Main Content
We conduct our practicum selection during winter quarter. This is when most regional doctoral programs prefer offers be made to their students, and it coincides with the period between completing our internship selection activities (mid-January) and the APPIC Phase I Match Day (mid-February). Our deadline for application is always rolling, but we post a priority deadline for initial review of applications each year.
For the 2026 selection cycle, we are still accepting applications. This post will be updated when the positions have been filled.
Doctoral trainees in clinical psychology or counseling psychology are eligible to apply if they have the following: 1) satisfactory completion of one previous academic year of practicum involving individual therapy/intervention with adult populations (milieu therapy does not satisfy this requirement), 2) successful completion of a course in psychopathology, and 3) verification from the Director of Clinical Training of the student’s readiness to apply to a practicum.
Please submit the following materials via email to Dr. Bonnie Benson-Palmgren, Training Director, at bonniebp@uw.edu, in the following manner:
1) From the applicant, all of the documents below in ONE email:
a. Unofficial transcript
b. Curriculum Vitae – please be sure to include your contact information and the year you started your program
c. A statement of interest that answers the following question: Given our student population, why are you interested in completing an advanced practicum at UW Tacoma PAWS, and how would a practicum at our site contribute to your educational and training goals? This statement of interest can be in the body of the email or as an attached Word document or PDF; no formal cover letter is required.
2) Directly from the academic program (typically the Director of Clinical Training): A statement of readiness/approval to apply for practicum (a simple email will suffice)
3) The name, email, and phone number for one reference. This should be from your most recent clinical supervisor. If your most recent work was not with adults, please also provide a second reference for a supervisor who can speak to your work providing therapy to adults.
We require practicum trainees to have at least one academic year of clinical experience working with adults in therapy before joining us so that they can jump right into the work with our unique student population. We look for doctoral students who demonstrate a commitment to diversity, have a strong interest in providing therapy to our student population, and who have some experience working with risk behaviors (e.g., suicidal ideation), trauma, and/or whose clinical skills are beyond practicum level (i.e., basic listening skills/microskills and rapport-building are well developed). We value relational work with clients. While we welcome all theoretical orientations, we emphasize relational work in our supervision, while also supporting any third wave cognitive-behavioral or other theoretical orientations trainees may bring to our site.
Just as we imagine trainees prefer to work with supervisors who are invested in their training and provide supportive and constructive feedback, we prefer to work with trainees who are professionally and ethically minded, open to feedback, and eager to learn. We are a warm, friendly, and supportive small staff with high expectations, given the underserved nature of our minoritized student population, whom we greatly respect.
