Training Programs
Training Philosophy and Goals
The intent of our pre-doctoral internship in professional psychology is to provide a broadly based and integrated scholar-practitioner program for this capstone year of graduate training in clinical or counseling psychology. The application of psychological science, broadly defined, is at the foundation of developmentally sequenced experiential learning in multiple intervention modalities, and is supported by intensive supervision, seminar experiences, opportunities for role models and mentors, and a commitment to life-long learning.
Our internship is designed to prepare ethical and multiculturally sensitive professional psychologists who can move with competence, creativity and flexibility into a variety of positions providing clinical, consultation and outreach services to adults in outpatient settings, and providing training to students and other clinicians. Self-reflection and interpersonal dialogue are highly valued aspects of our training. Supervisors and seminar facilitators encourage, but never require, self-disclosure of personal information that may facilitate or hinder psychological practice or collegial relationships.
We value our multicultural, multidisciplinary and multitheoretical learning and working environment. Enhancement of multicultural skills is an important aspect of our program, with interns participating in a weekly multicultural seminar and staff actively engaged in examining our own multiple identities. Our staff and training program is interdisciplinary, involving clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, social workers, a psychiatrist and a psychiatric nurse. The diverse theoretical approaches utilized by staff enrich our work while our shared awareness of developmental issues and of brief therapy provide common ground.
We are committed to providing to each student:
- A comprehensive program of professional development and mentoring to assist in the development of a clear and strong professional identity
- An environment where challenge is coupled with encouragement and support, and psychological science is interwoven in clinical practice
- Exposure to the full range of services, therapeutic perspectives, and methodologies offered by CAPS, and the opportunity to gain a substantial and varied body of clinical experience
- Generalist training with opportunities to develop special interests
We expect that students will contribute to the CAPS mission through engaging in the work of the agency. However, we recognize that the trainee is a student and therefore will not be held to the same work expectations as permanent staff.