CAPS Training Program

Under the direction of Heather Goldstein Frost, PhD, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) contributes to the process of training graduate students from applied clinical programs toward competent and ethical practice. In so doing, CAPS furthers the overall educational mission of the university. Also in so doing, CAPS helps to meet the needs of graduate school departments for cooperative and accessible settings where students can gain supervised practical experience. The professional staff of CAPS is conscious that quality and care in the training of new professionals is a responsibility to one's profession as well as being essential to protect present and future consumers of health care. Senior staff members have committed time and energy into a regular schedule of didactic seminars, weekly case consultation team meetings, individual supervision and other mentoring activities as well as in providing student evaluations for academic purposes, internships and job searches. Graduate students in training at CAPS may be doctoral interns in psychology or practicum students in counseling psychology.

Psychology interns are completing the final step of their PhD or PsyD requirements. They are twelve-month, full-time employees in CAPS participating in the full range of professional activities of senior staff as well as specific training activities and supervision of their work. Their home academic departments may be anywhere in the US or Canada. The doctoral psychology internship training program in CAPS has completed rigorous requirements and is accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Practicum students are completing a doctoral or master's degree in Counseling Psychology at KU. They spend 16-20 hours per week seeing clients, participating in consultations and receiving supervision. Their work is a part of an academic course in which they are currently enrolled.

In addition to the trainee positions, student employment opportunities are available to undergraduate and graduate students through the HOPE@CAPS Mental Health Peer Education program in the career services and testing services divisions of CAPS. These positions can provide valuable, relevant learning for students interested in the field.

*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 2002

Phone: 202-336-5979 / Email: apaaccred@apa.org