Training Program at Eastern Connecticut State University Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services at Eastern Connecticut State University, located in Willimantic, Connecticut, offers a practicum/internship site for students in training as psychologists, professional counselors and social workers. The staff consists of four full time counselors, two fellowships counselors, a consulting psychiatrist, three graduate student trainees and six doctoral trainees. The center serves a population of 5,300 full and part time students who present with a wide range of concerns that span the continuum of severity from fairly mild to severe. Issues particularly common in this setting include depression, anxiety, adjusting to college, traumas, relationship conflicts, family conflicts and mild substance abuse. Students can be seen in both long-term and short-term individual therapy as well as in group therapy.
Practicum students also conduct intake interviews and participate in the weekly case conferences during which intakes are discussed and there are opportunities for group supervision of on-going cases. In addition, each intern receives a minimum of one hour of individual supervision per week with his or her individual supervisor. The program also includes a weekly seminar meeting during which interns and staff have the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of topics pertinent to the mental health field. Some examples of recent seminar topics are trauma recovery, self-psychology, object relations therapy, psychotropic medication overview and holistic approaches to counseling.
There are also opportunities for educational programming, consultation and other types of collaboration with various student services on campus such as the Woman's Center and Residential Life. These additional training activities can be adapted to the intern's particular interests.
This training program runs from approximately mid-August to mid-May with a two to three week break between semesters.
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Please submit above application materials plus three references to Gregory Betz, Psy.D., LP at betzg@easternct.edu
Master’s level trainee applications should also be sent to Gregory Betz, Psy.D., LP at betzg@easternct.edu
Only complete applications will be considered.
Typical CAPS Trainee Schedule*
Fall Trainee placement begins in August the week prior to classes beginning at the Eastern campus with a one-day orientation. Trainees typically work 20 hours a week through the end of the academic year (usually the week after final exams, about mid-May).
Approximately 15-23 hours total
*Some trainees begin during the summer session, typically in May or June, however clinical hours are usually lower compared to Fall and Spring semesters.
