Training Programs
Doctoral students are offered a wide range of training at FCTP in the practice of psychology, including mentoring in the business skills necessary for success in independent practice. We now also offer training to advanced master's degree students in social work who have an interest in becoming clinical social workers. All applicants to FCTP should be interested in working in a setting with a feminist, multicultural, queer-friendly orientation, and should be comfortable working autonomously; Many of our clients have a complex trauma history, and applicants should be interested in serving this population.
Successful applicants will have pursued additional training in specific treatment modalities such as EMDR, FAP, ACT, or DBT so as to best serve the client population seeking our services. Strong skill in all modalities of psychological assessment and report writing is required for psychology trainees. For pre-doctoral psychology internship slots, preference will be given to applicants who, for family or personal reasons, are unable to leave the greater Seattle area for their intern year. Predoctoral interns are paid a small stipend, and all trainees are afforded fully or partially subsidized training opportunities on-site.
Predoctoral practicum and Pre-internship programs
The practicum and pre-internship programs at FCTP are designed for doctoral students in their second or subsequent practicum year in a psychology doctoral program, or their second MSW practicum. This site is not a suitable experience for trainees who have not yet worked clinically. Predoctoral practicum trainees are typically on-site the equivalent of two full days per week for ten or twelve month assignments and carry a load of between 8 and 10 client contact hours weekly. Pre-interns may negotiate for half-time (similar to practicum) or greater time commitments, but are expected to make a full year commitment to the clinic. Trainee times on-site are scheduled by arrangement with the clinic director. Practicum and pre-intern trainees also conduct psychological evaluations on behalf of referring therapists, community agencies, and the courts. Trainees at these levels receive between one and four hours of individual supervision weekly, and participate in the peer consult group. Preference is given to applicants willing to commit to a full year at the clinic.
Predoctoral internship
The predoctoral psychology internship is a year-long, full-time, 2000 hour internship that meets all requirements for licensure. Interns are expected to have completed comprehensive examinations and defended their dissertation proposal prior to commencing their intern year, which normally runs either from July through June or from January through December. Start time exceptions may be available for interns whose personal or family circumstances may preclude a July or January start date. Half-time internships that extend over a two-year time period may be available as an accommodation to interns with personal circumstances that would preclude full-time work.
Interns are expected to have case load of between 15 and 20 face to face contact hours weekly. They conduct on-going psychotherapy with their own clients. They may also offer individual and group supervision to practicum students, conduct psychological evaluations on behalf of referring therapists, community agencies and the courts, and consult to other psychotherapists and health care providers. Interns receive between two and four hours weekly of individual supervision, and participate in a peer consultation group.Funding is available for participation in didactic training of the intern's choice off-site in addition to the two hours of didactic activities available on-site each week.
Because of its independent practice focus, acquisition of business skills is a second component of training at FCTP. Interns are expected to develop business plans for their future independent practice of psychology. They will demonstrate competency in those skills in addition to competency in skills of psychotherapy, assessment, supervision, and consultation.
Post-Doctoral Training Program
FCTP is pleased to now offer a post-doctoral training program in psychology. The post-doc program is individually designed in consultation with the trainee, and may extend over a time period longer than one year in order to meet the contact hours and supervision requirements of the Washington State licensing law. Current post-docs work pro bono at FCTP for twenty hours monthly, receiving one hour of supervision each month in exchange, and may also arrange for additional supervision for their paid work in other settings. Application requirements for post-doctoral training are the same as those for the other training programs at FCTP. Persons interested in a post-doctoral position should contact Dr. Brown directly to discuss the available options. Post-doctoral applicants are strongly advised to obtain their LMHC in Washington State as soon as possible after completing their doctoral degree so as to facilitate payments for their services during the post-doctoral year.
Application for training positions
Graduate students currently enrolled in doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology or in an MSW program concentrating in clinical social work who are interested in interviewing for a training slot with FCTP should submit the following materials directly to FCTP electronically. FCTP is not in the APPIC Match; however, prospective pre-doctoral psychology interns should send a copy of materials submitted to the Match in addition to those listed below:
- A letter of intent, describing your interest in working at FCTP, and whether you are applying for a practicum/preinternship, internship, or post-doctoral position.
- A copy, with names and other identifying information redacted for purposes of confidentiality, of a recent assessment report or an indepth case conceptualization of work with a psychotherapy case. For psychology applicants, the assessment report is the preferred submission.
- A list of all psychological assessment instruments with which the applicant is familiar (psychology applicants only), and the number of times each has been administered.
- A copy of your current CV.
- Letters from three professional references who know your clinical work well. Letters should be detailed and speak specifically to the applicant's capacities for clinical work with complex trauma populations, capacities for critical thinking, autonomy, comfort with intense client affect, and maintenance of boundaries in the professional context. Letters not speaking to these specific concerns will be less helpful in the selection process than those that do so.
- A 6-8 page double spaced essay describing an ethical dilemma you have encountered during your prior clinical work and training to date, and your process of responding to that ethical dilemma, including a description of the ethical decision-making model utilized.
- A copy of any licensure or certification you possess. Trainees at FCTP must hold certification or licensure for practice in Washington State appropriate to their level of training by the time they start work at FCTP. Trainees holding at least a master's degree should apply for the LMHCA. Other trainees should consult with FCTP regarding appropriate levels of certification.
All materials should be sent electronically (preferred method) to: fctpdirector[at]gmail[dot]com. Hard copies may be sent to Laura S. Brown, Ph.D. ABPP, Clinic Director, at 3429 Fremont Pl. N., #319, Seattle WA 98103. Interviews will be required of all finalists for training positions.
Deadlines for application materials:
- For internship applications, irrespective of start date, all materials should be submitted on or before December 15.
- For pre-internship and practicum positions, all materials should be submitted on or before March 1.
- Applications for post-doctoral positions have no formal deadline, and are processed and responded to as they are submitted.
Statement of non-discriminatory policies
FCTP is an equal opportunity training institution. We embrace diversity, and welcome trainees, staff and clients irrespective of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or immigration status.