Psychology Internship

The staff at the Student Counseling Services Internship training program is committed to the affirmation of diversity in all of our endeavors. We strive to recruit interns who are ready to embrace the challenges and rewards of providing services to a varied and broad-ranging population. Our training program respects and values diversity and attends to this throughout clinical practice with our diverse client population, as well as during supervision and intern seminars. The learning environment within the training program is one of inclusion and every effort is made to facilitate a climate of safety and respect for all staff and interns.

The Student Counseling Services adheres to an expected competency in individual and cultural diversity. Training experiences are offered to ensure interns are provided ample opportunity to gain competency in this domain. Interns are exposed to clients of differing ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious affiliations, ages, genders, and abilities to expand sensitivity to issues related to diversity. Seminars addressing various topics related to diversity and intercultural inclusion are provided throughout the year. Supervision, both individual and group, provides additional learning support for interns to increase awareness and foster comfort with multicultural experiences.

The Student Counseling Services welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. Diversity of our staff and interns contributes to a more well-rounded internship experience. The training program provides equal opportunity to all prospective interns and does not discriminate because of a person's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, or any other factor that is irrelevant to success as a psychology intern. Applicants are individually evaluated in terms of quality of previous training, practicum experiences, and fit with the internship program and goals. If accommodations are required, the applicant or intern should contact the Training Director to initiate this process.

The doctoral internship training program offered by Hofstra University's Student Counseling Services is designed to provide an interdisciplinary professional training experience in college student mental health. Our training philosophy is based on the scholar-practitioner perspective, focusing specifically on the investigation and dissemination of evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Emphasis is on experiential learning as well as the expectation that interns maintain current with scholarly publications. The internship program promotes a cognitive and behavioral approach to the spectrum of issues presented by the student body and the University community. Interns will address problems from this data-based perspective and are expected to maintain an up-to-date awareness of developments in the field of cognitive and behavioral research and practice. Supervising psychologists are all trained within this paradigm and provide the structure to assist interns in developing within this theoretical structure. While we respect a variety of differing clinical perspectives, we specifically encourage that clinical problems be conceptualized within a cognitive and behavioral framework, to develop a consistent, research-driven approach to a variety of clinical issues.

Interns are evaluated formally and informally throughout the training year. Informal discussion regarding intern progress occurs between supervisors and interns during supervision meetings to optimize opportunities for professional growth. With input provided by all training Committee Supervisors, interns meet with the Training Director to discuss their formal evaluations at the midpoint and end of the internship year. The Student Counseling Services requires that interns demonstrate minimum levels of achievement across all competencies and training elements. Evaluations are conducted using a standard Intern Evaluation Form which includes information about intern performance regarding all expected training competencies and the related learning elements. Interns also complete evaluations of their supervisors, seminars, and the program at the midpoint and end of the internship year.

Candidates may contact the Training Director for complete copies of the Intern Evaluation, Retention, and Termination Policy (which includes the Maintenance of Records Policy) and the Due Process and Grievance Policy.

CLINICAL SERVICES

While involved with the Internship Program at the Student Counseling Services, interns will receive intensive training in all aspects of clinical intervention, with a specific focus on individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, interdisciplinary consultation and collaboration, and psychoeducational workshops and presentations designed to service the diverse Hofstra University community. Interns are under the guidance of licensed, doctoral level psychologists and receive supervision in all aspects of their clinical work, including assessment, diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment, within a cognitive behavioral framework. Interns are also expected to gain a thorough understanding of how to handle crisis situations on a college campus. Ongoing assessments for dangerousness and risk are continuously conducted.

Interns also gain experience collaborating with various departments at the University in developing groups and psychoeducational workshops for clients from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds. Each intern has the opportunity to engage in activities that they value with the aim of addressing the needs of a diverse student population. The table below represents past intern collaborations with various Hofstra administrators highlighting outreach to underrepresented groups:

DIDACTICS AND SEMINARS

Interns participate in didactic training seminars throughout the internship year that cover various clinical, ethical, and professional development topics. Seminars on Professional Issues (biweekly), Outreach Programming (weekly in the fall), Advanced CBT Skills (weekly) and Diversity (weekly in the spring) are provided. Additional topics relevant to college mental health are consistently addressed throughout the training at student counseling and woven into the content of all seminars. Areas of training include the following: Schizophrenia prodrome, substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, domestic violence, eating disorders, psychopharmacology, sexual dysfunction and paraphilias, body image, self-injury, suicide and crisis interventions, motivational interviewing, and therapist self-care.

SUPERVISION

Each intern receives two hours weekly of individual supervision and two hours weekly of group supervision, as well as the ongoing support of the supervising staff psychologists. In addition, the supervisory staff work collaboratively with interns to address crises and to provide outreach services to the Hofstra community. Interns also provide supervision to a practicum student and meet with the Training Director of Supervision of their supervision.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

The internship is a full-time, 12-month program, commencing on July 28th, 2025. Training will total 2,000 hours for the internship year. Interns will spend the majority of their time in clinical work, with the remaining time spent in supervision, seminars, outreach workshops, and other administrative tasks. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday during the academic semesters. Interns are present for a full complement of hours including morning and evening times to best experience mental health in the University community.

WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE

Interns with the Student Counseling Services provide a range of services to our University students. On average, 20 to 24 hours per week are spent involved in direct face-to-face clinical services during the academic semesters. Interns devote an additional nine hours per week in seminar training and supervision. The remainder of the time is allocated for administrative responsibilities, case management, and special projects. During the January session and summer terms, interns' time is more focused on project development, outreach programming, research, and administrative duties. Time is also granted for grand rounds and conference attendance off campus throughout the training year.

Merry McVey-Noble, PhD, Executive Director
Keesha Cameron, PhD, Assistant Clinical Director
Fernando Cavalcante Krause, PhD, Assistant Director of Training and Education

As of the 2024-2025 training year the Student Counseling Services Doctoral Psychology Internship Training program offers a stipend of $30,000, and access to opt-in health benefits. Each intern is provided with a dedicated office fully equipped with a computer for access to the University's online portal and library services, the electronic health record program, and internet use. Interns have full access to IT support from the University's technical support center. Interns also have use of video recording equipment for observation of clinical work. University library privileges and access to our campus fitness center are also provided. Release time for workshop and conference attendance/presentations, dissertation defense, and job interviews is granted on an as-needed basis pending approval by the Training Director. Throughout the training year, off-campus workshops and conferences funded by the internship program are identified for interns to attend to supplement their training.

The internship program primarily takes place in the Student Counseling Services located in the Wellness and Campus Living Center on Hofstra University's North Campus. It is comprised of various offices that house both counseling and health services staff. Counseling office space includes five rooms for full-time staff, two therapy rooms for psychology externs, two intern offices, a front office reception area and a conference room. Other offices including seminar, group, and conference space are located throughout the Wellness and Campus Living Center building. In addition, workshops and outreach programming take place in the residence halls within the Student Center and in various departments throughout the campus.

Candidates may contact the Training Director for a complete copy of the Stipend, Benefits and Resources policy.

Application Process

The program has two full-time internship positions. Applicants for the Hofstra University Student Counseling Services Doctoral Internship program must submit the following application materials through the Applicant Portal on APPIC's webpage (www.appic.org) no later than November 1st, 2024 at 11:59 PM (EST):

• Completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI) form. The AAPI may be downloaded from www.appic.org.
• A cover letter describing your relevant professional experiences and how they relate to our training program. Please include how your goals for internship match with our site.
• Curriculum vitae
• Official transcripts of graduate course work
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from supervisors with direct knowledge of your clinical work

Application Screening and Interview Process

Applicants must be doctoral degree candidates enrolled in either a clinical or counseling psychology PhD or PsyD program. All or most academic work for the doctoral degree should be completed by the start of internship. Applicants must be matriculated at their home institutions, which confirms they are providing academic credit for their internship. Candidates are expected to have had specific training in assessment and diagnosis, as well as relevant practicum experience. Approval to pursue an internship from the respective program's Training Director is required.

Preference will be given to candidates in good standing from APA-accredited doctoral programs who have met the following qualifications prior to beginning internship:
1. A minimum of 400 intervention hours;
2. A minimum of 50 assessment hours;
3. Clinical experience working with young adults, especially college students;
4. Training in cognitive behavioral therapy;
5. Dissertation proposal approved;
6. Demonstrates valuing of diversity through prior clinical experience.

The selection committee will review all applications using a standard Intern Applicant Review Form, and evaluate for potential goodness of fit with the internship program. Candidates will be notified by December 15, 2024 if they have been selected for an interview. Interviews will be scheduled in early January.

Match offers of intern positions are contingent upon the prospective intern passing a pre-employment background check.

Hofstra University Student Counseling Services adheres to the procedures established by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) for the recruitment and selection of doctoral interns and participates in the match. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use ranking-related information from any intern applicant. Hofstra University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity in its faculty, administrative staff, and student body, and encourages applications from the entire spectrum of a diverse community.

Our program code for the match is 238411.

Hofstra University's Student Counseling Services Psychology Internship program was granted full accreditation by the American Psychological Association on October 28, 2018 for a period of 10 years. Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TABLES

Date Program Tables are updated: 9/27/2024
Internship Program Admissions

Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year*

* Note: Programs are not required by the Commission on Accreditation to provide all benefits listed in this table.

Initial Post-Internship Positions

Note: “PD” = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position. Each individual represented in this table should be counted only one time. For former trainees working in more than one setting, select the setting that represents their primary position.