December 22, 2011

100 apply for six Counseling Center internships

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Counseling Center just keeps getting better with age.

Each year, the center offers six pre-doctoral internships for psychologists -- the sixth oldest such program based at a university in the nation.  The recent deadline for the 2012-13 internships attracted 100 applicants from all over the country, according to Rosemary E. Simmons, director of the Counseling Center, a part of Student Health Services.  She said the internship program is good for the psychologists-in-training and for SIU Carbondale and its students.

“This program is beneficial for the interns and for the University.  It offers the interns a great training opportunity and they are a valuable resource for our students,” Simmons said.

The interns will work at the center for a year, beginning Aug. 1, 2012.  They will offer individual and group counseling, classes and programs both at the center and in residence halls on campus.  Simmons said about 60 percent of their time is spent working directly with student clients and the six will see on average a total of about 144 students each week. 

Simmons said the internship program is a fiscally responsible way for SIU Carbondale to provide enhanced services to students.  Jaime Clark, assistant director/director of training for the Counseling Center, is the internship program coordinator. 

The program recently received notification of reaccreditation from the American Psychological Association.  The program launched in 1968 and has held APA accreditation since 1974, making it the country’s sixth oldest internship program.  The latest reaccreditation, following a site visit to campus in February, is for seven years, the maximum possible.  The pre-doctoral internship for a psychologist is essentially the equivalent of a residency for a physician, Simmons said.

To learn more about the Counseling Center or the pre-doctoral internship program, visit the website at www.counselingcenter.siuc.edu or call 618/453-5371.