Which kind of practica are best for APA internships?

[sagepsych]

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Hi everyone,

I am in my first year of a Ph.D. Clinical Psych program. I have some previous clinical experience doing intellectual assessment with ADHD & LD children and some behavioral therapies with kids with autism. I know I like working with kids but I am still looking at exposure to different populations and treatment modalities. I am choosing a practicum and would like to know what kind of agency will look most favorable for an APA internship down the line? I've heard that APA sites look very favorably at applicants with assessment skills but want to be well rounded and have a broad experience. Does it also depend on your dissertation topic? What do you guys think?

 

[LM02]

Hi everyone,

I am in my first year of a Ph.D. Clinical Psych program. I have some previous clinical experience doing intellectual assessment with ADHD & LD children and some behavioral therapies with kids with autism. I know I like working with kids but I am still looking at exposure to different populations and treatment modalities. I am choosing a practicum and would like to know what kind of agency will look most favorable for an APA internship down the line? I've heard that APA sites look very favorably at applicants with assessment skills but want to be well rounded and have a broad experience. Does it also depend on your dissertation topic? What do you guys think?

Internship sites vary widely in their focus and approach. So I'm not sure that there's one clear answer to your question. But with that said, I'd try to make certain that you get exposure to different patient presentations and a wide range of illness severity. Assessment and brief intervention are tools you will use a lot on internship, so practica that provide those opportunities will be helpful. I ran a lot of psychotherapy groups on internship, so any opportunities to do the same will probably be helpful for you, as well.

 

[docjohng]

I am choosing a practicum and would like to know what kind of agency will look most favorable for an APA internship down the line? I've heard that APA sites look very favorably at applicants with assessment skills but want to be well rounded and have a broad experience. Does it also depend on your dissertation topic? What do you guys think?

I think the more well-rounded you are when you apply for internships, the generally better off you will be. But as was already said, internships vary widely in what they look for in a candidate, so there's no "right" answer.

Explore different populations and interests during this time, as it will be one of the few times in your professional career where you will be given this opportunity. Challenge your pre-assumptions about populations or areas where you might question your interest in, too, as you might be pleasantly surprised.

Good luck!