APA-Accredited Predoctoral Psychology Internship in Washburn Center’s Outpatient Therapy Program
Our Predoctoral Internship is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA Commission on Accreditation Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; Phone: (202) 336-5979 TDD: (202) 336-6123 Fax: (202) 336-5978) and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC 17225 El Camino Real, Onyx One – Suite #170, Houston, TX 77058-2748; Phone: (832) 284-4080 Fax: (832) 284-4079).
Washburn Center for Children is committed to providing a high quality, diverse, and comprehensive training experience to Predoctoral Interns in the Outpatient department of a community mental health center. The Internship Program utilizes the Capstone Model and considers itself a practitioner-scholar program. The Internship Program follows a year-long, full-time progression of training opportunities that build upon the Intern’s previous academic and clinical experiences.
About the internship
The Predoctoral Internship Program provides training in a broad range of skills needed by clinical psychologists working with children, adolescents, and families in community mental health. The Internship Program promotes the development of a number of various competencies (please see program brochure for information about the specific competencies).
At the core of the Intern’s training experience is providing direct assessment and intervention to a diverse urban and suburban population, which makes up approximately 50% of the Intern’s time. Washburn Center is known for providing exceptional treatment to children and families who have endured trauma; however, within the Outpatient Program, the clinical work is rich and varied. We believe it is important for Interns to learn how to assess and intervene in a wide range of psychological issues that children, adolescents and families may present with. Further enriching the clinical work is the fact that Washburn Center serves a diverse population across sites, ensuring that Interns will expand their understanding of cultural responsiveness and the varied systems that children and families interact with.
Interns gain skills for the rest of their careers
Interns are supported in developing a range of intervention and assessment techniques, thus ongoing and frequent supervision with licensed psychologists and postdoctoral fellows, training in an evidenced-based practice, as well as didactic seminars are provided to promote an Interns’ development. Underlying all techniques is the critical intervention of building a solid therapeutic relationship; it is believed that the quality of the therapeutic relationship significantly enhances any intervention or approach that might be used. Furthermore, it is believed that a solid understanding of developmental stages, processes, and needs is working with children and adolescents. Underscoring all clinical work is a solid understanding of the APA’s ethical standards and knowledge of the law regulating the practice of psychology. Interns are exposed to many theoretical orientations and supported in understanding and developing their own approach that best channels their skills as an emerging psychologist. Collaboration and team-work is an essential component of mental health treatment of children and families at Washburn Center.
Training healers in culturally-responsive care
A vital aspect of clinical work and training at Washburn Center s the focus on developing cultural responsiveness. Interns and other trainees, agency staff members, and Training Supervisors all share the goal of enhancing their own cultural awareness and development. This is seen through Washburn Center’s focus on cultural responsiveness trainings; the focus on cultural dynamics and implications during case consultations, team meetings, and supervision; and through the activities of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Responsiveness (DICR) initiative at Washburn Center for Children.
Growing leaders in unique supervision models
The Predoctoral Internship Program strives to prepare Interns for the demands of clinical work, as well as other possible professional activities, such as supervision and teaching of psychological concepts. An important aspect of the Predoctoral Internship Program is helping Interns develop and expand their supervision skills. This is accomplished by having Interns supervise other young professionals (i.e., practicum students) over the course of the year and receive supervision on their supervision skills and experiences. Interns are also required to lead a few seminars in order to enhance their skills in integrating research findings and teaching psychological theory, concepts, and knowledge to their cohort and supervisors (please see program brochure for additional information).
The Predoctoral Internship Program is committed to ensuring that Interns complete their Internship with sufficient supervised experience to feel confident treating a range of clients, diagnoses, and clinical problems. Upon completion of the Predoctoral Internship Program. All training time credited to the Predoctoral Internship Program is post-practicum and pre-doctoral.
To apply
Predoctoral internships run from approximately September 1 to August 31. Interested students are encouraged to review the Predoctoral Psychology Internship Brochure 2022-2023 and Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data or email Dr. Melissa Sovak, PsyD, LP. Washburn Center is an APPIC Member and applications must be submitted through the APPIC website.