UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 8, Page 5
October 24, 1991
U.D. counseling intern program wins accreditation

     The University of Delaware Center for Counseling and Student
Development's pre-doctoral internship in psychology has been
reaccredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) for
five years, the highest level of confidence that the association
can bestow on an internship site.
     In its notification letter, the APA's Office of Accreditation
cited the program's "commitment to excellence in professional
training for psychologists, with particular attention to issues of
cultural diversity." Noting the "high quality" of the program's
facility, staff and interns, the letter continued, "The
well-respected faculty is committed to research and information
dissemination as well as to training; interns are highly
enthusiastic about their training experiences."
     "This reaccreditation is a notable vote of confidence in what
we're doing here," John B. Bishop, dean of counseling and student
development at the University, said. "This program serves not only
the interns, but also serves to professionally renew our staff
members by involving them in graduate-level training."
     Begun in 1977 and initially accredited by the APA in 1983, the
internship program has trained 42 interns, who came from colleges
and universities across the country. The current class of four was
selected from 56 applicants, Bishop said.
     Candidates for the internships must have completed all formal
coursework and comprehensive examinations in a doctoral program in
counseling or clinical psychology or a closely related area. They
may work toward completion of their doctoral dissertations during
the internship.
     The program is designed to provide intensive supervision in
the various activities practiced by a professional psychologist,
including individual and group counseling, consultation, student
development programs, career development services, practicum
supervision and research. The graduate interns work as colleagues
of the professional staff at the Center for Counseling and Student
Development.
     A special feature of the University's program is a formal
rotation through the out-patient Psychiatric Unit of Student Health
Services. Elective activities available to interns include
research, teaching and paraprofessional training, consultation and
outreach, and participation in the Student Services for Athletes
Program.
     This is the only such accredited internship in the state of
Delaware.
     The University's Center for Counseling and Student Development
offers a full range of counseling and student development services
and is the campus' primary mental health facility. The center's
staff includes 9.5 full-time-equivalent psychologists and several
practicum students, as well as the graduate interns. The center is
accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services
and is a member of the Association of Psychology Internship
Centers.