About the program
The doctoral internship program in health service psychology prepares interns with the skills needed for a career in a university counseling center including multicultural competencies in initial consultations and intakes, short-term individual therapy, group therapy, crisis intervention, provision of supervision and campus-based outreach and consultation with a highly diverse population and range of presenting concerns. I would like to highlight key components of our program including group training, ability to supervise, outreach training, and a core commitment to diversity. Key aspects of the program include the following.
Group therapy with live supervision
A unique aspect of our training program is the intensive training in group psychotherapy. USC is proud to be the first program to use a one-way mirror for live group supervision. The group members consent to have their group therapy observed along with “live” interventions that are phoned into the session from the supervising team members. Interns routinely rate this experience as one of the high points of their training. Interns typically co-lead one of our processes or skills-based groups in addition to the “live group.”
Supervision of a practicum student
Interns have the opportunity to provide supervision to a graduate student for the academic year. Interns receive on-going training and supervision via the weekly Supervision of Supervision Meeting. This activity also supports the professional identity development of the intern, helping them recognize their own growth and learning as well as being in the trusted position to train others.
Outreach and consultation
Our extensive Outreach and Consultation training involves much more than facilitating workshops. Interns will have a Liaison Project for which they serve in a liaison role to a university department or office. This year-long relationship allows interns to engage in various activities such as consultation, non-clinical supervision of Peer Mentor programs, and program development. In addition, interns will develop a social advocacy project which is intended to address the mental health disparities or barriers to treatment that exist in society and at USC.
Diversity
The appreciation of human diversity is a core value of Counseling and Mental Health Services and of USC’s commitment to its diverse community. Our student body is extremely diverse and boasts one of the largest international student populations in the country. We offer a “Diversity Dialogues” weekly seminar, an annual diversity theme consisting of center-wide programming, and we incorporate multicultural awareness throughout all training.
The USC, CMH doctoral internship in health service psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Inquiries regarding the accreditation of our internship training program may be directed to:
APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE • Washington, DC • 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
The Office of Accreditation’s web address may be accessed here: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation. You may also email the Accreditation Office at apaaccre@apa.org.