Predoctoral Training Program

The internship provides a wide range of intensive supervised experiences in both individual and group psychotherapy and in consultation and outreach. A major emphasis of the program lies in its attention and commitment to cultural and individual differences. A professional staff with diverse backgrounds is committed to providing a high quality educational experience within a student services agency.

The predoctoral internship is based on both the theory and practice of psychotherapy and consultation. The program is designed to develop and enhance the psychotherapy skills of predoctoral psychology interns, with emphasis on providing short term individual and group psychotherapy to undergraduate and graduate students. CPS emphasizes a community psychology approach in its services. Interns will gain experience in primary prevention by working as part of a team of psychologists providing outreach and consultation services. The community psychology model also provides interns numerous opportunities to work with multicultural populations who tend to underutilize traditional counseling services. Interns will have the opportunity to both serve a diverse student population and work with supervisors from varied backgrounds.

Philosophy of Training and Training Model

The internship training program is designed to offer supervised experiences to interns from Counseling or Clinical Psychology programs who are interested in developing clinical, outreach, and consultation skills with a university student population. Our training program is strongly committed to the development of psychologists sensitive to and able to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and to a community psychology model of intervention. The goal of our training is to support the development of interns as entry level psychologists. Our philosophy of training emphasizes that interns are professionals in training, and they provide the same variety of clinical, outreach, and consultation services as do permanent staff. We recognize and are sensitive to the variety of developmental needs interns have as they progress through their internship year, and we provide the necessary supervision and support through this process.

CPS utilizes an apprenticeship mentoring model of training where the intern learns by working with experienced staff members conducting the full range of activities carried out by a University psychologist. Through this apprenticeship model, interns gain valuable experience working side by side with experienced psychologists in conducting joint intake sessions, co-leading groups and workshops, and conducting crisis intervention. Interns bring to the internship a foundation of skills and knowledge which she or he hopes to modify and expand while on internship, and we believe through the apprenticeship model interns will have many experiences to modify and expand upon their skills and competencies.

The multidisciplinary CPS staff have varied theoretical orientations, and interns get exposure to learning from these individuals through individual and group supervision, training seminars, and experiential learning in every facet of providing clinical, outreach, and consultation services at UCSC. There is a diverse range of theoretical orientations amongst the CPS staff, but most staff identify as integrative in their theoretical approach to clinical services and all emphasize the developmental and multicultural needs of college students. The theoretical orientations in our staff include cognitive behavioral, multicultural, feminist, psychodynamic, solution oriented, and systems approach, and we hope that interns can incorporate learning from various staff to expand, refine, and deepen both their theoretical knowledge and repertoire of skills.

Last, our training program is committed to the development of the professional identity of the intern. We strive to support interns in their development as professionals by not only giving interns opportunities to participate in all aspects of professional activities of a University psychologist, but also assisting interns in assimilating those experiences. We believe the internship is a socialization experience that encourages the establishment of a professional identity - sound clinical decision making, sensitivity and respect for diversity, and ethical awareness and judgment.

Objectives of Program

The internship year is a time of transition from a trainee to a professional psychologist. In respecting individual differences among interns, we provide comprehensive, intensive, and flexible training and supervision to facilitate each intern's further development and professional integration of both clinical skills and outreach and consultation skills.

The major training and educational goals of our internship include:

1) Developing competence in the broad range of clinical skills necessary to practice psychology.

Interns will develop intermediate to advanced skills in:

• Individual brief psychotherapy.
• Intake assessment, case management, and referral.
• Group psychotherapy, psychoeducational groups, and group co-facilitation.
• Behavioral health and stress reduction methods.
• Crisis intervention and brief screening.
• Vocational and clinical testing utilized in a university counseling center.
• Knowledge and application of ethical and legal principles to the practice of psychology.

2) Developing competence in a community psychology model of service delivery emphasizing outreach and consultation.

Interns will develop intermediate to advanced skills in:

• Developing and implementing outreach programs, workshops, trainings, and presentations.
• Consultation.

3) Developing competence in providing psychological services to a multicultural university population.

Interns will develop intermediate to advanced skills in:

• Provision of services to a diverse University population
• Developing a personal awareness of the impact of diversity in clinical relationships, outreach and consultation activities, and professional interactions.

4) Developing a professional identity as a psychologist.

Content of Program

The internship at CPS is an organized and structured program that provides supervised training experiences for interns throughout the year. The internship program provides experiential training components - direct clinical service and outreach and consultation activities and specific training activities -supervision, training seminars, and staff meetings, for interns to develop the skills and competencies to practice psychology.

Clinical Services

First Appointment (intake sessions): Interns will conduct two First Appointments per week for students. In these sessions, interns will conduct a formal assessment and determine appropriateness for brief or long-term therapy and provides referrals.

Individual Brief Therapy: Interns will provide brief individual psychotherapy to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students. Interns carry a caseload of approximately 10 to 12 clients per week, and they also have the opportunity to carry one long-term client throughout the year. Interns also have some opportunity to provide couples counseling, although this is not a large part of an intern's caseload.

Group Therapy: Interns will co-facilitate one group each quarter with a senior staff member. Interns also have opportunity to develop groups in their own area of interest if time and staffing permit. A number of therapy groups are offered by CPS each quarter including: Anxiety, Depression, Eating Awareness, Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Women's Groups, and Chicano/a Latino/a support groups.

Crisis Services/On-Call: Interns will provide a 3.5 hour shift per week in our Crisis Services in the Central Office. Interns conduct brief screening and triage and provide on and off campus referrals for students seeking appointments in CPS.

Behavioral Health Stress Program: Interns are instructed and supervised in providing Stress Services, such as workshops, groups, and educational programs.  They also receive supervision for integrating behavioral health methods into their ongoing clinical work.

Testing: Interns are required to provide career or clinical testing with one client during the year.

Outreach and Consultation Services

Given the CPS commitment to a community psychology model of intervention, interns will have numerous opportunities to engage in outreach and consultation activities throughout the year. Each intern gets extensive experience in outreach and consultation which is intricately built into the cluster college model at UCSC. Interns conduct 2 to 3 hours per week in outreach and consultation activities, which includes planning and preparation time.

Workshops and Training: All CPS staff and interns devote a portion of their time to conducting workshops and educational programs on campus. Workshop topics regularly include: communication skills, crisis intervention, multiculturalism, eating awareness, stress management, anxiety and depression management, time management, and test anxiety. Interns facilitate workshops with other staff and interns, and they are also required to design and implement their own Outreach Project during the internship year.

Consultation: Interns regularly consult with various campus offices and individuals regarding students' functioning and needs. In many cases this will result in the development of psychoeducational programs conducted to different campus groups. CPS has regular consulting relationships with the College residential staff, the Student Health Center, the Women's Center, Disability Resource Center, the Career Center, Student Ethnic Resource Centers, and the Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans, Intersex Resource Center. Interns may also have opportunities to provide campus debriefings after significant events.

Teaching: Interns often have the opportunity to present guest lectures on various mental health topics in University classes.  Although not offered each year, interns may have the opportunity to present a guest lecture in the course “White Racial Identity Development in a Multicultural Society".

Training Activities

Clinical Supervision: Supervision is offered in accordance with state licensing requirements in psychology and APA criteria for internship training. All interns have a primary supervisor, a California license psychologist, who meets with the intern two hours a week throughout the year for clinical supervision. Interns also have the opportunity to receive secondary supervision for one hour per week. Secondary supervisors are chosen by the intern and can be rotated each quarter so interns can have a variety of supervisory experiences and role models. Additional group supervision occurs in the Intern Group Supervision Seminar, the Case Conference, co-leading groups, and in joint therapy sessions with supervisors.

Intern Group Supervision Seminar: This weekly seminar facilitated by the Training Director provides a supportive setting to discuss professional development issues, clinical issues, and administrative concerns.

Special Topics Seminar: This weekly seminar provides training on a variety of clinical and multicultural topics related to the practice of psychology over the internship year. CPS training staff and professionals from the community present their area of expertise to the interns.

Behavioral Health Stress Program: This weekly seminar provides training for interns on theory and methods of behavioral stress reduction assessment and intervention.

Outreach and Consultation Seminar: This seminar, which meets weekly in fall quarter and for the first half of winter quarter, provides training to interns on theory and models of consultation and outreach as well as techniques for program design, implementation, and evaluation. Interns also discuss and debrief their outreach and consultation activities.

Assessment Series: During fall quarter, interns recieve training on various career and clinical tests that are utilized in university counseling centers and are beneficial when conducting brief therapy. Interns are required to provide testing to one client during the year.

Group Therapy Series: During winter quarter, interns receive training on theories and practice of group psychotherapy, and have opportunities to discuss and debrief their current group co-facilitation experiences.

Program Development Seminar: Interns are required to conduct a program development project that integrates research with counseling center practice. They receive consultation and supervision about their projects in this seminar during spring quarter.

Case Conference: This weekly meeting with the entire CPS staff includes case presentations by staff and interns, crisis case management, and review of clinical literature.

Staff Meeting: This monthly CPS meeting addresses administrative concerns in the unit. Interns attend in these meetings, and also rotate on CPS committees each quarter, including the Training Committee, the Clinical Quality Assurance Committee, and the Computerized Records Committee.

Professional Development: In addition to the monthly two-hour professional development meetings for the entire CPS staff, interns are given five days for professional development during the internship year. Interns may use their time for conference attendance and professional meetings, dissertation meetings, graduation, and job interviewing. In addition, interns attend the annual Northern California Training Director Intern Conference.

Responsibilities of Interns

1. Professional involvement in the activities of the internship, including clinical services, outreach and consultation services, training seminars, staff meetings, and administrative tasks. Interns should audio or video tape all therapy sessions.

   The following list details the amount of time, on average, an intern devotes to specific services and training activities:

   		Hours Per Week		Percentage
   Direct Service Responsibilities
   Individual Therapy		10-12
   Group Therapy		1.5
   First Appointments/Intakes		2
   Behavioral Health Stress Program		.5-2
   Crisis Services Duty		3.5
   Outreach and Consultation		2
   Total		19.5-22		48-51%
   Training
   Individual Primary Supervision		2
   Individual Secondary Supervision		1
   Supervision of Group Therapy		.5
   Intern Group Supervision Seminar		1
   Special Topics Seminar		1.5
   Crisis Seminar		1
   Case Conference		1
   Behavioral Health Stress Program        Fall and Winter quarter - 1 hour weekly      Spring quarter - 1 hour bi-monthly
   Assessment Seminar Series      Fall quarter - 5 hours Outreach and Consultation Seminar      Fall quarter - 5 hours      Winter quarter - 3 hours Group Therapy Series      Winter quarter - 4 hours Group Therapy Series      Spring quarter - 5 hours Program Evaluation Series      Spring quarter - 3 hours
   Total
   Fall quarter		10		25%
   Winter quarter		10		25%
   Spring quarter		9		25%
   Administration
   Staff meetings, Committees		2-3
   Case management, preparation		3-5
   Travel		2
   Total		10		25%
   TOTAL		40		100%

   The total internship hours over the 12 month academic year is 2000 hours.

2. Maintenance of Ethical and Legal Standards

   Interns are expected to adhere to the Ethical Guidelines of the American Psychological Association and to learn and maintain the California laws as they relate to the practice of psychology.

3. Demonstration of sound professional judgment

   Interns should know their personal and training limitations and seek consultation and supervision when appropriate. Consultation should always be sought on questions of suicide, violence potential, child or elder abuse, and grave disability.

4. Successful completion of all Exit Criteria for the internship

Exit Criteria

In order for an intern to successfully complete the CPS internship program at UC Santa Cruz, the following criteria must be met:

1. 2000 hours of training must be completed, including 500 hours of direct clinical service
2. Satisfactory achievement ratings (4) on each training objective required of the program
3. No ethical or legal violations
4. Completion of Outreach Project
5. Completion of Intern Program Evaluation Project
6. All paperwork including clinical documentation, Assesment Reports, and Board of Psychology logs, must be complete
7. Completion of all program and supervisory evaluations
8. Exit interview with Training Director

Evaluation Procedures

CPS is committed to an ongoing process of intern evaluation and program evaluation throughout the year. Our goal is to assist interns in their professional development as psychologists, and receive feedback that will enhance and improve our training program each year. The evaluation process begins during intern orientation when interns are asked to assess their skills and competencies to identify areas of strengths and areas of growth so that training goals and objectives can be developed for the year. Interns receive formal written feedback from their primary supervisor at the end of fall, winter, spring, and summer quarter, about their performance in the areas of assessment, brief individual and group therapy, behavioral health and stress reduction services, triage and crisis intervention, professional ethics and legal mandates, diversity, outreach, and consultation. The primary supervisor gathers input from all training staff who work with the intern and integrates this feedback into the formal written evaluation each quarter. In addition to this formal feedback, it is expected that verbal feedback will be continuously provided during the supervision process. The Training Director sends a copy of this evaluation, plus a letter summarizing the intern's progress on internship, to the intern's Training Director in their academic program. Communication with the intern's home program occurs at the end of each evaluation period.

Interns also have many opportunities to evaluate the internship training program. Interns evaluate their supervisors at the end of each quarter, and they also complete evaluations of all intern training seminars each quarter, as well as internship program evaluations twice a year. The Training Director and the training committee review all evaluation materials of the program, and utilize this input for intern program development and program enhancement. Our goal is to engage in an ongoing and continuous process of program enhancement to provide excellence in training in our internship program.

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