Clinical Training Program

Focus of Internship

Internship training at the Counseling Service is focused primarily on the growth and refinement of sound clinical skills within a college mental health setting.  These include: 

  • intake interviewing
  • clinical assessment
  • development and application of a treatment plan
  •  effective termination of treatment
  •  assessing for and making appropriate referrals
  •  crisis intervention 
  •  clinical consultation

The training program also enables interns to develop and strengthen their own professional identity.  This is done by helping interns to:

  • define and clarify their theoretical orientation
  • allow theory to inform and strengthen their clinical practice
  • identify, explore, and address legal and ethical concerns in clinical practice
  •  increase their cross-cultural competence
  •  refine their case presentation skills
  •  consult, collaborate, and set effective boundaries with other professionals

Interns will be exposed to a range of theoretical orientations and clinical practices through weekly meetings and consultations with permanent staff.  Particular areas of focus in training include mindfulness, mind-body, multicultural, relational, CBT, and psychodynamic clinical approaches.

Structure of Internship 

Internships are typically 24 hours per week  Interns receive one hour of individual supervision and one hour of group supervision per week and are expected to carry an active caseload of twelve clients.  In addition, interns attend all staff meetings, case conferences, and clinical training opportunities.  Throughout the year, interns are encouraged to initiate and/or participate in outreach and training efforts on campus.  Interns will conduct initial assessments of clients but do not generally perform on-call or after hours coverage duties unless significant experience and interest warrant otherwise.  Interns are awarded a modest stipend each semester as well as given some financial support for professional development.

Application

Two or three counseling internships are available each academic year.  Masters and doctoral level students in clinical psychology, counseling, or social work programs are eligible to apply.  Applicants who have experience doing clinical work with older adolescents or young adults are preferable candidates.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation with contact information to Aileen Park, PhD either electronically or via post. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis up until final decisions are made in mid-March.

 

All applications are reviewed by the Associate Director/ Director of Clinical Training, who selects prospective candidates to be invited for an interview at the Counseling Service.  Interviews are typically scheduled between late February and mid March for the next academic year and are conducted in a group format by all permanent staff members.

 

If you have any questions regarding the internship and/or the application process, please email Aileen Park, PhD or call her at 725-3068