prE-professional training

Mental Health Internships and Clinical Training at Square One Psychology

Pre-professional training for post-doctoral fellows, graduate externs, and undergraduate students.

Our child psychology training programs give participants a direct role in real clinical work and practice operations.

All roles become an integral part of the treatment team, gaining meaningful experience with children navigating anxiety, selective mutism, and other behavioral challenges. It’s hands-on, high-support, and built to prepare you for what real-life practice actually looks like.

FALL 2026 - SPRING 2027 INTERNSHIP APPLICATION FORM

undergraduate mental health internship

FALL 2026 - SPRING 2027

This year-long internship is a unique opportunity for highly motivated undergraduate or early graduate students to gain comprehensive clinical training and direct experience working with children with anxiety and Selective Mutism. Interns will be immersed in our child-centered clinical environment and will receive hands-on exposure to evidence-based treatment, group therapy, behavioral coaching, and clinical program implementation throughout the academic year.

A major component of the internship includes supporting our Mighty Mouth Kids (MMK) programs and weekly group therapy services. Interns assist with therapeutic activities, support children during brave talking exposures and group experiences, and collaborate with clinicians to help create a supportive and structured treatment environment. Interns will also have opportunities to observe and participate in parent coaching, treatment planning, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Additional responsibilities include preparing treatment sessions and materials, assisting with group therapy programming, supporting data collection and administrative projects, participating in clinic operations, and collaborating with graduate-level Therapists and Staff on program development initiatives. Interns may also assist with intensive treatment programs, workshops, and special events throughout the year.

This internship requires a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week for the full academic year. Applicants must be available to remain on-site until 6:30 PM on Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays to support our intensive group programming. Additional hours can be scheduled flexibly based on the intern's availability and clinic needs.

Applicants should have demonstrated experience working with children and a strong interest in psychology, child development, mental health, education, speech-language pathology, or related fields. Interns must be able to commit to the full internship term and maintain a consistent weekly schedule throughout the year.

This is a competitive clinical internship, and we expect to accept only a small number of interns. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Interested and qualified applicants are encouraged to complete our Internship Application Form. Once your application is received, our team will contact you to schedule an initial 30-minute interview.

clinical psychology externship

Externship at a glance:

  • Externs will receive training and supervision in conducting semi-structured diagnostic evaluations. Externs will also receive training and supervision in preparing comprehensive evaluation reports.

  • Externs will receive training in and opportunities to deliver evidence-based treatments, including: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C).

  • Externs will have the opportunity to serve as the primary therapist for individual therapy and parent-based treatments. Externs may also be involved in customized intensive treatment programs. These tailored intensives typically involve 4-6 hours of treatment per day across multiple days. Externs may also provide school- and home-based interventions when clinically indicated.

  • Externs will have the opportunity to co-lead group therapy sessions for children with social anxiety and selective mutism and for children with emotional sensitivity. Externs will also serve as Lead Counselors for our Mighty Mouth Kids (MMK) intensive group behavioral therapy programs (offered several times a year, ranging from 1-day to 5-day programs).

  • Externs will receive 1 hour of individual supervision and 1 hour of group supervision each week. Supervision also occurs in-vivo in the co-therapy and group therapy context, allowing Externs to meet live-supervision requirements. Additional supervision is also available by way of the Director of Clinical Training’s open-door policy.

  • Externs may assist with presentations to professional and community groups. Externs may also have the opportunity to participate in research and conference presentations. Depending on the individual Extern’s level of experience and comfort on the subject area, their role can vary from simply observing to taking the lead as the presenter.

We are no longer accepting applications for 2026 - 2027 externs.

This year-long mental heatlth externship in Clinical Psychology is designed for advanced graduate students (3rd year and above) in clinical, school-clinical, and school psychology programs.

Training will focus on diagnostic assessment and treatment with children, adolescents, and their families using evidence-based treatments for a variety of conditions, including: separation anxiety, selective mutism (SM), social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

Externs will have the unique opportunity to work towards certification in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and/or PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM).

Externs are expected to carry 6-10 individual cases (depending on frequency of sessions and case complexity), co-lead social anxiety and selective mutism group therapy sessions, and serve as Counselors for our Mighty Mouth Kids (MMK) intensive group behavioral therapy programs (offered several times a year).

At the outset of the mental health externship, Externs will sit in with a licensed Clinical Psychologist during diagnostic evaluations. As they gain experience, they will then go on to complete evaluations independently.

Externs will also participate in weekly didactics, case conference meetings, and group supervision for PCIT and PCIT-SM. Our training model includes weekly individual supervision with a licensed Clinical Psychologist and frequent opportunities to observe senior clinicians implement interventions, provide school consultation, and engage in community outreach and program development.

Externs will receive 1 hour of individual supervision (in-person) and at least 1 hour of group supervision (in-person or virtual) each week. Our Director of Clinical Training has an open-door policy and makes herself available to the extent that her schedule allows.

Much of the Extern’s supervision will also happen in-vivo in the co-therapy and group therapy context, allowing Externs to meet live-supervision requirements.

We seek highly motivated and experienced graduate students who are interested in developing specialized skills in cognitive-behavioral treatment.

Qualified applicants will have familiarity with and some applied experience in delivering one or more manualized treatments (e.g., Coping Cat, Unified Protocol for Children and Adolescents, Parent Management Training) or other evidence-based treatments (e.g., Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI)).

To apply, please submit the following as a single PDF to hello@squareonenyc.com: (1) cover letter addressed to Zohra Chahal, PhD; Director of Clinical Training, (2) current CV, (3) eligibility letter, and (4) two letters of recommendation.

Interviews will be held by invitation and scheduled on a rolling basis. Applicants can select an in-person or virtual interview. Interviewees should expect to spend approximately 30 minutes in an interview and will then have time to meet with current Externs, Staff, ask questions, and take a tour. During the interview, the applicant should be able to speak about their clinical experiences, discuss one case, and demonstrate why they feel they are a good fit for our program.