Psychology Internship

Doctoral Psychology Internship

Program Brochure

AGENCY OVERVIEW

California State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse, metropolitan university primarily serving the South Bay area of Los Angeles County. Established in 1960, CSUDH is one of the 23 campuses that comprise the California State University system. California State University, Dominguez Hills provides transformational educational experiences grounded in culturally sustaining practices, innovative research, creative activity, and community engagement for undergraduate and graduate students.  

Student Psychological Services' mission is to provide a variety of quality mental health services intended to assist students in developing their full potential as a student and emotionally healthy individual. Student Psychological Services' goal is to empower students to resolve their personal issues, which can free them up to focus effectively on academic pursuits and benefit from all that CSUDH has to offer.  

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY AND MODEL 

The CSUDH SPS training program is a 12-month, 2,000-hour, full-time doctoral internship that follows the practitioner-scholar model. The training program is designed with a developmental approach, focusing on basic skills and knowledge in the beginning and building to more complex integration of skills and clinical application. Interns will gain proficiency in the nine core competencies defined by the American Psychological Association.  

The internship program creates a welcoming, supportive, and encouraging learning environment for all interns. Interns are provided with extensive opportunity for interns to gain sufficient knowledge and experience in being able to deliver culturally-informed mental health services to a wide range of clients within a university setting. The program is designed to foster intern growth through experiential learning under the supervision of an experienced licensed psychologist. Interns are provided with the opportunity to delve into psychological literature to inform their theoretical orientation and intervention strategies.   

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The training curriculum provides interns with a breadth of knowledge, skills, and clinical application in all aspects of the training program. Interns gain experiential knowledge as they spend at least 25% of their time in direct service work with clients. Direct service includes individual counseling, intake assessments, triage and crisis intervention, group therapy, workshops, and outreach events. Weekly 2-hour didactic seminars are designed to further support interns in providing culturally-informed mental health services to clients within and outside of a university setting. Interns spend at least 10% of their time in supervisory activities where they continue to hone the application of their knowledge and skills. Interns are provided with at least 2 hours per week of individual supervision per week. Additionally, interns present 3-4 formal case presentations during the training year and complete a special project of their choice to delve deeper into a topic of interest.  

WEEKLY SCHEDULE EXAMPLE 

SPS is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Interns are expected to be on site during regular business hours with the exception of a one-hour lunch break each day. Interns work 40 hours per week. Below is an average weekly template: 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the internship program is to prepare interns to enter the field as clinically and ethically competent practitioners who demonstrate proficiency in the nine core competencies defined by the American Psychological Association. To achieve the overall aims of the training program, interns have extensive opportunity to provide a variety of direct clinical services to clients under the supervision of an experienced licensed psychologist. Interns gain experience working within a multidisciplinary organization to support the mental wellness of students and the larger campus community. 

 COMPETENCIES

1. Research
2. Ethical and legal standards
3. Individual and cultural diversity
4. Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
5. Communication and interpersonal skills
6. Assessment
7. Intervention
8. Supervision
9. Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

STUDENT HEALTH CENTER

Student Psychological Services is located within the Student Health Center (SHC). The SHC has a waiting room where students enter and check-in to be seen for their appointments. The administrative support coordinators have a working space directly next to the waiting room. The SHC has multiple conference rooms for meetings and therapy groups/workshops. There is a break room where SHC staff can eat lunch and engage in social interactions. Interns are provided with a private office space when they are conducting confidential mental health appointments. Interns are provided with a desk, telephone, and computer to conduct their work. Interns are encouraged to work with the administrative support coordinators or other appropriate staff if needing additional office supplies, such as paper, clipboards, printer ink, and pens. Interns have access to the University Library database for any professional needs related to their employment.

INTERN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Interns have the right to: 

1. Clear standards, criteria, and guidelines on how and when they will be evaluated. 
2. Express concerns with the internship program informally or formally via the grievance procedure. 
3. Regular and consistent supervision by a primary or delegated supervisor, as to meet the required supervision hours outlined by the California Board of Psychology Laws and Regulations. 
4. Receive the training opportunities as outlined in the Training Activities section

Interns are expected to: 

1. Adhere to the American Psychological Association's (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. 
2. Adhere to the California Board of Psychology Laws and Regulations. 
3. Read and follow the Student Psychological Services Guidelines and Procedures Manual. 
4. Read and follow the guidelines and procedures of the SPS Training Manual. 
5. Demonstrate proficiency in the nine competency areas as required to successfully complete the internship program. 
6. Demonstrate the ability to provide culturally informed mental health care. 
7. Demonstrate professional behavior in all tasks performed at SPS. 
8. Demonstrate the ability to respectfully communicate with all employees at SPS, within the Health & Well-Being cluster, and the larger CSUDH community. 

SUPERVISORY STAFF

Katie Johnson, PhD: Primary Supervisor and Training Director
Norma Quintero, PhD, LCSW: Primary Supervisor
Bruce Wallace II, PsyD: Primary Supervisor