Counseling & Psychological Services

The Appalachian State University Counseling and Psychological Services Center offers three full-time doctoral internship positions in health service psychology annually (August 1--July 31).  The internship program in Health Service Psychology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.* 

The Counseling and Psychological Services Center clinical staff is a multidisciplinary team comprised of psychologists, staff counselors, a referral coordinator, three doctoral psychology interns, two post-graduate residents, a varying number of practicum students and externs, and a varying number of adjunct staff. The Center is also accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), and the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA).

There is a commitment to the concept of excellence in training within an active service-oriented agency. The Center is the only psychological service agency for students housed on campus and provides a wide range of services to the University community.

Interns will have the opportunity to receive a minimum of three hours per week of individual supervision from licensed psychologists as they engage in individual, group, and couples therapy, outreach, consultation, psychoeducational workshops, crisis intervention, initial consultations, assessment, supervision and training of Master's-level trainees, referral services, evaluation, and program development. Counseling Center administration and research are optional opportunities. Interns will be provided two hours per week for research or to work on dissertations.

The background and training of the Counseling Center staff reflect diversity in experience, interests, and theoretical orientations. The training model provides an opportunity for interns to become well-rounded generalists who are competent in the practice of health service psychology, as well as the opportunity to specialize. Toward this goal, the program offers specialized training in areas such as eating concerns, trauma, diversity, working with LGBTQ+ individuals, working with athletics and student athletes, behavioral health consultation, and supervision and/or administration.  These topics and others are presented in the weekly two-hour intern training seminar.

Appalachian State University (opens in a new tab) has approximately 20,000 students and is located in Boone, which is part of the "High Country" (opens in a new tab) including Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, near the Virginia and Tennessee borders in northwestern North Carolina. The area is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains near federal parks, forests, and wilderness areas. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, several ski resorts, and local rivers and lakes draw tourists and provide abundant outdoor recreational activities for all seasons including canoeing, white water rafting, rock climbing, skiing, trout fishing, among many other activities.

Appalachian State University will offer a high-quality internship program in a healthy, comfortable environment.

Copies of the internship training program's Training Manual can be made available upon request.

All inquiries regarding the doctoral psychology internship program, including requests for a copy of the Training Manual, should be directed to:

Leslie E. Martin, Ph.D.
Training Director
Counseling and Psychological Services Center
Appalachian State University
P.O. Box 32044
Boone, NC 28608
Phone: (828)262-3180
Fax: (828)262-3182

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation (opens in a new tab)
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202)336-5979
[email protected]