The Lakowitz Clinical Psychology Prize & Queens College Psychological Center Undergraduate Internship

Application deadline extended to September 22, 2024

(Download application form HERE)

(Application period for the 24-25 academic year will be August 25, 2024- September 16, 2024)

 Please see below for a unique Internship opportunity for QC Undergraduate Psychology Majors:

 The Lakowitz Clinical Psychology Prize & Queens College Psychological Center Undergraduate Internship (Applications are due by September 22, 2024)

The Lakowitz Clinical Psychology Prize is awarded yearly to two outstanding Queens College undergraduate psychology majors, who identify as individuals from underrepresented backgrounds (broadly including age, race/ethnicity/nationality, socioeconomic status, membership in a historically marginalized group, interest, and/or perspective), and who aspire to pursue graduate studies to become a clinical psychologist.

Lakowitz-QCPC Interns will participate in an internship position for the fall and spring semester (3 hours per week) at the Queens College Psychological Center (QCPC). They will also receive a monetary award of $500 and will be recognized during spring graduation with a plaque. QCPC will award a $100 stipend to each as well. Internship activities are expected to allow undergraduate students who are interested in clinical psychology to experience a behavioral health environment, gain a greater understanding of clinical work, engage in mentorship, and meaningfully contribute to the community. Please see below for details, application instructions and comments from prior awardees.

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DETAILS:

Responsibilities: Participating in community mental wellness outreach projects and psychoeducational programs, enrichment activities for children, developing      and implementing community awareness/ mental health destigmatization efforts, helping patients fill out forms and measures, creating patient educational handouts, assisting with identifying resources for patients, reading to and playing with children awaiting appointments, engaging children in creative activities in the waiting room, assisting doctoral students and faculty, and helping with other daily operational tasks in the clinic (e.g. answering patient’s calls for information, entering data).

Opportunities: There will be many opportunities for experiential learning and mentorship.  Interns will receive extensive training and have the opportunity to observe clinical meetings (e.g. case conferences, didactics), engage in mental health/psychology related activities, receive mentorship from current clinical psychology doctoral students and faculty, and as appropriate observe psychologists and doctoral students in their everyday clinical work.

Rationale: The QC Department of Psychology, the Clinical Doctoral Program, and the Queens College Psychological Center are deeply committed to creating a more diverse profession and discipline to serve a diverse public. This internship looks to ramp up support and opportunities for QC psychology undergraduates from diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated resilience and aspire to careers as doctoral level Clinical Psychologists.  Doctoral programs in clinical psychology are competitive, require extensive preparation and experience (such as volunteer work in clinical settings with diverse populations, and clinical research in laboratories). Often, this valued credential of “experience” is not remunerated, rendering such participation a hardship for many students. This award looks to help provide some financial and mentorship support for promising students who seek relevant, mental health related, experiences with community populations and formal and informal mentorship interactions that would be expected to enhance their applications for admission.

The numbers of psychologists from ethnically diverse and underrepresented minority backgrounds remain low. In light of the evolving landscape of psychology, higher education, and health care; the dissemination of evidence based practices and behavioral interventions require skills in community engagement, diversity competencies, and communication with a diverse public.  Offering culturally responsive and competent psychological services to all members of the public, especially to those from traditionally marginalized groups is strengthened by efforts to encourage/support a diverse work force of health service psychologists.

Queens College Psychological Center (QCPC) is a community mental health service, as well as an academic center operated by the Queens College Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology at Queens College Ph.D. Program, City University of New York. QCPC offers compassionate, high quality, evidence-based, psychological services for children, adolescents, and adults.  Consistent with Queens College’s commitment to being an engaged institution and a valuable resource for Queens and New York City, all services are made available to the community regardless of ability to pay. QCPC encourages families and individuals who have historically been denied opportunities to apply for their services. QCPC is a structured and organized clinical learning environment where competencies as specified by the profession and its credentialing bodies, are introduced, developed and achieved. It is in this hybrid academic clinical setting, that the theory and research encountered in the classroom and laboratories of the doctoral program connect to application. Psychological services are provided by doctoral candidates in our Clinical Psychology At Queens College Program, who are carefully educated, trained, and closely supervised by experienced, and licensed psychology faculty.

Application information:

• Eligible applicants must:
  • Be a matriculated psychology major (current junior or senior will be prioritized)
  • Identify as an individual from an underrepresented background (broadly including age, race/ethnicity/nationality, socioeconomic status, member of historically marginalized group, interest, and/or perspective)
  • Aspire to pursue a doctoral degree in clinical psychology
  • Submit:
    • The QCPC-Lakowitz application which includes a personal statement addressing how your diverse life experiences have influenced your aspiration to become a clinical psychologist.
    • A letter of recommendation that addresses your potential for a career in clinical psychology.
    • Submit your application to Yvette Caro at yvette.caro@qc.cuny.edu Please note on the subject line “Lakowitz Clinical Psychology Prize”. (You may submit your application before your letter of recommendation is available)

  • Applications are Due by September 22, 2024

  • Five finalists will be selected to participate in a brief interview. Students who are not selected for the Lakowitz Prize may be considered for other program opportunities, and should indicate this on their application if they are interested. The most rewarding reasons to intern cannot be measured. Interns get to help other people and see the impact it has on them. Interning can help you gain valuable experience, get out of your comfort zone, learn new skills, and meet others who share the same values and interests. Other benefits include building leadership skills, learning about your potential, exploring new interests, and developing contacts in the mental health

   

  Comments from prior QCPC-Lakowitz Prize Winners:

  ~ Crystal Diaz,  23-24 QCPC-Lakowitz Intern

  “My internship at the Queens College Psychological Center was a profoundly enriching experience. I participated in the patient simulation program and assisted new volunteers in preparing for their scenarios. With another intern, I coordinated and successfully executed a clothing drive for the local community served by QCPC. Additionally, we served as mock clients for doctoral trainees conducting neuropsychological and WISC-V assessments. Winning the Lakowitz Award and receiving payment for my efforts was highly beneficial as a college student. It alleviated some of the financial stress associated with balancing classes and exams. Given the opportunity to intern at QCPC again, I would do so without hesitation.”

   ~ Brittany Pompey,  23-24 QCPC-Lakowitz Intern

  “Being awarded the Lakowitz Clinical Psychology Prize and the QCPC 2023-24 Undergraduate Internship was one of the best experiences I had during my time at Queens College. I gained invaluable hands-on experience, giving me a glimpse of what my future career might look like. During my time there, I collaborated on various tasks with my award partner, doctoral students, and even the clinic doctors. The opportunities presented to me at the clinic were endless. I was able to express my creativity by redecorating the intern office and creating a “Get to Know Me” board. I gained clinical experience by helping score and uploading questionnaires, participating in a standardized patient practicum, doing outreach for events hosted by the QCPC, creating lists of resources, and helping organize a clothing drive and much more. In addition to gaining practical experience, I built meaningful connections with my peers, doctoral students, and clinic doctors. These connections were the most rewarding part of the internship. Without this internship, I would not have the knowledge, experience or connections I have today.”

  ~ Natalia Mejia,  22-23 QCPC-Lakowitz Intern

  “My experience as an intern at the Queens College Psychological Center was one I´ll never forget. When I first got the internship, I didn’t know what to expect but throughout the year I gained so much experience, and knowledge and met some amazing people. The doctoral students were extremely welcoming and were always there if I had questions. Being a part of this internship didn’t feel like much work but a privilege. There were also many opportunities to learn and observe such as case conferences or note-taking during an intake session. It´s helped me understand what I wanted to do with my career, and I might consider applying to the doctoral program soon.”

  ~ Steven Zamora,  22-23 QCPC-Lakowitz Intern

  “As the Lakowitz Clinical Psychology award winner interning at the Queens College Psychological Center I was able to participate in the patient simulation program, while also helping new volunteers prepare for their scenarios. Another intern and I managed to coordinate and accomplish food and clothes drive for the local community that receives services at the QCPC. We also served as mock clients for doctoral level trainees in conducting neuropsychological, and WISC-V assessments. However, one of my most memorable experiences will have to be co-leading a workshop series with other doctoral trainees for the geriatric community at the Pomonok center. We were able to provide education, skills, and an interactive environment to discuss topics such as mental health wellness, coping with loss, anxiety, and effective communication. Being able to interact and help a community that is so easily forgotten is one of my favorite experiences at Queens College. Hearing their stories, and their feedback on these topics is so unique, it is something that cannot be taught in a classroom. It has also influenced me in focusing on the geriatric community when I become a therapist. However, these are activities that I would gladly do as a volunteer, but as a Lakowitz winner I was paid. This was extremely helpful as a college student, focused on classes and exams, being able to receive payment relieves some of the stress we experience throughout the semester. If I were given the opportunity to intern at the QCPC again, I would without question.”