CAPS Launches Doctoral Internship Program
Campus Health’s Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) is thrilled to announce the launch of its Psychology Internship for the 2024-2025 academic year. These internships, totaling 2000 hours, serve as capstone training experiences for graduate students enrolled in doctoral programs specializing in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. Completion of such an internship is a requirement for obtaining their degree. By offering this program, CAPS is not only fostering the development of future psychologists but also expanding its capacity to meet the mental health needs of our student body.
CAPS Doctoral Internship Program
The primary objective of the CAPS Doctoral Internship Program (CDIP) is to provide interns with a comprehensive and immersive training experience as psychologists within an integrated health setting, specifically Campus Health, on our university campus. CDIP interns will be fully engaged members of the CAPS team, delivering individual and group therapy, offering consultation services to the campus community, and conducting outreach activities. As integral parts of CAPS, they will collaborate closely with Campus Health colleagues to deliver holistic care that addresses both medical and mental health concerns. Similar psychology internship programs are prevalent across peer institutions, aligning with the core values of higher education and effectively addressing student needs. Notably, the diverse backgrounds of interns from doctoral programs across the continent will enrich our campus community with fresh, evidence-based treatment approaches.
CAPS Psychology Internship Program
The CAPS Psychology Internship is built to serve students and it also supported by students through the Senior Gift Fund, a generous contribution from students earmarked for mental health initiatives. Through this fund, students directly empower the provision of mental health services when they are most needed.
The Training Program at CAPS is committed to a successful launch of the internship in its inaugural year, with plans for future expansion. An application for accreditation of the program has already been submitted to the American Psychological Association, aiming to establish it as a destination training center. Accreditation would likely attract a greater pool of applicants, including those from esteemed training institutions. Moreover, the program aims to increase its cohort size from two to three or four interns in the future, provided it continues to effectively address the mental health needs of UArizona students.
The CAPS Psychology Internship represents a significant step towards enhancing the quality of services offered to students. The Training Program eagerly anticipates providing exceptional training and support to the next generation of health services psychologists, while also contributing to the overall well-being of our campus community.