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Counseling and Psychological Services

How To Apply

Criteria for Internship

To be considered for the CAPS Internship Program, applicants should be able to fulfill the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology
  • Successful completion of doctoral comprehensive exams
  • Completion of a minimum of 400 practicum therapy hours by November 1 and a minimum of 1200 total practicum hours
  • Approval by the academic training program verifying readiness for internship
  • Completion of all required coursework and practica prior to the starting date of the internship
  • Favorable consideration will be given to applicants who will have completed or made substantial progress toward completion of their dissertation by the start of the internship year
  • The Training Program at CAPS discourages internship applicants who are currently doing their practicum at CAPS. This is to minimize the issues of dual roles in supervisory relationships as well as other complications that might interfere with externs’ focus on their practicum experience at CAPS.
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Application Materials

For selection of the 2010-2011 training class, CAPS will begin using the AAPI Online Application as with all APPIC member internship programs. Hard-copy, mailed-in applications will no longer be accepted. Go to the APPIC website (http://appic.org/) to find out more about the AAPI Online.


To be considered for internship at CAPS, your online application must include the following components:

  • Completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI) form. The AAPI may be downloaded from www.appic.org.
  • In a "cover letter" or "letter of interest," describe (up to 500 words) your qualifications and professional experience which you believe make you a good match with our site. Please also elaborate your specific goals for internship.
  • Current vita.
  • In the “cover letter” (see above) and/or vita, clearly identify experience conducting intake assessments and crisis assessment and intervention (e.g. walk-in/on-call, triage, emergency room assessments, crisis hotline, etc.).
  • Official transcripts for all graduate work.
  • Three letters of recommendation, at least two from supervisors familiar with your more recent clinical work.
  • Please provide an additional essay (up to 500 words) describing an ethical or professional dilemma which you have had to deal with. What were the issues, how did you decide what to do, and how did it resolve?
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Deadline for Applications:

To be considered for the internship of the academic year 2010-2011, all application materials must be uploaded on to the AAPI Online by 5:00 p.m. (CST) of Friday, November 6, 2009.

Contacting the Internship Program: Applicants who wish to communicate directly with the Training Director, e-mail him directly at taywaditep@northwestern.edu, or use the following mailing address:


Jod Taywaditep, Ph.D.

Training Director

Northwestern University

CAPS, 633 Emerson

Evanston, IL 60208-4000

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Selection Procedures

The selection committee is comprised of the Training Director, members of the senior staff, and postdoctoral fellows. Applications are reviewed with attention to "goodness of fit" between the applicant's training goals and clinical experience and the goals of the CAPS internship program. CAPS' selection process follows the Match Policies set by APPIC. Applicants are also required to follow APPIC guidelines.


The Selection Committee at CAPS will review applications between the second week of November and the second week of December. Invitations for phone interviews will be extended on the second Friday in December; other applicants will be notified of their status by e-mail or post. Phone interviews will be scheduled for the first three weeks of January.

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Notification Procedure: Matching Program

As a member of APPIC, the CAPS Internship Program will be participating in the National Matching Services Internship Matching Program. You must register for the Matching Program in order to qualify as a potential match for our internship program; information on how to register may be found by selecting the option of "Registration" at www.natmatch.com/psychint/.


Applicants are required to follow the guidelines developed by APPIC; these may be found at the APPIC website. Please read all guidelines carefully so that you understand the requirements of the computer matching procedure.


The CAPS Matching Program Code Number is: # 127411.

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