Training Opportunities

Student Health and Counseling offers professional training in psychology, social work, and psychiatry:

• Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Viewed as emerging professionals, psychology post-doctoral fellows receive the support and training needed to specialize in university mental health.  As full-time junior staff members, post-docs engage in a full range of clinical, administrative, training, and outreach/prevention activities.
• Doctoral Internship in Professional Psychology: Student Health and Counseling is NOT accepting doctoral interns for the 2024-2025 academic year.* The APA-accredited internship program at Student Health and Counseling emphasizes learning through closely supervised clinical practice. Interns receive intensive training and experience in performing the central responsibilities of a psychologist in a multidisciplinary counseling center setting. 
• Social Work Internship Training Program: a 9-month training program for students in the second year of a master’s program in clinical social work.

• Psychology Externship Program: Student Health and Counseling offers a nine-month externship for students who are in a doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology.

Training Programs

Below is more detailed information about each training program.

Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Viewed as emerging professionals, psychology post-doctoral fellows receive the support and training needed to specialize in university mental health. As full-time junior staff members, post-docs engage in a full range of clinical, administrative, training, and outreach/prevention activities.

Clinical Activities
Post-docs serve on the drop-in crisis team, provide scheduled initial assessments as well as ongoing individual and group psychotherapy. There are often opportunities for post-docs to provide clinical supervision to a doctoral psychology trainee or master’s level intern. An integral part of the post-doc responsibilities is to help plan and execute outreach and prevention activities on campus, including workshops, presentations, and liaison/consultation on a wide range of issues involving the wellness of the student population.
As junior staff members, post-docs attend weekly staff meetings and professional development seminars. They are encouraged to participate in one or more working committees and clinical specialty teams. Post-docs are encouraged to identify and pursue a clinical specialty related to university mental health practice. Examples include eating concerns, sexual trauma; substance abuse, and working with specific populations or social identities.

Training
Training includes receiving supervision of individual psychotherapy cases for a total of two hours weekly with one or two licensed psychologists. Additional supervision is provided as needed for all other clinical and programmatic services. The post-docs meet as a cohort weekly for a case consultation group.  Regular meetings with the training director cover supervision of supervision, as well as discussion of administrative issues and a focus on developing professional identity as a psychologist in a university counseling setting.

Compensation
Student Health and Counseling offers postdocs a competitive stipend and benefits, including fully paid health insurance, 10 vacation days in addition to the days from Christmas to New Year’s Day, 15 days of sick leave, and five additional days paid time off for approved professional development activities. The annual stipend for 2024-25 is $65,000, which is subject to periodic cost-of living increases, and funds are allotted for professional development activities, such as conference fees and travel, membership dues, and licensure-related costs.
 

Application Process
Applicants for the 2024-25 post-doctoral fellowship must provide documentation that they have completed, or are on track to complete, their APA-accredited doctoral internship and doctorate in counseling or clinical psychology by August 1, 2024. Strong preference is given to candidates with clinical experience and demonstrated commitment to working in university counseling, particularly within a multicultural and social justice framework, and a degree from an APA-accredited program is preferred. Experience providing outreach and prevention services within a diverse community is desirable.

The postdoctoral fellowship for 2024-25 begins August 1, 2024 and ends July 31, 2025.

Application Deadline: We will begin to review applications on January 5, and we will continue to review applications until all positions are filled. 

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter highlighting reasons for your interest.
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Statement (1000-word maximum), covering:
   • Theoretical orientation and approach to psychotherapy;
   • Clinical and training interests;
   • Career goals;
4. Three letters of recommendation, including:
   • Internship supervisor (please discuss progress on internship and anticipated completion date)
   • Two letters from individuals who know your clinical work (e.g., externship/practicum supervisor)
5. Letter from doctoral program certifying that you are on track to complete all requirements for your doctorate by August 1, 2024.
6. Officially certified transcript from Doctoral Program, only required for candidates who have been invited to interview.

We encourage applicants to send materials electronically; however, paper applications will also be accepted. Please ask references to send letters directly to the Staff Hiring Coordinator either electronically or in paper form.

Address all materials and inquiries to:
David Glassman, Psy.D.
Staff Hiring Coordinator
University of Pennsylvania
Student Health and Counseling
3624 Market Street, First Floor West
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2615
Tel: 215-898-7021
Email: dglas@upenn.edu

Doctoral Internship in Professional Psychology

*Student Health and Counseling is NOT accepting doctoral interns for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Student Health and Counseling's doctoral internship program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The CoA can be contacted at the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: 202-336-5979 TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123. The program emphasizes learning through the integration of science and practice under close clinical supervision. Interns receive intensive training and experience in performing the central responsibilities of a psychologist in a multidisciplinary counseling center setting. These include: individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, diagnostic assessment through triage and intake interviews, crisis consultation, supervision of practicum students, and outreach and consultation.

In all of these endeavors we also strive to foster interns’ growth in providing services to a diverse population through an emphasis on self-awareness, greater understanding of sociocultural contexts, and a focus on the role of culture in all areas of the interns’ work. Professional identity development is also a priority, as interns evolve from experienced trainees toward independent practitioners over the course of the year. We aspire to train interns to become highly ethical and competent generalists who have acquired skills to intervene directly with clients in the role of clinician and in the campus community in the roles of consultant and advocate.

Doctoral interns will receive training to achieve competency in the following areas:

• research
• ethical and legal standards
• individual and cultural diversity
• professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
• communications and interpersonal skills
• assessment
• intervention
• supervision

Application and Selection Procedures
The application process will occur on-line through the APPIC website: AAPI online application form.

The electronic application should include:

1. The completed AAPI online application form.
2. A brief cover letter.
3. A current vitae/resume.
4. Transcripts of all graduate work.
5. Three letters of recommendation by professionals who are familiar with your counseling/clinical experiences and skills. At least one letter should be from a supervisor of a recent clinical experience.

Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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 prior to Uniform Notification Day. Notification of selection will strictly adhere to the guidelines of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (see APPIC General Policy Regarding Internship Offers and Acceptances which can be downloaded from the APPIC website).

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran in the administration or its educational policies, programs, scholarship and loan programs, employment, recreational, athletic or other university administered programs. Questions or concerns regarding the University’s equal opportunity and affirmative action programs and activities or accommodations for people with disabilities should be directed to: Director of Affirmative Action, Suite 228, 3600 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021. 215-898-6993 (voice) or 215-898-7803 (TDD).

Click here for the full details about the Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology

Social Work Internship Training Program

Social work training at Student Health and Counseling is rooted in the history and values of the social work profession. Our training program emphasizes our professional ethics especially around these core values: integrity, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, human relationships, competence and service.
 

Prerequisites

Student Health and Counseling offers a 9-month practicum training program for students in the second year of a master’s program in social work. This internship begins in mid-August and ends in mid-May, which is longer than a traditional 2nd year MSW placement. Interns also follow all of Penn’s breaks, rather than your academic program’s break schedule. This internship is appropriate for students who have completed one year of their master’s program with supervised clinical social work. In addition, we expect all students to have completed some basic course work in human behavior or psychotherapy theory. While it would be advantageous if the previous practice experience was with an adolescent, early adult or college age population, this is not a requirement. What is most important is that potential student interns demonstrate interest in working with a diverse university student population and exhibit an openness and willingness to learn within our setting.
 

Activities and Responsibilities

The social work internship program includes the following:

• Service Activities: Individual Therapy (all sessions are video-recorded); Group Therapy; Intake Assessment; and Membership on administrative committees (e.g., eating concerns, STTOP, etc.)
• Training Activities: Individual Supervision with Primary Supervisor (1.5 hours per week); Individual Supervision of Group Therapy (.5 hour per week); Case Group (1.5 hours per week); and Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (1 hour per week)
• Administrative/Professional Development Activities: Committee Membership; Professional Development Presentations; Outreach and Prevention Training; and Record Keeping
   

Application Process

Social work students who are interested in field placement within Student Health and Counseling for their second year of their MSS/ MSW program are encouraged to apply. Applicants who have already completed a clinically oriented first year internship are favored. To be considered for internship at this placement, interested candidates must complete and electronically submit the following:

• A Social Work Internship Application Form (PDF)
• An updated curriculum vita
• Two letters of reference (emailed directly from your referents)
• A cover letter expressing your interest in this placement

The basic criteria for selection will be based on the fit within the objectives of the training program and the indicated potential of the candidate to contribute to and benefit from the internship experience. To minimize the impact of potential dual roles, current or previous Student Health and Counseling therapy clients are not eligible to apply for the internship training program. 

All questions and application materials should be sent electronically to Michele Downie, PhD, at downie@upenn.edu. The application deadline is January 5, 2024. Interviews will be scheduled for the week of January 22.

 

Psychology Externship Program

Student Health and Counseling offers a nine-month externship for students who are in a doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology.

Philosophy

The Psychology Externship Program at Student Health and Counseling is based on a practitioner/scholar approach to training in which we emphasize learning through and the integration of science and practice under close clinical supervision. The externship experience is designed to provide graduate students in counseling or clinical psychology the opportunity to develop their skills within a culturally diverse institution and multidisciplinary clinical setting. The Psychology Externship Program provides training and clinical experience to foster growth in providing services to a diverse population through an emphasis on self-awareness, greater understanding of sociocultural contexts, and a focus on the role of culture in all areas of the externs' work. We believe that self-reflection, vulnerability, and openness to feedback are key components of clinical growth and as such are essential to our relational-cultural approach to supervision. Success in the externship requires the ability to integrate theory, practice, and ethics, with deepening self-awareness. 

To further develop clinical competence and their identity as professionals in psychology, externship students receive intensive training and experience in performing some of the core responsibilities of a psychologist in a multidisciplinary counseling center setting.  They also participate in individual and group supervision, all with the goal of assisting them in the development of the following competencies:

• Collaboration with Multidisciplinary Professionals
• Diagnosis and Assessment
• Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills. 
• Individual Counseling/Psychotherapy Skills
• Professional/Ethical 
• Group Therapy                                                                     
• Supervision
• Self-Development                                       

Activities and Responsibilities

Each externship student is assigned to a multidisciplinary treatment team that meets once a week. Each team is comprised of a staff member (psychologist, social worker, prescribing clinician) and trainees (post-doctoral fellow, psychology extern, social work intern). All trainees and senior staff present cases and receive feedback and suggestions from everyone present. The treatment team is also an opportunity for staff who are collaborating on treatment (e.g., a prescribing clinician and therapist or individual and group therapists) to discuss treatment issues. The purpose of the team meeting is twofold: a group process for peer case discussion that can include obtaining treatment recommendations for the case as well as a training activity to hone case presentation, treatment planning, and diagnostic/assessment skills.

Opportunities for group therapy experience, career counseling, and university community outreach activities may also be available for externs who express an interest in pursuing these areas.

Psychology externship students receive two hours of individual supervision per week and one hour of group supervision (case group).  Primary individual supervision is shared between two supervisors (a postdoctoral fellow and a staff psychologist) for an hour each. Case group is led by a senior staff person.  All supervision includes use of video recording.

As optional activities, externs are invited to attend our weekly staff meeting as well as staff case conferences and in-service trainings.

Prerequisites

Psychology externship students are expected to have obtained at least two semesters of previous, supervised, part-time clinical experience in the provision of therapy. In addition, we expect all students to have completed basic coursework in psychotherapy or counseling theory. Working with an adolescent or college age population is a plus but not required. Most important is possession of basic therapy skills, genuine interest in working with and exploring diverse identities, openness to feedback, and willingness to learn about oneself.

Application Process

Student Health and Counseling participates in the PENDELDOT Uniform Application and Notification process. 

Application deadline: Friday, January 19, 2024 at 5 pm. Please use the PENDELDOT APA Directory (http://pendeldot.apa.org) application portal to upload all relevant information. 

Please contact the Training Coordinator Dr. Michele Downie at downie@upenn.edu if you have any further questions.