Doctoral Psychology Practicum Training

Comprehensive practicum experience in community mental health

The Didi Hirsch Psychology Practicum Training Program offers third- and fourth-year doctoral students (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology a rich, hands-on experience working with children, adults, and families affected by serious mental illness. Our training is grounded in evidence-based care and shaped by the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

Applicant qualifications

We welcome advanced doctoral students seeking practicum placement in a high-impact, real-world environment. Applicants should have a strong interest in working with under-resourced populations and a commitment to cultural humility and trauma-informed care.

Placement overview

Practicum students are placed in our Adult Outpatient or Child and Family Services programs. Under close supervision, students provide direct services in a variety of formats, including:

Individual, group, and family therapy
Field-based outreach opportunities (as available)
Collaboration in multidisciplinary treatment teams
Consultation with licensed clinicians and other mental health professionals

Students also receive training in Department of Mental Health (DMH) documentation and protocols, along with exposure to key community-based treatment models.

Clinical orientation

Our practicum emphasizes a cognitive-behavioral foundation, with opportunities to learn and apply evidence-based models such as Seeking Safety and Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS). Through this structured approach, students gain critical skills in assessment, treatment planning, and intervention across a broad clinical spectrum.

Supervision and professional development

Students receive peer supervision and, in some programs, group supervision. All students participate in individual supervision, monthly educational seminars, and ongoing case consultation. We offer a depth of support that fosters both clinical competence and professional confidence.

Practicum students are expected to take on meaningful responsibility in their roles—preparing them to enter internship and future practice as well-rounded, capable clinicians.

Training components and application details

Adult services program

Adult Services program positions available for the 2026-2027 training year: CULVER CITY CENTER (2 positions).

Students interested in working with adults are placed at the Didi Hirsch Sepulveda site in Culver City. The Adult Services programs provide specialized services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness, often linked to frequent hospitalizations and/or homelessness. Diagnoses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Practicum students work on multidisciplinary teams in settings such as work, home, or telehealth to help clients remain in the community and achieve the highest possible level of functioning. Activities include intake assessments, treatment planning, individual and group psychotherapy and crisis intervention.

Treatment modalities used and taught in the program include cognitive behavioral therapy, Seeking Safety, crisis intervention, recovery principles, motivational interviewing and mindfulness.

Attendance at weekly team meetings is strongly encouraged and fieldwork may be required.

Competencies

We believe that all future mental health professionals need to demonstrate competency in:

Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of chronic severe mental illness and emotional/behavioral problems in adults, adolescents and children utilizing evidence-based interventions
Adhering to the ethical and legal responsibilities of mental health professionals
Navigating cultural, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, religious and class diversity
Engaging in professional and personal interactions with others
Conduct optional community outreach activities

Training experience

All students are required to attend monthly educational seminars, which provide instruction on a variety of mental health topics and specific intervention techniques.

Seeking Safety Training

This evidence-based practice is designed to support clients with substance use issues and PTSD. It is offered as long as funding permits.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) Training

This is a two-day interactive course in suicide first aid for those seeking advanced skills in suicide prevention.

Professional Assault Crisis Training (Pro-ACT)

This training is a two-day interactive course providing information and strategies for de-escalating crisis situations and enhancing personal safety when working with clients.

Crisis Oriented Recovery Services (CORS) Training (optional)

This training prepares students to implement a short-term crisis intervention model with specific clients.

General information

Time commitment: This part-time training program requires 16-24 hours per week over a 10-month period. If desired, a full year placement may be available. Practicum students will start on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, with a full-day orientation. The training year concludes no earlier than Friday, June 26, 2026.
Stipend: A $5,000 annual stipend is available for students fluent in Spanish or Armenian (Glendale placement only) who can utilize their language skills in a therapeutic setting. To qualify, you are required to pass a brief language proficiency test.
Supervision: Students receive one hour of individual supervision per week with a licensed clinical psychologist. Live supervision or visual recordings of at least two sessions are required over the course of the year. Peer supervision is provided bi-weekly.
Multidisciplinary team meetings: Students are encouraged to attend weekly 1.5-hour team meetings. More information about team meeting schedules will be provided during the interview process.
Time off: Students are given a total of 10 days off.
Background check: All students must be able to pass a background check as a final condition of placement.
Students with disabilities: Facilities are accessible and accommodate students with disabilities.
Training disclaimer: In accordance with Implementing Regulation C-1 I from the APA Standards on Accreditation, practicum students and other trainees (excluding those enrolled in the Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology) are not enrolled in or completing an accredited internship while training at our site. For more information about the Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology, click here: Doctoral Internship Training Program – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
COVID-19/Emergency protocol: On August 4, 2023, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) ended the mandate requiring health care workers to be vaccinated for COVID–19. Didi Hirsch has followed LAC DPH guidelines throughout the pandemic, and we are no longer requiring students/employees to be vaccinated for COVID 19. However, it is strongly recommended that everyone remains up to date with their COVID–19 vaccinations and booster, in line with CDC recommendations.

Child/family services program

Child/Family Services positions available for the 2026-2027 training year: GLENDALE CENTER (2 positions); TAPER CENTER (1 position; bilingual Spanish-speaking REQUIRED).

Students interested in working with children and families are placed at our Didi Hirsch Glendale and Metro sites. Children in this program range in age, from four to 18 years old. While the majority of children and adolescents are diagnosed with disruptive behavioral disorders, clients are also commonly diagnosed with mood and/or anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders or pervasive developmental disorders. A significant number of clients are children who have been victims of abuse, neglect and/or trauma. Students are involved in intake assessments and group, family and individual therapy. Treatment modalities used and taught in the program include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Seeking Safety, Play Therapy, and Family Therapy.

Attendance in weekly team meetings is strongly encouraged.

Outpatient Substance Use Program

Outpatient Substance Use Program positions available for the 2026-2027 training year: CULVER CITY CENTER (1 position).

Students interested in working with youth and adults in substance use treatment are placed at our Didi Hirsch Culver City center. The Outpatient Substance Use program provides services to youth (age 17 and under) and adults (age 18 and above) who are experiencing life challenges related to substance use or a risk of substance use. Clients are often experiencing numerous psycho-social stressors including past and current trauma, financial challenges, housing instability, insufficient social support networks, and significant medical conditions.

Foci of treatment include risk of escalation of problematic substance use; and/or alcohol, marijuana, stimulant, opioid, sedative, and hallucinogen use disorder. Co-occurring mental health symptoms are also addressed given their frequent interplay with substance use issues. Students are involved in conducting initial assessments (which includes determination of DSM-5-TR diagnosis), treatment planning, individual therapy, group therapy (when possible), case management (as needed), and collaboration with medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and mental health services providers.

Supervision will provide particular emphasis on building familiarity with motivational interviewing, CBT, and principles of harm reduction.

Community field experience (optional)

Students with a three-day weekly schedule have the option to participate in our Consultation, Education and Prevention program, which focuses on raising mental health awareness and reducing stigma through community outreach. Students are given a list of projects to choose from and implement. Previous projects have included facilitating a support group related to a health diagnosis, psycho-educational presentations at a senior center, and facilitating a 10-week educational group at a school. Students will also participate in tabling events to increase mental health awareness and awareness of Didi Hirsch’s services.

Latine bilingual specialization (optional)

This specialization serves as a supplemental opportunity for students accepted to Didi Hirsch’s Psychology Practicum and Master’s Level Training Programs and provides students with focused guidance on the provision of culturally responsive clinical services to bilingual/Spanish-speaking and Latine clients in a community mental health setting.

Specialization Benefits and Opportunities:

Connect with other bilingual student therapists who are doing the same meaningful and highly needed clinical work
Receive supervisory and peer support while developing your professional identity as a bilingual/Spanish-speaking therapist
Practice providing culturally responsive support to underserved bilingual/Spanish-speaking clients and families within a community mental health setting
Practice providing clinical care that centers and values Latine culture and context

Specialization Components:

In addition to completing the core requirements for the Psychology Practicum Training Program or Master’s Level Training Program, students in this specialization will:

Participate in bilingual group supervision
Receive information on Latino mental health
Provide therapeutic services to bilingual/Spanish-speaking clients/families
Have the opportunity to engage in a community outreach project oriented to Latine mental health community needs

Application Process:

Candidates interested in participating in the Latine bilingual specialization must apply and be accepted to either our Psychology Practicum Training Program or Master’s Level Training Program. When completing your application, please indicate your interest in the specialization.

For general information about our training programs and to apply, please visit:

Psychology Practicum Training Program

Master’s Level Training Program

For questions regarding the Latinxe bilingual specialization, contact:
Elizabeth Kaspar, Psy.D., Specialization Coordinator/Supervisor at [email protected]

For general questions regarding our student training programs, contact:
Giselle Collins, Ph.D., Training Director at [email protected]

Application procedures

Recruitment for the 2026-2027 training year has concluded.

Apply Here

Reference Letters Can Be Sent Here

Didi Hirsch abides by the procedures and dates of acceptance set forth by the Southern California Association of Psychology Training Programs (SCAPTP). Didi Hirsch participates in the SCAPTP electronic match on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Training Division
323 N. Prairie Ave., Ste. 430
Inglewood, CA 90301

For more information, contact us:

Giselle Collins, PhD, Training Director: [email protected]
Tara Palacios, Training Coordinator: [email protected]