MFT CLINICAL TRAINING GUIDE

Your one-stop hub for wellness, support, and growth. Explore resources, trainings, classes, and support groups to help you thrive—mind, body, and spirit! Visit The Whole Person Center. 

For questions, email WPC Director Dr. Aurélia Bickler at wpc@nu.edu.

Students have free access to TimelyCare and check out Student Wellness supports:Student Wellness

Are you looking for licensure documents to be filled out?

Are you looking for letters to verify enrollment?

Are you looking for any other formal letter/request document that you believe the Clincial Team or Dean's Office needs to review as it pertains to Clinical Training?

 

Then please use this form to make a request: Documents Request Form

We would love to hear from you! Please note, that our office works with a vast group of students and therefore, we do recommend that you go ahead and schedule out a meeting with a group, Q & A session, or a 1-1 session with our Clinical team. Please note that the 1-1 sessions do get booked quickly, and we encourage you to schedule these in advance if you need the 1-1 session. Please see our links below:

Schedule an Appointment

 

For more immediate or urgent matters, we can set up a more immediate, 1-1 zoom meeting based on the level of urgency. If you need an immediate meeting, please provide us with exact details and specific questions by emailing, MFTTraining@nu.edu, to see if this will be necessary. Or we can address your questions/concerns via email for a quicker response.

 

We recommend that students wait to become members of AAMFT and seek liability insurance until they are ready to start seeing clients. So we recommend you time this closer to your start at your site. The AAMFT student membership does cost additional BUT you get the liability insurance with the membership. Here is more information on enrolling into the insurance program: https://www.aamft.org/membership/Student_liability_FAQS.aspx

MFT Clinical Support in your course room includes information about the clinical experience and the required steps for beginning at a site. Please consider the following information so you have realistic expectations going into the process and can plan accordingly.

1. It can take some time to find a site and supervisor and for many students reaching out includes unanswered emails/phone calls and rejection. This is common and most likely is not about YOU.

2. Please review the resources in the MFT Clinical Support in course room on how to reach out to sites/supervisors, professional communication tips, and the resume template. These are often times the first impression people will have of you, so you want to present yourself professionally.

3. Here is a helpful article: How to Set Yourself Apart from Other Mental Health and Counseling Internship and Practicum Placement Site Applicants (mojozy.org)

4. As you reach out to sites, confirm whether they’re accepting student internship applications and when student internships begin.

5. We do have a database, Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera), in the tracking system that allows students to search for sites by zip code. These sites are sites that another NU student has had contact with. However, these sites are not guaranteed options.

In order to proceed with next steps, you will need read the below information carefully and initiate next steps.

 

When conducting a search, CastleBranch will review every US state and territory, in which the student has ever resided (not including international, non-U.S. locations).

 

CastleBranch charges the University a fee for each background check performed. However, if you receive an alert from CastleBranch to provide additional information, note that this request is time-sensitive. Please respond to these requests immediately to avoid having the search canceled and having to pay for an additional background check at your own expense.

 

This is a required task, and you will not be allowed to begin clinical training until it is complete.

 

Please follow the instructions below to obtain a PIN code to proceed with completing the background check process:

 

1. Request a PIN code by sending an email to: SSBSBackground@nu.edu. For the subject of the email, use “Background Check PIN Code Request” (without quotes).
2. In the body of the email, include the following
   1. Your full name and any previous names on file with the university,
   2. Official NU email address (review everything is spelled correctly),
   3. Student ID, and the
   4. Program you are enrolled in
3. You will receive an email response with a PDF attachment. Within the attached document that you receive, scroll to the Castle Branch link related to your program and the PIN code you will input with Castle Branch.  

 

After you have received your PIN Code, go to https://mycb.castlebranch.com/ and enter the PIN Code on the “Place Order” field at the top of the page. For California, West Virginia, and Wyoming, select AZ in the dropdown menu while completing the Castle Branch process.

Clinical Training Handbook

Please fill out the following Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) form: https://form.jotform.com/SBSNU/mft-request-for-tevera-access 

Please login to Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) using https://nu.tevera.app/#/logon. Make sure you use the email address that you originally requested Tevera access with. If you forget your password, click, "forgot password" and recover your password.

Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) Student Guide

 

At this time, we recommend that you begin reviewing the resources in MFT Clinical Support under the "getting started/welcome!" area. There is a clinical preparation checklist that is meant to guide you in your process of completing all clinical preparation tasks, but for now, we just recommend becoming familiar with this process as it is a bit too early to begin working on many of the clinical preparation tasks.

You are also welcome to review the other resources in MFT Clinical Support and thoroughly reading the information in there, should answer most of your general questions.  Based on your specific degree plan, when it is time for you to begin these pre-clinical tasks, you will receive an email from the MFT clinical team communicating the next steps.

Please note, students are NOT able to begin their clinical coursework or see clients until the following have been met first:

-Students must complete the 6th course before they can gain access to Tevera, where they will search, vet, and seek approval for sites/supervisors

-They cannot begin at a site unless they have completed 9 courses (45 credits) and after 13 courses (60- credits).

-They have everything done in Tevera to include securing a site and supervisor
Their clinical course is scheduled to reflect the above

-A clinical eligibility notice has been sent

However, it is not too early to begin getting familiar with your local resources and any local sites who may be seek family therapy student interns in the future so that you are a bit more prepared as the process of locating a local clinical site can take time and a good amount of effort!  

Licensure Requirements Per State:

If you are unsure of your state's hour requirements please visit this form: State Requirements.

From this list you can select the state you wish to review from the dropdown and you will be directed to your state requirments.

Student hours will be audited at the end of each clinical course by the faculty.

• In Internship II (and at the conclusion of each extension course as applicable), the NU Faculty will review each student’s total approved hours and consider the student’s Capstone draft presentation. Students should regularly audit their hours in each course.

• If a student has passed their Capstone draft presentation AND has met the minimum hour requirements to start their final clinical course, they will start the Internship and Capstone course upon successful completion of Internship II (or following the appropriate extension course)

• If a student has met the minimum hour requirements but has not passed their Capstone draft presentation, the NU Faculty will work with the student to determine what is needed to pass the Capstone. If more time is needed than is available in Internship II, the student will be enrolled in a 4-week extension course.

The table below demonstrates the minimum hours needed to enter each course (assuming capstone readiness).

 

 

The ranges are intended to serve as a guide for students, faculty, and the Clinical Administrative Team (CAT) in determining if extension courses are needed. If the student requests a shorter extension than what is indicated or to skip an extension altogether, students will be asked to provide a plan to be approved by faculty and CAT. The student will also assume the risk of failing Capstone (or extension courses) and having to retake the course if hours are not met.

Additional Considerations:

• If CAT does not receive the Internship II hours summary JotForm, signed by clinical faculty, to determine next clinical course, students will be automatically enrolled in a 4-week extension course.

*Extension courses may also be appropriate if any hours (including University Group Supervision hours or university observable data hours) are needed to meet graduation requirements.

*If a student completes an extension course and does not have the hours to proceed to either the Internship and Capstone course or the next extension course, the student will fail the course and retake it. Per university policy, students can fail and retake a course twice before needing Dean’s Office approval to engage in a third attempt. A student can only attempt a single course three times before being dismissed from the program.

Important Note: Students requiring extension courses should also consult with their Academic and Financial Counselor related to potential considerations around critical matters such as GPA, remaining r

Questions about your Hour Accrual in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera):

Please review the following links for assistance:

Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) Hours Guide

 

HOURS EXPLANATION: Please review the following link for assistance with definition of types of hours and how to submit these hours in Tevera:

 Explanation of Hours PDF

First, make sure that you have completed these newer, Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) tasks that serve as prerequsite tasks to add any new site or new supervisor:

 Site Task:

If you have completed these 2 tasks already, then you should be able to locate the following icons depending on if you need to add a new site & new supervisor, or just need to add a new supervisor to a current site.

1. Adding a completely, new site:

2. If you need to add a new supervsior to your existing site, then click here instead:

 

Please use this guide to direct you on how to complete tasks in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera): 

Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) Tevera Guide

Tasks are located in My Site Placements under Site Placements on the homepage. You can also complete a site search for placements we've worked with in your area previously by clicking on My Site Placements under Site Placements, add a site, and then search with your zip code. Once you find sites that you’re interested in, reach out to the site to express interest and get information about submitting an application.

You should already have access to “Clinical Support Module” in Course Room. In here you will find quite a few helpful guides, tools, tips and tricks, and more! 

 

If you already have a site and supervsior, but are struggling with the tasks in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) such as the following issues:

 

1. I do not know how to initaite tasks to my site or supervsior.

2. I am unsure why my site or supervisor is not receiveing the tasks I send them from ELC.

3. I am getting error messages.

4. Any other concerns or questions with the navigation or use of ELC

Then...

You may find it helpful to attend one of our ELC Q & A sessions. These sesions are held weekly and can be used to navigate the concerns you may face with accessing, using, and navigating ELC. These sessions are group sessions, so you may join with fellow peers dealing with similiar concerns.

This session cannot help you with finding a site or supervsior. 

 You can use schedule to attend one of these sessions by clicking here:

ELC Q & A

 

State Supervisor Requirements Click Here

Before you start Practicum I and are cleared to engage in therapy with clients, you will need to complete ALL tasks in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera).

The tasks are separated into three areas: Pre-Application tasks, Site Application tasks, and Local Clinical Supervisor Application tasks.

The list of all tasks is featured below. Detailed instructions are featured when you select the + sign in ELC.

• Pre-Application Tasks:

o Required: Resource Acknowledgement

o Required: Pre-Requisite Course Review

o Required: NU International and Relocation Attestation

o Required: Clinical Readiness Quiz

o Required: HIPAA Compliance Quiz

o Required: Clinical Readiness Orientation

o Required: Upload Confirmation of Background Check

o Required: Re-Acknowledgement related to criminal and mental health history

 

• Site Application Tasks:

o Student Completes Site Proposal

o MFT Student Location and Licensure Confirmation

o MAMFT Employment-Based Form

o MAMFT Site Agreement

o Authorized Site Representative Completes Site Profile – (NEW SITES ONLY)

o Site Walkthrough – (NEW SITES ONLY)

 

• Local Clinical Supervisor Application Tasks:

o Supervisor Proposal

o Supervisor Profile (NEW SUPERVISOR ONLY) or Supervisor Completes Demographic Confirmation Form (PRE-APPROVED SUPERVISOR ONLY)

o Supervisor Uploads Documents

o Student & Local Supervisor Review Supervisor Check-In Process

o Student Upload Certificate of Liability Insurance

o Student Initiates Clinical Placement Agreement

o Offsite Supervisor Agreement (only applicable if supervisor is not employed by site)

o Add the University Time Track

o Final Review and Clinical Clearance Form

• Students in a 45 credit program may begin their clinical work after the completion of their 9th course in their program.

 

• Students in a 48 credit program may begin their clinical work after the completion of the 10th course in their program.

 

• Students in a 54 credit program may begin their clinical work after after the completion of the 11th course in their program.

 

• Students in a 60 credit program may begin their clinical work after after the completion of the 13th course in their program.

 

Student must ALSO complete ALL of the following Prerequesite Courses prior to starting clinical training:

• MFT5101 Foundations for Graduate Study in Marriage and Family Therapy
• MFT5104 Treatment Planning and Traditional Family Therapy
• MFT5105 Recovery Oriented Care and Postmodern Family Therapy
• MFT5102 or MFT6201 Legal, Ethical and Professional Development in MFT
• MFT5103 Systemic Evaluation and Case Management
• MFT6102 Psychopathology, Diagnosis, and Systemic Treatment
• MFT6103 Cultural Diversity, Gender and Family Development

 

Questions on this? Please reach out to your Academic and Finance Advisor, located on your Student Portal, contacts page.

Students will know that they are cleared to begin clinical training and be eligible to enroll in their first Practicum (clinical course) only after they received a Clinical Eligibility notice from the Clinical Training Team. This notice will be a response to their Clincial Eligibility JotForm they submitted as part of their final task in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera). They will see their status in ELC and receive a group/faculty information assigned to their clinical course.

Consistent with the Clinical Handbook, page 6, “Students must complete the MAMFT Clinical Preparation Process (CPP) to be eligible for enrollment in clinical courses and to start at their site. All tasks in the MAMFT CPP must be approved prior to enrollment in the first clinical course.”

This ultimately means that you CANNOT see clients until you are fully approved for clinical training by the Clinical Admin Team. This also means that hours can only be counted, starting with the official start date of your Practicum I course.

Please ensure that you are staying compliant with these policies as being out of compliance can lead to possible state and program level implications. 

If you have not yet receivced your Clinical Eligibility notice in response to your Clinical Eligibility JotForm it is because at least one of the following is occuring:

1. You have not completed all the tasks from the list provided in this category's question titled, "What is required of me to complete in Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC; formerly known as Tevera) to be eligible to start Clinical Training?". Please review this list first, and ensure all tasks are completed. There should be a green, "completed" status next to each, and every task. Only this green, "completed" status will indicate that the task is approved.

ALL TASKS MUST HAVE THIS STATUS.

2. Your start date for MFT-6930 Practicum I (or your next clinical course), may not be updated, or may have been scheduled incorrectly. Please contact your Academic and Finance Advisor to ensure that your start date aligns with your Clinical Placement Agreement date.

3. We typically do not disclose final, clinical eligibility nor final, group information until about 3-days prior to the start date for your first clinical course. This is because our group sizing and availability fluctuates weekly. We utilize what you provide in your Clinical Eligibility JotForm, and our availability preferences to hopefully be able to provide you with a group that is in either your “preferred” or “possible” selection. If there is an issue with one of your selections then we’ll ask you to update your availability.

4. If numbers 1-3 have been confirmed as complete on your end, and you still have not received your Clinical Eligiblity Notice by our office, then please email MFTTraining@nu.edu to see why we have not issued you a clearance yet. There may be something else missing.

Makeup Group - Student Absence

 

If a student misses a week of NU Group Supervision that the faculty is still holding then student must:

• Request faculty’s approval to miss group in advance and fill out a Student, as a NU make-up group will be needed during the within 7 days from their missed group. (Registration link below) 

EXAMPLE: If a student misses a group on Friday, they have until the following Thursday to make up the group.

• At the conclusion of the make-up group session, the make-up faculty will send an email to the faculty of all students in attendance

• Students will still submit their NU group supervision hours in the clinical tracking system to their assigned NU Clinical Faculty to approve.

Students should note the following about Student-Initiated Make-Up Groups:

• They can only attend options available through this link regardless of the reason for their missing a group that is being held by their faculty.

• Attending more than one student-initiated make-up per course can impact a student’s NU Supervision hours (possibly delaying graduation), assignments (possibly receiving 0s if unable to complete before course ends and/or extending time in training), and may lead to a CDC.

• There is a different process if the student has a clinical faculty who is going on academic leave. .

 

STUDENTS SUBMIT THE FORM BELOW TO REQUEST A STUDENT INITIATED MAKE UP GROUP:

Student Initiated Make-Up Group

MFT Faculty Leave Make-Up Groups
If a faculty will be missing a week of NU Group Supervision due to Faculty Academic Leave or absence and is instructed by their faculty to attend a make-up group, the student must:

• • Complete the MFT Faculty Leave Make-Up Group JotForm (link below) to request attending a NU Supervision make-up group at another time that week (Monday to Friday)
  • At the conclusion of the make-up group session, the student should send an email to their NU Clinical Faculty and copy the make-up faculty Supervisor whose group they attended indicating that they were present.
  • Students will still submit their NU group hours in the clinical tracking system to their assigned NU Clinical Faculty to approve.

Faculty initiated makeup group, submit a request through this link

Student request for a new group

In order to request to switch groups, please use the formal, Group Preference JotForm, Please provide as many group options as possible to provide us with and we’ll see if we can accommodate your request to change groups.

Please note, we look at a number of different things when we are reassigning students to new groups:

1. Group availability- Groups must remain 8 students or less
2. Faculty availability- Ensuring that the faculty are not on leave
3. Evening groups fill up quickly and often 
4. We cannot accomodate specific faculty requests 

We will do our best to accommodate and let you know if we cannot as group sizing fluctuates weekly. Please reply to this email once your form has been submitted.

Please click the link to complete this form.

 

Please click the SUBMIT icon below to process your answers. Your suggestions will be reviewed and if approved will be added to the form. Thank you for your partnership with the Clinical Admin Team!