Resources for Current MACP Students

The page includes information for current students regarding the various requirements and experiences that accompany the MACP required coursework. 

The MACP degree prepares graduates for counseling vocations with diverse populations in counseling centers, community mental health clinics, private practice, family services, residential and outpatient treatment programs, churches and other Christian ministry contexts.

The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Washington. It is the responsibility of the individual student to be aware of the educational content requirements leading to licensure or certification in their intended state of residence.

Forms

Modality Change Request

Psychotherapy Verification: Release Form 

Psychotherapy Verification: Initial Hours 

Psychotherapy Verification: Final Hours 

Psychotherapy Verification: Appeal

General student forms may be found on the Academic Essentials page. Pre-Internship and Internship forms may be found on their respective websites.

Pre-Internship Website Internship Website

Counselor Training Arc

In addition to the disciplinary and interdisciplinary coursework which students will take throughout their program, we’ve developed three phases of a counselor training arc that move students from work on self, to observation in mental-health settings, to practicing in their Internship year.

First Year

In the first year, students engage in foundational learning in both disciplinary coursework and interdisciplinary Common Curriculum foundations.

Psychotherapy Requirement

At The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, we believe that continual self-understanding and sensitivity are required as part of a student’s training in the field of counseling. Thus, students are required to complete 40 hours of qualified psychotherapy during their MACP program. Students may not start an internship without completing this requirement.

There are four forms associated with this requirement:

• Release Form: Due October 15 (Fall term)
• Initial Hours Form: Due March 31 (Winter term – Year 1)
• Final Hours Form: Due March 31 (Winter term – Year 2)
• Psychotherapy Appeal Form: This form is only used to request an exception to the policy. (Submitted on an as-needed basis)

Full information regarding this requirement, including what is considered qualified psychotherapy, can be found in the Academic Catalog and in this Psychotherapy Policy document.

Prepare for CSL 553 Pre-Internship Counseling Practicum

At the beginning of the Spring term, students will be oriented to the requirements for the observation hours associated with CSL 553, which is taken in the Fall term of the middle year(s). After this orientation, students may begin looking for a site at which to complete these hours (see CSL 553 Pre-Internship Counseling Practicum in the Middle Year(s) section below for details).

Please see the Pre-Internship website for more information. This website is updated on a yearly basis. Due dates, handbooks, and form deadlines are adjusted accordingly.

Middle Year(s)

3-year track students: year 2 | 4-year track students: years 2-3

During the middle year(s), students will continue to develop their skills, prepare for, search for, and secure an internship site.

CSL 553 Pre-Internship Counseling Practicum

Pre-Internship is an experience in which the student pre-intern can think about psychopathology in the context of care for others and be exposed to various systems of care. As part of this experience, students will have the opportunity to engage in self-observation in new and different contexts. In addition to classroom learning, students complete a minimum of 25 hours of observational learning at a pre-internship site and no more than 50 hours.

Students are responsible for finding their own sites within their local area. Pre-internships are generally found in mental health agencies, hospitals, churches, drop-in centers, or other non-profit service organizations.

Please see the Pre-Internship website for more information. This website is updated on a yearly basis. Due dates, handbooks, and form deadlines are adjusted accordingly.

Full information regarding Pre-Internship requirements can be found in the Pre-Internship Handbook.

Internship Orientation, Fair, and Search Process

Internship Orientation: During the Fall term prior to their internship year, students will be oriented to the internship search process and internship requirements. After this orientation, students may develop interview materials and begin using the resources provided to search for a site.

Internship Fair: Later in that same Fall term, students will attend the Internship Fair. Local internship site directors and supervisors from various mental health agencies, counseling centers and hospitals will participate in the fair. It provides an opportunity for students to meet local internship site directors and supervisors and begin the interview process for internship placement.

If you are interested in working with a site that The Seattle School has not worked with before please submit the New Site Request Form as soon as possible following Internship Orientation. Site development can take anywhere from weeks to months to complete.

Please see the Internship website for more information. This website is updated on a yearly basis. Due dates, handbooks, and form deadlines are adjusted accordingly.

Full information regarding Internship requirements can be found in the Internship Handbooks. 

Final Year

During this year students complete their internship and remaining degree requirements. As part of the (S)ending programming, students will be provided resources to assist in the preparation and submission of applications for licensure and prepare to become alumni.

Internship

The internship is a vital component of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. It is an experience in which the student intern incorporates clinical knowledge and self-awareness in a clinical setting. The internship should provide opportunities to utilize techniques of counseling and gain exposure to counselors who model appropriate professional skills and conduct. Internships are generally found in mental health agencies, hospitals, churches or other non-profit service organizations.

There are several important form deadlines associated with the Internship process – please review the Internship Handbooks and website carefully. Students are responsible for adhering to posted deadlines.

Please see the Internship website for more information. This website is updated on a yearly basis. Due dates, handbooks, and form deadlines are adjusted accordingly.

Full information regarding Internship requirements can be found in the Internship Handbooks.