Deaf Wellness Center Specialized Training

Since 1992, interns on the Adult Track have had the opportunity for specialized training in services to the Deaf population. Adult Track intern applicants, proficient in American Sign Language (ASL) and experienced serving deaf individuals, may apply for a specialized training experience in the Deaf Wellness Center (DWC). This experience is listed separately from the general adult psychology internship positions through the APPIC match.

Interns in this clinical placement spend approximately 12-16 hours per week in the DWC. Doctoral interns engage in intake sessions, individual and group psychotherapy, and psychological assessments. The population served consists of deaf adults, almost always ASL users, who present with a wide range of mental illness diagnoses, language abilities, and levels of functioning. Supervision is provided by sign-fluent faculty and staff of the DWC. All of the remaining training activities are identical to those described for the Adult Track psychology internship program.

Accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing trainees include sign-fluent supervisors and a talented array of sign language interpreters who are experienced in serving deaf professionals who work in mental health settings. DWC training initiatives have been internationally recognized and were cited in an award from the American Psychological Association in 1994 and APPIC's Excellence in Psychology Diversity Training Award in 2007.