Training Opportunities

Psychological Health and Performance (PHP) and CU Boulder Athletics recognize the need for appropriately trained clinicians working with student-athletes to facilitate their personal growth, overall health and well-being, and performance. The importance of providing support to this population and specifically in the environment of athletics is gaining momentum. However, there is a lack of opportunity to receive pre-licensure training with such a specific focus in the world of collegiate athletics and sport psychology. The growth of our training program will allow our department to both meet the needs within our athletics department and answer the call for more training opportunities for clinicians in this specialty. We are passionate about training and supervision, and we look forward to working with the next generation of clinical providers in the field!
We know that our greatest strength and ability to grow is by valuing and including the perspectives of all. PHP is committed to creating a diverse and supportive environment to those we serve: the student athletes we work with and the trainees that we are mentoring. All qualified training applicants will receive consideration for placement in the program without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, physical ability level, age, veteran status, or SES.”

Training Program Philosophy

The primary focus of the PHP training program at CU Boulder is to train ethical, multiculturally-competent, well-rounded clinicians who are exceptional in the provision of clinical psychological services within an athletic department to student athletes, while fostering increasing confidence in their identity as early career professionals. For those who have obtained specialized training in sport and performance enhancement, the training program can foster additional training opportunities to strengthen those specific skillsets in tandem with clinical practice.

We strive for trainees to develop excellence in providing psychological, programmatic, and prevention-based services to the students and the department. To accomplish this, the program operates within the parameters of a practitioner-scholar model and emphasizes intense practice through service provision. Emphasis in training will be placed on practical “real-life” experience engaging in a wide array of service activities that licensed staff participate in. The beginning of the training year will provide more support and monitoring through supervision, review of video tapes of clinical appointments, and co-leading team workshops. As the year progresses, trainees will continue to feel more confident in their clinical practice.

No matter the level of trainee, emphasis on professional development and personal growth will be a highlight through the program. We believe a key facet to professional development is personal growth, and as such encourage introspection, self-reflection, and appropriate risk-taking within supervision and other collegial activities. At the completion of this training year, a trainee will have a greater understanding for how to effectively provide services within an athletic department and interdisciplinary care team.

Training Program Goals

The training program at PHP holds the following goals for trainees:

Development of clinicians who are competent in the clinical practice of psychotherapy
- Objectives:
  - Further solidifying competence with assessing, diagnosing, and case disposition
  - Further solidifying competence in provision of clinical services such as individual and group psychotherapy
Development of clinicians who are competent in the specialty of sport psychology
- Objectives:
  - Further solidifying competence with provision of clinical services to student-athletes
  - Further solidifying competence in provision of team workshops around skill development, strategy, team cohesion, and other sport psychology specific interventions
Development of ethical clinicians
- Objectives:
  - Further reinforcing ethical theory and practice
  - How to effectively navigate potential ethical dilemmas or conflicts at the general level and within an athletic department
Development of culturally sensitive and multiculturally informed clinicians
- Objectives
  - Increasing understanding and conversations around professional concerns related to issues of diversity and inclusion
  - Furthering a personal awareness around values, attitudes, beliefs, and biases the trainee may hold and how that could influence clinical work
  - Integration and application of this knowledge about diversity/inclusivity issues and own personal reflection into clinical and professional work

“Please click on one of the following links for specific information pertaining to the training program of interest and how to apply. Please note that the listed opportunities are the only ones we are providing at this time:”
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Predoctoral Minor Rotation Internship through CU School of Medicine APA Internship
Practicum Opportunities

Postdoctoral Fellowship

The postdoctoral fellowship is a paid, 12-month position typically running from August-August each calendar year. The postdoctoral fellowship will meet the requirements for Colorado licensure following the completion of the program. The position provides clinical training opportunities that include and are not limited to:

Initial consultations
Individual therapy
Performance enhancement work
Team workshops
Staff/departmental trainings
Outreach initiatives
Group therapy
Substance abuse counseling
Programmatic development

Postdoctoral fellows also have the opportunity to supervise with appropriate didactic training, supervision of supervision, and dependent on fellow trainees needs.
Outside of clinical work, the postdoctoral fellow will receive an hour of clinical supervision per week as well as an hour of professional development supervision and/or supervision of supervision. Biweekly didactics will cover a broad range of topics with a specific application to the environment of athletics and the athlete population which can include substance use/abuse, multiculturalism and diversity, disordered eating, transference/countertransference, and areas of interest the postdoc has that can be incorporated into the curriculum. Once a month staff partake in a multicultural conversation that can be related to our team’s own individual identities, something taking place in the news, a podcast, news article, etc that generates vulnerable dialogue and reflection of the implications of these topics on our work with clients.

Eligibility Criteria

Successful graduation from an APA or APPIC Accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology (e.g., PsyD, PhD, EdD), or the equivalent.
Successful dissertation defense
A minimum of 500 direct clinical hours during the predoctoral internship year

Ideal Applicants

Applicants with diverse intersectional identities are encouraged to apply for this training opportunity!
Applicants who are interested in pursuing a career in applied sport psychology, clinical psychology, and sport performance work (e.g. embedded in an athletics department, in a college counseling center acting as a liaison to athletics, consulting, work within a private practice setting)
Applicants who can work in a fast-paced environment and have exceptional clinical and counseling skills from a wide range of training settings
Applicants with well documented educational backgrounds and training/experience in sport and performance psychology (e.g., MA in Sport Psychology, Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology)
Applicants with a minimum of 500 direct clinical hours during the predoctoral internship year
Applicants who are open to feedback and eager to grow in their professional development

To Apply

Content Each year we advertise for a paid post-doctoral fellowship on the CU Careers website . The position aims to be advertised from November to January, with interviews taking place in January and February. To apply to the postdoctoral fellowship opportunity, please apply through the CU Careers portal. Selections will be made by March. Email any additional questions to Dr. Mac Brown, Assistant Director and Training Coordinator, at mac.brown@colorado.edu.

Predoctoral Minor Rotation Internship through CU School of Medicine APA Internship

The predoctoral minor rotation position is a July-December or January-June placement in coordination with the CU Family Medicine internship program and major rotation placement. Minor rotations average 8-12 hours of time at PHP and receive an hour of clinical supervision by either a licensed psychologist or a postdoctoral fellow under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The primary focus of this rotation is on provision of clinical appointments to student-athletes. Interest in other areas of clinical practice (substance abuse, groups) can be discussed as part of the training experience. Administrative time will be provided to work on notes and other duties. A weekly case conference meeting with staff will allow for additional group supervision, consultation, and conceptualization. Once a month this meeting is extended to include a multicultural dialogue. Opportunities for didactics specific to athletics will be incorporated. One hour for lunch will be provided per full day.

Eligibility Criteria

Accepted into the CU Family Medicine APA Accredited predoctoral internship program
Interest in working with athletes and an integrated care team

Ideal Applicants

Applicants with diverse intersectional identities are encouraged to apply for this training opportunity!
Applicants who can work in a fast-paced environment and have exceptional clinical and counseling skills from a wide range of training settings
Applicants who are open to feedback and eager to grow in their professional development
Experience (educationally, professionally, or personally) within athletics settings/athletes

To Apply

Content To apply for the minor rotation opportunity, you must first be accepted into the CU Family Medicine predoctoral internship program. Please provide a detailed cover letter describing your interest in a minor rotation, fit to the program, and an updated CV. Application materials can be emailed to Dr. Mac Brown, Assistant Director and Training Coordinator, at mac.brown@colorado.edu. Dr. Audrey Blakeley-Smith will organize minor rotation placements following interviews.

Practicum opportunities

Practicum opportunities are available for the academic year (August to May) to qualified applicants for 16-20 hours per week with supervision being provided by a combination of licensed psychologists, licensed professional counselors, and/or doctoral fellows under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Practicum students are requested to be available for the weekly case consultation meeting and didactics as part of their training experience. The primary focus of the practicum opportunity will focus on provision of clinical services, specifically initial consultations, individual ongoing appointments, and group therapy. Additional areas of interest to receive training in during the experience can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria

Enrolled in a graduate program towards a terminal degree
Must be able to attend the fall orientation in August even if start date is agreed to be later due to completing another training program contract
Have already completed a practicum setting experience

Ideal Applicants

Applicants with diverse intersectional identities are encouraged to apply for this training opportunity!
Applicants who can work in a fast-paced environment and have exceptional clinical and counseling skills from a wide range of training settings
Applicants who are open to feedback and eager to grow in their professional development
Experience (educationally, professionally, or personally) within athletics settings/athletes

To Apply

Content To apply to a practicum opportunity, please provide a detailed cover letter describing your interest and fit to the program, an updated CV, and three references. If applying through the DU Clinical PsyD program, please follow the appropriate timelines for selection periods unless inquiring about a supplement field experience opportunity. Application materials can be emailed to Dr. Mac Brown, Assistant Director and Training Coordinator, at mac.brown@colorado.edu