Clinical Traineeship

The AIDS Health Project has operated a Clinical Traineeship program—also known as the Post-Graduate Counseling Internship program—for more than a decade. The program provides comprehensive clinical training to mental health students seeking experience in the practice of Brief Psychotherapy and includes training in Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy, couple's work, and group facilitation. Trainees work primarily with gay and bisexual men and address issues including HIV and other health-related concerns, intimacy, gay identity, communication, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

The traineeship requires a 20-hour per week commitment from July though June of the following year. Since we consider the traineeship to be an advanced clinical practicum, we require all applicants to have a minimum of one year supervised clinical experience in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related mental health field. Those who have completed their graduate degree and are seeking supervised clinical experience towards licensure will also be considered for a trainee position. The practicum includes two hours per week of group supervision and one hour per week of individual supervision; all supervisors are licensed staff clinicians.

Typically, AHP selects eight to ten trainees each year from a variety of schools and degree programs, since this diversity acts as an important stimulus for peer learning. Over the years, AHP has hosted trainees from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, the California Institute of Integral Studies, the Wright Institute, San Francisco State University, JFK University, New College, the University of California, Berkeley, and the American School of Professional Psychology.

Applications must be received no later than February 4, 2008 for first consideration. Any applications received after this date will only be considered if trainee positions remain available after the first consideration applications are processed.

Components of the Clinical Traineeship

Application and Application Procedure