INTERNSHIPS
We’re committed to preparing the next generation of community mental health providers through our robust training and internship opportunities. Our APA-accredited Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology and 8-month Master Level Internship offer hands-on experience in trauma-informed care, community-based practice, and culturally responsive clinical work with children, youth, and families.
ADVANCED ASSESSMENT PRACTICUM
The Advanced Assessment Practicum at WestCoast Children’s Clinic focuses on training 4th year doctoral students in Clinical Psychology in psychological assessment. Specifically, trainees get the opportunity to complete 2-3 comprehensive, integrated assessments with children and adolescents using a Therapeutic/Collaborative Assessment framework. Our practicum and agency emphasize a trauma-informed, social justice, and collaborative approach to assessment, and we encourage students who are interested in these approaches to apply.
Trainees receive 2 hours of individual supervision each week, and receive 1.5 hours of group supervision (in the form of Case Conference). There is also 2 hours of didactic assessment seminar each week, focusing on topics like:
-
Introduction to Therapeutic/Collaborative Assessment
-
Play Interview Techniques
-
Collaboration with Clinical Teams in Assessment
-
Sensory Processing and Social Reciprocity
-
Racial Identity Development in Assessment
-
Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches to Assessment
-
Assessment and Psychosis
The training year goes from early September until mid-June, with time off for the Winter holidays and Spring Break. This is a 20-hour per week advanced practicum and trainees receive a stipend of $3,500 for the year.
GRADUATE MASTER LEVEL INTERNSHIP
WestCoast Children’s Clinic offers a compensated, 8-month clinical training program for incoming second-year graduate students pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy.
The internship aligns with academic calendars and runs from September through April, with a mandatory, week-long pre-orientation held during the final week of August. In some cases, interns may have the opportunity to extend their placement to complete additional required hours.
The number of interns accepted each year—and the clinical programs who host interns at WestCoast—varies based on program capacity and agency needs. While we consistently recruit and interview candidates from all partner universities, applicant volume may differ by school from year to year. Regardless of these variations, we remain committed to selecting strong candidates who align with our mission and training goals.
Since launching the program in 2021, we have continued to expand our educational partnerships with local universities. In select cases, we also welcome interns through independent contracts.
Current university partners include:
-
California State University, East Bay (MSW Program)
-
Palo Alto University (MSW Program)
-
San Francisco State University (MSW & MFT Programs)
-
Smith College (MSW Program)
-
Saint Mary’s College (MFT Program)
-
University of California, Berkeley (MSW Program)
DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
WestCoast Children’s Clinic offers a yearlong, full-time, APA-accredited Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology. Our internship trains to the Profession-Wide Competencies put forth by the APA, as well as our Program-Specific Competencies:
-
Psychological and Therapeutic Collaborative Assessment (TCA) with Children and Families
-
Understanding and Application of Trauma, Attachment, and Developmental Theories
-
Community-Based Therapy and Assessment with Children and Families
-
Foster Youth Systems
-
Quality of Administrative Work and Documentation
-
Culturally Responsive Therapy and Assessment
The Doctoral Internship is focused on developing community psychologists who are trauma-informed, self-aware, culturally responsive, open to learning, and who can serve as advocates for their clients. Our program emphasizes systems-level work and an attachment lens, and the relationship between provider and client serves as the foundation for treatment.
Doctoral interns provide: long-term individual child, adolescent, and family psychotherapy; parent and other caregiver guidance and consultation; team meetings with other providers, social workers, and other collaborators; and psychodiagnostic and therapeutic/collaborative assessment. These services are provided in our clinic and in the community: at schools, clients’ homes, and other community spaces. Doctoral interns are expected to spend a minimum of 15 hours/week providing direct service.
Click here for information about our admissions, support, and initial placement data.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979 | E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org |
