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CAPS provides an immersive, experiential training program, where we believe in learning by doing rather than only observing. Since training takes place within the context of a fast-paced, high-acuity, and brief therapy setting, we value clinical readiness to function in this environment and openness to feedback when considering applicants for all training positions. As such, please review the prerequisites below:

• Active enrollment in an academic program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree in a mental health field (e.g., clinical or counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling)
• Graduate level courses completed:
  • Counseling / Psychotherapy Theories
  • Diagnosis / Psychopathology
  • Professional Ethics
  • Counseling Techniques / Skills
• Previous direct clinical experience is preferred  
• Willingness to record counseling sessions and watch them individually and in supervision 
• Willingness to record supervision meetings with Doctoral Intern supervisors
• Time commitment:
  • Availability to commit to a full training year (mid-August 2027 to early May 2028)
  • Availability to attend a mandatory Orientation Week held August 16-20, 2027
  • Availability to be on-site, in-person for 18 to 24 hours across at least 3 days per week
  • Availability to attend mandatory, weekly training activities that are held on Monday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Number of Positions Available  

• Counseling Track: 2-4 positions 

Time Commitment 

• Practicum training placements are a full academic year commitment, from mid-August through early May. Please note that we are not able to accommodate practicum trainees during the summer. 
• Practicum trainees are expected to be on-site for 18 to 24 hours  across at least 3 days per week, including a mandatory training block on Monday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• On-site hours include the following clinical and training activities:
  • Clinical Activities
    • Individual Therapy (both in-person and telehealth appointments are expected to be conducted on-site for access to supervisory support)
    • Campus Outreach
    • Groups and Workshops (only offered during spring semester as availability allows)
  • Training Activities
    • Practicum Cohort Check-In
    • Didactic Seminar
    • Case Conference
    • Individual Supervision
    • Interdisciplinary Consultation
    • Administrative tasks, including documentation

Therapeutic Orientation 

• CAPS does not identify with any specific theoretical orientation and is integrative in nature. Practicum students are not expected to adhere to any particular approach or orientation to therapy. However, CAPS does place great emphasis on helping students cultivate an understanding of the interplay between one’s theoretical orientation, conceptualization, and intervention, as well as the centrality of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning when caring for others.  

Counseling Track 

• Individual therapy represents the primary focus of the CAPS Counseling Track. Throughout the course of the training year, practicum students are exposed to a variety of presenting concerns, which provides opportunities to engage in short-term, goal-directed work. Adjustment, mood, and anxiety disorders are among the most common presenting concerns seen by CAPS. Caseloads grow gradually across the training year. Case assignments reflect each practicum student’s developmental level, training goals, and supervisor recommendations. Practicum trainees may also have opportunities to gain experience working with concerns that align with their interests and may develop skills to support clients with more complex concerns.
• As a cohort, practicum students participate in weekly training activities held on Monday mornings. During the fall, practicum students attend Didactic Seminar, which covers topics associated with the mental health field and addresses core competencies expected for professional development. During the spring, practicum students participate in Case Conference, which provides an opportunity to present cases to their cohort on a rotating basis and integrate feedback from peers and facilitators.
• Supervision is another key component to the practicum student training experience. All practicum students receive at least two hours of supervision per week, with at least one hour of supervision with a licensed staff supervisor and one hour of supervision from a mental health professional who is: 1) a Doctoral Intern, 2) a Postdoctoral Fellow, or 3) a staff member who may be in process of accruing hours for licensure or fully licensed.  Practicum students generally build caseloads through the initial intake process (Session 0's) and supervisors provide support by observing initial appointments, assisting in diagnostic formulation, and providing documentation edits. In addition, supervision throughout the year will involve recording sessions and reviewing tape.  
• Practicum students have advanced training opportunities that become available in the spring with evidence of foundational skill development from supervision. Advanced training opportunities include co-facilitating groups and workshops and co-facilitating outreach presentations. While availability, supervisor recommendations, and the needs of CAPS are factored into these opportunities, practicum students’ clinical areas of interest and/or desired areas for growth further support in the decision-making process. 

Thank you for your interest in practicum training at CAPS! The application window for the 2027-2028 training year will open on December 14, 2026, and will remain open through Friday, January 29, 2027. We will communicate interview decisions by February 5, 2027, and interviews will take place throughout February 2027.

To apply, complete the and upload the following materials:

• Cover Letter (1-2 pages; PDF preferred) that addresses the following prompts:
  • What are your clinical training goals for the 2027-2028 training year, and how do they build on your training so far?
  • What draws you to training at a university counseling center, and to Vanderbilt University CAPS in particular?
• Curriculum Vita or Resume (PDF preferred)

Consideration for Out-of-State Applicants: Applicants from outside of Tennessee are encouraged to request a letter of approval for an out-of-state practicum placement from their program’s Director of Clinical Training. Please upload the letter with your application or email it to Alexandria Littlejohn, PhD, HSP at alexandria.h.littlejohn@vanderbilt.edu.