About Us: General Information About WPCS

Predoctoral Clinical Psychology Internship Program

Available Forms: Application Information

Thank you for your interest in Western Psychological and Counseling Services (Western) Predoctoral clinical psychology internship program. Western’s program offers an excellent opportunity to develop skills in an outpatient setting. Several qualities will promote the best fit for this opportunity. Applicants should have some knowledge of behavioral or cognitive-behavioral therapy or have an interest in providing brief therapy. Additionally, applicants should have an interest in working with a wide variety of presenting problems (depression, anxiety, parent-child problems, etc.) and populations (child/adolescent, adults, couples, older adults, etc.).  Applicants can expect to work with underserved populations and must have an understanding and appreciation for cultural and economic diversity.

Western Psychological and Counseling Services, PC.

Western Psychological and Counseling Services, PC. was established in 1986 as a for-profit company committed to providing quality outpatient behavioral health services, chemical dependency services, EAP services, and psychiatric services in a cost-effective manner. Western is committed to providing prompt appointments and accessibility.  Western has eight locations throughout the Portland metro area.  Western clinics offer morning, afternoon, evening and Saturday appointments. Western clinicians offer a variety of specialties. With over 120 clinicians and counselors working at Western, each level of licensure is represented. Western employs psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and chemical dependency counselors.

Location of Internship

Interns will be placed at one or split time between two Western clinic locations in Oregon. The following cities in the Portland metro area have clinics: Gladstone, Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, and Hillsboro.

Mission Statement

Western Psychological and Counseling Services is committed to providing mental health services that promote positive outcomes. Western clinicians and support staff are committed to providing positive customer service to those that seek out help during difficult times.  We understand that during these difficult times, it is helpful to know that caring, professional clinicians are available to meet the needs of those seeking service.

Service Overview

Western provides traditional Outpatient Mental Health services at all eight clinics in the Portland Metropolitan area.

Western’s Outpatient Behavioral Health Program

Western provides traditional outpatient mental health services and chemical dependency services to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Services are provided in a clinic setting and home base services are available for children and adolescent clients, and their families. Outpatient mental health services include assessment, individual, group or family therapy; consultation, medication evaluation and management, psychosocial education, family education, and support, and case management.

All Western clinics in Oregon are State certified under Oregon Administrative Rules to provide non-inpatient mental health treatment services.  Additionally, Western maintains Certificate of Approval for Children’s Outpatient services.

Intern Training

The primary goal of the Psychology Internship Program at Western is to provide an opportunity for the doctoral level intern to further their training and professional development. The training program emphasizes learning about the nature of psychopathology using diagnosis, assessment and an array of treatment approaches. It is our objective to expose each intern to a wide variety of patient populations. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to work on a multi-disciplinary treatment team.  Multiple supervisory experiences will be provided as well as diverse learning opportunities. Interns will be expected to actively participate in case conferences and clinical decisions and will be considered highly regarded and respected members of the clinic staff.  The administration at Western is committed to providing a training program for interns that will enhance their professional skills, help them to establish a professional identity and assist each intern develop their own personal interests. Western seeks to tailor the training needs and interests of the individual intern. Each intern will have the opportunity to individualize their experience. During the training at Western interns will receive supervision and clinical experience to acquire a wide range of treatment and assessment skills that can be applied in various clinical settings. The training program at Western offers the following opportunities for interns:  

Assessment

• Psychopathological Diagnosis (Adult/Child)
• Personality Assessment (Adult/Child)
• Suicide/Violence Risk Assessment (Adult/Child)

Treatment

• Cognitive Behavior  Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Crisis Intervention
• Family Systems
• Psycho education

Modalities

• Individual
• Family/Couples
• Multi-Family Group
• Consultation/Liaison
• Parent Training

Training activities and didactics

Monthly case consultation groups to discuss clinical assessment and intervention issues with other interns and supervising psychologists (18 hours). Topics will include:

• Diversity Issues
• Modalities for treatment
• Ethics
• Treatment planning and case conceptualization
• Research and the utilization of outcome data
• Evidence base practices versus practiced based evidence
• Addictions
• Primary care integration with mental health
• Psychotropic medication

• Attendance at Oregon Health Science University Grand Round meetings (24 hours).
• Individual supervision with licensed psychologist (96 hours)
• Shadowing of behavioral health and medical providers (8 hours)
•  Shadowing of and consultation with psychiatrists to discuss psychiatric evaluations and psychopharmacology (20 hours)
• Collaborative meetings with multi-disciplinary staff (12 hours)
• Quality Review of charts (6 hours)

Intern Supervision

Interns will receive two hours of formal individual supervision per week from Western’s licensed psychologists. Supervision is always available on an as needed basis.  All supervision will be provided by licensed psychologists.  Interns will also receive a minimum of one hour of group supervision once a month with other interns, practicum students, and non-licensed counselors.  Supervision includes discussion of crisis management, ethics, best practices, development as a psychologist, and case consultation.

Supervision will be flexible and oriented around the learning interests of the individual intern while ensuring that all basic professional competencies are achieved. Therapy sessions will be recorded for evaluation and supervision when applicable.

Intern Compensation

Compensation is $ 20,000k year and interns are expected to complete 2000 hours over a 12-month period.  Interns schedule will be 40 hours per week or as otherwise determined by intern agreement.  The interns schedule will be arranged between the intern and the clinic placement.  Western clinics are open late (9 pm) five days a week and interns will be expected to work late shifts as assigned.

Western’s Clinical Supervisors and their Credentials

Daryl Quick, Ph.D.

Dr. Quick is a licensed psychologist and founder of Western Psychological and Counseling Services (1986).  Dr. Quick is the acting Clinical Director at Western Psychological and Counseling Services, PC.  Dr. Quick received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (George Fox University) in 1982.  Dr. Quick was in private practice from 1979 to 1994.

Karen Dimalanta, Ph.D.

Dr. Dimalanta joined Western in November 2004 and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Prior to joining Western, Dr. Dimalanta was an outpatient clinical care coordinator for Trillium Family Services.  Dr. Dimalanta received her Ph.D. from California School of Professional Psychology in 1997.

John Wesley Reilly, Ph.D.

Dr. Reilly joined Western in June 2005 and is a licensed Psychologist. Prior to joining Western, Dr. Reilly provided child/adolescent outpatient mental health services in a group practice setting for a period of ten (10) years. Dr. Reilly received his Ph.D. from Biola University in 1978.

Joni Moon, Psy.D.

Dr. Moon joined Western in June 2006 and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Prior to joining Western, Dr. Moon served as clinical psychologist at the University of Portland. Dr. Moon received her Doctor of Clinical Psychology from George Fox University in 2003.

Helen Peck, Psy.D.

Dr. Peck joined Western in August 2006 and is a licensed psychologist. Prior to joining Western, Dr. Peck was in private practice serving adults, late adolescence and couples from 1985 to 2005. Dr. Peck received her Doctorate from Pacific University in 1990.