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Counseling and Psychological Services at Mount Saint Mary’s University is offering four advanced practicum positions (two at our Chalon campus and two at our Doheny Campus) for the 2026 – 2027 academic year. The positions are 16-24 hours per week, with Monday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. required (but may be done remotely) and the other day(s) agreed upon once matched with our site, beginning August 17, 2026, and ending May 28, 2027. Once the training days have been chosen for the year, advanced practicum students will be required to be on-site 100% of the time; clients can choose to participate in therapy in-person (about 75% choose in-person) or over Zoom, and all the CPS offices are equipped with the tools to conduct Zoom sessions.

Mount Saint Mary’s University is a private Catholic University of approximately 2,395 students, the majority of whom are women. The students are diverse in terms of race and ethnic backgrounds, sexual and gender identity, faith, culture, and life experience. For example, 54% of the students are Latinx, 16% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 12% are Caucasian, 7% are African American and 11% are Other/Multi-racial. We are both an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. A majority of the students (68%) are first-generation college students and come from under-served populations. A strong emphasis on diversity in all forms is a key component in clinical services at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS).

The University has two campuses; the Chalon campus is nestled in the hills above Brentwood with beautiful views of Los Angeles and the coast, while the historic Doheny campus is a magnificent enclave of Victorian homes converted into classrooms and offices and is located near downtown Los Angeles. Students often take classes on both campuses, and CPS has an office at each campus. The professional CPS staff work at both campuses; the advanced practicum trainees will work at only one, based on the training track chosen. Each trainee will have an office, computer with Zoom capabilities, and phone. All scheduling and clinical files are done in Medicat, an electronic health records system.

CPS provides, free of charge, individual therapy, workshops, group therapy, and outreach to undergraduate students and Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate students. Advanced Practicum training at CPS focuses on the opportunity to gain experience providing brief therapy to a diverse student population who present with a wide range of mental health issues. Trainees will also get exposure to providing crisis intervention, consultation, and campus outreach.

We view Counseling & Psychological Services as a welcoming and supportive university setting committed to training. The general purpose is to guide budding psychologists to appropriate levels of clinical competence and professional conscience given their level of experience. Our training values learning through observation, mentoring, modeling, didactic training and supervision.

In support of the University’s larger mission, CPS is committed to serving and enhancing the holistic well-being of our students, as well as educating and consulting with the Mount community.

At the advanced practicum level, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at Mount Saint Mary’s University (国产传媒) offers training to ensure knowledge, skills and competencies in case conceptualization, treatment planning, clinical assessment (intake interview and screening), individual therapy, crisis intervention, college-mental health, and culturally sensitive services.

Additionally, advanced practicum trainees will have a basic applied knowledge of California laws and APA ethical guidelines as well as develop an early sense of professional identity and professional conduct. Training will be accomplished through socialization, mentoring, clinical experiences, and supervisory and consultative guidance. Client evaluations (ongoing), advanced practicum trainee’s self-evaluation at the beginning of the year, and formal supervisor evaluations (twice yearly) of the trainee will be used as outcome measures of the trainee’s growth in developmentally appropriate competencies throughout the training year.

The advanced practicum trainee provides a range of services to both undergraduate and graduate students. Common student concerns addressed by our staff include depression, anxiety, trauma, academic performance, family and romantic relationships, eating disorders, substance abuse, adjustment disorders, intergenerational conflict and low self-esteem.

• Psychotherapy The majority of the trainee’s time at CPS is devoted to providing direct clinical service. Fifty to 60% of the time each week is devoted to counseling clients in short-term therapy and crisis intervention. The advanced practicum trainee can carry one long-term client in their caseload.
• Consultation The advanced practicum trainee may have opportunities to consult with the Mount Saint Mary’s University community, such as parents, staff and faculty. As a result, the advanced practicum trainee will gain increased competence in providing culturally sensitive education and guidance. The main purpose is to help the community assist our students in removing obstacles and optimizing holistic development.
• Prevention programming Outreach is considered a key component of our work at the Mount. The purpose is to reach the underserved and provide psycho-educational prevention programs that will increase the well-being of our community. Outreach opportunities are numerous at CPS. Each year, we receive requests from different departments, such as the Orientation Committee, Learning Resource Center, Residence Life, Women’s Leadership, Student Affairs and 国产传媒 faculty. Advanced practicum trainees will have the opportunity to participate in outreach activities on their campus throughout the training year.
• Training seminars The advanced practicum trainees attend didactic trainings regularly on clinical topics relevant to our young adult college population. A sample of past topics includes Latinx Psychology and Clinical Implications, Working with AAPIDA Clients, Suicidality Training, Counseling African American Women, Updates on Psychopharmacology, Evidence-Based Treatments and Crisis Intervention. Speakers include CPS staff as well as community psychologists. Relevant readings are provided.
• Supervision The advanced practicum trainee receives 2.5 hours of supervision each week by licensed clinical psychologists: 1.5 hours of individual supervision, 1 hour of group supervision. Staff also meets bi-weekly for two hours for a staff meeting/case conference with our psychiatric nurse practitioner.
• Holidays Advanced practicum trainees will have Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, December 14 - Jan 1, MLK, President's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday and Memorial Day off (if their assigned work days fall on those holidays).

Applicants must have completed a full year of practicum experience, preferably working with adults, and be entering their second year or higher of their doctoral program. We prefer applicants who are in their last year prior to attending internship. Previous practicum experience at a UCC, with clinical interviewing, short-term interventions with adults, crisis intervention, and/or using electronic health records systems will make an applicant highly competitive. Course work such as brief therapy, multicultural/diversity courses, CBT, crisis intervention, and psychodynamic theories are practical courses for UCC work.

To Apply to our Advanced Practicum Positions:

Please include in one email a letter of interest/cover letter (see below for questions to address in the letter*), curriculum vitae, and at least two letters of recommendation (three is preferred). One letter should be from an academic source and one/two from clinical supervisors (at least one being a current supervisor). Supervisors can also email their letters directly rather than have you include them in your application. Such letters should be emailed to: Kendra Nickerson, PhD, at knickerson@msmu.edu. Please have them put your name and Advanced Practicum Applicant in the subject line.

*The cover letter should include at least the following:

1. Interest in working at a UCC especially 国产传媒's CPS.
2. How working at a UCC will further develop your goals/clinical interests.
3. How your previous clinical experience will inform your work with students/clients at UCC, esp. any experience working in a brief therapy model or with a young adult population.
4. What is your counseling style and theoretical orientation?
5. What is your experience working with a diverse client population?

Application Deadline

Applications are due by February 27, 2026. Please email all materials to: Kendra Nickerson, PhD, at knickerson@msmu.edu

Questions?
Contact:

Kendra Nickerson, PhD
Associate Director/Training Director
Phone: 213.477.2805
knickerson@msmu.edu

We will contact selected applicants for an in-person interview (Zoom interviews may be offered on an as-needed basis) and interviews are required to be matched to our site. We are participating in SCAPTP electronic match/ Uniform Practicum Notification Day. Applicants will be ranked according to the track(s) they have indicated they wish to be considered for, and matched electronically on Uniform Practicum Notification Day.