The PsyD program is a post-master’s program that requires applicants to complete a graduate-level practicum prior to admission, including working with individuals and/or families in a clinical context. Incoming students must have a beginning understanding of the psychotherapeutic process as evidenced by a basic knowledge of how commonly occurring client problems are helped by different treatment approaches, and demonstrate interest in and readiness for self-reflection in clinical practicum.
Clinical training in the doctoral program includes practicum placements in the second and third years of the program. Full-time internship is completed in the fourth or fifth year; part time internship over a two-year period is also an option based on individual student needs.
Practicum I and II
- Practicum I consists of 800 hours of training completed in the second year of the program and includes a focus on diagnostic testing and assessment. Of those 800 hours, 50 hours must be assessment hours which includes direct test administration and testing feedback with clients.
- Practicum II consists of 1,000 hours of training in the third year of the program and builds upon the student’s academic and clinical training to diagnosis and treat clients, further development of the skills necessary to create meaningful therapeutic relationships; focus is placed on evidenced-based psychology and culturally competent psychotherapy interventions.
- Practicum I (800 hours) and Practicum II (1,000 hours) each require a minimum of 50% of the total practicum hours to be in service-related activities. These are defined as: treatment/intervention, assessment, interviews, report writing, case presentations, and case consultation.
- Of those service-related activities a minimum of 25% of the total practicum hours (200 hours for Practicum I and 250 hours for Practicum II) shall be devoted to face-to-face patient/client contact. For example, a student completing a 20-hour per week practicum placement would need to spend at least 10 hours per week completing service-related activities and of those hours, a minimum of 5 must involve face-to-face client contact.
- Students receive 8 hours of supervision per month; 4 hours are provided by fully-licensed site supervisors and 4 hours by fully-licensed faculty supervisors.
- Students develop advanced competencies in ethical & legal standards, individuals & cultural diversity, professional values & attitudes, communication & interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, and consultation & interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.
The Director of Clinical Training guides students through the match and application process for practicum placement. The PsyD Clinical Training Handbook, located on MSP’s internal Student Resource site, provides detailed information about practicum training requirements.
Below are examples of typical practicum placements available to MSP students.
| Practicum Setting | Description of Services |
|---|---|
|
New Oakland Child-Adolescent Family Center |
Specializes in eating disorder treatments and provides mental health services to all ages with a main focus on therapeutic alternatives to inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations. |
|
McLaren Hospital
Behavioral Health Services |
Services for individuals, families and children with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues |
|
University of Michigan (UM) Counseling & Psychological Services |
Psychological and psychiatric services for currently enrolled UM undergraduate and graduate students |
Internship
- 2,000 hours of advanced clinical training.
- Prior to advancing to internship, students are required to pass a Clinical Competency Exam and possess a working knowledge of assessment and interviewing, case formulation, therapeutic alliance dynamics, and empirically-supported treatment formulation.
- Interns work closely with clinical psychologists in a wide variety of clinical activities to prepare for independent practice.
- Students receive a minimum of 8 hours of supervision per month.
- Students develop advanced competencies in ethical & legal standards, individuals & cultural diversity, professional values & attitudes, communication & interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, and consultation & interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.
Internships are obtained through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral Internship Center (APPIC) national internship match. The PsyD Clinical Training Handbook, located on MSP’s Student Resource site, provides detailed information about internship training requirements.
