TPC-DIGEST-Vol3Issue3

TPC D igest 26 G roup counseling is a core dimension of accredited master’s- level counselor education programs, as noted in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs Training Standards. During the group counseling course, students often learn the process of participating in and leading experiential process groups, typically with other counseling students. While process groups are beneficial to student learning, student learning could be maximized by going one step further and providing group counseling to non- counseling students. The authors propose that rather than waiting until students’ clinical coursework (e.g., practicum, internship) to provide counseling services to non-counseling students, participating in a model partnership with the Peace Corps could foster such student learning. This experience offers master’s-level group counseling students the opportunity to provide group counseling to non-counseling students under intense supervision. In addition, students provide a service to Returning Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who traditionally face a myriad of challenges as they transition back into the United States from their international service; thus, counseling students are able to practice multicultural counseling within a group setting. The partnership between a counselor education program and the Peace Corps Collaborating with the Peace Corps to Maximize Student Learning in Group Counseling–DIGEST Simone Lambert, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at the Counseling Programs, Argosy University DC. Emily Goodman-Scott, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University. Correspondence can be addressed to Simone Lambert, Counseling Programs, Argosy DC, 1550 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209, sflambert@argosy.edu. A u t h o r s Simone Lambert Emily Goodman-Scott