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Site Name: Pennsylvania Counseling Services

Department: Closed

Department : Closed

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1913
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Pennsylvania Counseling Services
Department: Closed
Address: 200 North 7th Street
Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17046
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: approx. 75 mi. West of Phil. PA , 33 mi. East of Harrisburg
Phone: 717-274-2741x2364
Fax:
Email: kernest@pacounseling.com
Web Address: http://pacounseling.com
Brochure Website's Address: http://pacounseling.com/internships/doctoral/
Primary Agency Type: Community Mental Health Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Community Mental Health Center
  • Private Outpatient Clinic
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Kim Ernest
Chief Psychologist: Roy Smith
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 8
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/11/2022
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 23500
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Salary range is $23,500 (without overtime) - $26,470 (inclusive of maximum of 175 hours of over time worked over the year), Medical insurance waiver pay is available (for those already covered by another medical insurance plan), Paid gas mileage for travel between sites, Extensive library of books, manuals, DVDs and other media related to a variety of clinical services, Access to company condo in Orlando, Florida (subject to availability). Post-Doctoral Training is available for qualified candidates.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns typically work between 8-9 hours per day, with 4 days of the week primarily spent in the provision of clinical services and engagement in individual supervision in the intern's home clinic. An intern's day usually begins in the morning at either 9 am or 11 am. Interns are required to work two evenings per week until 8 pm, with earlier days ending by 5 pm. The internship places a significant emphasis on preparing interns for practice within the outpatient setting and, as such, interns are expected to demonstrate an ability to maintain a clinical caseload of approximately 20 clients, while also engaging in supervision and didactic experiences. Clinical services will include individual and group therapy for both Mental Health (MH) and Drug & Alcohol (D&A) issues, as well as initial level of care evaluations for both MH and D&A. Each Friday, interns meet at PCS Headquarters in Lebanon, PA for didactics and group supervision, with these experiences typically lasting a total of 4-6 hours per week. Please note that group supervision and didactic trainings are temporarily being held by video conferencing at this time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four assessment batteries are also required over the course of the internship year and there is the possibility for more experience in this area, though that is not required. Due to the multi-site nature of the internship, some travel between sites is required.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? No
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: The data is not updated for current year. We are showing the previous data.

12/04/2020 11:59 PM
Interviews at this site are:
A Virtual Interview is:
Interview notification date: N/A
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

We will be holding interviews for the program exclusively via Skype this year. We hope to be able to offer on-site open houses to those interested in touring in Janurary, however, this will depend on current CDC recommendations related to COVID-19. Please note that participation in any open houses offered will not impact our ranking decisions in any way.

Applicants are notified by telephone or email regarding available interview times/dates. Those who will not be interviewed are informed by email that they are no longer candidates for the program. Typically, interviews are conducted primarily in January, with some possible dates being made available in late December or early February.

Some portions  of interviews conducted with staff at Pennsylvania Counseling Services may be video recorded. These video files are kept on a secure server and will only be available for review by relevant personnel (e.g. supervisors, members of the training committee, etc.) to assist with ranking decisions. Files will be deleted following submission of rankings of applicants in early February.  Applicants will be informed on the day of the interviews of any planned video recording and will have the option to decline a videotaped interview if they prefer. Declining to be video recorded will in no way affect selection decisions.
 
Additional information related to the required pre-employment background checks and clearances for working at Pennsylvania Counseling Services can be obtained at: https://pacounseling.com/clearances/
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Los Angeles, La Salle University, Marywood University, Immaculata University, Alliant International University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology Washington DC, Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Schaumburg, College of Saint Elizabeth, Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy Phoenix, Kean University, Rosemead School of Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Carlos Albizu University, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Union Institute and University
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: No
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: Yes, by start of internship
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 400
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 40
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 4
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Not Accepted
Non-Accredited Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree 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:
Program Description

Interns work out of one of two community-based settings in Lebanon (Renaissance) or Harrisburg (17th St), Pennsylvania where they provide mental health and drug and alcohol treatment in both individual and group formats. During the training year, interns are exposed to a very diverse group of clients with a wide range of presenting concerns and work under the supervision of licensed psychologists. Helping interns to develop their skills as multiculturally competenent practitioners is an important goal of the internship program.

Individuals from diverse backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply to the Doctoral Internship Program at Pennsylvania Counseling Services.

Experiences during the training year include:

  • Providing psychotherapeutic interventions (individual, group, family), consultation, and case management in an outpatient community setting.
  • A minimum of 2 hours of individual supervision and 2 hours of group supervision weekly with a licensed doctoral-level psychologist. Group supervision is held at the HQ location in Lebanon, PA. Supervisors’ orientations include (but are not limited to) Interpersonal and Psychodynamic approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems approaches, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
  • An average of 2 hours per week of didactic training on a wide range of topics relevant to clinical practice (some topics include Motivational Interviewing, Family Systems Work, Diversity Training, and Ethics).
  • Exposure to Empirically Supported Treatment modalities, such as Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
  • Performing level of care evaluations to determine suitability for outpatient treatment with a range of clients, as well as maintaining a varied caseload of both adults and children.
  • Maintaining a caseload of around 20 individual clients and running an average of one to two groups per week (groups typically address substance abuse problems, there may be opportunities to run other groups as well).
  • Providing individual supervision to a master's level intern and receiving supervision of supervision from a licensed psychologist supervisor when availability/scheduling permits.

Notable aspects of the internship include:

  • Clients are typically, self-referred, court mandated, or come to PCS from an external referral source (e.g. PCP, MHID etc).
  • Each intern is required to complete at least 4 integrated psychological assessments; however, opportunities to engage in further assessment experiences are available. PCS maintains a library of testing materials addressing a variety of clinical presentations across the lifespan.
  • Interns in the program are expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week for a full year. Overtime is allowed up to a maximum of 5 hours per week, with a 175 hour cap on total overtime for the year to ensure interns are able to maintain appropriate work/life balance. All interns are required to work two evenings per week until 8 pm.
  • Given the variety of presenting issues within each community clinic, some degree of specialization with a particular population may be possible. This specialization is dependent on availability of clients and particular strengths and skills of the intern, as well as availability of supervision for specific issues.

Some travel between sites is generally required for assessments, supervision, and specific trainings.

Pennsylvania Counseling Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Internship Training Opportunities

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

(training opportunities continued)

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

(training opportunities continued)

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

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: http://pacounseling.com  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: 32 20 28 45 124
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 21 17 24 29 53
Total number of interns: 4 5 4 5 5
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 4 5 4 5 5
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 1 1 0 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 4 4 3 5 4
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 4 5 4 5 5
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 0 4 3 130 1
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 12 44 25 5 62
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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