We extend a warm welcome to our applicants!

Thank you for your interest in the Practicum Training Program in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Oregon State University (OSU). The CAPS Practicum Training Program provides an academic year (September - June) of supervised training for doctoral students who are interested in gaining experience in a fast-paced university counseling center setting. Typically, CAPS accepts 3 practicum trainees per year. Each practicum counselor will receive a stipend of $500 per quarter for the training year.


Practicum counselors are expected to engage in practicum related activities for approximately 16 to 18 hours per week throughout the practicum experience. Practicum counselors have the opportunity to develop and hone clinical skills in individual therapy. In addition, practicum counselor may have the opportunity to co-facilitate a group or serve as a process observer in a process group, to conduct triage/walk-in consultations, and to engage in CAPS Mental Health Promotion activities. Like many counseling centers, CAPS is a busy agency. Clinicians balance multiple clinical and administrative tasks and interests. Practicum counselors are supported to manage their caseloads (i.e., approximately 8-12 direct clinical service hours per week) in a time-limited setting and to balance their interests with the need for self-care.


The Practicum Training Program uses a developmental model of supervision and training that strives to support growth by balancing safety with appropriate challenges. Practicum counselors receive weekly individual and group supervision and are supervised by senior staff clinicians, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral residents. Also, practicum counselors receive seminar training throughout the year on a variety of topics. The format is both didactic and discussion/process-oriented in nature.


Practicum counselors are required to participate in a scheduled orientation. Please note that the orientation occurs prior to the start of the fall quarter. The OSU academic schedule begins classes the last week in September which allows practicum counselors the opportunity to orient toward the university, CAPS, and the practicum program across 2-3 partial workweeks totaling 40 hours of orientation. Early orientation allows for clinical practice to begin at the launch of the fall quarter.


OSU CAPS is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and our doctoral internship is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Practicum counselors are expected to follow ethical guidelines and principles as established by the APA and the IACS.
If you have additional questions about the Practicum Training Program after looking through the information, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail at peichun.hou@oregonstate.edu


Pei-Chun Hou, Ph.D.
Practicum Coordinator | Licensed Psychologist