Doctoral Psychology Internship Program

Overview

The Louise R. Goldhagen Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center (MDC) is a university-based training program located on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Florida. The MDC provides a range of psychological services to children and adolescents and their families, including diagnostic, therapeutic and consultation services. The MDC team includes professionals from Clinical, School, and Counseling Psychology, Counseling Education and Social Work, and works closely with the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and the Department of Communication Disorders Speech and Hearing Clinic. Clients are referred by 20 school districts and a number of medical and community agencies.

The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program is a 2,000 hour per year program which includes training in clinic-based assessment of specialized child populations, therapeutic intervention with children and youth, and supervision of practicum level graduate students. Training in school-based assessment and consultation services is also provided. The MDC offers at least four internship positions each year for students from APA approved graduate programs in psychology.

The primary purpose of the Doctoral Psychology Internship at the MDC is to prepare psychology graduate students for the professional practice of psychology in a variety of settings (e.g., school, clinic, and private practice). The internship program is guided by the Practitioner-Scholar model which emphasizes developing professional competencies that are based on current research, scholarship and practice. Exposure to a variety of settings and mentors/supervisors is an integral feature of this internship. Diversity of training is promoted through participation in a variety of assessment, consultation, counseling and supervision experiences in each setting. Clinical assignments are based on the intern’s training goals and experience level, with increasing complexity and autonomy anticipated as the year progresses. Each intern is expected to be a contributing member of the Multidisciplinary Center staff and, as the intern demonstrates skill development, responsibilities will also increase.

Interns have the opportunity to work with professionals from other disciplines and participate in additional training opportunities that promote the growth of the intern’s individual and professional identity. A number of activities are included in the program to support the training program’s goals. Specific training activities include:

  • Psychological Assessment, including specialized training in the assessment of Attention Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • Participation in school intervention assistance teams and problem solving to assess and monitor Response to Intervention
  • School-based mental health services
  • Supervision of psychology and school psychology graduate students
  • Didactic seminars addressing issues relevant to the practice of psychology including individual and cultural diversity, empirically based treatments, and professional and ethical conduct.
  • Individual and group supervision (5 hours per week)
  • Formal presentation(s) to the MDC staff and community presentation(s) to parents, teachers, etc.

For more detailed information go to Policies and Procedures Manual [PDF]. Doctoral Psychology Internships began in 1994 and the MDC joined the Association of Psychology Post-doctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) in 1995. The internship program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 First Street NE, Washington DC 20002-4242; 202- 336-5979.)

Eligibility

Applicants for the Doctoral Psychology Internship Program are required to meet each of the following criteria:

  • Graduate student in an APA accredited psychology doctoral program
  • Completion of at least two years of graduate education in psychology
  • Endorsement from the applicant’s director of graduate training that the applicant is prepared for internship
  • Completion of at least 1,000 hours of supervised practicum experience
  • Child-based assessment experience; broad-based training in child psychology
  • Must have a reliable vehicle to travel to school-based placements
  • Must pass criminal background check

In addition to the factors cited above, preference will be given to applicants whose credentials include the following: Ethnic minority and/or fluent in Spanish. The Louise R. Goldhagen Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Consulting Center is an equal opportunity university-based training program committed to diversity and inclusion in all of its educational and training activities.  We welcome and strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s or marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected group status.

Application

The application deadline for the 2016-2017 internship program is due November 2, 2015. Personal interviews will be offered to those applicants who have been approved after an initial review by training faculty. Telephone interviews may also be arranged in the event that the applicant cannot personally visit the program. Although a personal interview is not required, in nearly all cases it is beneficial and informative for both the program and the applicant.

Applicants will be informed of internship decisions according to the APPIC Match policies.

Our program is participating in the APPIC Internship Matching Program. You must obtain an Applicant Agreement Package from National Matching Services (NMS) and register for the Matching Program in order to be eligible to match our program. You many request an Applicant Agreement package from NMS though the Matching Program web site at www.natmatch.com/psychint or by contacting NMS at 416-977-3431 or 716-282-4013. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at the training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.

The complete internship application consists of the following documents via the AAPI online Applicant Portal:

  • A completed “APPIC Application for Psychology Internship” (AAPI)
  • Applicant’s curriculum vita
  • Official transcripts of all graduate education. Transcripts for undergraduate training are not required.
  • Three letters of recommendation from psychologists/supervisors
  • Endorsement from the training director

For additional information, contact:

Lauren Hutto, Ph.D. (lmhutto@fsu.edu)
Director of Internship Training
FSU Multidisciplinary Center
Florida State University
715 West Gaines Street
P.O. Box 1603
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1603