APA-Accredited Pre-doctoral Internship in
Clinical Psychology Overview

Adler Community Health Services, a division of the Adler School of Professional Psychology, offers a pre-doctoral internship in professional psychology. The internship training program involves rotations through several community based partnership sites that will provide training in the areas of primary care, rehabilitation services for ex-offenders, prison systems, and traditional outpatient psychotherapy.  The primary goal of this internship is to prepare interns for readiness for the next phase of their training to become clinical psychologists (i.e. the post-doctoral residency).  The clinical training program provides an opportunity for interns to become competent in the areas of clinical intervention, assessment, professional development, multicultural issues, and professional ethics and standards. 

The APA –Accredited Internship Program offers four full-time positions and one part-time position open to students of The Adler School of Professional Psychology.  The internship begins in September (the day after Labor Day) and ends one year later.  The part-time position occurs over two consecutive years. 

The primary objective of this internship is to prepare interns for entry into the field of clinical psychology by providing hands-on training in various aspects of professional practice. This objective is met by providing training and experience in the following areas:

• A range of intervention theories and methods, including methods based on Individual Psychology
• Psychological assessment (Cognitive/IQ, Educational/Achievement, Clinical Personality, Vocational, Neuropsychological)
• Case conceptualization and treatment planning
• Individual and cultural diversity
• The integration of science and practice using the local clinical scientist model;
• Peer mentorship;
• Consultation and community education
• Report writing and record keeping

Human Resources and Facilities:

Interns are trained by a team of diverse and well-qualified Illinois licensed clinical psychologists.  The core training team consists of the Director of Clinical Training, three Staff Psychologists, and three Faculty Psychologists.  The training team is augmented by two adjunct seminar leaders.

While all services are delivered at community partnership sites, interns meet together regularly for seminars, supervision, and professional development training at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in downtown Chicago.  This location will also provide computer work stations, internet access, access to assessment materials, and file drawers for storing confidential information. 

Interns' Typical Weekly Schedule

Service Hours

Psychotherapy (individual, couples, family and group): 20 hours
Assessment / Testing: minimumof 5 full batteries over course of the year
Intake interviews: average 3-5 weekly

Individual clinical mentorship: 1 hour weekly with 4 assigned externs

Supervision Hours

Individual supervision, 1 hour with 2 different supervising psychologists: 2 hours weekly
Meeting with the Director of training: 1 hour weekly
Community Partnership Site Supervision: 1 hour weekly

Seminars and other Meetings

Assessment Seminar: 1 hour bi-monthly

Didactics- 1 hour bi-monthly

Case Conference: 1 hour bi-monthly

Socially Responsible Practice: 1 hour bi-monthly

Adler Seminar: 12 two hour sessions over the course of the year

Theoretical Orientation: 1 hour bi-monthly

Directors Meeting: 1 hour weekly

Application and Selection Process:

All prospective interns should submit the following documents:

1. Letter of intent summarizing the applicant's interest in psychology, experience, training, internship training goals, and reasons for applying to the Adler Community Psychological Services Training Program
2. Completed on-line AAPI Application for Psychology Internship and APPIC Academic Program's Verification of Internship Eligibility and Readiness form.
3. Current Curriculum vitae
4. Official Transcripts of all graduate work
5. Letters of recommendation from at least three professionals who are familiar with you and your work, including two letters from clinical placement supervisors
6. A letter of eligibility from the applicant's director of clinical training

A subset of qualified applicants will be invited to interview and subsequently participate in the matching process.  Internship offers are made in compliance with APPIC guidelines.  The internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant. 

The Adler Community Health Services is a fully affiliated training program and will only accept applications from students at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. 

                 American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
1-800-374-2721