Photo of a counseling speaking with a student during an individual counseling session.

Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) is excited to invite applications for the 2024-25 advanced Psychology Practicum positions. This program is designed to provide a bridge between the pre-intern level of graduate training and internship/entry-level positions in health service psychology. This includes a value on the integration of personal and professional identities. We strive to understand each practicum student’s individual growth areas and unique interests, and create a training experience that attends to these learning goals within the structure of our training program and clinic needs.

Who may apply

Minimum qualifications:

  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in a doctoral (PhD or PsyD) program in counseling or clinical psychology. 
  • Applicants must have completed at least two semesters of supervised practicum experiences by the beginning of the fall semester when the practicum training program commences. 
  • Applicants must be considered in good standing at their current psychology graduate program.

Preferred qualifications

  • Previous clinical experience diagnosing, treating and delivering services to young adults and adults.
  • Experience providing crisis intervention.
  • Two or more years of experience providing clinical services through other practicum experiences/training clinics. 
  • Strong desire to work in a university counseling center. 
  • Successfully passed graduate program’s competency examinations.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the values of social justice and multiculturalism.

Orientation

Practicum students are required to attend orientation prior to the start of the fall semester. The orientation is designed to acquaint all trainees with CAPS policies and procedures, university regulations, ethical and service delivery guidelines and campus resources. The orientation period will consist of 7-14 days spread out across the weeks of Aug. 5 to Aug. 23, 2024. The specific days and times will be determined after the practicum student selection period in order to best coordinate with student availability.

Compensation

We are offering $18 an hour for up to 20 hours per week. Onboarding assistance may be available depending upon annual budget allowance.

Training

  • Practicum placement begins Monday, Aug. 26, 2024
  • Practicum placement ends Friday, May 9, 2025

Practicum students will complete 16-20 hours/week for the practicum program. All staff in training will gain experience in individual therapy and conducting workshops. Additional opportunities to gain experience facilitating psychoeducational groups, process groups, outreach and/or crisis intervention may also be available. All trainees will be trained on the provision of telehealth services and opportunities for hybrid work may be available. 

Below is an example of a typical trainee weekly plan.

Function Total hours
Direct service hours

Individual Therapy: 4-8 hours
Workshop/group/outreach: 1-3.5 hours

 7-10 hours
Receiving supervision/consultation

Individual supervision: 1 hour
Group supervision/outreach sup/prep: 30 minutes
Bi-weekly check-in: 1 hour

 2.5 hours
Administrative time

Paperwork/other admin: 4-5.5 hours

 4-5.5 hours
Didactic training

Weekly seminar/DEI seminar: 2 hours

 2 hours

TOTAL

16-20 hours

Supervision

During the fall semester, one hour of individual supervision will be provided by a licensed clinician (PsyD, PhD, LPC, LCSW). During the spring semester, supervision pairings change and some of the trainees will be supervised by a doctoral psychology intern, who in turn is supervised by a licensed psychologist.

Didactic training and professional development

Practicum students participate in a 2 hour/week training seminar throughout the academic year. Topics covered in the past include a bi-weekly DEI seminar, cultural sharing, transcare, eating concerns, treatment for OCD, motivational interviewing approaches, trauma informed care, group supervision and case consultation and applying for internship. Practicum students are also expected to do a case presentation each semester in the training seminar.

Additionally, practicum students are welcome to attend our all-staff meetings, in-service trainings and DEI series currently held every Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. The time of these meetings/trainings are subject to change for the 2024–25 academic year.

Additional information

  • Trainees must provide a copy of all graduate academic transcript and documentation of an active policy of professional liability insurance before starting the practicum training program.
  • Trainees will also be expected to successfully complete a criminal background check.
  • Practicum trainees receive time off during all university holidays and break periods. Additional time-off requests must be approved in advance by the clinical supervisor and training coordinator.

To apply

To apply, please submit the following materials through the posting on the CU jobs website.

Apply now

A cover letting including:

  • Name of graduate program and whether this program is accredited by APA or a similar body, as well as a sentence that includes the number of hours completed providing face-to-face (including telehealth) interventions for individual/couples and groups/workshops (up through January 5, 2024), and hours anticipated by August 1, 2024.
  • Reasons for seeking a practicum position at Counseling and Psychiatric Services, including how your specific training goals align with the roles, responsibilities and opportunities afforded by the practicum program.
  • A current resume or vitae​

Shortly after the application deadline, you will be asked to provide two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your work in providing psychotherapy and/or graduate coursework. One (1) letter must be from a previous clinical supervisor or someone knowledgeable of your clinical skills. Please prepare accordingly and ask letter writers ahead of time.

Please submit applications by 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2024. Interviews will be conducted between Jan. 19 and Jan. 30. Offers will be made following interviews until all positions are filled.

In an effort to promote equity and fairness, we will be participating in the Mutual Selection Date for advanced practicum selection.

Mutual Selection Date: February 23, 2024

  • Sites will interview on their own timelines
  • Sites will make offers to their selected applicants; these applicants will have until the end of the day on February 23, 2024 to notify that site whether they will accept that offer. Applicants are welcome to accept or decline an offer before Feb. 23, and sites will continue to make offers per normal should offers be declined prior to the selection date. This timeline simply allows all applicants an opportunity to have interviewed at any UCCs prior to having to make a decision. Sites will continue to make offers after Feb. 23 until all positions are filled.

Offers are subject to successful completion of background check.

Questions may be directed to Rachel LaHoda at lahoda@colorado.edu or you may call the Counseling and Psychiatric Services office at 303-492-2277.

Beginning December 15, 2023, Dr. LaHoda will be out on maternity leave, and all questions can be directed to the interim Psychology Practicum Coordinator, Dr. JB Mitchell, at jonathan.mitchell-1@colorado.edu. Dr. LaHoda will resume as the Psychology Practicum Coordinator and main contact in May 2024.  

Important note:

In consideration of ethical practice and training, CAPS has created an interim policy that prevents any current or recent CU Boulder CAPS therapy clients from applying for psychology practicum, internship, or postdoctoral fellowship positions. The training and leadership teams wish to prioritize best ethical practice through avoiding dual relationships whenever possible, upholding respect and privacy of the trainee, and maintaining confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship. We hope to engage in dialogue over the coming months in regard to formalizing this policy, specifically as it relates to equity, ethics, and accessibility to training and therapy.