2024-2025 Academic Year

Internship Program Philosophy

Internship Program Philosophy

The Health Service Psychology Internship at the University of Colorado Boulder is a 2,000 hour, twelve-month internship program and is designed to provide a bridge between the pre-intern level of graduate training and entry-level positions in psychology. The CAPS internship program trains generalist practitioners for careers in a variety of settings, including university counseling centers, primary care clinics, hospitals, private practice and academic settings.

Internship is also a time to expand and deepen basic clinical skills and move toward establishing an integrated professional identity. With supervision provided by licensed professionals from the field of health service psychology and related disciplines, the integration of an intern’s personal and professional growth is a major focus of the program. Training is sequential, cumulative and graded in complexity. In addition to training and supervision in individual psychotherapy, consultation, crisis intervention and topic-specific focus areas, interns receive training in group process skills.

A Unique Training Opportunity

CAPS serves the entire study body at CU Boulder and is affiliated with the Health and Wellness Services division of Strategic Resources & Support (SRS). Interns at CAPS gain experience working in a multidisciplinary college counseling center setting. As the mental health care provider for the university, CAPS provides time-limited treatment through individual psychotherapy, group counseling, crisis management and intervention, skills workshops, couples counseling, case management, and mental health outreach and consultation to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. CAPS maintains liaison relationships and embedded therapist positions across campus and also provides consultation services to the university community (including faculty and staff) on issues pertinent to college student mental health and development. Additionally, CAPS has a staff of psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to provide medication management to students, and a team of behavioral health providers who work within Medical Services. One of CU Boulder’s key initiatives is Innovation. CAPS is constantly evolving to best meet the mental health needs of students through creative program initiatives (i.e. telehealth, animal-assisted therapy, Let’s Talk, and online psychoeducation-based platforms).

Students present to CAPS with symptoms and concerns related to depression, anxiety, trauma, bipolar disorder, OCD, relationship issues, eating and body image concerns, emotional, physical, and sexual assault or abuse, concerns related to gender identity and sexuality, problems with alcohol and other drugs, stress management, self-esteem issues, grief and loss, family and systems problems, personality-related issues, experiences of oppression, and multicultural identity development. Interns, along with senior staff, provide services to students who present with a range of concerns and levels of acuity. Our multidisciplinary staff consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors. The staff represents and respects a multiplicity of theoretical orientations.

CAPS works closely with Medical Services, the medical facility serving CU students. In addition to providing behavioral health interventions within an integrated care setting, CAPS collaborates with Medical Services staff on select individual cases, particularly clients presenting with eating concerns, those in need of concussion care, and students seeking hormone therapy and/or identity-affirming healthcare. These integrated treatment teams offer interns opportunities to actively collaborate with primary care providers in supporting students.

Additionally, interns interested in group psychotherapy are likely to particularly benefit from training at our site. Interns participate in weekly in specialized group therapy training and have ample opportunity to run groups of their choosing through the robust group therapy program at CAPS. The group therapy seminar includes didactic and case consultation components.

All CU Boulder students have access to a limited number of free visits per academic year through the student mental health fee. Students who have purchased the CU Gold Health Insurance may be seen in the clinic without additional payment for additional visits (psychotherapy and psychiatry visits combined) per policy year (August to August).

Commitment to Diversity

At CAPS, awareness of social justice issues and multiculturalism is foundational to the work we do. CAPS strives to operate from a social justice lens, understanding that individual differences impact mental healthcare needs as well as models or approaches to service delivery. Staff and trainees regularly engage in multicultural related professional development, and this participation is a written requirement in each staff member’s yearly performance plan. CAPS staff and trainees are invited to serve on the Social Justice and Multicultural Committee, which aims to provide diversity related education, trainings, discussion groups, advocacy, and program development. CAPS uses staff meeting time to invite speakers to provide additional diversity-related trainings. Interns also participate in process-oriented diversity seminars throughout the academic year to strengthen their multicultural competencies. The internship program offers additional multicultural training opportunities, such as serving on the Transgender Care Team and providing clinical and outreach services to underserved student populations.

Client Demographics

During the 2021-2022 academic year, CAPS clientele self-identified as 35% male, 43% female, 4% transgender, genderqueer, or gender nonconforming, and 18% did not self-identify. Approximately 26.8% of CAPS clientele self-identified as students of color, including 8.7% Latinx, 9% Asian, 2.2% African American, <1 % Native American, and <1% Arab American. Approximately 21% of CAPS clientele self-identify as LGBTQ+. The average age of a student seeking services through CAPS was 22.  Finally, 7.6% of CAPS clientele self-identify as an international students, and 13% report identifying as a first-generation college student

Approximately 26% of our clients were diagnosed with mood disorders, 29% with anxiety or obsessive-compulsive related disorders, 13% with trauma, stressor, or adjustment-related disorders, 5% with substance use disorders, 5% with AD/HD, and 22% with other disorders (psychotic disorders, personality disorders, relationship problems, neurodevelopmental disorders, sleep/medical and other diagnoses). At the time of the screening appointment, 58.2% of students reported prior mental health treatment and 6.7% reported prior psychiatric hospitalization.

CAPS provider presenting at conference

Training Program Aim

The aim of the internship training program at CU Boulder Counseling and Psychiatric Services is to train generalist health service psychologists in a multidisciplinary college mental health setting.

The internship year at CAPS is designed to develop each intern’s knowledge, skill and abilities in a wide range of activities. During the orientation period, the training director meets with new interns to discuss each intern’s strengths and needs for further training. The primary supervisor then works with the intern to develop an individual plan to facilitate their professional development during the training year. This plan is designed to balance the developmental needs of each intern with professional considerations, ethical factors and the needs of the clinic.

Interns are required to attend the initial three-week orientation prior to the start of the fall semester. The orientation is designed to acquaint all interns with CAPS policies and procedures, university regulations, ethical and service delivery guidelines and orientation to culturally competent practice. During this time, the interns are also given the opportunity to meet and interact with the CAPS staff to develop preliminary supervisory relationships. Interns may then state any preferences for individual supervisors, which will be taken into account when assignments are made. Throughout the year, the training team meets on a bi-weekly basis to evaluate timely issues in the training program. In addition, the training team utilizes time during the summer to evaluate the prior year’s training program and to plan for the upcoming year.

All interns receive training in multiculturally informed care, group psychotherapy, crisis/triage care, telehealth, and the provision of clinical supervision within the general training track of the internship.

Interns can also participate in training in an individual focus area. Current areas of focus include Behavioral Health, AOD Care, Sport & Performance Psychology and Transgender Care. The training director will work with interns and primary supervisors to schedule focus area selection at the beginning of the training year. Please note that available focus areas are subject to change based on supervisor availability and clinic needs.

Historically, the program has conducted all supervision and training face-to-face/in-person. However, the program will provide primarily synchronous online training and opportunities for both in-person and telesupervision to ensure the safety of trainees and staff. APPIC and DORA have also released statements supporting the use of telesupervision and telehealth service delivery. Please note that the use of telesupervision and telehealth service delivery are subject to change based on updated guidance from the University, DORA, APPIC, and student needs.

The group therapy training provides the opportunity for an intern to understand and apply current research and theory in group psychotherapy through a combination of didactic and experiential learning. The group therapy training program is a training track in which all trainees participate regardless of other focus interests. The training program consists of a weekly interactive, didactic seminar and co-facilitation of one or more CAPS treatment groups. In addition to supervision in the didactic seminar, interns will receive one-on-one supervision from their staff co-facilitators following each treatment group session. 

Standard group offerings include traditional interpersonal process groups, skills groups, and special topics groups. Group offerings vary year to year based on student need, but commonly offered groups include process groups for graduate and undergraduate students, DBT, ACT, mindfulness, body image/eating, trauma recovery, groups for Students of Color, a gender creative support group, and other identity based groups.

Interns participate in a year-long Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Seminar, facilitated by our staff multicultural specialists. This seminar serves as an intentional space for interns to increase their knowledge, self-awareness, and skills regarding multicultural competencies in psychological services. Seminar consists of personal reflection, cultural sharing, case consultation, experiential learning, readings, as well as didactic presentations by clinical staff and campus partners. The framework of the seminar is structured around social identities, social justice, and social responsibility with emphases on process-orientation, dialogue, intentional sharing and integration of experiential/action as interns see fit.

Training Focus Areas

For the 2024-2025 training year the available focus areas are discussed in greater detail below. The focus area opportunities offered each year are subject to supervisor availability and clinic needs.

Supervision, Evaluation and Professional Development

Due Process Procedures

The internship’s “Performance Expectations and Standards, Selected Internship Policies and Expectations, and Remediation Support Services” and “Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Development” policies are located in the intern handbook. This document outlines due process and fair treatment policies and procedures within the internship program.

  • All interns receive a written statement of program expectations for professional functioning.
  • Evaluation procedures are clearly stipulated, including when and how evaluations will be conducted.
  • The procedures and actions for making decisions about problematic performance or conduct are outlined in written statements given to all interns.
  • Graduate programs are informed about difficulties with interns.
  • Through collaboration with the Human Resources Department, remediation plans are instituted for identified inadequacies. These include time frames for remediation and specify consequences for failure to rectify the inadequacies.
  • Interns are given sufficient time to respond to any action taken by the program.
  • Decisions or recommendations regarding the intern’s performance or conduct are based on input from multiple professional sources.
  • Program actions and their rationale are documented in writing to all relevant parties.

CAPS team

Doctoral Internship Program

APA Approval Status

The internship is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. The internship has been accredited since 2003.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
202-336-5979

Internship Admissions, Support and Initial Placement Data

Internship Program Admissions

Data program tables updated September 1, 2023.

As articulated in Standard I.B.2, programs may have “admission and employment policies that directly relate to affiliation or purpose” that may be faith-based or secular in nature. However, such policies and practices must be disclosed to the public. Therefore, programs are asked to respond to the following question:

Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose? Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values.

     YES
NO

Briefly describe in narrative form important information to assist potential applicants in assessing their likely fit with your program. This description must be consistent with the program’s policies on intern selection and practicum and academic preparation requirements:
The CAPS internship provides generalist training in a multidisciplinary college counseling center setting. Interns receive extensive experience working with a breadth of presenting concerns in the undergraduate and graduate student population. Additionally, CAPS provides a depth of training in brief individual therapy,  group therapy, crisis intervention, and the provision of supervision. Interns also select a focus area in which to gain specific skills and expertise, making the CAPS internship program an excellent fit for applicants looking to pursue careers in university counseling centers, medical centers/hospitals and a variety of other settings.

Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at time of application? If yes, indicate how many:

Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours: YES – 500*

Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours: NO – N/A

*This includes both hours completed as part of a terminal master’s degree program and hours completed as part of doctoral clinical training. 

Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants:
  1. All applicants to the CAPS internship program must be from clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or doctoral-level counseling programs. Applicants must be from APA-accredited programs.
  2. Applicants must have completed at least 3 years of graduate training.
  3. Applicants must be doctoral candidates.
  4. Applicants must have passed their comprehensive examination(s) on or before November 1st.
  5. Applicants must have provided direct, face-to-face services to a minimum of 15 individual adult and/or adolescent clients.
  6. The Director of Clinical Training from the applicant’s academic program must certify readiness for internship. The Intern Selection Committee screens all applications and determines the appropriateness of the applicant’s preparation and goodness of fit with the CAPS training philosophy and program.  

   
Annual stipend/salary for full-time interns $41,000
Annual stipend/salary for half-time interns N/A
Program provides access to medical insurance for intern? Yes
If access to medical insurance is provided:  
    Trainee contribution to cost required? Yes
    Coverage of family member(s) available? Yes
    Coverage of legally married partner available? Yes
    Coverage of domestic partner available? Yes
Hours of annual paid personal time off (PTO and/or vacation) 176 hours
Hours of annual paid sick leave 120 hours
In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave? Yes

Other benefits: Interns are offered enrollment in the University's retirement savings plan. Interns are also provided with an RTD EcoPass for Boulder/Denver public transportation. Additionally, interns are provided with professional development leave and funding.

*Note: Programs are not required by the Commission on Accreditation to provide all benefits listed in this table.

  • Total number of interns who were in the 3 cohorts: 9
  • Total number of interns who need not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing doctoral degree: 0
Type of Facility PD EP
Academic teaching 0 0
Community mental health center 0 0
Consortium 0 0
University Counseling Center 3 0
Hospital/Medical Center 1 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System 0 0
Psychiatric facility 0 0
Correctional facility 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization 0 0
School district/system 0 0
Independent practice setting 4 0
Other 1 0

Note: "PD" = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position. Each individual represented in this table should be counted only one time.  For former trainees working in more than one setting, select the setting that represents their primary position.

    Application Deadline

    The deadline for receipt of all application materials is November 1st.

    Internship Start Date

    The internship begins approximately three weeks prior to the start of CU’s fall semester. The start date for the 2024-2025 internship year is August 5, 2024.

    Application Requirements

    A completed application includes:

    1. A cover letter.
    2. A completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI), available at the APPIC web site: www.appic.org.
    3. A current curriculum vitae.
    4. Official transcripts of academic records of all graduate work.
    5. APPIC Standardized Reference Form (SRF) from three persons, two of which must be from clinical supervisors.
    6. A Certification of Internship Readiness form completed by the program chair or the director of training of your graduate program (included in the AAPI).

    Send all application materials through the AAPI portal to Training Director: Cori Schild, PsyD.

    Cori Schild, PsyD, Internship Training Director​
    Counseling and Psychiatric Services
    University of Colorado at Boulder
    104 UCB
    Boulder, CO 80309-0119
    Telephone: 303-492-2277
    Fax: 303-735-1900

    Selection Procedures

    Candidates who are considered finalists for the internship are contacted in December and are scheduled for a Zoom (videoconference) interview. Finalists are encouraged to attend a virtual open house and information session day in January (date to be announced). Zoom interviews will be conducted during the first two weeks of January 2024. As APPIC members, we adhere to the policies and procedures established by APPIC for notifying candidates.

    Persons with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. In all selection activities, attempts will be made to support the principles of diversity. This internship participates in the APPIC national match (using National Matching Services, NMS). All selection procedures are conducted within the guidelines of APPIC. Candidates may withdraw from the selection process at any time up until turning in their rank order list to the internship Training Director. If matched with a site, the candidate must intern at that site.

    This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant. All interns must pass a criminal background check prior to the first day of internship. Although interns are engaged in an educational training process, they are also university employees. As such, interns are subject to the laws of the state of Colorado, and therefore their employment is at will.