Doctoral Clinical Internships

The predoctoral internship is organized as a Practitioner Model that is informed by psychodynamic theory and practice. Students are provided a varied learning experience that combines ongoing practice with consistent training, supervision, and consultation in order to maximize the application of their learning. Our goal is to assist the intern in integrating academic foundations with solid professional practice within the context of a mission-driven social service setting.

Predoctoral interns primarily work in our mental health counseling programs. Depending on site placement, interns are exposed to a variety of client populations with an emphasis on diversity across culture, race, socioeconomic levels, age, gender, sexual orientation, and clinical issues. A biopsychosocial perspective is combined with a psychodynamic framework to provide culturally sensitive and scientifically-informed services within the context of a developmental model.

Interns participate in two hrs/week of individual supervision, group consultation, didactic trainings, staff case conferences, and continued exposure to psychological literature. Each doctoral intern establishes individual training goals so that a planned sequence of training experiences can be developed to meet the intern's professional and academic needs. Interns spend at least 40% of their time in direct clinical services. The internship expectation meets the requirements of the WAC regarding preparation for licensure as a psychologist.

The Training Director is a full-time, licensed, doctoral level staff member who is the designated psychologist responsible for overseeing the integrity and quality of the training program in conjunction with the Vice-President of Clinical and Training Services. The agency has on staff at least two doctoral level psychologists who can serve as supervisors.

Doctoral interns are paid approximately $24,000 per year, full-time equivalent. That amount is prorated for interns who are less than full-time.