Training at CAPS
CAPS provides high quality training for students from a variety of disciplines at various points in their graduate education—from first external practicum, through their masters or doctoral internship. We strive to provide training that not only helps our trainees become excellent practitioners, but also helps them to develop their professional identity while learning how to achieve life-work balance.
Here are some highlights of our program:
- Our trainees get a well-rounded experience.
- A typical practicum or internship at CAPS will involve providing individual therapy (including intakes, treatment planning, diagnosing in each session), group therapy, crisis intervention, and outreach. There are also opportunities to engage in couples therapy; however, these opportunities vary based on the number of hours a trainee is in office each week. Occasionally, specialized training experiences are also made available.
- Our trainees experience rich diversity in their clinical work.
- Clients at our office present with an assortment of concerns that range from mild (e.g., a recent break-up) to severe (e.g., active suicidal ideation with a history of multiple suicide attempts). Subsequently, our practicum students and interns receive training on risk-assessment and the use of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) during their onboarding.
- CAPS allows clinicians flexibility in their work with clients under the guidance of
their supervisors.
- Clinicians in our office vary regarding their theoretical orientation, and a large part of the training at CAPS includes helping our trainees develop a deeper sense of their own theoretical base. While we generally operate from a short-term approach, clinicians are also able to work with supervisors to adjust the frequency and length of treatment when clinically indicated (e.g., when working with a client with severe mental health problems or who is at high-risk)
- WSU is the most diverse university in Kansas, and our client demographics reflect
this.
- CAPS clients show diversity in regard to age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and socioeconomic status. Approximately 30% of our clients identify as first-generation college students, and about 9% as international students.
- CAPS greatly values diversity and is committed to providing an atmosphere in which inclusivity and diversity are emphasized and celebrated. We give ongoing attention to diversity and aim to assist trainees in furthering their multicultural awareness throughout the year.
Types of Training Available at CAPS:
CAPS recruits practicum trainees from WSU’s psychology department. These trainees attend CAPS a minimum of 12 hours a week conducting intakes, individual, group, and couples therapy appointments and outreach under the supervision of a doctoral intern.
CAPS partners with local clinical and counseling masters programs to recruit clinical masters level interns. These trainees attend between 20-26 hours a week at CAPS depending on their program requirements. They conduct intakes, individual, group, and couples therapy, crisis intervention appointments, and outreach under the supervision of a licensed staff member.
CAPS recruits social work masters trainees from the WSU Social Work program. These trainees attend CAPS for a minimum of 24 hours a week conducting case management appointments under the supervision of a licensed staff member. SWM students who have completed their program’s DSM course can also conduct intakes, individual, group, and couples therapy.
CAPS recruits bachelors level social work trainees from the WSU Social Work program. These trainees attend CAPS for a minimum of 15 hours a week conducting case management appointments under the supervision of a licensed staff member.
Interested in applying for a practicum or internship with CAPS?
Training at CAPS requires a minimum of a two semester commitment and all positions start in the Fall Semester. For more information about how to apply, contact the Training Director at rachel.amerson@wichita.edu.
Eligibility:
Trainees at CAPS are required to be enrolled in a program in a mental health-related field (e.g., clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work). Additionally, trainees are required to have completed a course in basic counseling skills as well as an ethics class prior to the start of their practicum or internship. Applicants who plan to conduct therapy as part of their training must also have completed a psychopathology/DSM course before the start of their practicum or internship. Please note, practicum students and interns at CAPS are all required to carry liability insurance when engaging in direct service.
APA Accredited Doctoral Internship Training
Wichita State University Counseling and Psychological Services is a part of the Wichita Collaborative Psychology Internship Program (WCPIP), an APA-accredited internship comprised of three cooperating agencies that, together, offer a broad range of training experiences to doctoral interns from either clinical or counseling psychology.
The participating agencies are:
About WCPIP
We value providing our interns with a learning environment that is stimulating, enriching, collegial and supportive in nature. We recognize that a primary goal of the internship year is learning to broaden and refine clinical skills in intakes, individual, group, and couples therapy, and crisis intervention; however, we also see internship as a prime opportunity to promote the development of skills across a variety of other professional areas too (e.g., consultation, outreach, provision of supervision, etc.). We strive to tailor the training experience to the intern’s unique needs and interests.
For a detailed description of the WCPIP program and/or application instructions, please visit our website or contact:
Rachel Amerson, Ph.D.Training DirectorWSU Counseling and Psychological Services1845 Fairmount Box 92Wichita, Kansas 67260-0091
