Overview

RISD CAPS offers clinical training opportunities in college mental health for Psychology practicum students and Second Year Masters Social Work students. This is a 9-10 month training program consisting of 3-4 days per week; Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., with Wednesday & Thursdays being required days. The primary focus of RISD CAPS is to provide counseling services to a creative, diverse and accomplished student population. RISD CAPS offers short term counseling, urgent/same day appointments, intake assessments, group counseling and flexibility for some long-term treatment as discussed with the clinical team and trainees’ direct supervisor. Trainees typically carry a weekly caseload of 10-15 individual clients and engage in co-leading one clinical group. Trainees are expected to engage in two outreach events in the academic year, which may require after hour or weekend participation.

Training Philosophy

RISD CAPS is dedicated to the process of training students through the use of a trusting supervisory relationship. We encourage trainees to develop their own individual styles of counseling, with a solid foundation of experience and education to support their own professional growth. Supervision is a highly valued and essential component of our training program. Through dialogue and self-reflection, the focus of supervision is not only trainees’ clinical work, but also the professional and personal development of the therapist-in-training.

Through individual and group supervision, the use of process notes, videotaping, and a variety of opportunities to present and discuss one’s clinical work, trainees leave RISD CAPS with increased experience, competence, and comfort conducting initial assessments and brief psychotherapy.

Clinical Training Program Goals

The training program at RISD CAPS is designed to be a practical, pragmatic training for graduate students in the core functions of a psychologist or social worker in a college counseling center. Trainees have the opportunity to participate in a full range of activities engaged in by RISD CAPS staff, including psychotherapy, outreach program development/presentation, case management and consultation. The development of the intern’s identity as a social worker/psychologist is an important part of the training experience. Aspects of that identity that are emphasized include ethical awareness, appreciation of group and individual differences, and development of one’s personal style as a professional.

All aspects of the training program are designed to facilitate the goals of the training year. Through the seminar & speaker series, staff reading discussions and in-services, the trainee’s knowledge base is broadened in specific topical and theoretical areas relating to brief treatment in a college setting. This may include but not limited to eating disorders, LGBTQAI+ theory and practice, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, gender and racial identity development, social justice theory and advocacy, suicide assessment etc. Through the case conferences and clinical team meetings, trainees refine their skills in presenting clinical work using the knowledge gained to discuss the intersections of their clinical awareness and experiences. Through group supervision, trainees learn to be an effective peer supervisor with their colleagues, gain support and develop as group members. Trainees are expected to present one clinical case at the end of each semester. RISD CAPS values the trainees as part of our staff and encourages them to share ideas and interests for seminar topics to further support professional growth and self-advocacy.