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Site Name: The Guidance Center

Department: Training and Quality Improvement

Department : Training and Quality Improvement

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1128
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: The Guidance Center
Department: Training and Quality Improvement
Address: 1301 Pine Ave
Street Address (line 2)
Long Beach, California 90813
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City: 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles
Phone: 562-519-4934
Fax:
Email: amorse@tgclb.org
Web Address: http://www.tgclb.org
Brochure Website's Address: https://tgclongbeach.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-2025-Psychology-Internship-BROCHURE.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Community Mental Health Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Amy Morse
Chief Psychologist:
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 6
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 1
Position Information
Start Date: 08/19/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 4
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 35360
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): $75 for office/therapy materials, $150 towards continuing education, mileage reimbursement, 403b retirement contribution, overtime paid if approved, EAP, employee discounts, assigned agency cell phone. Professional development time is inclusive of dissertation release time, job interviews, and trainings. An additional stipend of $5000 for fully bilingual Spanish-English applicants who match with the program and are able to pass the language test.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Specialty mental health (therapy, intakes) 8 hours (# of clients varies) Assessment/Testing 8 hours (report writing & testing) Interdisciplinary Consultation Track 8 hours Total Clinical Activities Approximately 24 hours per week Individual clinical supervision 1 hour Group clinical supervision 2 hours Individual assessment supervision 1 hour Track group supervision 1 hour Total Supervision Approximately 5 hours per week Didactic Seminars 2 hours Team Meetings 1 hour Paperwork, Travel, Other 5 hours Sup of Prac Students 2 hours Peer Supervision 1 hour Total Other Approximately 11 hours Total time per week 40 hours
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 11/01/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/15/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/9/2024, 01/10/2024, 01/11/2024, 01/17/2024, 01/18/2024, 01/19/2024
Interview process description:

On-site interviews are not being offered. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

Applicants will attend a required open house via Zoom on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 (8am-10am PST) or Wednesday, January 17, 2024 (8am-10am PST) to hear about the program and speak to current interns, followed by a one-hour interview with the DOT and a supervising psychologist. There are two open house dates followed by two more days of interviews resulting in six interview dates from which to choose. Applicants will have the opportunity to attend an optional 30-minute site tour with a current intern in January on a date TBD. The training faculty will not know which applicants choose to participate in the optional site tour. Attendance or non-attendance to the site tour will not be factored into the ranking process.

Typically, approximately the top quarter of applicants are invited for an interview. Candidates are contacted by program secretary to schedule interview. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to send a redacted comprehensive testing report.

Total Intervention and Assessment Hours Required is 400 hours.  We do not distinguish between the intervention and assessment hours, though students who have assessment experience are at a greater advantage.

Applicants are encouraged to reach out to any intern or staff member to discuss the internship program.

Our program emphasizes a broad conceptualization of diversity and strongly encourages applicants with a desire to work with diverse populations to apply.  To the extent that applicants and interns are comfortable, questions regarding values and how they may help or hinder work with underserved minority populations will be addressed in the interview and during the internship.
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: We are open to students from all APA accredited programs and do not give preference to students from certain programs. Out of state applicants are encouraged to apply.
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: Yes
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable): 400
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Not Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements: See internship brochure.
Program Description

Consistent with the agency’s mission, the doctoral psychology internship program’s aim is “to provide a training experience that integrates for each intern the science and practice of psychology, facilitates the transition from theory to practice, and produces broadly competent practitioners who can effectively address the needs of children, adolescents, and their families across multiple professional settings.”  The program’s training program ensures entry-level, independent competence in the 9 Profession Wide Competencies delineated in the Standards of Accreditation: Evidence-based practice in intervention, Evidence-based practice in assessment, Ethical and legal standards, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Research, Professional values and attitudes, Communication and interpersonal skills, Consultation, and Supervision. Staff members at all levels of the Center are accustomed to treating psychology interns as capable professionals; they are given responsibilities and opportunities commensurate with their advanced level of education, training, and skill development. Because advanced clinical training in human services involves issues of quality assurance, supervision and training involves ongoing evaluation of the intern's performance while at the same time providing the freedom, support, and responsibility to grow professionally. Professional growth and development includes integrating the science and practice of psychology, acquiring and demonstrating a broad range of clinical competencies, and transitioning from a student to professional self-awareness. The core training elements are:

1.  Supervised clinical experience in all aspects of specialty mental health and integrated care with children, adolescents, parents, and families. These services include: intakes and assessment; clinical case management; a range of psychotherapeutic interventions and modalities, including implementation of evidence-based interventions; clinical case consultation with other treatment staff, schools, and allied agencies; crisis intervention; and termination planning and discharge.  Services are provided in the office, client’s homes, and schools.  Interns will spend four days per week in specialty mental health care and one day per week in one of two supplemental integrated care settings.

2.  Certification in Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), an evidenced based program developed by Bruce Chorpita, Ph.D.  Certification involves 40 hours of face-to-face training, 12 consultation/supervision meetings, and review and passing of two client portfolios

3. Diagnostic Assessment and Comprehensive Psychological Testing of clinic referred children.  Interns complete at least 12 diagnostic interviews and at least 4 batteries each year to assist clinicians in answering diagnostic questions about their clients. Diagnostic assessments are semi-structured interviews to determine initial diagnoses for clients and require the completion of the initial assessment form.  Testing includes consultation, brief assessment, comprehensive assessment, and therapeutic assessment.  Interns learn a hypothesis-driven approach to psychological assessment and how to provide individualized, specific feedback and recommendations.

4.  Supervision of practicum students to develop supervisory skills. As part of the training to become professional psychologists, interns have the opportunity to supervise psychology practicum students in psychological testing in a group format or individual clinical supervision, participate in supervision didactics, and receive supervision of supervision. 

5.  Exploration of individual and cultural diversity through didactics and professional issues supervision and through case conceptualization.  Supervisors present their morality genograms at the beginning of the year in order to foster conversations regarding diversity and how they impact relationships.  By the second or third month of the program, interns also present to fellow interns and supervisor their morality genograms depicting their core values and how those do or do not impact clinical work and supervision. The program also sponsors a Diversity Fishbowl discussion that interns are expected to attend. In addition, the agency has a voluntary psychology diversity mentorship program.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children: Yes
Adolescents: Yes
Adults:
Family: Yes
Older Adults:
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Group Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Experience (21% to 30%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students : Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other: Inpatient Consultation

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology:
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Substance Use Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology:
Pediatrics: Experience (21% to 30%)
School: Experience (21% to 30%)
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Experience (21% to 30%)
Integrated health care - specialty: Experience (21% to 30%)
Other:

Consultation and certification in Managing and Adapting Practice (MAP), an evidence based practice developed by Bruce Chorpita, Ph.D. and adopted by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health for prevention and early intervention.

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: www.tgclb.org  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024
Number of Completed Applications: 150 105 95 123 97 101 106
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 45 34 30 30 32 26 38
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 2 2 1 0 2 3
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 6 4 4 3 4 2 1
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 6 6 4 4 4 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 2 5 1 2 4 0 5
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 31 29 25 6 10 11 44
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 1
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 1
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