At the Counseling Center, we typically see the majority of clients who seek our services. Only a small percentage of clients (i.e., 3-5%) are referred out due to a need for more specialized care than our treatment model might accommodate. Typically, interns will have the opportunity to provide both time-limited and long-term treatment to clients for a broad range of issues. Some of the most common symptom presentations include: mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety (including GAD, OCD, panic, social phobia), trauma, adjustment, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, eating disorders, autism spectrum, stress, suicidal ideation, self-injury behaviors, distress tolerance, personality disorders, relational problems, bereavement, and religious or spiritual problems.

At the Counseling Center, we have worked hard to reach underserved populations on campus. Interns tend to have a diverse caseload throughout their internship year. Statistically speaking, over the past few years, the percentage of individuals identified as ethnic minorities seen by interns who have a full caseload has ranged from 25% to 44%. In addition, interns frequently work with clients who have less visible minority statuses such as first generation college students, various faith traditions, students struggling with LGBTQIAA issues, as well as students from less economically privileged backgrounds.

Interns have the opportunity to work with clients on both a long-term and short-term basis.  Full-time Catholic University students are eligible to receive up to 45 individual therapy sessions at the Center.  Currently, as a way to manage service demand and minimize a long wait for therapy, clients are able to be seen for 10 weekly sessions before a shift to biweekly sessions for the remainder of the year. In recent years, the average length of treatment for clients during the year was around 8-9 sessions.

The internship program is committed to helping interns take the next step in their careers.  Once we were accredited by the APA in 2010, essentially all of our former interns who sought positions acquired them shortly (if not immediately) after completion of internship. Reasons for not seeking immediate positions included taking time to finalize dissertation defense and to start a family. In recent years, interns have been very competitive at securing postdoctoral and early career positions. The most common initial positions include independent private practice, group practice, and university counseling centers. Other interns have sought research/faculty positions, work in VA/hospital settings, and consulting work. With rich connections to a local and regional community of mental health practitioners, interns have access to broad supportive resources to help navigate the next steps in their professional journey. 

YES: Catholic University requires a background check that verifies that candidates have no criminal or other record that would preclude employment in the University's judgment. These background checks will be conducted following the APPIC Match, and offers will be contingent upon successfully completing the background check. A full explanation of this policy is available at http://policies.cua.edu/employment/backgroundinvestigation.cfm.

Although Washington DC is an expensive city, there are affordable living options in the vicinity of campus. Because Catholic University is located on the Metro's Red Line, this provides interns with access to affordable housing in both DC and Maryland. For more information please take a look at Catholic University's off campus website: http://housing.cua.edu/offcampus.cfm.

The staff at our Center is comprised of four full-time psychologists, one full-time licensed social worker, one full-time senior staff clinician, one part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner, and one part-time licensed social worker. The staff is collegial and maintains an open-door policy.  Interns are encouraged to collaborate with staff from different disciplines in order to broaden their training experience. 

Interviews will likely begin on December 18^th of 2023 and conclude the week of January 2^nd  – 5^th of 2024.  All interviews will take place via Zoom. The applicants are interviewed by the entire staff and one of the interns.  Staff members interview the intern applicants in teams of two or three interviewers.  Each interview lasts approximately 50 minutes.  The entire interview process lasts approximately three hours, including an opportunity to meet with current interns to ask more informal questions. 

Please contact Dr. Mark LaSota if you have further questions and he will respond to your inquiries.