Thank you for your interest in serving as an intern at the University of Dallas Counseling Center (UDCC) as your practicum/internship site. We are honored by and greatly appreciate the service you provide to our site, as we believe the interns and their associated programs are an integral part of our patients' healing and success.
We have different practicum/internship cohorts, depending upon your level of education. We have an undergraduate internship that helps with campus initiatives and non-clinical operations of the Center. We have a Pre-Practicum for UD Graduate Psych Majors, and a Graduate Clinical Practicum and Internship open to any affiliated university.
Click on the specific program to learn more about or to apply:
Undergraduate Internship
UD Graduate Pre-Practicum
Graduate Clinical Practicum & Internship (Affiliated University Programs)
Licensed Associates
National Catholic Bioethics Center Training
For more information:
The University of Dallas Counseling Center
1845 E. Northgate Dr., Haggar 340
Irving, TX 75062
counseling@udallas.edu • 972-721-4045
Spots are limited. The UDCC will contact eligible interns for interviews.
Undergraduate Internships
There are two ways to volunteer as a non-clinical, non-staff Undergraduate Intern
at the UDCC. While interacting with direct clinical services is not an option, as
we take confidentiality and privacy very seriously, we have other ways to connect
with and learn more about the field. You can connect with one or more and do as many
hours per week or as little per month as your schedule permits.
**The UDCC does not currently offer academic credit for internships but is in the
process of developing this.
Initiatives:
Option 1: Educational Mental Health Coalition
Coordinating with High School clinicians and administrators across DFW and the US to help develop programs, research, and initiatives to address mental health struggles with transitioning from High School to College.
Option 2: Office Support
Support developing, researching, and maintaining clerical documentation and ongoing
related to UDCC clinical operations, and other clerical or administrative support
(e.g., help setting up for clinical meetings, guest presenters, conferences, etc.)
Research and help develop content for the following internal and external publications
of the UDCC, such as:
- UDCC Operational materials,
- Electronic Forms (non-patient data),Various Electronic Health Record assessments, screens, and forms.
- Among Others.
Option 3: UDCC PR
- Developing campus-wide mental health awareness content for students, faculty, and staff,
- Multiple mediums: website, social media, printed materials, etc.
REQUIREMENTS
The UDCC Undergraduate Internship is for active University of Dallas undergraduate students. Typically, the interns will major or minor in psychology or a related field at UD or have a specific interest in psychology, counseling, therapy, public mental health, or a related field. Due to the nature of the relations with entities on and off campus, only Juniors and Seniors are permitted to participate.
The UDCC does not typically admit any interns, practicum students, licensed associates, or clinical staff who have been in the care of the UDCC within the past two years. However, with the large percentage of students served by the UDCC, it may be difficult to avoid this. The UDCC may admit undergraduate Interns who have received services within the past two years if their clinician signs off on the work or if the clinician is not their direct supervisor and the student does not do direct work with their clinician. However, individuals who have been seen within the past two years and do not have their clinician sign-off may have a longer wait until the two years have been completed.
Required Skills:
- Interpersonal Skills
- Communication Skills
- Technical Proficiency
- Time Management
- Organizational Skills
- Research Skills
- Executive Thinking
- Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
- Research & Analysis
- Initiative
Desired Qualities:
- High Integrity
- Creative, Curious, & Inquisitive
- Motivated, Tenacious, & Determined
- Adaptable & Resilient
- High Levels of Professionalism
- Able to Work Independently
- Able to Accept and Act on Feedback
- Patient
- Quick Learner
All interns must sign HIPAA/FERPA privacy/confidentiality forms, follow all clinical and administrative staff directions, and report directly to the UDCC Director.
APPLY TO BE AN UNDERGRAD NON-CLINICAL INTERN
To apply to be an Intern click here.
Master Graduate Pre-Practicum
There are a few options for practicum and internships for graduate students to choose from. The Clinical Practicum & Internships are open to other affiliated university students. The Pre-Practicum is only for University of Dallas Master Psychology students. See below for more info on each option.
UD Psych Master Pre-Practicum
For University of Dallas students in the Master of Psychology Program, only. This initiative is a collaboration between the UD Psych Department and the UDCC. Students who have not yet reached their practiucm year option, have the opportunity to "dip their toes into the pool," before diving into their practicum experience. In the Pre-Practicum ("PrePrac"), you have the option to attend Intern Group Supervision meetings, Treatment Team meetings, providing public mental health presentations to campus, and connecting to initiatives like our BioFeedback Lab, Resilience Training Program, and others.
To apply to be in the PrePrac, message us at counseling@udallas.edu.
Master Graduate Practicum & Internships
There are a few options for practicum and internships for graduate students to choose from. The Clinical Practicum & Internships are open to other affiliated university students. The Pre-Practicum is only for University of Dallas Master Psychology students. See below for more info on each option.
Depending on the level of training and education, the Master Clinical Practicum Students and Interns at the UDCC participate in assessments, treatment planning, and ongoing individual and couples counseling sessions, with options for brief family therapy that may be needed. There are options to develop group therapy and public psychoeducation when possible. We also have a "Support Team" option: live observation by your supervisor and peers with in-session feedback for your work with patients.
Requirements
The requirements to become a practicum Intern at the UDCC are as follows:
- Currently enrolled as a Master-level student from an accredited institution, eligible for practicum/internship placement as assessed by their institution, seeking LPC, LMSW/LCSW, or LMFT clinical tracks
- The accredited institution has a signed and current Affiliation Agreement with the University of Dallas,
- Fall and Spring semester commitment, Summer and mid-semesters optional as well,
- Minimum 3 hours per week of direct hours for practicum students and 10 hours per week for interns.
- Max 20 hours per week of direct hours,
- One supervision hour for every ten clinical hours (Individual and Group),
- 1 hour of training per week,
- Interns carry their liability insurance, providing a copy of the policy to the UDCC Director,
- Other potentially specific responsibilities or requirements may be discussed at the interview.
Practice Opportunities & Benefits
- UDCC follows all CACREP requirements, whether or not your Graduate Program is CACREP affiliated,
- Provide direct services to a diverse group of individuals and couples, with options for group and brief family therapy,
- Provide intake interviews, mental status evaluations, biopsychosocial histories, mental health history, and psychological assessment for treatment planning and caseload management,
- Techniques and interventions for prevention and treatment of a broad range of mental health issues,
- Strategies to advocate for persons with mental health issues in the University environment or greater community,
- Medical Doctors on-site for case consultation,
- Supervised exposure and work with the Office of Student Life, the Health Clinic, Care and BIT Teams, and Campus Safety Procedures with on-campus Crises,
- Collaboration within the higher education community to develop programs and interventions to promote the academic, social, and career success of individuals in higher education settings,Including activities during Mental Health Week, various student group activities, and others.
- Strategies to assist individuals in higher education settings with personal/social development,
- Interventions related to a broad range of mental health issues for individuals in higher education settings,
- Strategies for addiction prevention and intervention for individuals in higher education settings,
- Use of multiple data sources to inform programs and services in higher education settings.
Affiliation Agreement
An Affiliation Agreement is a contract implemented between the practicum student's University and a third-party affiliate institution (e.g., the UDCC) to place the University's students in credit-bearing educational experiences such as internships, fieldwork, or experiential learning opportunities at the host affiliate location. An Affiliation Agreement is necessary for practicum/internship programs to allow credit for the work done and for the University of Dallas to allow interns to begin work at the UDCC.
An Affiliation Agreement is a legal document between the two entities and usually requires both parties' legal counsel to review and approve the contract. This process could take as little as two weeks, up to several months. A practicum student intern would need to anticipate the length of this process and plan accordingly. No work can begin until all parties have signed the Agreement.
Affiliated University Programs
The University of Dallas Counseling Center currently (as of Spring 2022) has Affiliation Agreements with and is accepting applications from the following University programs (alphabetically).
- Sam Houston State University
- The Family Institute at Northwestern University
- Townsend Institute for Leadership & Counseling at Concordia University Irvine
- University of Dallas Psychology Department
- University of North Texas
- (A few others are in discussions)
A practicum student/intern wanting to work at the UDCC and their University does not have an Affiliation Agreement with the UDCC, the student can inquire with their program and the UDCC Director to see what options they may have to begin the process for an Affiliation Agreement.
Apply to be an Undergrad Intern or Master Clinical Practicum/Intern
To apply to be an Intern click here.
Associates
Licensed Clinical Associates (LPC-Associate, LMFT-A, LMSW) may apply to be part-time staff members, through our HR department, as W2 employees, if there are current open positions. Associates must have their own off-site board approve supervisor and carry their own liability insurance. Associates will have options for all opportunities listed above.
See if there are current job openings here.
National Catholic Bioethics Center Training
The UDCC partners with the NCBC to provide ethics continuing education and ad hoc consultation for all UDCC staff. All practicum and internship interns are able to join in on this extensive ethics training.
For more information on any of the programs listed above, contact us at:
The University of Dallas Counseling Center
1845 E. Northgate Dr., Haggar 340
Irving, TX 75062
counseling@udallas.edu • 972-721-4045