Psychology Practicum
CAPS offers a 9-month practicum training program for students in the second or third year of their doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology, and for students in the second year of a master's program in psychology.
Setting
The University of Pennsylvania is a privately endowed Ivy League institution founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. The student body is comprised of 9,500 full-time undergraduate students, 8,100 full-time graduate and professional students, and 4,000 part-time students; 2,900 of these students are from outside of the U.S. Penn is conveniently located near Center City Philadelphia.
About CAPS
CAPS is a component of the University Life Division. Its missions include providing professional training for graduate psychology and social work students and offering professional psychological services to students having concerns which include a broad spectrum of personal, social, emotional, educational, and vocational issues. Individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, structured workshops, staff training, psychological and vocational testing, and consultative services are made available to university students free of charge. CAPS employs a multidisciplinary treatment model on a short-term basis with long-term therapy provided to a limited number of students. Our clients present with a wide variety of issues, ranging from relationship conflicts, low self-esteem, and stress reactions to anxiety disorders, severe depression, and sexual trauma. The University population is comprised of very bright students from various racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds and far ranging countries of the world. This provides our trainees with many rich crosscultural counseling experiences. In addition, the CAPS staff is diverse in terms of ethnicity, sexual orientation, theoretical approach, and areas of expertise.
Prerequisites
We expect psychology practicum students to have obtained at least two semesters (and preferably three) of previous, supervised, part-time clinical or counseling experience. In addition, we expect all students to have completed some basic coursework in psychotherapy or counseling theory.
While it would be advantageous if the previous practical experience was with an adolescent or college age population, this is not a requirement. What we consider most important is an indication that the student is genuinely interested in working with a diverse college student population and exhibits an openness and willingness to learn from our setting.
Activities and Responsibilities
Each practicum student is assigned to a treatment team that meets once a week. Each team is comprised of a senior staff team leader (psychologist or social worker), a psychiatrist, one to three other senior staff members, and trainees (doctoral psychology intern, psychology practicum, social work intern and, when schedules permit, psychiatric resident). Team leaders facilitate the meetings, with the psychiatrists and any other senior staff assisting. All trainees and senior staff present cases and receive feedback and suggestions from everyone present. The treatment team is also an opportunity for staff who are collaborating on treatment – e.g., psychiatrists and therapists or individual and group therapists – to discuss treatment issues. The purpose of the team meeting is twofold: a group process for peer case discussion that can include obtaining treatment recommendations for the case as well as a training activity to hone case presentation, treatment planning, and diagnostic/assessment skills.
Opportunities for group therapy experience, career counseling, and university community outreach activities may also be available for practicum students who express an interest in pursuing these areas.
Psychology practicum students receive two hours of individual supervision per week and one hour of group supervision (case group). Supervision methods include use of audiotapes and in vivo observation. One hour of supervision is with a psychology intern (CAPS has an APA-approved internship) and one hour is with a licensed psychologist. Case group is led by a senior staff person. In addition, senior staff make themselves readily available for additional, informal consultation and supervision when the need arises. Practicum students may also have supervision from professional staff with whom they might cofacilitate a group, workshop, or couples counseling. Along with our social work interns, psychology practicum students also participate in over twenty training seminars led by CAPS staff and outside specialists. Topics include but are not limited to addictions assessment, eating disorders, and a five-part series on multicultural counseling.
As optional activities, practicum students are invited to attend our weekly staff meeting as well as staff case conferences and in-service trainings which alternate on an every-other-week basis throughout the academic year.
Application Process
Application deadline: Monday, March 5, 2012.
A completed application should be sent to Marilia Marien, Ph.D.(marien@upenn.edu), Cordinator of Practicum Training and should include the following:
1) A current resume.
2) A copy (photocopy is fine) of your graduate transcript.
3) A cover letter explaining your interest in a practicum at CAPS, including how it fits with your short- and long-term training goals.
4) The names of two references, including email and phone number. One must be a current supervisor and the other can be a faculty member or your advisor in your academic department.
Applications can be mailed (see address below) or emailed to Marilia Marien, Ph.D. (marien@upenn.edu)
Interested students may call the Practicum Coordinator or the Training Director at 215-898-7021 to discuss the program further.
Contact Us
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
133 South 36th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Emergencies: 215-349-5490 (ask for CAPS Clinician On Call)
Tel: 215-898-7021
Fax: 215-573-8966
Email: caps@pobox.upenn.edu
