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Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is offering three positions for the 2026-2027 year (August 1st, 2026 – July 31st, 2027). Our 2000-hour internship program is rooted in the values of trauma-informed care and decolonization principles. Our training focuses on developing skills in individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, outreach, consultation, psychological assessment, training the in provision of supervision, and inter-disciplinary consultation.

• APPIC Application Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST
• APPIC Internship Matching Program Code Number: 213211
• 2027 - 2028 updated materials will be posted by late September 2026
• Questions? Please email Megan Smith, PhD, HSP-P (Training Director) at mksmith@wcu.edu 
•  2026-2027 Doctoral Intern brochure

Additional Resources

• CAPS Resource Guide for Intern Families and Newcomers
• Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data (updated 07/08/2025)

Unfortunately, CAPS will not be offering a doctoral psychology practicum for a doctoral psychology practicum student (pre-internship experience) for the 2026 - 2027 training year. 

If we re-open a doctoral psychology practicum position in the future, information will be posted here.  Prior year application materials are posted below as a reference.

• 2023-2024 Doctoral psychology practicum flyer
• 2023-2024 Doctoral psychology practicum application form
• 2023-2024 Doctoral psychology practicum reference form

Questions? Please email Megan Smith, PhD, HSP-P (Training Director) at mksmith@wcu.edu 

Along with the variety of services offered to all students at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ, Counseling and Psychological Services serves as a graduate fieldwork placement/training site for master's level graduate programs in counseling, clinical psychology, social work and related programs. CAPS has served as a masters-level training site for over 25 years.  Students typically apply during the spring for the upcoming academic year commitment.

Our master's training program is rooted in the values of trauma-informed care and decolonization principles. Our training focuses on developing skills in individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, outreach, and inter-disciplinary consultation.

Please review the brochure, application form, and reference form for further information or contact Calista Colbert, LCMHCA (interim Master's Training Coordinator) at ccolbert@wcu.edu.

Application Materials Due: Friday, March 6th, 2026 by 5pm EST

(2026 - 2027 application materials and information will be posted early Spring 2026)

• 2026-2027 Master's Training Program Brochure
• 2026-2027 Master's Training Program Application Form
• 2026-2027 Master's Training Program Reference Form 
  • Reference writers must complete the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵCAPS Master's Training Program Reference Form. Standard letters of recommendation are NOT accepted.

When available, we provide a post-doctoral residency for psychologists who have completed both their doctoral internship and doctoral degree in psychology.  Our residency is designed to meet the requirements set forth in the North Carolina Psychology Practice Act towards licensure as a Health Services Provider Psychologist.

Please note, we are not currently accepting applications for our Psychology Post-Doctoral Residency at this time.  However, information about our Psychology Post-Doctoral Residency may return soon.

Questions? Please email Megan Smith, PhD, HSP-P (Training Director) at mksmith@wcu.edu 

2025-2026 CAPS Masters Training Program (L to R): Sylvan Alvarado (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Stu Reit (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology Program), Liz Adamovich (Master's Training Coordinator), Abby Vonderhaar (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Emma Thomas (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program)

2025-2026 CAPS Doctoral Training Program (L to R): Megan Smith, PhD, HSP-P (Training Director), Connor Schell (doctoral psychology intern), Nisha Nidhi (doctoral psychology intern)

2024-2025 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Cara Berlin, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program); Laura Franke, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MA Program); Kyle Beideman, MA (doctoral psychology intern - Immaculata University Clinical Psychology PsyD Program); Venecia Butler-Pérez, MS (doctoral psychology intern - Albizu  University Clinical Psychology PhD Program); Kim Holt, MA (doctoral psychology intern - Appalachian State University Clinical Psychology PsyD Program); Calista Colbert, MA, LCMHC-A, NCC (Master's Training Coordinator)

2023-2024 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Calista Colbert, MA, LCMHC-A, NCC (Master's Training Coordinator); Erin Thompson, MA (psychology doc intern -  Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Anaheim Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program); Britt Duncan, MA (psychology doc intern -  Loyola University Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program); Gill Kerner, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program); Grace Bingham, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MA Program); Adam Hicks, MA (psychology doc intern -  Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology Psy.D. Program); Morgan Penberthy, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA Program); Matt Busch, MA (psychology doc prac trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology Psy.D. Program); Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director)

2022-2023 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Calista Colbert, MA, LCMHC-A (Master's Training Coordinator); Jane Argodale, BA (master's trainee - WCU Social Work MSW Program); Erin Kelley, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program); Alyssa Raggio, MA (psychology doc intern -  Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program); Sophie Williams, BA (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MA Program); Charlotte Dawson, MS (psychology doc intern - Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program); Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director); Nina Paupaw (psychology doc intern -  Adler University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program)

2021-2022 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Alex Camargo (psychology doc intern -  Eastern Kentucky University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Bree Riley (psychology doc intern - Marywood University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Mehak Kapoor (psychology doc intern - Tennessee State University Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Adam Hicks (psychology doc practicum trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Meg Moomaw (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA Program), Benny Williams (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Aaron Plantenberg, LCSW, LCAS (Master's Training Coordinator), Chelsea Sokolow (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program)

2020-2021 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R, top to bottom): Marcia Gralha (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA Program), Erin van Gorkom (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA Program), Laura Parks (master's trainee - WCU Social Work MSW Program), Olivia Rothman (psychology doc intern - Carlow University, Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Program), Ashley Virella (psychology doc intern - Pacific University, Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Savana Williams (psychology doc intern - Nova Southeastern University, Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Heather Styles-Turbyfill (psychology doc practicum trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Aaron Plantenberg, LCSW, LCAS (Master's Training Coordinator)

2019-2020 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Megan Myers (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program), Hewitt Rogers (psychology doc intern - Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program), Monica A. (psychology doc intern - Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program), Aaron Plantenberg, LCSW, LCAS (Master's Training Coordinator), Katarina Wittekind (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Kim Taylor (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA Program), Katherine Beattie (psychology doc intern - Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director)

2018-2019 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Sheree Ash (psychology doc intern - Mercer University Clinical Medical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Elizabeth Bennett (psychology doc intern - Duquesne University Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program), Jesse Chen (Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵHigher Education Student Affairs grad assistant), Emily Myers (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Matt Varley (psychology doc intern - University of Georgia Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program), Gracie McCarroll (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Rosemary Yelton (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Christy Newell Wyatt, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS (Master's Training Coordinator)

2017-2018 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Tamar Bat El (psychology doc intern - Pacifica Graduate Institute Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program), Tari Cox (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA program), Arika Morrison, MS, LPCS (Master's Training Coordinator), Kayla Byrd (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA program), Sonaly Silva (psychology doc intern - Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Los Angeles Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Savannah Marino (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program), Manj Burdekar (psychology doc intern - Springfield College Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director)

2016-2017 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Alyssa Frye (psychology doc intern - Marshall University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Adisa Haznadar (psychology doc intern - Springfield College Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Program), Freya Kinner (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Joshua Matthews (psychology doc intern - Florida School of Professional Psychology - Argosy Tampa Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Gabby Weierbach (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA program), Arika Morrison, MS, LPCS (Master's Training Coordinator), Meredith Willis (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program)

2015-2016 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Clint Matthews (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program), Sara Cole (psychology doc intern - University of the Rockies Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), T'Shana McClain (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director), Justine Diener (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA program), Brendan Carr (psychology doc intern - University of Georgia Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program), Carnice Covert (psychology doc intern - Marshall University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program) 

2014-2015 CAPS Trainees and Training Program Staff (L to R): Marybeth Karnstedt (psychology doc intern - Midwestern University Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Michael Tkach (psychology doc intern - Minnesota School of Professional Psychology - Argosy Twin Cities Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program), Sam Pranger (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Mental Health Counseling MS Program), Annabel Franz (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵClinical Psychology MA program), Leah Stephens (master's trainee - Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵSocial Work MSW Program), Jay Manalo, Ph.D., HSP-P, NCC (Training Director)