Doctoral Internship in Psychology
Thank you for your interest in our training programs at the UNF Counseling Center.
Welcome from the Training Director
Thank you for considering the Doctoral Internship in Psychology at the University of North Florida Counseling Center. The internship is an integral part of the Center's mission to enhance the total educational experience of UNF students by providing a confidential and supportive environment where student concerns can be shared and explored. Our hope is this internship will help you transition from a graduate student to an early career psychologist.
General Information
UNF is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. It initially opened admitting only juniors, seniors, and graduate students in 1972, and started admitting freshman in 1984. Currently, the University has over 16,500 students enrolled, of which 3,500 live on campus. UNF is home to 200 clubs and organizations as well as 26 fraternities and sororities.
The UNF Counseling Center is centrally located on campus in a building that was completely remodeled in 2012. The Counseling Center staff was actively involved in planning the layout of the newly expanded Center, which includes 21 counseling offices, two small group rooms that share a one-way mirror, two medium-sized group rooms, a conference room equipped with audio-visual equipment, a private waiting area, a computer room where students complete 'paperwork', and additional space for our executive staff, directors and psychiatric staff. We currently use the conference room on a regular basis for training and have access to larger rooms/classrooms on campus if needed. As a member of the State University System of Florida, all buildings, facilities, and functions are compliant with the accessibility requirements of the ADA.
The Counseling Center provides mental health services to students enrolled at UNF. The Center is accredited by the Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and The Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC# 2435).
The UNF Counseling Center's Doctoral Internship Program is accredited by the Psychological Association (APA).
For questions related to our program accreditation status, please contact the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
p: 202.336.5979
e: apaaccred@apa.org
w: https://accreditation.apa.org
Staff
Our staff includes people from multiple disciplines, including psychologists, mental health counselors, an art therapist, nurse practitioners, a nutritionist, and a psychiatrist.
The Counseling Center is also home to a pre-masters internship program that takes on four new interns each school year. Many of our staff members engage in lifelong learning through membership in professional organizations and attend conferences throughout the year. For some brief biographical information on our staff, please visit our staff page.
Mission, Training Philosophy, and Internship Aims
Our mission is to provide quality training, necessary to facilitate the transitional process from graduate student to an independently practicing psychologist. Our training Model is the Practitioner-Scholar Model, which emphasizes service delivery based on the integration of scientific principles, research, clinical judgment, and client values. Training is designed to provide a supervised and supportive learning environment in which interns continue to develop and refine their skills and abilities in various competency areas and gradually assume increased clinical responsibility. Interns are encouraged and supported in cultivating their own professional style as they progress toward the role of an autonomous psychologist.
The Internship has several aims:
- To assist interns in developing skills to effectively conceptualize and implement psychotherapeutic treatment informed by empirical knowledge.
- To develop skills in providing useful consultation and interfacing productively with the treatment team and other professionals.
- To help interns refine their professional identity as a psychologist.
- To model for and assist interns in their development as scientifically informed practitioners.
- To provide interns with a thorough foundation in the basic skills of psychological assessment.
Diversity Statement
The Training Program follows the University of North Florida Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, Diversity & Title IX policies. The staff at the Counseling Center is committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment to all people regardless of ethnicity, language, religious beliefs, age, size, socioeconomic status, physical and mental abilities, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, race, and culture. We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and training to apply.
Service Activities
Individual Psychotherapy
Most UNF students come to the Counseling Center for individual counseling. Doctoral interns will spend up to 13 hours per week doing individual therapy. The counseling center has no specific session limits but the center strongly endorses a brief psychotherapy model. Interns will have numerous opportunities to learn art therapy and participate in an eating disorder team.
Group Psychotherapy
The Group Psychotherapy component is a major focus of training. Each intern is required to co-facilitate one group in the fall and spring semester with a senior staff member. During the summer semester, interns have an option to co-lead a group with another intern. Interpersonal Process Groups are typical for the Counseling Center, but interns can, with the permission of the Group Coordinator, run a theme specific or a psychoeducational group. It is expected that by the end of the internship, interns will have at least 55 hours of group psychotherapy direct contact hours.
Crisis Intervention
The Center has an emergency on-call counselor available at all times after business hours through an on-call service called "ProtoCall". Interns will receive training in crisis/emergency intervention skills and will be added to the regular rotation of on-call counselors. During business hours, interns will have a dedicated time to see clients for emergency appointments.
Supervision of Mental Health Counseling Intern
Each intern will supervise the work of a master's level intern.
Typical 40-Hour Week
Direct Contact
Individual Counseling - 10 hours- Includes assessment administration
- Includes outreach
Group Counseling - 1.5 hours
Intake - 1 hour
Emergency Coverage - 2 hours
Supervision of MHC Intern - 1 hour every other week
Total: 14.5 to 15.5 hours
Administration
Staff Meeting - 1 hour
Case Notes and Paperwork - 13.5 to 15.5 hours
- Includes report writing time
Dissertation - 2 hours
Total: 16.5 to 18.5 hours
Professional Development
Individual supervision - 2 hoursGroup Supervision - 2 hours
- Includes 1 hour of a case conference
Group Psychotherapy Supervision - 1 hour
- Includes group prep/debrief
Total: 7 to 8 hours
Application and Selection Requirements
All application materials must follow APPIC guidelines and be submitted through the AAPI Online at http://www.appic.org no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 1st.
Application Materials Must Include
- A completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship
- A copy of the applicant's curriculum vitae
- Official transcripts of all graduate education. Transcripts of undergraduate coursework are not required
- Contact information of three previous supervisors
- Verification of eligibility for internship from the Director of Graduate Training or Department Chair
The internship selection is a two-step process. The first step involves reviewing application materials by the selection committee. The Training Director will then contact the finalists by December 15th. The second step involves Zoom interviews and an optional Open House day.
Please note: candidates must be able to pass a background check at no expense after the match before being considered for the doctoral internship.
Internship Admissions Support and Initial Placement Data Form
Intern Benefits
Interns will receive a stipend of $25,000 (via biweekly pay periods) and a single- occupancy, one bedroom on-campus residential apartment. Alternatively, you may request a $30,000 stipend without the residential apartment. The Counseling Center observes state and national holidays (approximately 9 days per year) and is closed for part of the winter and spring breaks. Health insurance is provided. Interns will be able to use university facilities, libraries, the Student Wellness Center, and computer equipment. Each intern will have their own private office, computer with internet access, and a webcam.
Each intern is provided with on-campus housing in one of the residential apartments in Osprey Villages. All apartments are kitchen-equipped and completely furnished (with the exception of linens and kitchenware). All utilities are included, such as electrical power, water, sewer, satellite TV, high-speed Ethernet access, and access to a community laundry facility. University housing has a no pets policy.