Graduate Social Work Internship 2010-2011

The CUA Counseling Center is a mental health agency with a professional staff of psychologists, clinical social workers, and a consulting psychiatrist. The Center is the only mental health agency on campus. Therefore, student trainees have an opportunity to address a wider range of issues with graduate and undergraduate student clients than do externs at most university counseling centers.

Position Description

The field placement is a nine month, twenty hour per week position that involves participation in many phases of the Center's activities. Each trainee will carry up to eight hours of casework with individual clients and may also co-lead group therapy. Trainees receive both individual and group supervision. Staff development activities are offered and there may be opportunities to present workshops, consult with campus groups, and participate in campus outreach activities, including screenings for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and alcohol abuse.

The staff development program includes weekly lectures and workshops on topics pertinent to professional clinicians, such as suicide assessment and treatment, eating disorders, ACOA issues, working with difficult clients, and theory based and cross-cultural treatments. Presenters include in-house staff and local experts who are also practicing clinicians.

The CUA Social Work field placement provides a stipend of $1000.

Applicants

Second year MSW students are invited to apply by submitting the following materials to the Coordinator of Social Services:

*Summary of completed/planned graduate coursework
*Vita covering relevant clinical work, training and research experience
*Three letters of recommendation, including a letter from someone who has directly supervised the candidate
*A statement of professional interests and goals with specific mention of the goals for the field placement experience

Following a review of the candidate's application, our staff will call to schedule interview appointments. Should you have questions regarding the program, please call the Coordinator of Social Services at 202-319-5765, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 and 5:00.

Selection

The criteria for selection are as follows:

*Academic achievement
*Field experience
*Consulting/outreach experience
*Non-classroom learning experience
*Profile of skills

Each candidate's application is evaluated by staff social workers using the above criteria. Those candidates who are judged to be qualified are then asked to come to the Center for interviews. Interviews will be scheduled upon receipt of complete application.  After all those candidates have been interviewed, those chosen for the program will be notified.

The 209-2010 externs are psychology and social work graduate students from American University, George Washington University, University of Maryland, Howard University, Catholic University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.                

DEADLINE: Early MARCH 2010, specific date TBD.

Mail to:
Dorothy Van Dam , L.I.C.S.W.
Coordinator of Social Services

Director of Externship Training
The Catholic University of America
Counseling Center, 126 O'Boyle Hall
Washington, DC 20064

Phone: 202-319-5765
Fax: 202-319-5570