Externship Program

2025-2026 Psychology Externship Training Program

The George Mason University Center for Community Mental Health offers numerous externship opportunities as part of our Psychology Externship Training Program for doctoral students enrolled in APA-accredited clinical and counseling psychology programs. Most are 9-12 month, 16-hour per week, though options for part time (8 hours a week) or summer experiences are also available (see below).  

It is required that applicants have received foundational training (coursework and practicum experience) in cognitive-behavioral therapy as well as psychological and psycho-educational assessment. Preference will be given to extern applicants applying during their third year or later of graduate study with previous therapy and assessment experience. However, we will consider applications from students in their second year of graduate study if they have exceptional prior clinical experience.

It is strongly preferred that the extern be able to start their experience in the summer of 2025, finishing their experience in May 2025.  Of note, there are opportunities for pay during the last part of this externship after the agreed upon  set of training expectations are met. 

About Us:

CCMH is a community-based clinic that provides a wide range of psychological services to the Northern Virginia community. These services include psychotherapy (individual, group, family, and couples), psychoeducational and psychological assessments, and consultation. As a community-based clinic, we work with clients across the lifespan experiencing a broad range of presenting concerns and diagnoses. CCMH is also the primary training facility for doctoral students in clinical psychology  

The CCMH Psychology Externship Training Program is designed to provide externs with the opportunity to strengthen clinical skills through training and direct client care. The foundation of the training program is on the implementation of evidence-based assessment and intervention with a particular emphasis on therapies that fall under the larger umbrella of cognitive and behavioral approaches. The training sequence includes individual and group supervision, didactics related to clinical practice (often included in group supervision) and case presentations.

Four to five extern placements are available for the 2025-2026 academic year.  

There are four training sequences and two specializations. At CCMH we work with the trainee to develop their training goals and interests and thus focus their caseloads as best as able (e.g., primarily work with children or adults) and we are happy to discuss your training goals and needs. 

Training Sequences:

Combined Therapy & Assessment: The Training Sequence 

• Full time only; 9 –12 month commitment 
• If interested, specialization in Veteran or Pediatric care available 

It is expected that externs will maintain five active therapy cases (individual, family, couples, and/or a group), conduct a total of five psychoeducational or mental health assessment during the year, receive one to two hours of individual and one to two hours of group supervision weekly, and attend periodic didactic seminars. You may specialize with children, teens and/or adults.  Additional training opportunities that may be available include workshop presentations and clinical research. For those completing a specialization (Veteran or Pediatric), requirements will be adjusted accordingly. 

Primary Therapy: The Training Sequence 

• Full time or part time available; 9-12 month commitment
•  If interested, specialization in Veteran or Pediatric care available 

For a full-time placement, externs in this track will be expected to maintain 8 active therapy cases, which will include a mix of both longer-term clients (individual, family, couples, and/or a group, based on the externs interest) and clients engaged in the Stepped Mental Health Care Program (https://ccmh.gmu.edu/services/therapy). The Stepped Care program is for adults only; longer term clients can be focused on child, adolescent and/or adult. This experience also requires two psychoeducational or mental health evaluations over the course of the year.  For those completing a specialization (Veteran or Pediatric), requirements will be adjusted accordingly. Supervision will include two hours of individual supervision weekly, one hour of group supervision and the opportunity to attend periodic didactic seminars. [There is the opportunity for this sequence to be part time only, and the number of cases will change accordingly; specifically, two assessments are required and approximately 4 therapy cases.] 

Primary Assessment: The Training Sequence 

• Full time or part time available; 9-12 month commitment  
• If interested, specialization in Veteran assessments is available 

Externs on the Assessment rotation will spend their time conducting psychoeducational and mental health assessments. It is expected that externs in this track will conduct 8-10 psychoeducational or mental health assessments across the academic year; this includes completing the intake, direct testing, and report writing, therefore completing 8-10 integrated assessment reports. The extern will also receive one hour of individual and one hour of group supervision weekly, and attend periodic didactic seminars. Opportunities to complete additional assessments for pay is available after the extern has met their requirements. Depending on extern interest, part of the time spent at CCMH can be devoted to maintaining a small caseload of therapy cases, though this is not required. Additional training opportunities that may be available include workshop presentations and clinical research.  There is the opportunity for the assessment training sequence to be part time only, and the number of assessments will change accordingly. 

“Psychometrist”: The Training Sequence 

• This sequence is available part-time only (6-8 hours a week)
•  3 month summer commitment or a 9-12 month commitment

In this sequence, the extern administers and scores numerous assessment measures to support advanced clinicians at CCMH, therefore achieving primarily face-to-face client hours. This may include cognitive testing (e.g., WAIS/WISC), achievement testing (e.g., WIAT/WJ-A), and attention and executive functioning (e.g., CPT, DKEFS, NEPSY), for example. The extern will work in collaboration with the primary clinician and supervisor to develop a battery, administer testing, score results, and enter data into the report summary. Opportunities to complete full assessments (i.e., intake, direct testing, and integrated reports) may be available if interested

Specializations 

Veteran Specialization: 

This may be incorporated into the primary therapy, primary assessment or combined training sequence.   

In addition to the general community population served by CCMH, we also provide both therapeutic and assessment services for Veterans. Assessment services for Veterans typically involve completing independent medical evaluations and working with law firms who represent veterans appealing for discharge upgrades and/or benefits. Applicants with specialized interest in working with Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. The extern’s training can focus on assessment and/or therapy and can be constructed with their interests in mind, and may include some general clinical cases as well.  

Pediatric Primary-Care Specialization:  

This may be part of the primary therapy or combined training sequence, and cases will be adjusted accordingly. 

In addition to the general community population served by CCMH, we also provide direct services in multiple primary-care settings.   Opportunities may include providing behavioral health services in a pediatrician’s office with a combination of co-located and integrated care, as well as providing behavioral health services in a specialty pediatric endocrine clinic.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit:

1) A cover letter clearly indicating the below information (please copy this table, and place at the end of your cover letter, indicating your preferences). 

2) CV including previous clinical and testing experience.

•  To the former, please be sure to clearly highlight (either in your CV or Cover Letter) your experience with evidence-based assessment and intervention with a particular emphasis on therapies that fall under the larger umbrella of cognitive and behavioral approaches. 
• To the latter, please clearly indicate (in your CV or cover letter) the number of integrated reports you have written/anticipate writing prior to the start of a 2025-2026 externship. 

3) Two letters of reference (one must be from a current/past clinical supervisor).
4) A sample de-identified assessment report. 

  EMAIL COMPLETED APPLICATION:  ccmh@gmu.edu 

Applications are due by 5pm EST on Friday January 31st , 2025. Applications may be delivered either by mail or email (ccmh@gmu.edu). Please direct any questions to Dr. Robyn Mehlenbeck (rmehlenb@gmu.edu) and Dr. Dufresne (ddufresn@gmu.edu).

Interviews will be held virtually the week of February 10th and 17th. We will be adhering to the Call Day protocol on March 7, 2025.