by Christi Mathis
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale has long been a frontrunner in its commitment to student health – both physical and mental – and its Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) program is celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the first doctoral level training sites in the country.
CAPS interns provide information and assistance during one of SIU’s free annual THRIVE mental health events. Held each fall, the event formerly known as Fresh Check Day, provides information about mental health and suicide prevention. (Photo by Yenitza Melgoza)
The public celebration is set for 2-4 p.m. Nov. 15 at Student Health Services, 374 E. Grand Ave. In recognition of the founding era, the event will have a ’70s theme, with participants encouraged to wear bell bottoms, platform shoes or other period attire.
Previous and current interns, students who have benefitted from CAPS services throughout the years, faculty, staff and community members, as well as anyone with an interest in the field, are invited. The event will kick off with a short presentation featuring guest speakers, a retrospective of 50 years of CAPS and special recognition. A reception with refreshments will follow. Those attending are also invited to bring photos or other small memorabilia from the program’s half-century to include in the time “CAPSule.”
SIU’s internship — a one-year program that is the final step for counseling or clinical psychologists to earn their doctorates — attracts students from all over the U.S. and other countries, said Jaime Clark, director of Student Health Services, which CAPS is part of.
“Our program is special for many reasons, including the fact that we partner with programs across campus,” she said. “One of the biggest bragging points of our internship program is that our interns actually get the opportunity to see Student Health Services clients. Not only does that provide them with exceptional, experiential learning, but it also allows us to provide more services to our students. Most universities our size average under 4,500 clinical appointments per year due to staffing, but thanks to our interns, training program, dedicated staff, and practicum students, we were able to provide 10,408 clinical visits for clients last year.”
Rich history
CAPS’ comprehensive doctoral training program earned American Psychological Association (APA) internship accreditation when it was founded in December 1974. While the program is the sixth oldest Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) program, it’s also the oldest Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA) program, according to Marquitta Bowman, CAPS director of training and assistant director.
“We’re very proud of that,” Bowman said. “What’s really distinctive about our center is that since we are located in a more rural area, we see more patients, sometimes for longer periods of time, and we treat even more severe psychopathology cases rather than refer them elsewhere.
“Many of the students who come here for their practicums apply to do their internships here. Our interns supervise the practicum students. And many of our staff did their practicums and/or internships here and fell in love with SIU and the area and decided to stay. Our program is also special due to the numerous, diverse concentrations we offer along with the general internship.”
In addition to generalist training, SIU’s interns can also choose an area of concentration:
- Sport psychology.
- Dialectical behavioral therapy.
- Eating disorder outpatient.
- Relationship/couples therapy.
- Alcohol and other drugs.
- Interdisciplinary health care.
Elite honor
SIU selects just six doctoral students from universities worldwide for its competitive internship program.
CAPS’ goal and mission is to provide therapeutic training, consulting and outreach services to the SIU community. The doctoral internship in health service psychology is designed to train interns to practice in a variety of settings with diverse clientele. Each intern handles clinical responsibilities and spends about 20% of their time supervising and training.
“Our staff is committed to diversity and inclusivity, which is expressed through multiculturally informed supervision, clinical services and community intervention,” said Shelly Ridgeway, director of Wellness and Health Promotion Services and assistant director of Student Health Services. “The staff at Student Health Services provides psychiatric services, and CAPS staff and trainees work closely consulting with the psychiatric team. Each member of our training staff is experienced in providing brief and long-term therapy and utilizes a developmental approach to supervision and training as the team reviews trainee progress to ensure each individual experiences maximum growth and learning.”
For more information about SIU’s CAPS internship training program, contact Bowman at marquitta.bowman@siu.edu.