“The mission of Western State Hospital is to promote recovery and well being in partnership with the people we serve.”
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Graduate Practica
Western State Hospital offers practicum training for students enrolled in approved psychology programs with an emphasis on clinical, counseling, forensics, and hospital settings. The 2008 Practicum Handbook is now available.
Practicum Opportunities
Many options exist for practicum training at WSH. WSH is divided into three centers: the Center for Adult Services (CAS), the Center for Older Adult Services (COAS), and the Center for Forensic Services (CFS). Licensed Psychologists work in varied capacities at WSH, including Group Therapy, Milieu Therapy, Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment, Program Evaluation, Forensic Evaluation, Civil Commitments, Mental Status Examinations, Research Projects, Treatment Team and Clinical Leadership positions, and much more.
Most students complete 16-20 hours per week on site. The site supervisor will provide one hour of supervision per week. Additional supervision may be done by pre-doctoral interns. Many training opportunities exist at WSH. The practicum program has a degree of flexibility in allowing prospective graduate students to match placement and duties with professional goals and interests.
Practicum rotations are available year round at WSH. Most graduate students start looking at placements in the winter or spring. You are invited to consider whether WSH is a good match for your academic, clinical, and professional needs. More information can be found on the Western State Hospital web page or on the links to the left.
Student Requirements
The successful practicum candidate will be enrolled in an accredited graduate university program emphasizing training in clinica, counseling, or forensic psychology. The student will have completed at least one course in basic principles of therapy and at least one course in ethics.
All practicum students will be expected to complete Blood Borne Pathogens training, sign an Oath of Confidentiality, sign a Practicum Contract, take a TB test, and complete the assault prevention response training offered by WSH (about 20 hours). This is not a paid position. Practicum students will complete their hours on the WSH campus.
How to Apply
In order to apply for practica at WSH, a graduate student in psychology must send a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, and a letter from the training director indicating readiness. These materials should be sent to Larry Arnholt, Ph.D., the Practicum Liaison for WSH.
Larry Arnholt, Ph.D.
Practicum Liaison
Western State Hospital
Tacoma, WA 98498
253-756-2576
9601 Steilacoom Boulevard SW
Tacoma, WA 98498-7213
(253) 582-8900
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