APA Accredited Internship in Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center

Pre-doctoral Internship Program

Virginia Tech

I appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete the following evaluation of your experience with our program during the recent internship interview. As you know, we post this information on our website and your comments are a valuable resource for future intern applicants. The survey is anonymous and will have no effect on match rankings as those have already been finalized. Thank you for your assistance and all the best in your career endeavors.

Cathye Griffin Betzel, Psy.D.
Director of Training

Disclaimer: The survey responses below are presented with very little editorial intervention (other than the occasional spelling correction!). Keep in mind that these are subjective impressions and that some comments may present information that appears to conflict with each other.  If you have particular questions after reading the comments, please refer to the "official" material on the website for clarification or feel free to contact me if needed at  cbetzel@vt.edu

1.  How did you learn about our internship program?

• Online APPIC Directory

• Previous interns

• Internet search

• Printed APPIC Directory

• Academic Training Director

2.  Does our website provide adequate information regarding our program?  Please explain.

• Yes, it has a lot of information. I am especially impressed by the training manual.

• It provides a nice description of the type of program you offer and duties expected from intern.

• Yes, I felt very informed.

• Yes, I found that the website was and very helpful.

• Yes. However, one PDF type document listing all of the web information would probably be easier to use.

• Yes, the information was excellent and offered me good background information allowing me to make a decision about how well V-Tech would fit for my needs.

• Yes - more than adequate information.

• Yes. I found it the clearest of the websites I searched.

• Yes, but I found a lot more information about ongoing groups during the interview, which I felt like a great strength of your program.

• Yes the website does a thorough job.

• Your website provided adequate information about your program. However, the code you had listed for the match "6041" did not match the code on the APPIC directory "1604".

• Absolutely. I really appreciated having access to the training manual, the hours breakdown, and the list of staff. Would have liked photos of staff (I may have missed it) especially after the interview.

• Yes, there was enough overview of all offerings and what a typical intern schedule might look like.

• It does give a good overview of different opportunities available and does good job of proving information on how to apply and how to get in contact with someone if you have further questions.

• Yes, I wasn't surprised by anything during the interview.

• I think so.

• Yes, The website was clear and specific in outlining the internship training program.

• Yes. The website is quite thorough, and was very accurate based upon information obtained from current interns.

• Absolutely. Your website was the most informative of all of the sites I applied to.

• Yes. The information posted on the website was very detailed and informative.

• Yes, the information on the website is very thorough.

• It is somewhat vague. Maybe you could talk more about exactly what the content of the didactic training is.

• I was able to find everything I needed on the website, but it was not always where I would have expected to find it. While I think the website was comprehensive, it could be a little bit easier to navigate.

• Yes. I found it very helpful.

• Your website was very informative and had accurate, up-to-date information.

3.  What do you see as the strengths of our training program? 

• Staff values the training program and are willing to work together to provide interns high quality training.

• You get a plethora of experiences. The facilities are nice.

• Commitment to training, strong group program, opportunities for specialized training, outreach, interns seem happy.

• I see the breadth of opportunities as a strength. The amount of supervision also stands out. I think the required research project is another unique strength.

• The training program seems to offer a good range of experiences. Something that made your program standout from some of the other college counseling centers was the supervision of supervision training component. Also, it is worth noting that your training program appeared to be well funded and well respected by VT.

• Warm, welcoming environment but also professional. Staff that seem committed to training.

• Supervision, ability to provide supervision, research time, focus on psychotherapy.

• Too many to list.

• Great staff members, supervision, groups, outreach, and providing a supportive environment.

• The cooperation between counseling center and other departments (ex. academic, athletic).

• Ability to supervise and teach in addition to clinical training, faculty of diverse theoretical orientations.

• The ability of having a specialty interest.

• Broad training experience and supervision.

• Well rounded generalist training with a clear focus on development of therapists (not just cheap labor).

• Supportive but challenging environment. Interns seemed very happy and busy, but not overworked. Lots of opportunity for outreach and consultation.

• Broad-based training, strong focus on supervision and individualized training plans to meet the needs of each intern, and sport psychology opportunities.

• Assessment experience is an option as well as conducting research opportunities with program evaluations. In addition, experience gained in trauma work with students regarding the terrible tragedy of the shooting last April. Knowledge and friendliness of staff also a plus!

• Diversity among the supervisors--background, theoretical orientation, interests, gender, race.

• It seems you all have a lot of resources for service provision, as well as a variety of activities for interns (e.g. supervision, assessment, specializations).

• This program has a number of strengths: Commitment to group therapy and extensive group program, emphasis on research and empirically-based practice.

• I think that the broad range of clinical experiences, combined with such a broad range of mentorship makes VT an exceptional training site.

• A nice balance between therapy and assessment experience with a diverse population.

• The staff appears friendly and very helpful. I also like the opportunity available to work with a diverse student population. Also, the availability to learn about group treatment is excellent!

• Clear focus on enhancing generalist competencies. Outreach, providing supervision, and group therapy opportunities Supportive staff. Opportunities to specialize or pursue unique interests.

• Inclusion of clinically-relevant research project. Interaction with variety of staff members and opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Variety of theoretical orientations. Opportunities to tailor training.

• I think that there are a lot of opportunities for interns to gain experience in a wide-range of activities. I was impressed with it all. However, I think your major strength is your staff. They seem exceptionally warm, supportive, and professional.

 4.  What do you see as the weaknesses of our training program? 

• Stipend....

• It is unfortunate that you might not see clients on a weekly basis.

• Location.

• In my opinion one of the weaknesses was that the counseling center only offered individual therapy on a bi-weekly basis instead of a weekly basis.

• It seems like there is limited diversity among the center staff.

• Short term psychotherapy model (6 session average).

• Payment is somewhat low compared to other sites.

• In regards to what I was looking for in a site, there is no Career assessment opportunities.

• None.

• After-hours on call system. Would also be great to have more opportunities for supervision and more post-doc positions (understanding both may be out of your control).

• No rotations.

• The stipend offered was low compared to other counseling centers. Also, the diversity of the student population (which I realize is beyond your center's control) also doesn't allow for too much experience working with different races.

• I wasn't struck by any weaknesses. Maybe the stipend.

• It would be a big help to include health insurance as a benefit for interns.

• More specific avenues for campus outreach.

• You are located in a remote area of Virginia.

• I would like to see more opportunities to work with a wider age range.

• Lack of health insurance offered.

• Assessment component is not well explained/structured.

• The only concern I had was the number of clients seen. I was told that clients were seen every other week and so the case-load was actually double (not per week, but in general). It was not a total deal breaker for me, but it did make me think twice before ranking other sites ahead.

 5.  Please comment on your level of satisfaction with the onsite interview experience.

• It was a pleasant experience. I feel every staff wanted to know each intern candidate.

• The experience was very enjoyable. Everyone was kind and the questions that staff members asked were reasonable.

• Very satisfied. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, collegial.

• I was impressed with how well organized the interview was and that most of the center's staff participated. The only downside of this is that it was difficult to get a feel for the staff and atmosphere because so little time was spent with each staff member.

• Overall, I was very pleased with the interview process. All of the staff members seemed very friendly and interested in getting to know the candidates.

• I had an excellent experience. The interviews allowed me to share my excitement about the site as well as ask questions that I had.

• The interview experience was great, very laid back and comfortable setting.

• It was a challenging but fair interview. The only question I didn't think was that effective for either of us was the roll play. I've never found them to be useful.

• It was awesome. I felt really welcomed and liked the warmth and humors of the staff members. I like the interview format that I talked with 2-3 staff members, which was helpful to feel more connected and free to ask questions.

• Very fine.

• I thought the on-site interview was good: not too many applicants there at a time, comfortable space to relax in between interviews, interviews not dissimilar from other sites, enjoyed talking with the current interns over lunch.

• The onsite interview granted me the opportunity to see the center as well as campus. (Food was great as well).

• I thoroughly enjoyed my interview experience. I particularly enjoyed having lunch with the interns.

• Yours was my favorite on-site interview. I really appreciated the involvement of all staff, their preparedness for the interviews (many had actually read my application!), and their level of engagement and interaction throughout. I was glad I visited; it definitely improved my ranking of your site!

• was very satisfied with the interview experience. While the back to back interviews were intense, I was able to get a very good picture of what the internship will be like. I also appreciated the many opportunities to ask questions about the program. The lunch with interns was a unique and positive experience as well.

• Very satisfied.

• Though very intense clinically, the experience with the interview was a good one. It really showed your center's desire to ensure the qualifications of your candidates not just from application paper but from the actual way they would react in a situation. Lunch also was great!

• I liked the program before interviewing and I loved it after the interview. Everyone was kind and respectful. People asked serious questions, but the intent seemed to be to get to know the applicant, not trip them up.

• I was highly impressed with the staff, the interns, and the overall agency. The snacks were decent, but I would have liked some coffee.

• Onsite interview process was intense, but it really allowed me to gauge for myself the level of personal as well as professional fit with the staff.

• The interview did seem like a marathon. However, I felt as though the staff went above and beyond to get to know me as a person in addition to my clinical skills. It was clear that several people had read my application, which was flattering. In turn, I felt as though I had an ample opportunity to get to know all of the staff that I could be working with and have a sneak peek into what it would be like to be employed as an intern at your site.

• The onsite interview was wonderful. Everyone was friendly and helpful. This experience gave me plenty of information in making ranking decisions. Very satisfied. It was great to meet with the entire staff and experience the environment.

• It was a bit rushed and impersonal. I didn't feel like I had a chance to show my personality. I was also very stressed as it was my first interview.

• The onsite interview was probably the most enjoyable I experienced. It had a very warm, non-threatening feel, and I think I got a good sense of the staff's personalities and interactions. I felt like the interactions were genuine and gave me a good sense of whether I would be comfortable there.

• It was a good experience overall. Some of the group interviews were a bit overly formal. Lunch was a nice gesture.

• This on-site interview at the Thomas Cook Counseling Center was my favorite interview experience. The staff was awesome and welcoming, and the interns totally rocked. They were the highlight of the interview, and the lunch with the interns was very nice.

6.   Do you support informing applicants when they are no longer under consideration in the interview process?  Please explain. 

• Yes, this reduce our anxiety or helps us know the reality.

• Yes, I believe it is a good thing to do because it allows applicants the ability to not rank your program. They do not get their hopes up of being matched to your program, thus leaving another program they may want to go to out of their top choice.

• I suppose it is helpful, but does it hurt an applicant to rank a site that does not rank them? I don't think so.

• Yes, knowing whether or not you are under consideration helps in the ranking process.

• Yes, I think every site should adhere to this policy out of courtesy to applicants. As a candidate, just knowing that you might rank a site that is not even considering you only adds anxiety to an already anxiety provoking process.

• Yes, I believe it is helpful in making decisions to know where you stand.

• Yes, I think this helps with the ranking process.

• Yes. It helps interns make a educated choice about their future.

• It may be hurtful, but I think it is nice to inform applicants for their own benefit, as it is helpful for them to rank sites.

• Yes however more information would be helpful as to why an applicant is still under consideration or not.

• Yes, helps to not get people's hopes up unrealistically, I think people appreciate honesty. It might be helpful to those applicants to explain why (e.g., not goodness of fit?).

• Yes this allowed me to consider this information in regards to my rankings.

• Yes-I wish all sites provided applicants with this information after the interview process.

• No opinion. As I understand the ranking system it doesn't matter either way. I lean toward no notification, I suppose, since I think if you notify people no longer under consideration, you should also re-affirm to people who ARE under consideration... and, as an applicant this additional round of communication where we still hold back on ranking info is awkward. Wow... turns out I do have an opinion ;-).

• Yes, I believe it can help the intern with their ranking process.

• I do not really have a strong opinion. But I do think it may be helpful.

• ABSOLUTELY!!! Thank you for doing that...I wish more sites informed us.

• During the interview? I don't think that would be appropriate or helpful. If you mean after the interview, by email for example, I think that is helpful. That way applicants aren't anticipating a possible match that is no longer there.

• Yes, I think it would probably affect most applicants' rankings if they knew they weren't being considered by a site - even if the ranking instructions told them not to. I personally appreciated hearing one way or the other.

• Yes. I think it is appropriate given the level of anxiety surrounding rankings.

• I am conflicted. On the one hand- it really lets the applicant put this site out of their hopes. Conversely, if the ranking system works as it is explained, it does not harm the applicant to NOT know....

• Absolutely. I was informed that I was not being ranked, and I greatly appreciated the information, although it was disappointing. It made my ranking process less stressful because I already knew that there was at least one site that I could leave off of my list without regret. Had I not been informed, I likely would have ranked VTech without knowing that I did not have a chance of being placed there. Having this information greatly helped me in my ranking process.

• Yes. I think this takes some stress off of applicants in the ranking process. If you are still under consideration, you feel relieved. If not, you do not need to stress about how to rank the site.

• Yes, I think it helps the applicant manage anxiety and time.

• Yes! It just makes life easier due to the uncertainty of the match process.

• Yes. Although it does not affect the ultimate outcome, I think it is nice to get feedback during the process, and gives more information with which to make decisions.

• Yes. Then they will have the opportunity to rank other programs.

• I think that this is extremely helpful to applicants because it helps us to go into the ranking process fully aware of our possibilities.

7.  Based on your review of our materials and interactions with our staff how well do you believe our program meets the needs of applicants from individually and culturally diverse groups?  

• It seems the staff are willing to understand interns from diverse background.

• I think diversity permeates the learning culture at Virginia Tech and it seemed as though the staff is committed to this mission.

• Hard to say (I am not from an individually or culturally diverse group), but I received the impression that diversity is valued and attended to in all aspects of the agency's functioning.

• Yes, I think during the interview the staff communicated that they value diversity and multicultural competence.

• Overall, I got the impression that staff members were open and accepting of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• I believe that multicultural counseling is emphasized in the training and center philosophy.

• I think it might be difficult to see a diverse population on campus but I think meeting the needs of diverse candidates is not an issue.

• Well. I think this is a strength of the program.

• Yes, one example that I was impressed by was that you allowed and supported an international student intern to counsel in her own language, which I believe is a good indication of your openness to and supports for diversity.

• Wonderfully.

• Well.

• I believe that the Center does its best to learn about diverse groups and works within the population that is present at the university.

• I believe the Cook Counseling Center staff would provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for applicants from individually and culturally diverse groups.

• Well. You do an outstanding job of *integrating* multiculturalism throughout your program.

• It seemed as though the staff was very well-rounded and have interests in a broad variety of areas. Thus, I think an intern could most likely find someone who is interested in, or at least open to, helping them explore their interests.

• Very well, as your staff is very diverse and the atmosphere appears to be accepting of different cultures.

• A sense of openness was definitely felt in your center; however the clear majority of the staff (as well as the student campus) is Caucasian and therefore I can see how individuals from other races may feel a little out of place.

• I see no problems there.

• As far as I can tell, it seems to do at least an adequate job of that, though I suppose it would depend on the specific needs of the diverse applicants. I hadn't noticed any apparent deficiencies.

• I think that the center could benefit more from further development in the area of staff diversity (ethnic, sexual orientation).

• I believe your program is at least adequate in this regard.

• I believe that these needs would be met.

• Your staff seems very respectful and aware of diversity in general, and it appears that this attitude is also extended to the needs of applicants.

• I think all programs still need to work on making space for the culturally diverse. It's essential that this becomes a core training component rather than a discussion in passing.

• Moderately well. LGBTQ services are needed.

• I feel that the commitment to diversity is sufficient. I did not get the impression that it was a main focus, but it is sufficient. If there were anything I would suggest implementing more of, it would be more continued training and experience with multicultural populations. I noticed that other sites I interviewed with had more of an emphasis on diversity.

8.  Other comments are welcome about any aspect of the Cook Counseling Center intern recruitment process.   

• Blacksburg is a beautiful little town.

• I enjoyed my visit.

• Lunch with the interns outside of the center was enjoyable and helpful.

• The interview process was one of the longest of my interviews. While it was informative, it would have been helpful to know more about the format of the interviews in order to better prepare.

• You did a wonderful job of fostering a very welcoming environment for prospective interns.

• All staff were very supportive and welcoming throughout the process. The only thing that may be helpful is to allow interns to meet individual staff members they may be interested in working w/ (research or supervision-wise). For example, if someone has a strong interest in sport psych they may want to meet w/ Dr. Gary Bennett on an individual basis to further explore opportunities available (instead of during the context of the question/answer format interview). Other than that I think the process is very fair.

• Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this.

• It's great that you pay for lunch. I was kind of too tired for lunch, though, given interview trail exhaustion.

• I was a little curious about the supplementary essays they had us complete. They weren't really mentioned at the interview, and I would've liked to hear about the rationale/objectives of these essays, as well as their reactions (if any) to what I wrote in those essays.

• It was a great experience to visit onsite and meet the staff and current interns. Thank you all and the best of luck!

• The interns were welcoming and open to discussing their experience.

• The staff was friendly and the building nice, but the intern offices are tiny with no windows.

• I am really grateful for having the experience of interviewing at VTech. I met some wonderful people and everyone was great. Your interns seem really happy, which I really took into account when I ranked. Thanks!