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Site Name: Superior Court of the District of Columbia

Department: Child Guidance Clinic

Department : Child Guidance Clinic

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1747
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Department: Child Guidance Clinic
Address: 500 Indiana Avenue NW
Suite 1110
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Distance from Major City: 0 miles from Washington, DC
Phone: 202-508-1896x
Fax: 202-508-1609
Email: jennifer.christman@dcsc.gov
Web Address: https://www.dccourts.gov/services/juvenile-matters/psychology-internship
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/matters-docs/CGC-Brochure.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Other
Additional Agency Types:
  • Child/Adolescent Psychiatric or Pediatrics
  • Prison or Other Correctional Facility
  • Other
Member of APPIC since: 2001
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Jennifer Christman
Chief Psychologist: Katara Watkins-Laws
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 4
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/29/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 3
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 42101
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Comp Time , Dissertation Release Time, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave,
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): •DC Courts’ Commuter Option Program which subsidizes interns’ commuting expenses using public transportation. SmartBenefits reduces, and in some cases eliminates, the cost of commuting to work via public transit. Most CGC interns use public transport instead of a car. •Federal Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides support for employee wellness including referrals for counseling, assessments, financial & legal advisement, a 24-hour toll-free helpline, health & wellness webinars, and more. •Access to an employees-only gym •The WOW Health & Wellness Program, DC Courts’ wellness initiative that provides education and resources to support employees’ physical and mental health, including exercise classes like yoga and virtual meditation sessions. •Preventative health measures such as free on-site flu vaccines. •High-level trainings such as a 1-hour, in-depth active shooter training facilitated by DC Court and U.S. Marshals security specialists. This training is not available to the public. •Federal holidays
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns’ primary activity is conducting psychological evaluations of court-involved youth. Evaluations include psychological, psychoeducational, adaptive functioning, neuropsychological, competency for trial, violence risk, and/or psychosexual/sex offense risk. Evaluations consist of test administration, scoring and interpretation; clinical and collateral interviews; record review; and a written integrative report. Interns’ days may also include but are not limited to the following: •Provide clinical treatment (individual and group therapy) •Provide forensic interventions, such as competency attainment for youth and sex offense treatment for youth & their families •Provide clinical supervision for CGC practicum students (externs) •Participate in interdisciplinary consultation with attorneys and probation officers •Attend the Howard University Counseling Services (HUCS) minor rotation for training and experience in group psychotherapy •Provide structured intake assessments and cognitive-behavioral individual therapy to US Probation Office Reentry Court Program participants, who are returning citizens (adults on supervised release from federal prison) •Attend individual supervision •Attend training meetings with the Training Director •Participate in weekly Assessment and Integrative Student Seminars, and monthly Forensic, Supervision/Consultation, and Psychopharmacology Seminars •Give or observe case presentations in seminars
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? Yes
Details of the above affiliations We are not affiliated with a doctoral graduate school program. Our interns do have a minor rotation at Howard University Counseling Services that focuses on training and experience with group psychotherapy. Howard University is a prestigious Historically Black College/University (HBCU).
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 11/10/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is:
Interview notification date: 12/08/2023
Tentative interview date: 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 1/15, 1/16, 1/17/24
Interview process description:

We have a bidirectional interview process wherein CGC staff is able to meet and interview prospective interns, and prospective interns are able to become familiar with CGC, its staff, and what an internship at CGC would be like. The interview process is conducted over Zoom and consists of two parts:

  • Part 1: A virtual Welcome Session. This includes a meet-and-greet with CGC staff, a Q&A with current interns, an overview of intern training experiences, virtual viewing of CGC facilities, and an overview of life in the Nation's Capital. This is typically 1.5 to 2 hours long. Applicants attend this session prior to their interview.
  • Part 2: Applicants participate in an approximately 1-hour individual interview with CGC psychology training staff.

 Parts 1 and 2 occur on separate days. Applicants who are invited to participate in an interview will be given various dates available for Parts 1 & 2. Interviewees will select and rank their top three choices. Interviewees must respond via email with their preferred dates within two business days, but interviewees are strongly encouraged to respond as soon as possible. Interview activities are largely scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis, although we attempt to accommodate the preferences of all interviewees. Welcome Sessions are typically scheduled for the first and second week of January. Interviews are typically scheduled for the second, third, and fourth week of January.

Please note, our program description and information here on our site profile in the APPIC Directory has the up-to-date information about our program. The DC Courts website/materials are currently under revision and do not include the most up-to-date information. Please refer to the program information included in this APPIC site profile, which is up to date as of 9/6/23.
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Adelphi University, Montclair State University, University of Virginia, George Washington University, Howard University, University of Arizona, Gallaudet University, Fielding Graduate School, Fordham University, Louisiana Tech, Marquette University, University of Kentucky, Chestnut Hill College, Florida School of Professional Psychology, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chaminade/Hawaii School of Professional Psychology, Indiana University, Pace University, Argosy University, and more.
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: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by ranking deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 0
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 100
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Not Accepted
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: Please note, our program description and information here on our site profile in the APPIC Directory has the up-to-date information about our program. The DC Courts website/materials are currently under revision and do not include the most up-to-date information. Please refer to the program information included in this APPIC site profile, which is up to date as of 9/6/23. There are a few firm prerequisites for applying to our internship program: 1. Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral clinical, counseling, or school psychology graduate program at an accredited institution. 2. Applicants must have all formal coursework and comprehensive exams completed prior to beginning internship. 3. Applicants must confirm formal approval of their dissertation proposal by the ranking deadline. 4. Applicants must have completed two years of practicum training. 5. Applicants must have accumulated 100 or more assessment hours.* 6. Applicants must have completed four or more integrative assessments. APPIC defines an integrated assessment as including 1. a history, 2. an interview, and 3. at least two tests from one or more of the following categories: a. personality assessments (objective, self-report, and/or projective), b. intellectual assessment, c. cognitive assessment, d. and/or neuropsychological assessment. These are synthesized into a comprehensive report providing an overall picture of the patient/client. 7. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, an individual lawfully admitted for permanent residency, or authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service to work in the U.S. *For any inquiries or questions regarding our assessment hours expectation, please submit them via email to our Training Director at Jennifer.Christman@dcsc.gov. All DC Court employees, including interns, must also pass a Court-required criminal background check. Interns complete fingerprinting, a Criminal History Request form which authorizes review of adult arrest records and forfeitures for the past ten years, and a Child Protection Register (CPR) check form from the intern's state of residence to establish if the intern has a record of substantiated abuse or neglect of a child. Failure to pass these checks will result in the intern not being permitted to proceed at CGC. We welcome international students and can provide relevant documentation for curricular practical training (CPT) authorization from international student offices. Applications are accepted using the AAPI online process, including the following components: 1. Cover letter, which should describe your interest and readiness for our internship program 2. A current Curriculum Vitae 3. A graduate program transcript 4. A de-identified integrated assessment report (e.g., an integrated report for an evaluation that included administration of multiple psychological assessment measures and clinical interviewing; a juvenile and/or forensic report is preferable but not required) 5. A written, de-identified treatment summary (e.g., discharge summary, treatment plan) In addition to these requirements, we generally seek interns who: 1. Have experience and skill in psychological assessment with relevant populations, particularly adolescents; 2. Have experience and skill in writing integrated reports; 3. Demonstrate sustained interest in, and readiness for, clinical work with culturally diverse individuals and communities; 4. Have skills and sensitivity regarding multicultural issues; 5. Demonstrate interest and ability in our core domains (e.g., assessment, forensic psychology); 6. Demonstrate enough experience and/or skill to work effectively with challenging clients (with supervisory support); 7.Demonstrate maturity, professionalism (e.g., able to meet deadlines), and a commitment to learning and ongoing professional development. Applicants are individually evaluated in terms of quality of previous training, practicum experiences, and fit with the internship. We have explicit guidelines for rating applicants, have created a scoring rubric that centers on qualities we most value, and a holistic view of applications that appreciate all aspects of a candidate’s background – not just publications and clinical experiences, but also volunteer work, advocacy, lived experiences; looking at the applicant’s CV and personal essays for demonstration of a commitment to diversity in academic or work activities, such as research topics or membership with diverse-serving student organizations. Diversity in our faculty and trainees at all levels is an integral part of our program. Thus, we prioritize recruitment of diverse interns from a range of cultural and personal backgrounds, as well as applicants with experience or a strong interest in working with clients from diverse individual, cultural, and community backgrounds.
Program Description

The Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) internship program aims to produce well-rounded psychologists that are ready for entry-level practice who have specialized training in forensic psychology practice but can excel across a broad spectrum of professional psychology settings. While our program offers a wide range of training experiences to develop professional competencies, psychological assessment is emphasized. The overarching training goal of our program is for interns to acquire clinical assessment and intervention skills that are generalizable to multiple professional settings, as well as the specialized evaluation, intervention, and psycho-legal skills requisite for forensic practice.

Interns primarily work with adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system in Washington, DC who have been court-ordered or court-referred to CGC for clinical services. Interns conduct psychological, psychoeducational, psychosexual, competency for trial, and violence risk evaluations. Interns provide individual and group psychotherapy as well as forensic interventions for competency remediation and sex offense treatment. Interns also provide treatment to adult forensic and non-forensic populations via rotations with Howard University Counseling Services and the U.S. Probation Office. Clinical services are provided across court, community, detention, and virtual settings. Interns also provide supervision to externs and engage in interdisciplinary consultation with attorneys and probation officers.

Diversity in our faculty and trainees at all levels is an integral part of our program. Thus, we prioritize recruitment of diverse interns from a range of cultural and personal backgrounds, as well as applicants with experience or a strong interest in working with clients from diverse individual, cultural, and community backgrounds. We offer an inclusive and supportive work and training environment that welcomes everyone and values diverse participants. Our curriculum supports acquisition of skills and knowledge related to intersectionality and diverse people, families, and communities, and amplifies the voices of diverse experts. Interns receive exceptional and unique training and experience in clinical work with diverse populations. Interns receive supervision and mentorship from a training faculty that is diverse in ethnicity and culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability. Interns work in an organization with diverse leadership and interdisciplinary colleagues. Interns have access to mentorship from alumni who share similar personal and cultural identities. Our recruitment of diverse interns and externs results in training cohorts comprised of students with differing experiences, identities, backgrounds, abilities, and interests. We offer accessible facilities, assistive technology, interpreter services, and DC Courts’ own ADA Coordinator.

Interns work alongside staff with a variety of specialties, including a Board Certified Forensic Psychologist and specialists in childhood trauma and assessment research. 

The majority of youth served by CGC identify as African-American or Hispanic/Latino/Latinx. The youth served by CGC are typically between the ages of 12 and 18. Approximately 75% of the youth served by CGC are male and 25% are female. Youth and families served by CGC may also identify in other diverse ways, including varying sexual orientation, gender identity, language, nationality, ability, religion, family composition, income level, and more. Many of the youth served by CGC have personal histories of trauma and come from economically disadvantaged and under-resourced communities with frequent exposure to community violence and crime. Interns have exceptional and unique opportunities to provide culturally informed assessments and services to youth presenting with an array of cognitive and psychosocial problems.  

This internship site complies with APPIC guidance for deadlines and 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 program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Comission on Accreditation: APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 1st St NE, Washington DC 20002; Phone: (202) 336-5979, Email: apaacred@apa.org, Online: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation.

Please note, our program description and information here on our site profile in the APPIC Directory has the up-to-date information about our program. The DC Courts website/materials are currently under revision and do not include the most up-to-date information. Please refer to the program information included in this APPIC site profile, which is up to date as of 9/6/23.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children: Yes
Adolescents: Yes
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults:
Inpatients:
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students: Yes
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other: Forensic populations; Court-involved youth and families; Youth victims of commercial sexual exploitation/sex trafficking

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Experience (21% to 30%)
Other: Forensic evaluations (e.g., competency for trial, violence risk) and forensic interventions (e.g., competency remediation, sex offender treatment)

(training opportunities continued)

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

Behavioral Disorders - Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)

ADHD - Emphasis (31% to 49%)

Mood Disorders - Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)

Forensic interventions - Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)

Psychopharmacology - Exposure (1% to 20%)

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: https://www.dccourts.gov/services/juvenile-matters/psychology-internship  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: 54 53 51 71 72 68 79
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 37 31 30 34 35 36 37
Total number of interns: 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 1 2 2 1 2 2 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 1 1 2 1 1 2
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 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
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 27 20 19 5 17
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 36 22 21 57 53
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: 1
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 2
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