Psychology (Doctoral Degree) Practicum and Internships | Springfield College

Psychology (Doctoral Degree) Practicum and Internships

Clinical training is an integral part of the curriculum in the Counseling Psychology Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program. Practical experience is designed to enhance academic coursework. Utilizing a developmental framework, students receive basic skills training in establishing therapeutic relationships, diagnostic assessment, and intervention with a wide variety of populations in practicum experiences.  Students complete a minimum of 1,400 hours of practicum experience through a 4 to 6-hour-a-week social justice-oriented practicum in the spring of their first year and 2 to 3 years of a 16 to 24-hour-a-week practicum starting in the second year of the program.

Once students complete their practicum experience and academic coursework, they would proceed on to a one-year, full-time (or two-year, half-time) American Psychological Association-accredited internship, where they will dedicate 2,000 hours to perfecting their craft. Internship experiences focus on advanced clinical training in professional counseling with such experiences as treatment planning and evaluation, mentoring, supervision, consultation, and program evaluation. The practicum and internship training requirements are designed to ensure that students are competent in a variety of counseling modalities, including individual, couples, family, and group counseling, as well as in consultation, supervision, psychological assessment, career counseling, and evaluation of intervention efficacy. These skills include sensitivity to cross-cultural counseling and diversity issues.

Through the combination of coursework, practicum experiences, and an internship, students gain clinical experience, develop professional counseling skills, and begin to establish a professional identity.

Springfield College PsyD program has developed affiliations with the following agencies in Massachusetts and surrounding areas for potential practicum placements and is continuing to develop affiliations with more agencies to support students’ interests and needs.

Examples of some, but not all, of the practicum sites that PsyD students have been placed at are:

  • American International College, Dexter Counseling Center
  • Baystate Eating Disorder Program
  • Baystate Medical Center
  • Clark University, Center for Counseling and Personal Growth
  • Clifford Beers
  • Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)
  • Community Services Institute (CSI)
  • Connecticut College, Student Counseling Services
  • Eastern Connecticut State University, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Educational Testing & Assessment Clinic, Springfield College
  • Hampshire College, Health and Counseling Service
  • Impact Sports Lab
  • Keene State College, Wellness Center
  • Learning Solutions Services
  • Springfield College Counseling Center
  • Springfield Vet Center
  • The College of the Holy Cross, Counseling & Psychological Services
  • UMASS Amherst Psychological Services Center
  • University of Connecticut, Counseling and Mental Health Services
  • University of Hartford, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Walden Behavioral Care
  • Wellesley College Counseling Service, The Stone Center
  • Wesleyan University, Counseling and Psychological Services

The Counseling Psychology PsyD program at Springfield College participates in Massachusetts Practicum Training Collaborative (MPTC), and students are welcome to apply to practicum sites on the MPTC database.