The goal of Community Reach Center's Clinical Psychology Practicum is to provide supervised training for doctoral students in clinical and counseling psychology to refine and further the skills and knowledge necessary to function as a developing psychologist. The practicum is unpaid and runs for a full training year, from September through the following August, and requires student involvement of 12-15 hours per week. The training model incorporated for this practicum is practitioner-scholar in style, and incorporates both didactic training and an experiential component. The training environment encompasses experiential opportunities to include a broad range of age groups, a demographically diverse client population, a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, and evidence-based treatment interventions.
Psychological testing is an optional experience in addition to their primary clinical placement of this practicum for students interested in administering and interpreting psychological assessment batteries and writing comprehensive psychological reports. Testing experiences are dependent upon available referrals. Referrals for testing are primarily received internally by Community Reach Center therapists and psychiatrists, the Department of Social Services, and the court system (including probation, juvenile detention, and truancy reduction programs.
Quality supervision (both individual and group) is seen as a critical and valued component of the program. Students will work closely with an individual licensed supervisor and receive secondary supervision from a pre-doctoral level intern based on specific areas of interest. Group supervision sessions may also be provided where trainees can gain experience with case presentations and theoretical application. Through a close supervisory relationship our students will develop both a professional self-confidence and a meaningful integration of theory with practice. At the completion of the practicum, students will have acquired a breadth of clinical experience that will enhance their candidacy for an APA approved pre-doctoral internship.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIRMENTS
Students must have:
- Have some clinical experience in the field and ideally have earned their Master's Degree in clinical or counseling psychology.
- If interested in adjunctive psychological testing experience, students must have completed the basic assessment courses offered at their doctoral program and have a basic knowledge of cognitive tests (WAIS-IV, WISC-IV, WPPSI-III), objective personality measures (MMPI-2, PAI), and projective instruments (Rorschach, TAT, and projective drawings).
- A willingness to be open to new experiences and learn in a collaborative environment.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All students interested in applying for a training placement must submit the information listed below to Crystal Wildes via email at c.wildes@communityreachcenter.org
- A resume/CV which must include information about prior practicum experiences.
- Cover letter to include:
- Interests based on the available placements
- Type of supervisory discipline needed/required by graduate program
- Days of the week available to be at the agency (doctoral level practice students are required to be on-site 12-16 hours a week)
Applicants who are invited to interview for a training placement must attend an on-site interview with agency staff. Placements begin in the fall or spring. Interviews for fall positions occur from February through March; interviews for spring positions occur in October.
For more information concerning the practicum and application process, please contact: Crystal Wildes, PsyD LP Community Reach Center Psychologist at 4371 E. 72nd Ave, Commerce City, CO 80022, by phone (303) 853‑3615, or email C.Wildes@CommunityReachCenter.org.