Current Intern Testimonials

Type of Facility

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a university counseling center that is placed within the University Health Center. We are located in the heart of the university campus, serving approximately 23,000 students. Our professional staff includes five psychologists (from clinical and counseling psychology backgrounds), three psychiatrists, two licensed social workers, a licensed mental health practitioner, a counselor and two interns. We also have 2-3 doctoral-level students who work with us part-time for their field placement experience.

CAPS strives to identify and meet the needs of a diverse student population. More specifically, our mission is to educate and counsel students so that they might better address their developmental concerns; and, when germane, identify, clarify, and resolve psychosocial and other related issues. In these ways, we strive to enhance the learning process and the ability of all UNL students to realize their academic, personal and professional potential.

The UHC has maintained accreditation since 1978. Services of the UHC include ambulatory medical services, allergy clinic, dermatology clinic, other specialty medical services, pharmacy services, physical therapy, laboratory services, radiology, dental, psychological and psychiatric services (CAPS), and community health education.

CAPS is a part of the Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology (NICPP) which is comprised of several cooperating agencies that together offer a broad range of professional experiences for qualified doctoral students in psychology. As a CAPS intern, you would do your entire clinical work at CAPS and meet for monthly seminars through NICPP. The internship program is one full year (12 months, 2000 hours) in duration. We welcome applicants from school, counseling, and clinical psychology doctoral programs.

Location/Region

The University of Nebraska is the 18th member of the Association of American Universities (inducted 1909). UNL has a long tradition of academic excellence and equal opportunity for all. UNL is listed by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral/Research University-Extensive, with important ongoing research in many areas of inquiry. The Cornhusker athletic teams exemplify the tradition of high classroom achievement; more Huskers have been awarded the title "Academic All-American" (football alone and all sports combined) than student-athletes of any other university.

Lincoln, the capital city of Nebraska, is home to state government and the largest campus of the state's four campus University system. Lincoln has an excellent educational system and according to Zero Population Growth, is in the top 20 least stressful cities in the nation for children. The city has a thriving economy, with unemployment hovering near 2 percent for several years. Cost of living compares well to other cities, about 10 to 12 percent below the national average. Lincoln is ranked among the top 25 cities in the nation for affordable housing. Lincoln has the most city park land per capita in the United States, with 10 lakes and over 98 miles of bike paths and trails. Lincoln's 200 acres of city park land and 15,000 acres of recreational areas nearby make the outdoors an enjoyable attraction. Lincoln has been cited for its excellent transportation and commitment to the arts and culture, as well as for its low crime rate, good educational facilities, and recreational opportunities. With a population of approximately 232,000, Lincoln offers the benefits of metropolitan living and the advantages of small-town lifestyle. Additionally, Lincoln is the 18th largest refugee relocation community in the United States. Since 1983, more than 5,500 individuals from over 40 countries have settled in Lincoln, from places such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, Mexico, Sudan, Vietnam, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and China. Lincoln psychologist and reknowned author Mary Pipher described the Lincoln community as changing from "the middle of nowhere" to "a cultural crossroads."

Major Internal Rotations

CAPS provides a comprehensive training program that is tailored to the intern's training needs. Long-term and brief therapy models are used in individual psychotherapy. Interns will also have the opportunity to become involved in group counseling as well as outreach.

Opportunities for concentration areas include: eating disorders, supervision, assessment, multicultural counseling, and crisis intervention. These concentrations may be tailored based on the intern's interests. Our eating disorders program is extensiveInterns are involved in weekly meetings, with the multidisciplinary eating disorders treatment team. In addition, the intern is expected to hold a caseload of 2-3 eating disorder clients during the academic year. The supervision experience typically includes individual supervision of 1-2 doctoral-level field placement students There areopportunities to provide group supervision. Interns interested in an assessment concentration usually involves working with individuals struggling with ADHD/LD. Assessments frequently given are the WAIS-III and WJ-III. We also have a variety of personality assessments including the MMPI-2, MBTI, Rorschach, and TAT that can be utilized in one's individual therapy. Another concentration is in the area of multicultural counseling. Opportunities to work with students of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and orientations are available through individual counseling, group counseling, outreach programming, and general consultation. Finally, opportunities for crisis intervention are available through use of walk-in times, unexpected campus concerns, or on-call emergencies.

Client Population

Direct services are provided to UNL students only. The student population reflects a broad age range (most being between the ages of 17-35). UNL has a culturally diverse population with a substantial international student population. Students come from various racial, national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. There are undergraduate and graduate students as well as students from professional schools such as law, dentistry, and nursing. Students experience many types of problems and concerns, ranging from developmental issues and adjustment disorders through character disorders and more florid psychoses. Diagnoses run the gamut of Axis I and Axis II with the exception of mental retardation.

Problem Focus

Presenting problems are largely social/emotional and behavioral concerns, commonly with underlying developmental issues. Psychiatric and medical issues are also commonly addressed.Students experience a variety of problems and concerns. Examples include personal issues such as poor self-image and low self-esteem, poor communication skills, school and academic adjustment, identity concerns, and attentional problems; problematic relationships such as those between couples, within families, and in other interpersonal, academic and social settings; and psychological/psychiatric problems and disorders such as anxiety, depression, panic disorders, obsessions/compulsions, and psychosis sometimes requiring hospitalization. Clients can be seen for brief treatment or longer-term psychotherapy, based upon the needs of the individual student.

Nature of Services

CAPS provides an initial evaluation (with a Mental Status Examination), psychological assessment, individual psychotherapy (brief and long-term), couples and family (rarely) therapy, process and psychoeducational groups, crisis intervention, psychiatric hospitalization (voluntary and involuntary) and outreach on a variety of topics. Several staff members are involved with the eating disorders treatment team and diversity committee as well as providing consultation and education to faculty and staff (especially Residence Life). We provide in-service training as well as campus-wide screening events. CAPS has several liaison relationships with the Office of Academic Support and Intercultural Services (OASIS), the Office of TRIO Programs (federal outreach programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds), The Women's Center, Services for Students with Disabilities, The Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Student Association, Eating Disorders Educational and Prevention (EDAP) Student Organization, International Affairs, Athletic Department, Residence Life, Campus Recreation, Judicial Affairs, and the UNL Police Department.

General Theoretical Orientation

A variety of theoretical orientations is represented among CAPS' staff. The developmental perspective is an important focus for our work with the student population. Theoretical approaches include cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, interpersonal and integrative.

Internship Duties

Individual, couples, and group counseling and psychotherapy; psychological assessment; consultation and outreach; psycho educational presentations; participation in Grand Rounds and case conferences; other rotations to be arranged that are consistent with the training needs of the intern.

Stipend/Benefit/Dates of Services

$23,660

One day per month vacation (i.e., 12 days for the internship year); One day per month of sick leave; Two paid floating holidays; Seven paid holidays (Christmas Day, New Year's Day, two days for Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and July 4); The University closes down between 12/24 and 1/4 and these days are paid using a combination of floating holidays and vacation time; Medical insurance available; Research time available for dissertation; Travel for dissertation-related purposes can be negotiated with training director and considered paid administrative leave; $500 for professional development during the internship year; University of Nebraska library privileges.

August 1 through July 31

Average Number of Interns per Year

Two