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Professional Training

 

Available Opportunities

Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship

Doctoral Internship

MFT/PCC Practicum

Each year, we have MFT/PCC Practicum, doctoral intern, and postdoctoral fellow placements available. The doctoral internship is APA-Accredited and is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC, Site #2133).

Questions related to the program's accredited status can be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

The doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship are full-time, 12-month training commitments.

For MFT/PCC Practicum trainees, we require an academic year commitment from September through June, 24 hours a week, in person at the Cowell Health Center. Please note that SCU students who are CAPS clients are not eligible for this practicum.

Background Information

Santa Clara University is a residential Jesuit university of approximately 9,000 students, both undergraduate and graduate. The undergraduate population has an approximate 50-to-50 male-to-female ratio, and about 57 percent of undergraduate students identify themselves as persons of color. About 62 percent of undergraduates are from California, with the others coming from throughout the United States and 44 countries. Seventy-seven percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid–based scholarships,  grants, or loans. More than half (53 percent) of the undergraduate population live in University housing, with 90 percent of first-year students and 70 percent of sophomores living on campus. 

CAPS interns and trainees work with a variety of issues prevalent in a primarily young adult population. Presenting problems span a range of developmental issues, including identity formation, relationship problems, alcohol and drug use, and other clinical issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, sexual assault, and trauma. 

Our mission at CAPS is to support and enhance the personal, educational, and professional growth of the Santa Clara University community. We do this by providing direct psychological services and outreach, programming, screening, and consultation. Our services are coordinated with Student Medical Services and housed in the Cowell Center. 

We currently have a diverse staff of licensed mental health practitioners working from a variety of theoretical orientations. We mainly work within a short-term therapy model. A limited number of clients can be seen on a longer-term basis for optimal training and professional growth opportunities. 

For more information, please contact: 

Estrella Ramirez, Ph.D.,Psychologist, Asst. Director of Doctoral Training
eramirez2@scu.edu

Bich Nguyen-Hamilton, L.M.F.T., Asst. Director of Master's Training
bnguyenhamilton@scu.edu

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Cowell Center, Building 701
Santa Clara, CA 95053-1055
(408) 554-4501