Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology

Phone-alt Envelope

Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) exists to be a center of excellence in the provision of multidisciplinary mental health services to the UGA student population. We strive to provide services that are student-centered, innovative, and based in the latest science and art of professional practice. We seek to infuse our work with a mixture of best-practices and creativity, balancing treatment with training and education of students, staff and faculty. We endeavor to keep pace with the changing needs of the student population while maintaining a working environment that models and parallels care and respect for each other and the students we serve. We celebrate diversity in all its forms both within the UGA community and amongst our staff.

Our dedication to excellence permeates the multitude of services we provide, ensuring that:

  • students receive superlative care rendered in a nurturing and healthy atmosphere,
  • our use of technology interfaces with the needs of our client population, and
  • the integration of care across the continuum encompasses all aspects of health and wellbeing.

Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is committed to promoting inclusion. We strive to provide respectful treatment to students of every background and recognize the impact of oppression and marginalization on mental health. We embrace the richness inherent to the intersections of one’s race, ethnicity, nationality, heritage, gender identity and expression, sexual/romantic orientation, ability, religion/spirituality, age, socioeconomic status, body shape/size, as well as other personal and social characteristics. These intersecting factors which comprise an individual’s identity are important in guiding and enhancing the services we provide to our students. We will continue to be a safe and affirming space on campus.

The CAPS doctoral internship is a full-time training experience. Interns engage in 14 to 16 hours of direct clinical service, which includes providing individual and group therapy, screenings, crisis management, outreach, and provision of supervision. Additionally, interns receive 10 to 12 hours of training and supervision. Didactic trainings are competency driven and cover topics such as utilizing DBT interventions with the college student population, body diversity and the impact of weight-based oppression/sizeism, and salient considerations for therapy with clients that identify as trans and gender non-conforming. Interns receive two (2) hours of individual supervision and additional supervision in group and the provision of supervision. The remaining 10 hours consists of administrative tasks including recordkeeping and meeting attendance.

Below is a weekly sample schedule for interns that provides guidance on the intern time distribution.

Direct Service18 hours
Psychotherapy (individual, group, screening, on-call, outreach, specialization rotation)17-18 hours
Supervision of Practicum Student1 hours
Supervision and Training8-10 hours
Individual Supervision2 hours
Group Supervision of Group.5 hour
Supervision with TD1 hours
Supervision of Supervision1 hour
Training Seminars2-4 hours
Professional Development1 hour
Committee Assignment1 hour (optional)
Administrative Requirements10-12 hours
Staff Meeting/Treatment Team1 hour
Recordkeeping (case notes, service preparation)8-10 hours
Dissertation/Licensure Preparation Release2 hours

At this time, CAPS internship program is an APPIC member and is authorized for a site-visit by the Commission of Accreditation in the Spring of 2024.

All interested applicants can email the Associate Director for Training to request a copy of the Internship Handbook.

Program Disclosures

Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose? Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values?
_____
Yes

__X__
No
If yes, provide website link (or content from brochure) where this specific information is presented:Not applicable

Internship Program Admissions

Briefly describe in narrative form important information to assist potential applicants in assessing their likely fit with your program. This description must be consistent with the program’s policies on intern selection and practicum and academic preparation requirements:
The UGA CAPS Doctoral Internship Program currently offers two full-time internship positions. Students interested in applying should submit an online application through the APPIC website (www.appic.org) using the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships (AAPI).
A complete application consists of the following materials:

  1. A completed online AAPI.

  2. Cover letter (as part of AAPI).

  3. A current Curriculum Vitae (as part of AAPI).

  4. Three Standard Reference Forms, two of which must be from persons who have directly supervised the applicant’s clinical work (as part of AAPI). Please note that UGA CAPS will not review more than three references.

  5. Official transcripts of all graduate coursework.


To be considered for the internship program, all application materials must be received by the date noted in the current APPIC directory listing. Applicants are required to have a master’s degree and to have passed their comprehensive exams by the ranking deadline for the National Match.
Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at time of application? If Yes, indicate how many:
Total Direct Contact Intervention HoursYesNoAmount: 450
Total Direct Contact Assessment HoursNoNoAmount: N/A
Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants:UGA CAPS will base its selection process on the entire application package as listed above. Applicants who meet the following qualifications prior to beginning internship are considered preferred:

  1. A minimum of 250 intervention hours.

  2. Dissertation proposal approved.

  3. Some experience or special interest in working with college populations.

  4. Current enrollment and good standing in an APA- or CPA-accredited doctoral program.

Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year*

Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Interns $37,000
Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time InternsN/A
Program provides access to medical insurance for intern?YesNo
If access to medical insurance is provided:
Trainee contribution to cost required?YesNo
Coverage of family member(s) available?YesNo
Coverage of legally married partner available?YesNo
Coverage of domestic partner available?YesNo
Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation)120
Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave 80
In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave? YesNo
Other Benefits (please describe):Additional professional leave time
*Note. Programs are not required by the Commission on Accreditation to provide all benefits listed in this table

Initial Post-Internship Positions

2022-2023
Total # of interns who were in the cohorts2
Total # of interns who did not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing doctoral degree1
PDEP
Academic teaching
Community mental health center
Consortium
University Counseling Center
Hospital/Medical Center
Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Psychiatric facility
Correctional facility
Health maintenance organization
School district/system
Independent practice setting1
Other
Note: “PD” = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position.