Our multidisciplinary staff at Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS) at the University of New Hampshire is strongly committed to training. We value the energy, passion and innovation that our interns and postdoctoral fellows bring to PACS and to the University. We aim to advance the professional growth of those who elect to train here in order to help prepare highly responsible, ethical, and competent health service providers in psychology. We are committed to continual professional and personal learning in a collaborative environment that respects the contributions of all to our organization. As our training program is imbedded within a counseling center in a university setting the training experiences offered here are multi-faceted.
Our training programs focus on the practice of our profession within the context of direct clinical care, outreach, and consultation. We recognize that good professional practice is possible only when science and practice are well integrated. As such, we as clinicians and supervisors draw upon our knowledge of research and scholarly work to foster strong relationships with those in training.
Infused throughout our training programs is a commitment to diversity and individual differences, which is consistent with the principles and ethical codes of our professions. We endorse the principles outlined in Preparing Professional Psychologists to Serve a Diverse Public (APA, 2013) as they are an essential component of our profession. Thus, in accordance with our mission to serve the university as a whole, it is expected that interns and postdoctoral fellows be open and affirming of this vital area of competent and effective practice.
Our Doctoral Internship Program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. PACS is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc. (IACS) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Internship Centers (APPIC). PACS adheres to the procedures established by APPIC for the recruitment and selection of graduate interns and postdoctoral fellows.
All clinical staff support the professional development of our interns and postdoctoral fellows, and all individual supervision is provided by a licensed psychologist. More about “who we are” and “what we do” can be found here: Meet our Staff.
Philosophy of Training
We endorse the principles outlined in Preparing Professional Psychologists to Serve a Diverse Public (APA, 2013) as they are an essential component of our profession. Thus, in accordance with our mission to serve the university as a whole, it is expected that interns and postdoctoral fellows be open and affirming of this vital area of competent and effective practice.
The University and the Community
The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866 as a land-grant institution, has an enrollment of approximately 13,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students from 70 different countries.
The University of New Hampshire is located in Durham, NH, with a population of 10,000. UNH is a major educational institution in New Hampshire and is committed to offering excellent educational programs and opportunities for its students. The campus, 188 acres in size, is surrounded by more than 3,000 acres of fields, farms and woodlands that are great for hiking, jogging and cross-country skiing. The University also offers fine athletic facilities and the Paul Creative Arts Center with two theaters and two art galleries.
The beaches of New Hampshire and Maine, the White Mountains and Boston, MA are within 20 to 60 minutes driving time. Several towns rich with history, ethnic restaurants, craft shows, theater, seasonal outdoor performances and festivals are accessible by bus.
Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS)
Psychological and Counseling Services (PACS) is the primary mental health facility on campus. We are fully funded by student fees. Our confidential services are designed to help students who are enrolled in full-time study to achieve their personal and academic goals. PACS utilizes a brief, solution-focused counseling model, which may include individual and group therapy, workshops, consultation with a psychiatrist, or counseling during a crisis. Students needing longer term service are offered referrals to other university and community agencies.
PACS is located on the third and fourth floors of Smith Hall. The offices are comfortably furnished and the atmosphere is welcoming. We have a large staff lounge that includes a library. All of our offices are equipped with computers and have access to UNH’s digital library.
Policies and Practices
PACS maintains a policy and procedure manual that outlines all internal policies for our department, including due process procedures. For more information contact PACS Training Director, Elisa Bolton.
As required by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Postdoctoral Residency Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data
Fellowship Overview
Our program is based on an apprenticeship model in which staff psychologists and postdocs work collaboratively. During the early weeks of the fellowship year, postdocs will receiving training and support in the policies and procedures of PACS and they will begin to assume more responsibility and autonomy as they are ready.
The fellowship is designed to further develop the skills already established during internship by helping to increase the depth and breadth of the postdoctoral fellow’s experience conducting individual and group therapy, attending to and addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, teaching, consulting, outreach, and supervision. We seek to foster our postdoctoral fellows’ ability to practice independently and to achieve the competencies that are consistent with practice at an advanced level of functioning. Satisfactory completion of the year-long (i.e., 2000 hours) postdoctoral fellowship at PACS meets the requirements for licensure in the State of New Hampshire.
Direct Service
1. Initial Phone Consultations and Intakes: Interns conduct brief phone consultations and individual and group intakes. These brief, comprehensive assessments lead to a case disposition and/or formulation, diagnosis and treatment plan.
2. Individual Counseling: Postdocs build a caseload of approximately 17 individual client hours per week. Postdocs work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, presenting with a wide range of concerns. The majority of psychotherapy provided at PACS is brief in nature (approximately 4-8 sessions). However, postdocs will also carry two longer-term training cases.
3. Group Counseling: Postdocs lead a semi-structured, support and/or therapy group with senior staff or interns during the fall and spring semesters. This involves a minimum weekly commitment of one and one-half hours.
4. Crisis Intervention: Postdocs are included in the rotation for urgent care appointments and cover approximately three hours per week. In rotation with staff, fellows will serve as back-up consultants with back up from senior staff for clinicians employed by ProtoCall, our after-hours service provider.
5. Outreach and Consultation: Each semester postdocs develop and present several workshops for campus offices or classes and participate in outreach activities around campus.
6. Supervision: Postdocs are trained and supervised to provide supervision of interns’ group and individual therapy.
Training Seminars, Supervision, and Meetings
- Individual Supervision: Each semester postdocs are assigned to work with a senior staff member. The pair meets weekly for two hours of individual supervision, primarily around the initial consultations, crisis interventions, the postdoc’s individual clinical caseload and, potentially, the postdocs area of emphasis.
- Staff Case Conference: Interns, postdoctoral fellows, and senior staff meet weekly for one hour to discuss cases.
- Staff Meetings: Postdocs attend weekly staff meetings.
- Professional Development Supervision: Postdocs meet biweekly for one hour with the Director of Training. The purposes of these meetings are varied, reflecting the needs of the postdocs, including processing the fellowship experience, clinical issues and case conceptualizations, professional development, administrative details, and postdoc area of emphasis.
- Supervision of Supervision: Postdocs meet regularly to receive supervision of their supervision of interns.
Additional Professional Development
Specialty projects will be developed in consultation with the leadership team of PACS. These professional development opportunities extend the fellows’ training beyond that acquired during internship. Fellows chose an area of focus that may include but is not limited to trauma, multicultural issues in college counseling, research, leadership, behavioral health, group treatment, AOD prevention and treatment, or multicultural and social justice issues. Fellows will also develop and present two case presentations and a seminar to interns and senior staff in their specialty area.
Given the nature of the academic calendar and the ensuing demands upon university counseling centers, total number of hours per week will vary. In addition, mid-autumn and mid-spring are usually very busy times and trainees along with senior staff may work more than their contracted hours and may be required to work a few evening hours. However, Winter and Spring Break and the Summer Session are less demanding times for the center and trainees have more flexibility for scheduling professional development activities, and vacations. In addition, the summer months clinical demand decreases and there is more time is available for outreach, workgroups, and professional development in the fellow’s area of emphasis.
Evaluation
We seek to prepare postdocs to assume different roles as professional psychologists, including but not limited to full-time clinicians, applied clinical researchers, and dedicated research faculty. We conduct baseline self-evaluations, which contribute to postdocs’ subsequent training goals and plans for the year.
Postdocs are formally evaluated three times within the year. Postdocs also are asked to evaluate themselves, their supervisors, and the training program on a regular basis.
We have clearly defined minimum levels of achievement:
In order for postdocs to successfully complete the postdoctoral fellowship, they must:
- Complete the 12-month postdoc;
- Achieve a minimum of 90% of “4” (High Intermediate/occasional supervision needed) ratings for all competencies with no item falling below a “3” (Intermediate/should remain a focus of supervision). In addition, any “3” ratings cannot constitute a majority proportion (over 50%) of the elements within any one category; and
- Not be found to have engaged in any significant unprofessional or unethical behavior.
Applying
Required: Applicants must meet the following prerequisites to be considered for our program: Applicants must have completed all requirements for their doctoral degree from an APA/CPA-accredited program and have completed an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral internship by early August 2025. Candidate’s dissertation must be successfully defended by August 1, 2025.
Postdoctoral Fellows must submit a copy of their diploma or a letter from their doctoral program’s Director of Graduate Studies verifying completion of all degree requirements prior to the first day of their training.
The deadline for applications: December 16, 2024
Applications should include:
- A letter of introduction—please address your short-term and long-term career goals and why you think our program is a good match with your specific goals for fellowship.
- A current vita.
- Three letters of recommendation emailed individually from clinical supervisors; one must be from your doctoral internship. In addition, we require a statement from your dissertation chair indicating status and anticipated defense date/program completion. If your dissertation chair is one of your three letters of recommendation, this information can be included in that letter.
Send application to:
Elisa Bolton, Ph.D.
Director/Director of Training
University of New Hampshire Psychological and Counseling Services
Smith Hall #306
3 Garrison Avenue
Durham, NH 03824
Email: elisa.bolton@unh.edu
PACS at the University of New Hampshire is NOT accepting applications through the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers APPA CAS (APPIC Psychology Postdoctoral Application online application portal).
Finalists will be contacted to arrange an interview. Information obtained through the written application materials and interviews with staff and current trainees will be used to determine the final selections. In addition, all offers of employment are contingent upon a receipt of a satisfactory background check. Applicants should be aware that background checks may uncover records that applicants assume have been sealed or expunged, which can impact employment eligibility. If you are concerned about the impact of this condition of employment, please notify the Training Director if any issues arise so that we may help to address or resolve any concerns in a timely manner.
We are committed to ensuring diversity in our training classes, which is reflected in our candidate selection. Consideration is given to applicants who identify themselves as members of historically underrepresented groups on the basis of racial or ethnic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, and experience, such as military service. The program also values applicants who have knowledge of the ways in which different social and cultural identities can impact assessment, treatment, and outreach. These factors may be indicated on applications. PACS adheres to the procedures established by APA and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). The fellowship site agrees to abide by the APPIC Policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any fellowship applicant prior to Uniform Notification Day.
UNH is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution. The University seeks excellence through diversity among its administrators, faculty, staff, and students. The university prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or marital status. UNH is a predominately white institution (PWI) with an active commitment to diversity. Employees from underrepresented groups who thrive here understand the complexity of working at a PWI and value small-town culture with close proximity to metropolitan areas and natural spaces.
