PsyD programs known for high placements in University Counseling Centers

[FLAPsyDStudent]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys, I did a quick search but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. I was just curious if you guys would know any PsyD's that are particularly known for their high Internship placements in University Counseling Center's specifically? I know here in FL Florida Tech does decent at that and Nova, despite its cons, does decent with that as well. My main career goal is to work in a UCC so I want to apply to programs that offer me an opportunity to work in a UCC as much as possible before I apply for Internship and have (obviously) high placement rates in UCC's. The most important factor in landing a UCC internship seems to be experience so this I'm trying to make my Grad School list as careful as possible given my interest. Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

My advice to you is to apply to COUNSELING psych programs and not CLINICAL psych programs. There is a unspoken prejudice against clinical psychologists at counseling ctrs. I didn't find this out until I was applying to internships.

Of course, make sure your program has practica at counseling centers too.

Lots of luck,
Dr. E

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Agreed.

While most counseling centers will consider both, some do not. Additionally, the vast majority of counseling centers in the APPIC Match will strongly prefer/require prior counseling center experience. There are no absolutes, but given how competitive the Match process has become, it is best to minimize any potential roadblocks.

 

[Markro311]

I'd disagree with the prior posters. It really depends on the counseling center, as many counseling centers tend to hire MSW's or clinical (as opposed to counseling) psychologists. The move more towards "psychotherapy" and away from simply "counseling" in college settings is certainly having an influence on that. It just depends.

If you know you want to work in a counseling center, I think two of the most important factors are 1) attend an APA-accredited program (important for ANY setting, but certainly university counseling centers) and 2) attend a program that is near a number of universities who take on practicum students (as this will help you gain experience not only at your own university's counseling center, but also other counseling centers in the area as well).

And also keep in mind that many counseling centers prefer you have a DIVERSE training background as well, so it will be important to receive training in other settings, too.

 

[JockNerd]

There is a unspoken prejudice against clinical psychologists at counseling ctrs.

I don't think there's a "prejudice." There have been clinical and PsyD people at my uni CC as staff and interns. However, most counseling centers emphasize college student populations (obviously), treatment of sub-clinical pathology, career planning and assessment, and multicultural issues. Counseling psych students specialize in those areas, clinical students tend not to. Same reason there are few (though, not NONE) counseling psychologists in hospitals; clinical emphasis areas shine there.

If one's outright goal is to work at a uni CC, though, I definitely agree to just get a Counseling Psych PhD.

 

[busybusybusy]

I have to agree with the two first responses. I'm in a counseling psych program myself and one of our fourth year students just started her internship interviews, all at university counseling centers. She said that all of the sites she applied to only took counseling psych students. Also, counseling psych phd programs do psychotherapy, not just counseling, that's more at the MA/MS level.

That being said, if you really want to stick with a clinical psyd I would say your best bet is to go to a university based program that will have an unergraduate population and a counseling center for students, it would give you more exposure to a variety of clients. Also, I wouldn't tell clinical admissions committees coming in that you want to work in a counseling center because they will wonder why you're at a clinical program as opposed to counseling. As far as internships go, you could take a look at the APPIC Online Directory, you can do a search for which sites have taken clinical students for internship in the past.

 

[KillerDiller]

You'll also want to look into which programs will cost the least/provide the highest level of funding. University counseling centers offer lower salaries than what you would get at academic hospitals and VAs. This can make paying off high amounts of debt difficult.

And I agree with Markro about the diversity in training. You don't want to work in a UCC "as much as possible." You want to work there for a year and then get some experience with other populations in order to present yourself as a well-rounded applicant for internship.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Also, I do think it's important we point out that getting into a UCC for an internship spot and finding an actual job at a UCC aren't necessarily one and the same. The former can no doubt help with the latter, I'm sure, but of the (albeit limited) number of UCC employees I know or know of, none completed an internship at a UCC.

While I obviously wouldn't doubt that many/most people who intern at UCC's go on to a UCC career, keep in mind that it's not at all necessary for this to be the case.