Counseling
Training Program: Accreditation
The Internship training program at the Counseling Center is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). The APA Committee on Accreditation may be reached at:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC
20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
Components and Sequencing of Training
Intern training in the applied areas is sequenced in an apprenticeship type model, and throughout the year, the complexity and difficulty of responsibilities gradually increase. The internship year provides training in a comprehensive developmental manner, that is, comprehensive by including all of the functions of a university psychologist (with the exception of evaluating other interns) and developmental in that the tasks are sequenced in level of difficulty and degree of independence.
The components of training include supervision (individual and group), formal seminars which include a general intern seminar and a special topics seminar, more support groups, and informal consultation with training director and faculty. Interns work closely with faculty through co-therapy arrangements (individual, couples, and group), co-presentations of workshops, and limited co-teaching opportunities.
In sequencing of training, interns generally apprentice with senior staff in doing diagnosis and assessments with intake clients in the fall. They are then determined to be ready to do intakes independently in 2-3 weeks by their supervisors. In addition, fall activities usually include interns doing group co-therapy with faculty, and co-presenting outreach workshops with faculty or interns. Supervision of interns takes into account developmental stages of professional identity development and confidence levels. The intern consultation activities are sequenced to do planning in the fall and implementation of formal project in the spring. Emergency walk-in duty and supervision of practicum or specialist intern are scheduled in the spring term. Dissertation research is prioritized for interns who are planning on completion by the end of internship. Support for job search and other professional development activities are concentrated in the spring and summer terms.