Counseling and Behavioral Health Services

The Pre-Doctoral externship positions are part-time and begin in September and continue until the end of May. Externs receive opportunities for individual and group psychotherapy, outreach and educational activities, and participation in didactic seminars and case conferences. All supervision is provided by New York State licensed psychologists. Our position description is listed on the NYNJADOT-PSYDNYS externship site.

Please direct all inquiries regarding the Pre-doctoral Externship to Center Director, Dr. Cathie Chester, (cathie.chester@purchase.edu) at (914) 251-6390.

The second year Masters of Social Work internships positions are part-time and begin in September and continue until the end of May. Social work interns receive opportunities for individual and group psychotherapy, outreach and educational activities, and participation in didactic seminars and case conferences. All supervision is provided by New York State licensed social workers.

Please direct all inquiries regarding the Internship in Social Work to Catherine Vanbomel, LCSW, (catherine.vanbomel@purchase.edu) at (914) 251-6390.

The Masters Internship program offers additional skills development for emerging Mental Health Counseling Professionals. Our center trains ethical, culturally-competent and contextually aware practitioners for service in Higher Education or other MHC settings. Interns will participate in a range of clinical, psycho-educational, and outreach activities offered to individual students and the campus community. Interns will have opportunities for providing individual and group counseling, emergency triage, consultation, and educational outreach opportunities to a diverse student population with a wide range of difficulties.

A strong emphasis is placed on facilitating professional identity development through personal growth. This is accomplished through varied and close supervisory attention in all aspects of the Internship experience, as well as the Intern’s own self-reflection and appropriate risk-taking within supervision and other center activities.

Qualifications

Applicants must:

• be currently enrolled in a Masters level program in Mental Health Counseling
• have completed academic coursework prior to internship that includes counseling skills/techniques and psychopathology
• be highly motivated and eager to learn. We are looking for self-starters who can work independently yet who enjoy the interaction and cohesion of a staff that works hard as a team and relies on one another
• have interest/experience with multi-cultural and diversity issues
• have experience in mental health, a variety of settings are acceptable
• have completed a Bachelors degree a minimum of 2 years prior to Internship

Expectations and Objectives

Interns are expected to provide individual mental health counseling, co-lead or participate in provision of group therapy, engage in outreach programming. Interns carry 10-12 weekly clinical caseload hours. Total internship hours equal 20-25 per week, depending on graduate home program needs. Specific daily hours are determined in consultation with the internship supervisor. It is the intern’s responsibility to accrue and track the needed direct service hours in collaboration with their Purchase College CC supervisor. Scheduled hours occur between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outreach programs often occur after hours and interns are expected to participate, in addition to the 20-25 scheduled clinical hours, at least once during each semester. Internships begin on August 30, 2021 and end on May 13, 2022. All interns are required to carry professional liability insurance.

Supervision and Trainings

Interns receive l hour per week individual supervision with a senior staff member who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor or a Psychologist. Interns may also participate with other interns in didactic training seminars covering a variety of professional topics. Senior staff members are always available for consultation on an as needed or crisis basis.

Evaluations

Interns are evaluated in accordance with their program requirements. Criteria for professional development objectives are established collaboratively between the intern and the supervisor at the beginning of their internship-training period and at the end of each evaluation period. Oral and written feedback will be provided to the intern by the supervisor at the end of each semester; however, evaluation is always an on-going, collaborative process throughout the internship.

Application Procedures

Students interested in applying to the Masters Internship Program should submit the following materials to Assistant Director, Joseph Cloidt, LMHC via electronic (joseph.cloidt@purchase.edu) or standard mail: vita/resume, a cover letter explaining your interest in this internship, three letters of recommendation (at least one should be from a current faculty member), and a transcript (an unofficial one is acceptable). Only complete applications will be considered. Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.