Student Practicum at Tierra Nueva Counseling Center

Practicum is one of the most exciting and meaningful experiences of a graduate career in Counseling. Finally, the opportunity to do what you really came to do –be a practicing counselor, art therapist, helper, healer. Tierra Nueva Counseling Center (TNCC) is an exceptionally warm, inviting and safe place within which to have this experience. We have well-equipped rooms for counseling, art therapy and SandPlay therapy. Licensed faculty members provide close supervision of students’ sessions with clients. Students work with adults, children, couples, families and groups to make positive life changes.

Tierra Nueva Counseling Center (TNCC) serves several hundred Northern New Mexico individuals and families per year. The possibility exists to see a diversity of clients across all demographics, making this a particularly valuable learning environment. Practicum students at TNCC see 2-3 clients per week (individuals, couples, and groups) for 20 weeks. For the first 10 weeks students focus on individuals, and during the second 10 weeks focus on couples, families and group work. If students choose to continue part of their internship at the counseling center, they can work with 2-5 clients per week during the 6-month internship experience. Students accumulate 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours in their graduate program.

Additionally, Professional Seminar classes are held weekly at TNCC. Interns who are out-of-state have the opportunity to attend the seminar online via Zoom. Upon completion of Practicum, students are well-prepared to begin their internships at various agencies in the community. The journey toward becoming a professional counselor, art therapist, helper and healer continues…    

Alumna Student Eliza Buck talks about her practicum experience in SWC’s Heart of the Matter Blog