Clinical Training Opportunities

OCPD is invested in providing quality training to clinical mental health graduate students. We provide two separate opportunities – a graduate practicum experience as well as an APA-Accredited predoctoral internship through the University of Denver’s Internship Consortium.

We are a dedicated training team with a broad range of theoretical orientations, interests, and specialties. Please review our full website for information about our center, staff and services. For any questions regarding the training program, contact Dr. Melissa Auringer.

Graduate Practicum

We accept applications for the upcoming training year from January 1st through mid-February with interviews in late February/early March. We are part of the Colorado university counseling centers collective that have a designated practicum selection date that is typically set in early March.

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Graduate Practicum Information

Number of Practicum Positions

Two or three practicum positions each year.

Time Commitment

Practicum trainees are asked to provide a minimum of 20 hours per week. This includes being available of Monday afternoons from 1-4 PM for training seminars, group supervision, and staff activities. This placement runs from mid-August through early May each school year.

Clinical Experience

Practicum trainees at OCPD carry caseloads composed of both brief and longer-term psychotherapy cases. Individual, couples and group psychotherapy opportunities are readily available. Practicum trainees will be part of our rotation of crisis coverage during work hours. Assessment experience may be available if there is interest. Other training opportunities and responsibilities include conducting initial intake assessments and conducting psycho-educational outreach and training to various groups on campus.

Supervision & Training

Practicum trainees may be supervised by our APA pre-doctoral intern(s) and/or our senior staff. Trainees receive 1.5 hours of individual supervision as well as supervisor review of session recordings outside supervision each week. There is also an additional one hour per week of group/team supervision with other practicum students and rotating senior staff members to gain broader perspectives on clinical work. Trainees also participate in weekly Training Seminars that include a broad range of topics and presenters related to student services in higher education, clinical practice, diversity/self-reflection, and so on. In addition, a seminar on clinical issues prevalent in the college population (trauma, substance use, eating disorders) occurs for one hour every other week. Trainees are provided supervision and support around additional activities (group therapy, outreach, etc. as applicable).

A Good Fit

OCPD is a good fit for graduate trainees seeking strong generalist training and have a love of doing therapy, especially individual therapy. Our team is very dedicated to the training program and are looking for trainees who are excited to learn and engage in our supervision, didactic, and process-oriented training. We look for someone who is team and relationally oriented and who enjoys collaboration with clinician colleagues and campus professionals. Practicum trainees must be at least a second year in their program with a developmentally appropriate level of independence and initiative.

Applying for Graduate Practicum

To apply, email your CV and cover letter detailing your interest and training goals.

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APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship

OCPD is one of several sites that comprise the University of Denver’s Internship Consortium.

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APA-Accredited Predoctoral Internship Information

Number of Intern Positions

One or two full-time internship positions each year.

Clinical Experience

Interns at OCPD carry caseloads composed of both brief and longer-term psychotherapy cases. Individual, couples and group psychotherapy opportunities are readily available. Interns will also get valuable experience with crisis intervention (during office hours, no on-call). Interns also provide brief, solution-focused assessment and counseling for mandated alcohol/drug policy offenders which meets all or most of the assessment requirement. One assessment can be a full battery with a focus on using assessment to facilitate ongoing therapy (e.g., personality, interpersonal functioning). Additional assessment experience is based on intern interest and availability. Other training opportunities and responsibilities include conducting initial intake assessments, supervising and training of a graduate level trainee, and conducting psycho-educational outreach and training to various groups on campus. Program development (in the form of outreach, institutional assessment, etc.) is an option for those interested.

Supervision & Training

Training objectives at OCPD include a focus on interns becoming more self-aware and adept in their interactions with clients, supervisees, colleagues and organizational systems; to develop greater appreciation of and respect for human rights, diversity, and the public interest; and to gain a deeper understanding of the professional roles and social responsibilities that accompany the privileges of a career in clinical psychology. OCPD has an open-door policy in which all trainees are encouraged to reach out to all staff as wanted/needed for clinical needs as well as for collegial connection.

Interns receive a minimum of 4 hours per week of supervision by licensed psychologists. This includes 1.5 hours of individual supervision by their primary supervisor (supervisors also have designated time to observe recorded sessions outside of the supervision meetings). Interns supervise a practicum student (1.5 hours per week) and receive 1.5 hours of supervision of supervision with the Training Director to facilitate their development as supervisors. In addition to these routine supervision meetings, they receive 1 hour per week of individual supervision of their group, assessment, or other work as applicable. There is also an additional 1 hour per week of group/team supervision with rotating senior staff members to gain broader perspectives on their work.

In addition to the weekly Consortium Seminars, interns also participate in weekly Training Seminars at OCPD that include a broad range of topics and presenters related to student services in higher education, clinical practice, diversity/self-reflection, and so on. This one-hour seminar varies with didactic, experiential, case discussion, and general discussion-based formats. As part of the weekly general training, seminar interns also meet with representatives of other Student Affairs offices to better acquaint themselves with the broader range of professionals on campus who work with students (i.e., career counselors, disability accommodations coordinator, student health providers, Dean of Students, etc.) and gain knowledge of the resources and systemic aspects of UCC work. In addition, a seminar on clinical issues prevalent in the college population (trauma, substance use, eating disorders) occurs for one hour every other week. These seminars are facilitated by OCPD staff specialists with a focus on deepening knowledge and understanding of these complex clinical issues prevalent in university counseling center practice. The format includes didactic presentations, article/chapter readings and review, and case discussion.

A Good Fit

OCPD is a good fit for internship candidates seeking strong generalist training and have a love of doing therapy, especially individual therapy. Our team is very dedicated to the training program and are looking for interns who are excited to learn and take initiative in making the most of their year with us. We look for someone who is team and relationally oriented, who enjoys collaboration and is looking to solidify their personal-professional integration as they prepare to become independent practitioners.