Program Description
Counseling and Mental Health Services offers a two semester, 23 hours per week advanced practicum program. This is an excellent opportunity for clinical experience within a university counseling center and to gain skills in short-term therapy as well as outreach and consultation.
Advanced practicum trainees will be involved with clients at Counseling and Mental Health Services and the USC campus community in the following ways. Each trainee:
- Carries a case-load of 9-11 clients each semester
- Conducts intakes
- Receives one hour of individual supervision with a licensed psychologist and an additional hour of individual supervision from a psychology intern in our APA-accredited internship program
- Receives 1.5 hours of group supervision
- May participate in group process observation training, if scheduling allows
- Participates in consultation and outreach programming
- Expected to provide a minimum of 200 face-to-face clinical hours
The following are regular weekly activities required for participation in the Practicum Training program:
- Attendance at Professional Development Series on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- Attendance at All Staff meetings Monday mornings at 11 a.m.
- Participation in group supervision and Practicum Administrative meeting Monday afternoons from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
When appropriate, practicum students are encouraged, but not required, to explore historical influences and personal data which may affect subsequent clinical practice. The Training Program functions in a manner consistent with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002, including 2010 amendments), Standard 7.04: Student Disclosure of Personal Information.
A mandatory orientation program commences in August of the training year. It includes training modules in short-term psychotherapy, diagnosis and assessment, psychiatric consultation, crisis intervention, ethical and legal concerns, wellness, working with diverse client populations, outreach and consultation, and other relevant topics.
Eligibility
Enrollment in an APA-accredited clinical or counseling psychology doctoral program with whom Counseling and Mental Health Services has a training agreement.
Application Process
Required materials include a letter of interest, vita, transcript (official not required), and three letters of recommendation from a licensed clinician. Application needs to be postmarked or emailed by a February deadline. Interviews will take place in March. Please contact:
Alice Phang, PhD
Coordinator of Practicum Training
Pronoun: She, her, hers
Ayoung.Phang@med.usc.edu