The goal of the doctoral internship programs in clinical psychology is to provide interns with training within the integrated and multidisciplinary Kaiser Permanente Northern California system as an entry-level psychologist. The training program’s mission statement declares that it is “committed to training clinical psychology interns within an integrated health care system, in order to prepare them for dynamic roles as practicing psychologists in the health care system of the future”.

Practicum training is a part time program focused on the early developmental stages of becoming a future psychologist. Practicum students spend more time shadowing and engaging indirect training activities prior to working with patients than predoctoral interns. Practicum students also do not have as many opportunities as predoctoral interns do to engage in additional enrichment projects, such as program development/evaluation or community service projects. Predoctoral interns are offered a broader array of rotation and specialty training opportunities.

In the beginning of the training year, the site training director will notify the intern’s graduate school that the intern has successfully begun the internship program. In creating a schedule for the intern, the site training director works closely with the intern and departmental staff. The intern’s schedule may require weekend work hours, but in no case shall the intern be scheduled to work more than 40 hours per week. At least one-half of the intern’s time (approximately 20 hours per week) is spent providing direct services to patients. Services may include but are not limited to intake evaluations, individual and family psychotherapy, facilitation of treatment groups and psychological assessment. The remaining hours are spent in activities such as weekly individual and group supervision, departmental/team meetings, a program development/evaluation project, local and regional seminars and didactics, scholarly presentations to peers and a service project in the community. Trainees are expected to be present and available during all scheduled hours.

Training/Clinical Services Offered:

Comments Regarding Theoretical Orientation of Staff