"One of the major strengths of the program was the diversity of experiences offered in the internship program.  From the multicultural caseload of clients, wide range of professional collaboration with other staff members, and various specialty rotations, these aspects of the program offered me the chance to broaden my skill base and further build my confidence as an effective clinician."
–Brian Licuanan, 2009-2010

 

“The staff [are], by far, one of the greatest strengths. They are personable, approachable, and knowledgeable. The amount of one-on-one attention was outstanding. I really found that my therapy skills grew considerably as a result of the supervision I received in this internship ... UMKC's internship is a solid university counseling site set in a large metropolitan city. If a person wants to develop advanced therapy skills, UMKC is a prime, top 10 site”
–Tony Tatman, 2004-2005

 

"Thoughtful supervision that encourages independent thinking and general development for a psychologist."
–Arena Mueller, 2005-2006

 

"Everything.  It's a great place to get solid clinical training as well as training in all the roles of being a generalist and counseling center psychologist (supervision, outreach, consultation, groups, assessment).  Their commitment to work/life balance for interns as well as professional development (dissertation and job search) is also a strength."
–Leila Durr, 2005-2006

 

"Good therapy supervision, flexibility in helping interns craft rotations to their career goals."
–Ben Chapman, 2003-2004

 

"I had a wonderful experience at the UMKC Counseling Center. I was exposed to a diverse clientele that presented with a variety of clinical concerns.  Furthermore, the experiences that I had supervising students, conducting assessments, leading groups, and coordinating/organizing outreach projects, prepared me for a career in academe.  Last, the staff treated me with respect, and I felt like a valued member of the Center.  I would highly recommend the UMKC Counseling Center."
–Keisha Love, 2004-2005

 

"Breadth and scope of clinical work (diversity in student demographics, diagnostic issues, severity of cases, etc.); strong commitment to personal and professional development; great emphasis on supervision and support.  The Training Director really cares about supporting interns through the process.  [It is] a structured and organized training program, but one that also allows for flexibility in focus areas that are most relevant to an intern's interests and goals. The entire staff is incredibly invested in training issues, and this shows in their relationships with interns." 
 –Angie Bahner, 2006-2007

 

“I think the most notable strength of the Center is an emphasis on both professional and personal growth. I felt that my experiences at UMKC allowed me to extend myself on multiple fronts. I truly felt that I had a much better understanding of my strengths and growth edges, which provided me with great insights into my path as a clinician and professor.”  
–Jeff Klibert, 2007-2008

 

“I really think the true strength of the UMKC Counseling Center internship is the people you get to work with while you're there. It was such a supportive and positive environment to be a part of, one where growth could really take place...and the laughter didn't hurt either! I also really appreciated the breadth and depth of my experience, from clients to special focus rotations. You really have the opportunity to make of the experience what you want. Very unique and special!”  
–Kristen Hensley, 2006-2007

“The UMKC Counseling Center psychologists and staff understand and value the internship process. The environment promotes optimal development for the psychologist as a professional and clinician. My learning experience ... ran the gamut of clinical experiences such as individual and group therapy, as well as multicultural counseling, assessment, advocacy, and policy and organizational consultation.  Unique about UMKC Counseling Center is the ability of the staff to anticipate and plan for mundane challenges and distractions (e.g., moving, learning in an new environment, etc.) associated with starting an internship. Many times, I was amazed by the attention to detail and proactive strategies to increase the likelihood of the intern’s successful tenure at the Center.”
–Jacque Reese-Smith, 2007-2008

 

“I think the biggest strength is the entire staff's commitment to the personal and professional development of the interns. It is such a supportive environment that promotes ongoing growth and development.  The experience provides such a great balance with regard to both depth and breadth of clinical, supervision, and administrative training experiences.  The diversity of the client population and the staff at UMKC is definitely a clear strength of the internship program, [as well as the] collegial, supportive atmosphere.”
–Mike Hines, 2009-2010

 

"My first job following internship was at a college counseling center and I felt incredibly prepared for all of my responsibilities.  I not only felt prepared in terms of my clinical abilities, but also with regard to my professional identity as a psychologist.  The experience at UMKC provides such a great generalist foundation that I would have felt confident entering a number of different settings."
–Mike Hines, 2009-2010

 

"I think it gave me a broad understanding of my impact on different types of people in different types of relationships. During my time at the CHTC I felt that I was encouraged to explore my own culture and how it affected my therapeutic, professional, and supervisory relationships."
–Jeff Klibert, 2007-2008

 

"I learned a lot about myself as a psychologist while on internship with the support, nurturance, and guidance I got from the staff at the Center...they really do work to make an environment that is safe and comfortable for self-reflection, challenge, and growth. I felt allowed to spread my own 'counselor wings' and really develop my own professional identity! My internship experience built my confidence in ways that totally allowed me to take the next step in the process...the real world!” 
–Kristen Hensley, 2006-2007

 

“Although I took a non-clinical teaching position, it's clear to me that the internship at UMKC helped solidify my professional identity and transition from the role of a student and trainee to that of a professional.”
–Angie Bahner, 2006-2007

 

"I believe my total experience at the UMKC Counseling Center was great preparation for my post-doctoral clinical experience at an inpatient facility.  Further, my experiences at the Center were helpful in my first position as research scientist developing research studies, which focus on counseling interventions to promote health behavior change.  The experience at the UMKC Counseling Center was valuable in both clinical and research experiences, because the opportunities to learn various aspects of the field of psychology were available at the Center.  Each intern has the option to tailor the internship experience to their needs along with the fact, the staff will support your professional growth in that process."
–Jacque Reese-Smith, 2007-2008

 

“They did a TERIFFIC job with a mock interview day; forwarded information about job openings; provided support and bolstered spirits through a process that can be trying.  Not to mention the full year of training.” 
–Arena Mueller, 2005-2006

 

“It allowed me the flexibility to work on research in order to get a research professorship.” 
–Ben Chapman, 2004-2005

 

“The UMKC internship prepared me for my first job as a psychologist by allowing me to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams as well as consult and interact with professionals not only in the clinic but within the university and the community. I also further developed my professional identity as a result of the independence and responsibility bestowed upon me by senior staff members.” 
–Brian Licuanan, 2009-2010

 

“I went straight into private practice, so the vast amount of direct, clinical hours available at UMKC really prepared me for the amount of therapy hours I would be facing in private practice.” 
–Tony Tatman, 2004-2005

 

“As interns, we were treated like professional colleagues.  There was great mutual respect and appreciation for us as professionals as well as people.  I am honored to be able to call many of my former senior staff ‘friends’ now!”   
–Leila Durr, 2005-2006

 

“It is collegial, but also provides guidance, feedback and support to further professional development.”
–Arena Mueller, 2005-2006

 

“I would describe these relationships as the crowning feature of my experience. The connections I made with the people in my cohort were by far the most memorable and joyful aspect of my experience. I truly felt like I had made friends that positively influenced the way I viewed myself, others, and the world in which I live. I also valued the relationships with the staff as well. They listened to my fears, concerns, and triumphs in a supportive and warm manner. They encouraged me to try new things and offered feedback that was very constructive. Even now, I often wish I could consult with a number of them about a diverse range of topics that I encounter in my professional work.”
–Jeff Klibert, 2007-2008

 

"The UMKC Counseling Center fully integrated pre-doctoral interns into the daily process of the Counseling Center. The professional relationships are reflective of 'positive collegial relationship' in the full sense of the words. I was amazed by their ability to actively monitor the internship experience each year as if it was their first internship cohort and APA accreditation was dependent upon the outcome of the internship year." 
–Jacque Reese-Smith, 2007-2008

 

“The senior staff is incredibly balanced in providing warm and professional relationships with interns. They are available to interns as needed, and also provide more and more autonomy as the year progresses. In addition, the staff generally gets along well and this makes for a cohesive team-based approach to work. They really help the interns feel valued as integral parts of the team.”
–Angie Bahner, 2006-2007

 

“Collegial, professional, and very supportive….It is clear how much they value what the interns have to contribute.  They do a great job at creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters growth both personally and professionally.  The staff members at UMKC genuinely care about the interns.” 
–Mike Hines, 2009-2010

 

“The relationship between senior staff and interns was characterized by genuine support and trust in us as interns, thus enhancing our professional and skill development. There is a sense of warmness and an 'open door policy' among the staff members that made coming to work each day satisfying.”
–Brian Licuanan, 2009-2010

 

“I would describe the relationships between interns and senior staff as safe, close, comfortable, nurturing, and challenging in all the right and appropriate ways! … The greatest strength of this program is its people. The senior staff are different in so many ways and offer such diversity in what they teach, model, and practice, that you really do get to learn so many different things from each person. No two are alike...and again, the laughter did not hurt!” 
–Kristen Hensley, 2006-2007

 

“Great! I always knew I could go to my direct supervisor, the training director or any other staff member to ask questions, bouncing ideas off of, or just process a situation. The UMKC staff, I found, were also very open to intern feedback and ideas.”
–Tony Tatman, 2004-2005

 

“The staff is very dedicated to helping interns through ALL of the processes related to degree completion. I was also finishing my dissertation during internship year, and I know that the level of support and encouragement provided by the staff was a tremendous help, allowing me to defend successfully before internship ended.”
–Angie Bahner, 2006-2007

 

“Some of the highlights of [the] program for me were the following:

• Diversity of the theoretical orientation.  I appreciated the supervision I received from supervisors who did not hold the same theoretical orientation as myself.  I was able to conceptualize client concerns from different perspectives which I believe contributed greatly to my skill and professional identity.
• Solid assessment program.  Coming from a school psychology program and a passion for assessment, it was great and informative to be exposed to different procedures and approaches with disabilities assessment.
• Openness to diversity. 

These are just a few that come to mind.  There are many more, I truly valued my time there at UMKC and [their] dedication to training new professionals.”
–Brian Sneed, 2005-2006

 

“Amazing.  I could not have matched at a better site.” 
–Mike Hines, 2009-2010

 

"I enjoyed my experience at UMKC.  The cultural richness that the city and university offer opened my eyes to a wealth of experiences that I think is hard to find in a single training program. ... The UMKC internship program is a 'hidden gem'."
–Brian Licuanan, 2009-2010

 

“I still say that my internship experience was the absolute BEST experience of my graduate training and experience, and that was because I was lucky enough to be matched to UMKC. I count many of the people there as friends, not just colleagues, and still feel close to them even years later. The Center and its people will always hold a very dear place in my heart!” 
–Kristen Hensley, 2006-2007