Applying for the Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology

University Counseling Services (UCS) at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), is a member of Association of Psychology Post-Doctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). We follow the APPIC Match Policies. We are currently accepting applications for three (3), full-time, one-year positions for our doctoral internship. Our program code number is 2129. The dates of the internship year are from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026.

Eligibility

Minimum Requirements

APA or CPA accredited doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology.
- Students enrolled in non-accredited doctoral programs are “eligible to apply IF their doctoral program has provided appropriate documentation to APPIC verifying approval for a site visit by an eligible accrediting organization (APA or CPA), has been accepted by APPIC as a “Doctoral Program Associate” (DPA), and has paid the appropriate DPA fees. The payment of DPA fees by the doctoral program is now required for its students to be eligible” (Per APPIC).
Completion of all required coursework and supervised practicum prior to start of internship
500 hours of direct contact prior to the application deadline
Successful completion of comprehensive examinations prior to the application deadline for the APPIC Match
Successfully completed their dissertation proposal (if applicable) prior to the start of internship
Certified as ready for internship by doctoral program

Preferred Qualifications

Completion of 1000 total practicum hours
Interest in and experience working in a university/college counseling center setting
Interest in and experience providing individual short-term therapy and group therapy
Interest in and experience providing outreach and consultation
Interest in and experience providing crisis intervention and management
Strong interest in and commitment to multiculturalism/diversity as well as experience in working with diverse clients
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively
Experience providing telemental health

Application Instructions

We utilize the uniform psychology internship application (AAPI Online) developed by Admissions by Liaison. We only accept applications that are submitted online.

UCS does not require any materials supplemental to the AAPI Online/Admissions by Liaison. We request that:

Your cover letter includes a description of 1) Your interest in our internship program, 2) Why you believe you would be a good fit with our internship program, 3) Your previous relevant clinical and academic experiences, and 4) How completing an internship at UCS fits into your short and long term goals
Curriculum Vitae is current and complete, reflecting applied professional experience including descriptions of experience, location, and hours of clinical training
Of your three (3) letters of recommendation from professionals, at least two are authored by supervisors who can speak with familiarity and specificity about your applied clinical performance.

Deadline

Our application deadline is November 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST); this is per APPIC via Liaison Outcomes.. Your AAPI Online application must be complete and electronically submitted to us by that date.

Selection process

The following is a summary of our selection process:

The Coordinator of Training reviews all applications to identify applicants who meet minimum requirements.
Two members of the Intern Selection Committee review every completed application that meets minimum requirements.
Upon review of all eligible applications, the Intern Selection Committee discusses applicants and selects applicants invited to interview.
In accordance with APPIC policies, we notify all applicants (who submitted a complete application) of their interview status.
Applicants selected to be interviewed are contacted by telephone and/or e-mail by December 15, 2024, to schedule an interview. Applicants will be interviewed over Zoom.
Interviews are conducted throughout the month of January 2025.
Interviews are approximately 90 minutes and include: structured questions, a role-play based on a vignette, and limited time for applicants to ask questions.
Each interview is conducted by three members of the Intern Selection Committee (two counseling staff members and a current UCS intern). The current UCS intern in the interview team participates as a “client” in the role-play portion of the interview.
After all interviews are complete, the Intern Selection Committee discusses all interviewees, and the Coordinator of Training submits our rank list to the National Matching Service (NMS).

Please feel free to contact the Coordinator of Training, Dr. Pat Alford-Keating (pkeating@csun.edu), if you have any questions or wish to speak to a current intern at any time throughout the process.

COVID Comment: All interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom.

APPIC guidelines

UCS follows all guidelines of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and participates in the APPIC Match. We adhere to the APPIC Internship Matching Program-Internship Site Agreement and to the APPIC Match Policies.

Please register for the National Matching Process. Our Program Code Number for the APPIC Match is 2129.

If you have any questions about our training program or the application process, please contact:

Pat Alford-Keating, Ph.D., ABPP
Assistant Director/Coordinator of Training

Phone: (818) 677-2366, option 1
E-mail: pkeating@csun.edu

Please note: A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily as a condition of employment at California State University, Northridge. Background screenings will be conducted after the Match. Applicants who match to our program but do not successfully pass the background check will be dismissed from the internship (see APPIC Match Policy 6b).

As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, CSUN strives to create a community in which a diverse population can work, teach and learn in an atmosphere of civility and respect for the rights of each individual. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, medical information, marital status, or veteran status. For more information about the University, check our website: http://www.csun.edu/.