Learning Supports

Supervision

Interns receive 4 total hours of supervision during the academic year. Interns receive two hours per week of individual supervision and two hours of group supervision At the end of the Fall term, interns rank new supervisors of interest to them.  The Training Committee matches the intern with the new supervisor based on variables such as the intern’s training needs, identity variables, etc. Interns also receive adjunct supervision for groups or on an as-needed basis for specific clients and/or presenting concerns. Consistent with the APA Ethics Code, interns may be encouraged but not required to explore personal experiences that could facilitate or hinder the intern in providing clinical services.

Seminars and Modules

Service delivery and supervision are supported and enhanced by a variety of seminars, training modules, and case conference experiences, including:

Orientation: Internship begins with three weeks of intensive training designed to introduce CAPS and our various service delivery areas.  Orientation is in conjunction with Social Work (MSW) interns. It is also a time to connect with staff, the intern cohort, and attending to logistical details such as setting up computer and email systems and settling into office spaces.

Assessment: 2-4 hours/week during orientation and a few meetings in Fall. The objective is to introduce interns to the specialized screenings and assessments that staff at CAPS offers.

Outreach/Consultation: An hour and fifteen minutes every two weeks in the Fall. In Winter, this seminar is offered once every 2-3 weeks.

Process Group Training: An hour every two weeks during the Fall semester. This seminar alternates with Outreach and Consultation during the Fall. In Winter, the seminar is replaced by an optional Group Consultation hour which meets every two weeks.

Practice Issues: One and a half-hours weekly, fall and winter terms; examines approaches to clinical issues and brief therapy through presentations, discussion, and case exploration.

Multicultural:

Two hours weekly, during the Fall and Winter terms with the MSW interns. The seminar explores, through a primarily experiential format, experiences, issues, concepts and skills relevant to becoming a multiculturally-sensitive practitioner and individual. Interns will be asked to reflect and explore with others in the intern group their personal and professional edges of awareness, knowledge, and skills regarding cultural and individual differences.

In accordance with APA ethical principles, interns are encouraged (but never required) to share personal histories and information that will contribute to their educational experience and personal/professional growth. Facilitators and group members pay careful attention to creating a safe environment for these dialogues.

Supervision: Four hours in December, in preparation for supervising practicum students during winter term.

Supervision of Supervision: One and a half-hours weekly winter term; primarily discussion and tape review of supervisory sessions.

Professional Issues: Two-hours weekly spring/summer; addresses current topics in professional psychology and topics of interest to intern class.

Additional Learning Supports

TD/Intern Time: All interns meet with the Training Director to discuss agency and professional issues approximately one hour every week during the Fall semester and every other week during the Winter semester.

Clinical Team: One-hour weekly small group case conferencing with full-time interns, post-docs and permanent staff.

Work Teams: Interns participate in one of 3 work teams which are based on CAPS’s 3-pronged service delivery approach: Clinical Services, Outreach, and Training. Each Team is interdisciplinary and meets twice a month. Doctoral interns play an active role in the Team of their choosing by serving as a liaison between the agency and the intern cohort.

Staff Meetings: One hour weekly with full-time interns, post-docs and permanent staff.

Spring/summer Project: All interns complete an individual reading, writing and presentation project relevant to the interface between scholarship and practice in counseling center work.

Eating Issues Network: 2 hours monthly; case consultation with CAPS and University Health Service staff (optional).

The Big Ten Counseling Center Conference: Interns are encouraged to present and/or participate in this annual winter conference. Registration and travel are paid for by CAPS.

Michigan Intern Retreat(s): Psychology interns meet once or twice per year with Doctoral interns from Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University. Location alternates between the sites.

Application Information

Training Philosophy & Aims
Service Delivery
Learning Supports
Sample Schedule
Meet Our Staff
Qualifications/Benefits
Applications Process
Current & Previous Interns
Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data