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Site Name: Western Youth Services

Department: Training Department

Department : Training Department

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1997
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Western Youth Services
Department: Training Department
Address: 23461 South Pointe Drive, Suite 220
Laguna Hills, California 92653
Country: United States
Metro Area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City: 40 miles south of Los Angeles, 70 miles north of San Diego
Phone: 949-855-1556x
Fax: 949-951-2871
Training Director Email: shannon.wilson@wysoc.org
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: http://www.westernyouthservices.org
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.westernyouthservices.org/doctoral-internships/
Primary Agency Type: Community Mental Health Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Community Mental Health Center
Member of APPIC since: 2005
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Shannon Wilson
Chief Psychologist: Shannon Wilson
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 6
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 3
Position Information
Start Date: 08/18/2025
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 8
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 45000
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): 14 Paid Holidays
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns work 40 hours per week, typically with Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday as 9-hour clinic days to allow for some early evening time with families, Wednesday as an-8 hour clinic day, and Friday as a 5-hour training day. Clinic days typically include 4-5 hours of therapy or testing, with balance of day for supervision (receiving and providing), staff meetings, and time to consult and document.
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: 11/01/2024 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are: Required
Interview notification date: 12/06/2024
Tentative interview date: 01/06/2025, 01/08/2025, 01/14/2025, 01/16/2025
Interview process description:

Interview days will be held during the month of January, with four days available (choices are first-come, first-served):

***Dates below are currently tentative***

  • Monday, 1/6/2025 (9:30-11:00 or 11:30-1:00 Pacific Time)
  • Wednesday, 1/8/2025 (9:30-11:00 or 11:30-1:00 Pacific Time)
  • Tuesday, 1/14/2025 (9:30-11:00 or 11:30-1:00 Pacific Time)
  • Thursday, 1/16/2025 (9:30-11:00 or 11:30-1:00 Pacific Time)

We will have a max of 12 people on each day (6 simultaneous interviews) for a max of 48 people to interview. Interviews will be held solely via Zoom video conferencing. Each applicant will have three half-hour individual interviews (with one or two interviewers in each interview).

Additionally, we will provide a group presentation and informational Q&A with several members of our psychology staff, as well as time alone with one or more current interns. These informational sessions are scheduled separately from the interviews. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the informational sessions:

***Dates below are currently tentative***

  • Monday, 1/6/2025 (1:00-2:30 Pacific Time)
  • Thursday, 1/16/2025 (1:00-2:30 Pacific Time)

Each applicant invited to interview will be notified by email and will be scheduled on an available date and time in order of response. Some days fill up faster than others, so a quicker response will help toward potentially receiving a top choice for interview date and time.
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Adler University, Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology (Freson, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco), Antioch University, Azusa Pacific University, Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, The Chicago School - Chicago, The Chicago School - Orange County (previously Argosy University/American School of Professional Psychology - Orange County), Florida Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Loma Linda University, McGill University, Midwestern University, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology/Stanford University Doctor of Psychology Consortium, Pepperdine University, Northeastern University, Pacific University, Phillips Graduate University, Roosevelt University, Rosemead School of Psychology/Biola University, Rutgers University, Spalding University, Texas A&M University, University of Denver, University of Hartford, University of Houston, University of La Verne, University of North Texas, University of Oregon, Virginia Tech, William James College
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
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: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: No
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 400
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 75
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Does your program require applicants to submit supplemental materials (i.e., an assessment report and/or a case/treatment summary): Yes
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: De-identified Sample Testing Report
Program Description

Western Youth Services (WYS) is a child and family community mental health agency serving the needs of vulnerable children in Orange County, California. Interns provide and are trained in evidence-based family therapy, evidence-based child therapy, trauma therapy, psychological testing, and consultation with treatment team members (i.e., social services staff, school personnel, psychiatrists, etc.). WYS anticipates having nine licensed psychologists who all participate in one or more aspects of the training program (e.g. teaching, supervision) and four postdoctoral fellows who will serve as mentors for interns. Interns are placed in one of four regions (clinics) located in Anaheim, Fountain Valley, or Santa Ana (2). Interns are required to have transportation during work hours as seminars and group supervision alternate locations, and interns may occasionally travel between clinics to conduct psychological testing. All clinics provide opportunities for evidence-based trainings that include, but are not limited to, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children: Yes
Adolescents: Yes
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults:
Inpatients:
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other: Vietnamese-speaking

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
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:
Consultation/Liaison: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Crisis Intervention: Experience (21% to 30%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other: Screening for high risk, LGBTQIA+

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology:
Pediatrics: Exposure (1% to 20%)
School: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Counseling: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Feminist Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research:
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: www.westernyouthservices.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 2024-2025
Number of Completed Applications: 102 109 83 94 85 97 99 85
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 41 42 40 37 36 36 36 42
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 2 1 1 2 0 3 3
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 4 4 5 5 4 6 3 5
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 5 5 5 6 6 6 8
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 3 3 1 0 4 3 5 3
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 36 39 19 55 28 25 34 60
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024
Academic teaching: 0 0
Community mental health center: 3 4
Consortium: 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0
School district/system: 1 0
Independent practice setting: 1 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 1
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://www.westernyouthservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Internship-Admissions-Support-and-Initial-Placement-Data-2024-25.pdf
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