Graduate Assistantship
2023-2024

USU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

A department in the division of Student Affairs, CAPS is committed to helping students take full advantage of the University experience. The center's primary role, from a university wide standpoint, is in the retention and advancement of students. Toward this end, treatment is individualized to fit the particular needs of each client. Both short-term and long-term models of intervention are utilized so as to maximize resources for those in the greatest need. The average number of sessions is eight.

The center has 9 doctoral professional staff and 4 licensed social workers. Two of the professional staff are adjunct clinical professors in the Department of Psychology. There are four levels of training offered at the center: three full-time doctoral interns, one half-time doctoral graduate assistants, three to six doctoral practicum students, and 8 to 10 undergraduate REACH Peers.

Services provided by the center include: clinical consultation, intake and crisis management; individual, group, and relationship therapy; psychoeducational and personality assessment; campus and community outreach/consultation, psychoeducational presentations/workshops; and training and supervision. Center staff attend to a wide range of student concerns, including adjustment issues related to stress, attending college, and further individuating from family; relationship problems; issues of diversity or sexual orientation; a variety of clinical problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, both acute and chronic post-traumatic stress syndromes, and characterological and psychotic symptoms.

Graduate Assistantship

The purpose of the assistantship is to afford students, especially those with a professional interest in counseling center positions, an opportunity to work with college students and receive:

  1. Appropriate cases equal to their level of professional development.
  2. An opportunity to earn over 200 direct contact therapy hours.
  3. Excellent supervision.
  4. Opportunities for outreach and professional development (networking).
  5. Possible co-leadership of group and supervised supervision of a CAPS REACH Peer.
  6. Possible opportunity to provide assessment

GAs are expected to commit twenty hours per week to CAPS, carry a case load of approximately ten clients each week, co-lead a weekly group, and participate in staff meeting and required training meetings. If a GA is interested and opportunities are available, GAs are given one hour per week to provide supervision to a student participating in the CAPS REACH peer program and/or two hours a week to do psychoeducational assessment. GAs are expected to complete at least two outreach projects each semester (the first co-leading with a professional staff member).

One hour of individual supervision will be provided to GAs each week. GAs are also required to participate in weekly group supervision/case staffing and staff meetings usually on Wednesdays 8:30am to 10:30am, Fall Staff Retreat (usually one full day in October) and Spring picnic (usually one afternoon at the end of Spring semester). If a GA has not previously completed a CAPS practicum, they may also be asked to attend and participate in the CAPS practicum class on Thursdays 8:30am to 10:30am.

GAs will also be invited (but not required) to participate in various training opportunities throughout the year with interns and senior staff, including Professional Issues seminars on Fridays from 10:30am to 12:30pm, the Annual CAPS Conference, the Utah University and College Counseling Centers Conference, and other staff-related social and educational gatherings.

The CAPS Practicum/GA Coordinator is responsible for orientation and training of GAs, with help from CAPS staff. GAs will attend orientation activities during the first two weeks of fall semester to ensure:

  1. Understanding of CAPS Policies and Procedures (including the CAPS Supervision Agreement)
  2. Familiarity with CAPS forms and paperwork (already introduced during practicum training).
  3. Supervision requests and preferences (one supervisor per semester).
  4. Articulation of clinical goals and individual expectations for training.
  5. Awareness of ethical guidelines and appreciation for diversity.
  6. Introduction to providing group therapy.

Careful adherence to CAPS policies and procedures will be required in all areas, including paperwork and professional demeanor (dress and punctuality). GAs will complete intake summaries, case notes and termination summaries in a timely manner according to CAPS guidelines. Individual supervisors will sign off on all work and every session will be videotaped for supervision. Office space will be reserved for GAs for client hours, paperwork, and prep.

Weekly supervision is required, even when GAs have not seen clients. At the end of each semester, GAs will complete the supervision evaluation form and discuss the strengths and limitations of supervision with their individual supervisors. These forms will then be forwarded to the Training Director. Likewise, individual supervisors will complete the Psychology Department – Clinical Skills and Professional Readiness Evaluation Form and share feedback with the GA at their last supervision session of the semester. These forms are forwarded to the Training Director and then they will be placed in the GA’s CAPS personnel file. Appropriate feedback and forms will be forwarded to the Psychology Department to document student accomplishments during their year at CAPS.

Concerns about an Assistants performance should be shared with their primary supervisor and the Practicum/GA Coordinator. Concerns should be first addressed in supervision and then forwarded to the Practicum/GA Coordinator and Director of Training as needed. Where necessary, formal written plans will be designed by the Training Committee to assist students with problem areas and progress review will be maintained during individual supervision.

Should a conflict arise in supervision, concerns can be communicated by the GAs to the Practicum/GA Coordinator who will notify the Director of Training. As appropriate, these concerns will be handled as follows:

  1. Trainees will express supervision concerns in supervision.
  2. If unresolved, these concerns will be addressed with the Practicum/GA Coordinator.
  3. As needed, these concerns will be addressed by the Director of Training.
  4. Where differences remain unresolved, new supervision assignments will be implemented.

At the end of the training year, Assistants will meet with the Practicum/GA Coordinator to summarize the strengths and limitations of their training experience, reviewing specific recommendations for improving the assistantship.

Graduate Assistantship Application Procedure

USU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers an assistantship for one or two graduate students from USU’s Combined Clinical/Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. These students are generally in their last or next to last year of pre-internship training. All applicants should be hard-working, ethical, and growth oriented.

Although not required, preference is often given to applicants that have had three years of practicum experience, including one year at CAPS, thesis defended, and ethics class completed.

If interested in applying for the CAPS Graduate Assistantship, please submit the following materials to Dr. Charley Bentley by Wednesday February 15, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.:

  1. Letter fully explaining your interest in and preparation for this particular assistantship;
  2. A curriculum vita;
  3. The names of two professional references familiar with your clinical and interpersonal skills.
Materials should be submitted to: Dr. Charles Bentley, Practicum/GA Coordinator, charles.bentley@usu.edu

After your application materials are received you will be contacted for additional information and to schedule an interview. Interviews are done around the last week in February. Interviews 30 minutes with many of the CAPS clinical staff present. Staff members will take turns asking you questions and then you will have a few minutes to ask questions about the assistantship.

If you have any questions about our Assistantship or the application process, please feel free to contact Dr. Bentley at charles.bentley@usu.edu or 435-797-1012.

Utah State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status.

What We Can Offer a CAPS Graduate Assistant

  • A stipend of $12,525 for 9 months.
  • The opportunity to earn over 200 direct contact therapy hours.
  • The opportunity to gain group and/or assessment experience.
  • The opportunity to gain experience providing supervision to a Reach Peer.
  • Experience with a variety of traditional and non-traditional college students.
  • Experience with a range of client problems, from V-codes and adjustment disorders to mood, anxiety, eating, trauma, and characterological disorders.
  • The opportunity to be a colleague in a small, energetic, relaxed, good-natured professional setting.
  • Supervision by professionals of diverse backgrounds, styles, and expertise, who are committed to your growth as a psychologist-in-training.
  • Participation in weekly training opportunities.
  • Inclusion in the Fall and Spring full staff retreats and weekly staff meetings.
  • Free attendance at the Annual Utah University Counseling Centers Fall Conference held in Park City, which includes transportation; breakfast and lunch; a chance to hobnob with trainees at other Utah counseling centers; and a choice of various professional development workshops.