Since 1973, the Faulk Center (the Center) has provided counseling services to people of all ages at its facility on Boca Rio Road and at outreach locations throughout Palm Beach and Broward counties.
The Faulk Center is a private, nonprofit, outpatient, community-based mental health facility.
Setting: The interns spend most of their time at the Center which is located at 22455 Boca Rio Road in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida. Boca Raton is located in southern Palm Beach County and has exceptional attractions, shopping, fantastic events, and beaches. Interns can enjoy a one-of-a-kind balance of natural beauty and cultural attractions, exciting events, and slow-paced, sun-kissed leisure. The temperature in Boca Raton averages from 61°F to 92°F with November to May being the most mild and comfortable temperatures. With a diversity score of 86 out of 100, Boca Raton is also much more diverse than other US cities, with large areas of people of different races and ethnicities living side by side.
The Center is housed in a custom-designed two-story, 16-sided building, which symbolizes the circle of group therapy. Interns also travel once or twice per week to provide group counseling services at a local school and/or a senior adult facility.
Services: Interns provide individual, couples, family, and group counseling as well as psychological testing services to children, adults, and seniors who otherwise could not afford private treatment. Psychological interventions are evidence-based and draw on multiple theories, such as client-centered, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems therapy.
Client Population: Clients served at our Boca Rio location and in our outreach programs are diverse in terms of age, presenting problems, diagnoses, and ethnicity. Depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, trauma and stress disorders, impulse-control and conduct disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders are commonly a focus of treatment. The majority of clients at all locations are of low or middle socioeconomic status. The majority of clients at the Boca Rio location and senior facilities are Caucasian whereas the majority of children in the Schools Program are people of color.
Training Philosophy: The Center is committed to the philosophy that psychological practice should be based on the science of psychology which is influenced by the professional practice of psychology. We are grounded in the practitioner-scholar model and believe interns should receive training that integrates research and clinical experience. In particular, we are committed to the practice of empirically-supported treatments. The program also holds the philosophy that internship training should be generalist in nature and include a variety of experiences with a variety of populations. Although some students may begin specializing during the internship year, they must do so while obtaining generalist training.
The need for training to be sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity is viewed as vital to the overall professional development of the intern. The program is committed to the philosophy that training is best accomplished in a manner that respects trainees and their individual needs throughout the year. Our ability to develop a schedule specific to the needs of each intern and to revise that schedule as the needs of the intern change is an important value of this internship site. Interns are treated as junior colleagues, and mutual respect between interns and faculty is paramount, so that interns can expect quality supervision, mentorship, and collegiality.
Supervision is available in Creole and Spanish.
Our Program Goals & Objectives:
Goal #1: To produce clinicians who are competent in psychological assessment at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #1: Interns will develop awareness, knowledge and skills in diagnostic interviewing, selecting and administering psychometrically-validated instruments, scoring, writing reports, and communicating results to clients with a variety of diagnoses, problems, and needs.
Goal #2: To produce clinicians who are competent in the provision of psychological interventions at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #2: Interns will develop competence in the provision of psychological interventions to clients with a variety of diagnoses, problems, and needs. They will learn new psychotherapy skills and hone those already acquired.
Goal #3: To produce clinicians who are competent in providing consultation and supervision at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #3: Interns will be effective in translating psychological principles to colleagues, trainees, and professionals from other disciplines.
Goal #4: To produce clinicians who demonstrate professional and ethical behavior and sensitivity to diversity issues at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #4: Interns will develop a mature understanding of professional ethics as well as issues of ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexuality, and other aspects of diversity.
Goal #5: To produce clinicians who have mature professional identities and a sense of themselves as “psychologists” at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #5: Interns will develop an awareness of strengths, limitations, and areas of growth as entry-level psychologists. They will actively participate in the supervision process and develop an appropriate professional identity sufficient to function as a competent psychologist.
Goal #6: To produce clinicians who are knowledgeable and skilled in the interface between science and practice at the independent practice entry level.
Objectives for Goal #6: Interns will be able to apply scientific knowledge to their professional practice in a clinical setting. They will be educated consumers of empirical research, understand and appreciate program development/evaluation, and have competence in one or more empirically-supported methods.
Membership: The Faulk Center doctoral psychology internship program was awarded initial APA accreditation effective August 2015. The accreditation extends for a full seven years. Our internship program is currently a member of APPIC, participates in the APPIC Match, and adheres to APPIC Match Policies. The APPIC Program Code Number for the Faulk Center is: 1199.
For more information, contact American Psychological Association,
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: (202) 336-5979
Eligibility: The Center offers four full-time positions to students from APA or CPA-accredited doctoral psychology programs whose interests match the Center’s training opportunities. Prior to the APPIC match, the applicant must have passed all comprehensive exams. Prior to the beginning of the internship, the applicant must have completed all doctoral course work and required practicum placements. The program seeks applicants with a sound clinical knowledge base and the personal characteristics necessary to function well in our program setting. Applicants should be familiar with pertinent areas of psychology, including theories of personality, processes of therapy, the different modalities of therapy, psychological assessment, physiology of behavior, and statistics. Prior experience with psychotherapy and psychological assessment under supervision is expected.
Selection: Our selection criteria are based on a “goodness–of–fit” with our practitioner-scholar model, and we look for interns whose training goals match the training that we offer. The program looks not only at the total number of practicum hours, but the quality of training in terms of the type of setting as well as experience with empirically-supported treatments. We prefer interns who have training and experience in working with both children and adults in an outpatient setting. However, we will consider candidates with gaps in this training who show an eagerness to learn and particular promise based on letters of recommendation, compelling essays, and strong interviews. Applicants from programs in clinical and counseling are preferred, however, those from school psychology programs may be considered. Individuals from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply because we seek to recruit diverse interns.
Application Procedure:
A complete application consists of the following materials:
• Completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI- www.appic.org)
• Cover letter
• Curriculum vita
• Letters of recommendation (3)
• Transcripts
All application materials must be submitted through the AAPI online portal by DECEMBER 1 in order to be considered for our program. If applicants are invited to interview, they will typically be notified by December 15th. In person interviews are preferred and will be held during the month of January. Please note that matched applicants are required to undergo background checks.
Stipend & Benefits: The intern stipend is $22,000 per year, payable semimonthly. Benefits include ten (10) vacation days, up to six (6) sick days, ten (10) holidays, and five (5) professional development days.
Program Resources: The program has training supervisors who are licensed clinical psychologists (see list below). Each supervisor oversees intern work in the supervisor’s areas of expertise. Psychologist supervisors are members of the intern training committee and participate in selection and recruitment, as well as the organization, implementation, and review of the program.
Interns share an office with individual desks, phones, and computers. The Center provides all necessary training materials and equipment such as software, Wi-Fi and assessment materials. Also, the Center library is in the intern office. It has a variety of psychology and health-related books and videos.
Requirements for Program Completion: The following requirements must be met to the satisfaction of the Clinical/Training Director and other Training Supervisors to receive a certification of satisfactory internship completion:
1) The program requires interns to work 42 hours per week and accumulate a minimum of 2,000 hours of training and service during the training year. Interns are required to average 20 direct clinical contact hours per week by mid-year (psychotherapy, assessment, intakes, supervision of a Master’s student[s], etc.). The internship may not be completed in less than 12 months or more than 14 months.
2) Interns are required to work at least one evening per week (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday) and flex-time is given during standard working hours.
3) Interns are required to have a minimum of two hours available each week for intakes.
4) At least three comprehensive psychological/psychoeducational evaluations with an integrated written report must be satisfactorily completed. Feedback on the results of the evaluations must be provided to the referral sources, individuals tested, and/or family members as appropriate.
5) Regular attendance at all didactic activities (i.e., Friday Didactic Seminars, case staffings, and individual/group supervision) is expected. Interns who are ill or using approved vacation time are excused from didactics but are responsible for reviewing the material presented.
6) Regular attendance at all Wednesday presentations is expected. Interns who are ill or using approved vacation time are excused from the presentations.
7) Interns are required to give a one-hour presentation on a therapy case and a one-hour presentation on an assessment case in a formalized case conference setting.
8) Interns are required to participate in and contribute to the annual Facilitator Training Course.
9) Interns are required to give a one-hour community presentation at the Center on a mental health topic of their choice.
10) All evaluation forms must be completed.
11) Passing mid-year supervisor evaluations (receiving a 3 [“Minimal supervision needed/Intern mid-placement level”]) is required.
12) Passing final supervisor evaluations (receiving a 4.0 [“Supervision rarely needed/ Independent practice entry level”]) is required.
13) Satisfactory termination of any due process and/or remediation plans must be completed.
14) All assigned clinical documentation and administrative record keeping must be completed.
Diversity & Nondiscrimination Statement: The Center recognizes and appreciates interns’ individual and cultural diversity and treats interns with respect. The Center is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all its interns as well as its practicum students, employees, volunteers, and applicants for admission and employment. For that reason, the Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, socioeconomic status, disability, or veteran status in its programs, admission practices, and conditions of employment. The Center’s policy is that all placements and employment decisions are to be based on job qualifications and performance. Further, the institution will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified disabled applicants and employees
Grievances: Conflicts and grievances that may occur during the training year are typically resolved through informal mediation and discussion. If this does not resolve the conflict or grievance, a formal complaint may be initiated.
Due Process: Interns cannot be terminated from the Center without due process procedures. Any of the following will be considered specific indications of unsatisfactory intern progress or performance requiring the initiation of due process procedures. Difficulty with any area may result in termination of the intern from the Center’s internship training program:
• Failure to achieve satisfactory competence in clinical responsibilities per the program’s goals, objectives, competencies, and training requirements.
• Ethical violation(s) of the American Psychological Association’s current Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
• Failure to meet basic workplace standards for Center personnel, including but not limited to: excessive absences, failure to keep appointments, excessive tardiness, and coming to work under the influence of substances.
Staff concerns about intern performance are typically resolved informally through mediation. If concerns cannot be resolved in this manner, a formal process of information gathering resulting in remediation or termination will ensue.
Sexual Harassment: The Center will not tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace. Interns who believe that they have been the victims of harassment may submit a complaint. Through informal or formal investigation of the facts and circumstances, a determination will be made as to the appropriate steps to be taken.
Drug-Free Workplace: All interns are prohibited from unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, or using controlled substances. Any intern violating this policy is subject to discipline, up to and including termination.
Details of the grievance, due process, sexual harassment, and drug-free workplace policies are made available to incoming interns during orientation.
Internship Training Supervisors:
Holly Katz, Ph.D. Clinical and Training Director
Christina Elkind, Psy.D. Deputy Clinical Director, Adult Programs Manager and Clinical
Amanda Weiss, Psy.D. Child and Family Programs Manager and Clinical Supervisor
Dara Spey, Ph.D. Psychological Testing Supervisor and Program Manager
Erin Lawson, Psy.D Psychological Testing Supervisor
2023-2024 Interns:
Alexandria Schmidt (Psy.D. anticipated) Nova Southeastern University
Elisa Seoane (Psy.D. anticipated) Nova Southeastern University
Janna Appelstein (Psy.D. anticipated) Long Island University
Jessica Neustater (Psy.D. anticipated) Nova Southeastern University
Internship Handbook: Interns receive a Program Handbook and a Program Brochure during orientation which includes detailed information regarding the program, its training objectives/competencies/goals, performance evaluations, program requirements, policies/procedures, etc.
View trainee admissions, support, and outcome data here.
To obtain further information, please email center@faulkcenterforcounseling.org or call 561-483.5300.