Graduate Training Program
In order to offer comprehensive services to the campus community, CAPS provides practicum training to graduate students in the field of psychology and counseling.
CAPS staff provide clinical training to students from various local and national training programs. Under the supervision of licensed staff, practicum students provide clinical services to Saint Mary’s students.
Along with senior staff, practicum students also serve as consultants to faculty, staff, administration, resident assistants and other students. Typical areas of outreach include education/awareness presentations related to alcohol and drug use, food issues, multi-cultural communication, date/acquaintance rape. In addition, residents are available to provide direct individual and group therapy to students.
Practicum training consists of case conference and individual supervision. Specific training areas include eating disorders, alcohol and drug use and abuse, brief therapy, multi-cultural counseling, crisis evaluation, diagnosis and formulation and treatment planning among others. Periodically, clinicians from local training programs may be invited to attend training seminars.
The practicum training program at CAPS is designed to enhance our ability to meet the emotional and psychological needs of our student population. The impact of the interns' contributions to our goals of quality service is profound. The most significant contributions include:
- Increases in Direct Service Hours - 50% of the students’ hours are devoted to direct client contact (i.e., individual and group therapy).
- Enrichment and Expansion of Services - Students bring with them new ideas and unique specialties and interests that especially enhance our group, workshop, and outreach programs.
- Providing permanent staff with advanced training opportunities - Our training program enables staff to develop and refine supervisory and training skills.
In exchange for these services, we're committed to provide a demanding and challenging training program. By offering an extensive training experience including didactic seminars, case conference, and individual supervision, we are able to attract some of the most experienced and promising applicants.
Practicum Training Program 2023-2024