will commence shortly.
If you have any questions regarding our Graduate Practicum Program please connect with Dr. Nicole Asencio, LMFT at [email protected].