The primary purpose of the internship program is the training of interns for the practice of professional psychology in a variety of health care settings including but not limited to public service settings.  Northwood strives to provide a balanced apprenticeship experience where supervised direct clinical practice, formal training events, and science and practice are integrated through instruction and reflection.  Clinical assignments are determined by primary supervisors in collaboration with the training director and matched to individual student’s training needs and interests through ongoing discussion of developing competencies and internship requirements.  All interns will have supervised experience with a range of case and activity assignments across the training year.  Interns will have the opportunity to do both brief and longer-term therapy with individuals, groups, and/or families throughout their internship.  At least 45% of an intern’s time is in face-to-face psychological services to clients.  Interns spend 20 hours a week in face-to-face service delivery. 

This internship provides training and supervised experience in the following nine major competency areas of professional psychology: ethics, legal and professional issues; individual differences, diversity and social justice issues; the development of a theoretical orientation and the conceptualization process; sensitivity to client issues; sensitivity to self as therapist issues; the counseling process and clinical intervention skills; assessment and diagnostic skills; intake and crisis intervention; (and) a contribution to current knowledge/practices along with a commitment to continuing education.