Psychology Intern - Therapist Practicum

About the Role

Utah Valley University’s Psychology Intern – Therapist Practicum offers emerging clinicians the chance to develop meaningful, real-world therapeutic skills while making a direct impact on student well-being. Under the guidance of the Director of Mental Health Services and a licensed Training Supervisor, practicum therapists gain hands-on experience in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment for a wide range of learning, intellectual, psychological, and social concerns. This role provides a supportive environment where developing professionals can grow their clinical voice through individual, couples, and group therapy, as well as through interdisciplinary collaboration across campus.

This practicum is designed for those who want to strengthen their clinical case management skills, refine their therapeutic approach, and contribute to a community that values compassion and student success. Interns leave the program with a deeper sense of confidence, a broadened clinical toolkit, and the satisfaction of helping individuals navigate challenges and thrive academically and personally.

Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of an approved Training Supervisor, administer psychotherapy to a broad UVU student population for cognitive, substance, psychotic, mood, anxiety, dissociative, sexual, sleep, adjustment, personality, and other psychological disorders.
• Under the supervision of an approved Training Supervisor, assess clients' emotional, intellectual, and personality functioning to assist them in their individual needs by utilizing clinical interview methods, objective testing instruments, and clinical expertise. Provide a diagnosis if applicable according to the DSM-V.
• Under the supervision of an approved Training Supervisor, write and record an accurate, confidential record of the client's condition, treatment plan, and progress toward recovery and treatment goals.
• Conduct suicide risk assessments utilizing evidence-based practice; provide intake, triage, and crisis intervention with clients who are experiencing acute behavioral and/or emotional crisis.
• Manage complex and high-risk clients and provide emergency on-call and after-hours services as assigned.
• Attend supervision, workshops, and didactic training to keep current on effective assessment and psychotherapy methods.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced graduate education (i.e., Ph.D., Psy.D) in an accredited institution in the mental health field of psychology.
• Provisional or resident licensure for the practice of psychotherapy as a psychologist (preferred).

Knowledge

• Psychological theories, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Legal and ethical standards for the therapeutic professions.
• Essential principles of psychology, human behavior, and counseling and psychotherapy.
• Individual, group, and crisis intervention techniques.
• Community mental health resources.
• Psycho-diagnostic and psychiatric diagnoses based on DSM-V.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology.
• Title IX procedures and campus resources.

Skills

• Treatment planning and providing effective psychological treatment for UVU students.
• Documenting the treatment progress of clients.
• Diagnosis of psychological disorders based on the DSM-V.
• Consultation with staff.
• Communication and observation skills used in psychotherapeutic intervention.
• Computer and software applications, and confidential record keeping.

Abilities

• Provide suicide risk assessments using evidence-based practice.
• Diagnose psychological disorders based on the DSM-V.
• Keep accurate and precise treatment records.
• Communicate effectively.
• Comply with HIPAA and FERPA privacy laws.
• Comply with ethical standards established within the therapeutic professions.
• Seek supervision for best practices for psychotherapeutic care.