Partnering With Us

The Department of Counselor Education welcomes partnerships with community agencies, school districts, professional associations, researchers, and other organizations committed to advancing counseling practice, preparation, advocacy, and community well-being. Our faculty and students collaborate with partners to expand training opportunities, support workforce development, strengthen school and community mental health services, and contribute to meaningful research and innovation.

Become a Clinical Site for Practicum and Internship Students

The department partners with approved clinical and school-based sites where graduate counseling students complete supervised field experience hours as part of their practicum and internship requirements.

Approved sites provide students with opportunities to develop counseling skills, ethical decision-making, documentation practices, case conceptualization, consultation skills, and professional identity under qualified supervision.

Clinical Site Expectations

Sites interested in hosting students should be able to provide:

1. Appropriate counseling-related activities aligned with the student’s program area
2. A qualified site supervisor who meets program and accreditation expectations
3. Regular supervision and feedback
4. Opportunities for direct and indirect service hours
5. Video recordings of counselor-in-training-led interventions
6. A safe, ethical, and professional learning environment
7. Orientation to site policies, procedures, documentation, and emergency protocols
8. Collaboration with department faculty and clinical coordinators

Examples of Appropriate Field Experience Settings

Potential practicum and internship sites may include:

1. Community mental health agencies
2. Schools and school districts
3. College counseling centers
4. Hospitals or integrated behavioral health settings
5. Nonprofit counseling agencies
6. Rehabilitation or disability service agencies
7. Family service agencies
8. Crisis, trauma, or advocacy organizations
9. Substance use treatment programs
10. Other approved counseling-related settings

Benefits of Becoming a Site Partner

Clinical site partners help prepare the next generation of counseling professionals while expanding service capacity and strengthening connections with the university.

Benefits may include:

1. Access to motivated graduate-level counseling students
2. Opportunities to contribute to counselor preparation
3. Collaboration with faculty and program coordinators
4. Participation in workforce development efforts
5. Access to training, consultation, and professional learning opportunities
6. Potential collaboration on grants, research, and community initiatives

How to Start a Partnership

Organizations interested in partnering with the Department of Counselor Education are encouraged to contact us with a brief description of their organization, partnership interest, and goals.

Contact Information

Department of Counselor Education
Florida Atlantic University
https://www.fau.edu/education/academicdepartments/ce/
counseloreducation@fau.edu

For clinical site partnerships:
Contact: Elizabeth Villares Sacks, Ph.D.
Email: counseloreducation@fau.edu

For research, grants, or community partnerships:
Contact: Elizabeth Villares Sacks, Ph.D.
Email: evillare@fau.edu

Partnership Interest Form

Organizations may complete the Partnership Interest Form, and we will connect with you soon.