Pre Doctoral Internship in Psychology
University Counseling Services provides a one-year intensive psychology internship. The purpose is to train future psychologists in the core areas of: intake/assessment, individual psychotherapy and case management, group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, awareness of socio-cultural differences, supervision, consultation/outreach, scholarly inquiry, and overall professional functioning.
The UCS pre-doctoral internship in Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. This program participates in the APPIC Match (program matching number 161211) and abides by all APPIC Match policies.
This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC Policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant prior to Uniform Notification Day. For additional information concerning APPIC policies you may view the website at http://www.appic.org/.
UCS psychology internship expects interns to work 40-45 hours per week. There are times when demand for services increase and interns provide additional hours consistent with overall expectations of UCS staff. Psychology interns are asked to keep a log of their clinical hours. Below is a delineation of weekly activities during internship at UCS. This is to be used as a guideline because individual interest and agency needs vary.
Application and Selection
University Counseling Services predoctoral internship begins August 10, 2013 and ends August 9, 2014. Applicants must have completed all required course work in a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology. This work must include four semesters of supervised practicum experience.
University Counseling Services will be utilizing the on-line APPI application system through APPIC. All materials described below must be completed and submitted through the applicant portal on the APPIC website. Completed applications must be submitted by November 6. No application materials will be accepted through regular mail. A completed application includes the following:
- APPIC Application for Psychology Internships
- Current vita
- Official graduate transcript
- Letters of recommendation from three professionals at least two of which are directly familiar with applicant's clinical/counseling experience
- Cover letter indicating why applicant is interested in this site
University Counseling Services offers both on-site and phone interviews. Applicants who are selected to interview with UCS will be notified prior to December 15.
On-site interviews with UCS are scheduled for January 2013 on the 2, 4, 7, 9 and 11th. The on-site interviews are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Phone interviews are scheduled for January 2013 on the 8th and 10th (usually 50 minutes to one hour).
University Counseling Services' internship final offers are contingent upon successfully passing a criminal background check as required by Virginia Commonwealth University.
All correspondence regarding the internship program should be addressed to:
Sydney Brodeur McDonald, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Training
VCU University Counseling Services
P.O. Box 842525
Richmond, Va 23284-2525
Phone: (804) 828-6200
E-mail: sbmcdonald@vcu.edu
VCU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Please contact the Committee on Accreditation if you have any questions about our accreditation status.
Committee on Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: (202) 336-5979
Stipend and Benefits
*Stipend and benefits are subject to change prior to the start of internship.
The stipend for 2012-2013 is $23,660 for 12 months. The primary fringe benefits are vacation, sick leave, professional leave, and University holidays.
- Ten days of vacation leave and flex day.
- Five days of professional leave time that may be used for conferences, travel back to the home university for dissertation work, or job interviewing. Time away from UCS must be scheduled and approved by the associate director of training.
- Twelve days of sick leave are accumulated by trainees.
- Group health insurance
- Interns may contract for professional development time that is used for such activities as reading and dissertation research.
- Access to computer time for dissertation and other research projects is available.
- Each Intern has their own fully furnished office.
Average Activity per Week
Direct Services
- Individual and couples therapy: 12 - 14 hours
- Group therapy: 2 hours
- Intakes: 2 hours
- Crisis coverage: 1 hour
Administrative Time
- Staff meeting: 30 minutes
Consultation and Outreach
- Consultation and outreach programming: 1 - 2 hours
Practicum Supervision and Teaching
- Practicum supervision: Providing one hour of supervision to doctoral level psychology supervisees
Training
- Psych Intern Seminar: 1 hour
- Outreach seminar/Case conference: 30 minutes
- Supervision of supervision: 2 hours
- Individual supervision: 2 hours
- Supervision of group therapy: 1.5 hours
- Friday clinical consult: 1 hours
- Training seminar: 2 hours
- Supervision for Concentration: 1 hour bi-weekly
- Committee Work - Optional
- Outreach: Primary Project Outreach plus 5 additional outreach events
Scheduling an Initial Appointment
Must come in person to either location:
Monroe Park Campus
University Student Commons, Room 238
907 Floyd Ave.
(804) 828-6200
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
MCV Campus
Grant House, B011
1008 East Clay St.
(804) 828-3964
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
After Hours Emergency
Please call VCU Police dispatcher:
(804) 828-1234 and ask to speak to a therapist.
