Newswise — Bethesda, Md – Calling all clinical or counseling doctoral students!  The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) is looking for up to 45 students for its annual Summer Institute: Preparing for a Career in the Armed Forces course.

The Summer Institute is designed for doctoral students in clinical or counseling psychology who are interested in joining the U.S. military and serving military patients. The course offers a unique opportunity to explore in depth this career choice prior to applying for an internship. This intensive program will strengthen trainees’ backgrounds in military behavioral health as they gain firsthand knowledge of military culture, the work of psychologists serving in uniform, and evidence-based strategies to treat military members. 

Through didactics, experiential exercises, and panel and group discussions led by CDP faculty and experts in the field, participants will gain first-hand knowledge about:

  • Types of clinical and assessment opportunities for military psychologists
  • Deployment cycle stress and common clinical problems
  • Cognitive behavioral treatments used at military clinics including a full day concentrated on suicidal behavior
  • Ethical dilemmas faced by providers working with active duty Service members

Selected students will complete an online military culture and self-assessment prerequisite and will be guided through a discussion about this experience during the program.

The Summer Institute will take place June 10-14, 2019 at the USU campus in Bethesda, Md.  To be eligible, students must be:

  • Enrolled in a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology that is APA accredited
  • In the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of their doctoral program when they submit their application
  • Applying for or seriously considering a military internship in the U.S. Army, Navy or Air Force
  • Not anticipating being on internship in Fall 2019
  • A U.S. citizen

The Center for Deployment Psychology will cover hotel costs and course fees. Attendees will be responsible for all of their travel, transportation, and daily expenses.

For more information, and for the online application, visit:  http://deploymentpsych.org/the-summer-career.  The application deadline is January 22, 2019.  Those accepted will be notified by March 2019. 

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The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), founded by an act of Congress in 1972, is the academic heart of the Military Health System. USU students are primarily active-duty uniformed officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Service who receive specialized education in tropical and infectious diseases, TBI and PTSD, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, global health, and acute trauma care. A large percentage of the university’s more than 8,000 alumni are supporting operations around the world, offering their leadership and experience. The university’s research program covers a wide range of clinical and basic science important to both the military and public health.  For more information, visit www.usuhs.edu.