Psychology Training Programs

The Counseling, Health & Wellness Center (CHW) provides integrated counseling and health services to Suffolk’s significantly diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and law students.

The APA-accredited Internship in Health Service Psychology is an important part of CHW. Our Training Aims include preparing Interns for entry-level practice in higher education settings, increasing multicultural competency with a focus on social justice, and assistance with the development of an authentic professional and personal identity rooted in professional values, ethics, and knowledge. CHW provides a dynamic and supportive training and working environment for personal and professional growth. Training staff maintain an integrated approach to clinical work, with a focus on empirically based short-term and relational or relational-cultural models. CHW seeks to maintain an inclusive environment for service delivery, staff engagement, and the training of Doctoral Interns; training staff are committed to the provision of services and training which intentionally address issues of diversity and identity, interpersonal sociocultural differences, and social justice. Suffolk is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse community. We are actively seeking applicants from groups that might be under-represented because of race/color, gender, religion, real or perceived disability, national origin or LGBTQ status.

Accreditation

The CHW Internship in Health Service Psychology was APA-accredited in 1996 and is currently accredited through 2027. The Program is a member of APPIC and utilizes the national match process via National Matching Services, Inc. during recruitment and selection. Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Email
Phone: 202-336-5979

Program Description

The Internship Program is based on three core training aims:

  1. Prepare doctoral interns for entry-level practice in the provision of professional psychological services within integrated counseling and health centers in higher education.
  2. Increase knowledge, skills, and awareness regarding multicultural competence, interpersonal sociocultural differences, and individual identity as they relate to all aspects of professional practice, with a focus on social justice.
  3. Assist in the development of an integrated personal and professional identity based in the application of scientific knowledge, professional values and ethics, and with attention to the power of authenticity.

The CHW Intern Manual 2024-2025 [PDF] provides detailed information regarding the internship, which provides at least 2000 total hours and 500 direct service hours consistent with APA accreditation and Massachusetts licensure requirements. The manual reviews the Internship's training requirements, direct service activities, learning elements, supervision structure, competencies, evaluation, and other important information. Applicants are encouraged to review this information to determine if the internship is a fit for their professional goals and interests.

Internship Admission, Support, and Initial Placement Data

The Internship Admission, Support, and Initial Placement Data Table [PDF] provides summary information regarding the Internship, including application information, summary of benefits, and post-internship placements.

Application Requirements

Three full-time twelve month internships are available for the academic year 2024-2025. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral program in psychology and have recent supervised clinical experience. Candidates do not have to be United States citizens to apply. The stipend for 2024-2025 will be $35,568.

Offers of employment is contingent upon 1) successful completion of a background screening, which includes a Social Security trace, Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI), and criminal background Information (CORI); 2) your eligibility to work in the United States; and 3) your agreement to accept your pay via direct deposit. Accepted Interns work directly with Human Resources to complete the background screening and are notified when it is complete.

Application deadline for the 2024-2025 internship training year is Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Application Requirements

  • AAPI Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI2016) Form on the APPIC website.
  • Transcripts of related graduate work.
  • Three (3) letters of reference, including one from a recent clinical supervisor. Letters from clinical supervisors are preferred.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Applicants must participate in the APPIC match process through National Matching Services, Inc. CHW follows all match policies and procedures during the selection process.

Minimum Qualifications

  • 500 Intervention Hours and 10 assessment hours.
  • Completion of all required coursework for doctoral degree.
  • Statement of readiness for internship from academic program.
  • Counseling Center experience or interest in working in a university setting.
  • Demonstrated emotional and social maturity.
  • Relevant clinical experience in intake assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, and crisis intervention with adolescents or young adults.
  • Experience and interest working with diverse client populations utilizing identity-affirming and inclusive treatment approaches.
  • Demonstrated interest in and ability to engage in authentic self-reflection in the service of personal and professional growth.
  • Willingness to learn and utilize various conceptual treatment frameworks.
  • Interest and/or experience in conducting consultation and outreach activities.
  • Conducted supervision, when available and appropriate.
  • Awareness of social justice principles as they apply to clinical, consultative, or outreach activities.
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills and self-awareness.
  • Experience or interest holistic wellness and working in an integrated counseling and medical services setting.
  • Awareness of and commitment to ethical practice and the values of professional psychology.
  • Indicated commitment to the practitioner-scholar model of training.

The quality of an applicant’s previous educational, counseling, outreach, consultation, and multicultural knowledge and awareness are initially assessed during a careful review of each applicant’s cover letter, required essays, academic transcript, resume/curriculum vitae, and letters of reference. Applicants invited for on-site interviews engage in more in-depth discussion and interaction with training staff regarding their previous experiences and desired training needs in order for both parties to determine goodness-of-fit for CHW’s Internship Program.

Supervisors, Staff, and Interns

The Counseling Center's clinical staff includes doctoral-level psychologists and LICSW and LMHC licensed staff. Interns interact with all staff during staff meetings, clinical consultation, outreach, and other professional activities. Primary supervisors are licensed psychologists with more than 2 years of licensed experience. Group supervision is provided by the Training Director or one of the primary supervisors. More information about supervision can be found in the Intern Manual.

Stephanie Kendall, PhD
CHW Director/Training Director
George Mason University

Natasha Torkelson, PhD (Primary Supervisor)
Assistant Director/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Boston College

Elizabeth Shum, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist/Practicum Coordinator
University of Denver

Sharon Stein, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Michael Denton-Smith, LICSW
CHW Case Manager 

Former Interns

2023-2024

  • Angelia Davis – University of South Alabama
  • Marianne Fleur Ople – Alliant International University
  • Courtney Welsh – Alliant International University

2022-2023

  • Brandon Kirkwood – Antioch University New England
  • Mallaigh McGinley - University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Joyce Zhu – University of Toronto

2021-2022

  • Lucia Andrade - University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Megan Nelson - Oklahoma State University
  • Quynh Tran - Antioch University New England

2020-2021

  • Noor Tahirkheli - University of Massachusetts, Boston
  • Alex Thompson - Nova Southeastern University
  • Paige Victorine - Loyola University of Maryland 

2019-2020

  • Ellen (Tess) O’Neil - Wright Institute
  • Brianna Wadler - University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Ji Yu - Wright Institute

2018-2019

  • Yerang (Anna) Lee - Boston University
  • Allison Lurie - William James College
  • Max Wu - University of Massachusetts-Boston

2017-2018

  • Diana Hinojosa - University of Denver
  • Leah Levy - Antioch University - New England
  • Anna Potter - Antioch University - New England

2016-2017

  • Vanessa Alvarez - Suffolk University
  • Jennifer Chang - Teachers College at Columbia University
  • Jose Javier Flores - Azusa Pacific University

2015-2016

  • Ellen Darling - Clark University
  • Ksenia Kopeikin - University of Louisville
  • Natasha Torkelson - Boston College

2014-2015

  • Bola Afrolayan - Antioch University of New England
  • Lavanya Devdas - Lehigh University
  • Jamie Graceffo - Pennsylvania State University

2013-2014

  • Ashley Kies - University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
  • Samantha Morris - University of Hartford
  • Sarah Piontkowski - University of Maryland at College Park

2012-2013

  • Faedra Backus - Boston College
  • Susan Lambe Sarinana - University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Stacy Taniguchi - Stanford Consortium

2011-2012

  • Lucinda Bratini - Binghampton University
  • Alexis Lamb - University of Rhode Island
  • Ingrid Sarmiento - Clark University

2010-2011

  • Allie Smith - University of Georgia
  • Marina Valdez - University of Oregon
  • Jennifer West - Boston College

APPIC Match Dates and Process

Applicants must complete the AAPI application through APPIC; the portal generally opens in mid-July each year. This online application system is available on the APPIC website.

Applicants must also register to participate in the APPIC Matching Program; registration typically begins in early August each year. Registration for the APPIC Match is completed online through National Matching Services, Inc. Please note that registering for the match is a separate process from registering for the APPI online. This internship site 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.

To register, contact:

National Matching Services, Inc.
595 Bay Street
Suite 301, Box 29
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M5G 2C2
Telephone: 416-977-3431

If you have other questions concerning internship applications and/or guidelines, please contact the American Psychological Association at the following address:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
Telephone: 202-336-5979
Fax: 202-336-5978

Application Dates and Phases

Suffolk’s application deadline is above. Suffolk University follows the APPIC Match Dates and all related APPIC policies and processes. Should we have open positions after Phase I of the Match, we will participate in Phase II and III until our position fill. Please follow APPIC guidelines and processes for participation in Phase II and Phase III.