Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data

Date Program Tables are updated: 9/1/26

Program Disclosures

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.	[X] Yes	[ ] No
If yes, provide website link (or content from brochure) where this specific information is presented:

Internship Program Admissions

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 primary aim of the University of San Diego's Counseling Center internship program is to provide high-quality generalist training in clinical psychology in a university setting so individuals are prepared for an entry-level career in health services psychology. The University of San Diego Counseling Center internship includes the provision of brief therapy utilizing culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and empirically supported practices to an undergraduate and graduate student population within a brief treatment model. An intern’s role and responsibilities include the following: individual therapy, group therapy, crisis and triage support, outreach, consultation, supervision, and assessment. Interns will develop skills at the intermediate to advanced level in each of the following competency areas: Research, Ethical and Legal Standards, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Professional Values and Attitudes, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Assessment, Intervention, Supervision, Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills, and Outreach.

The internship follows a practitioner-scholar model of training. Training components reflect the interdependent nature of the practice and the science of psychology. The program is structured with an initial period of intern self-assessment in collaboration with close supervision. At the onset of the internship, careful observation is utilized to assess interns’ strengths and growing edges. As the internship continues, interns typically have more autonomy. Attention to skill development is prioritized. We focus on models of service delivery that are important not only at universities but also in a wide array of settings in the general practice of psychology. Short-term services, clear assessment, outreach, and crisis intervention are emphasized in the services we provide and the skills obtained by our interns. Diversity factors are emphasized heavily in training. In attempting to balance the art and the science of therapy, we view scientific skills as a process and way of thinking in addition to being a source of knowledge about what “works” in therapy. We encourage to view their conceptualizations of clients as hypotheses to be tested and modified as client information confirms or disconfirms the ideas.

Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at the time of application? If Yes, indicate how many:
Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours	[X] Yes	[ ] No	Amount: 450
Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours	[ ] Yes	[X] No	Amount: N/A

Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants:

Comprehensive exams must be passed by application deadline. Dissertation Proposal must be approved by application deadline.

Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year*

Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Interns	$39,520
Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time Interns	N/A
Program provides access to medical insurance for intern?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
If access to medical insurance is provided:
Trainee contribution to cost required?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
Coverage of family member(s) available?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
Coverage of legally married partner available?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
Coverage of domestic partner available?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation)	80
Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave	96
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?	[X] Yes	[ ] No
Other Benefits (please describe): Interns can use the university libraries and databases, gym, recreational classes, and discounts at university shops. Interns will also receive 10% of their salary towards their 403(b) retirement. Interns are also granted 64 hours of professional development time in addition to their vacation/sick leave.

Initial Post-Internship Positions

(Provide an Aggregated Tally for the Preceding 3 Cohorts)

	2022-2025
Total # of interns who were in the 3 cohorts	9
Total # of interns who did not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing doctoral degree	0
	PD	EP
Academic teaching
Community mental health center
Consortium
University Counseling Center	1	2
Hospital/Medical Center
Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Psychiatric facility
Correctional facility
Health maintenance organization
School district/system
Independent practice setting		6
Other

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.