Personalized guidance for psychology doctoral students navigating the internship application process

Applying for doctoral internship can feel like a full-time job on top of graduate school. From identifying the right sites and writing essays to preparing for interviews and making decisions about your next step, there are countless details to navigate—and a lot riding on the outcome.

I provide individualized, non-clinical coaching for psychology doctoral students applying to APA-accredited internship programs. My goal is to help you approach the process with greater clarity, confidence, and strategy while presenting your training and experiences authentically.

Guidance From the Training Side of the Table

My approach is informed by years of experience training psychology doctoral students across multiple stages of professional development, including doctoral practicum students, psychology interns, and postdoctoral fellows. I have also served on internship interview committees, giving me experience evaluating applicants and understanding the qualities training programs look for in prospective interns.

I understand both the challenges students face when trying to communicate their experiences and strengths and the qualities training programs are seeking in prospective interns.

My goal is to help you recognize what you bring to the table and communicate it clearly, authentically, and effectively throughout the application process.

How I Can Help

Application Strategy & Site Selection

Choosing where to apply is about more than finding sites that meet your requirements. It's about identifying programs that align with your clinical interests, training goals, experience, and longer-term professional aspirations.

We can work together to develop an application strategy and evaluate internship sites based on factors such as clinical populations, rotations, supervision, assessment and intervention opportunities, didactics, research, program structure, and overall training fit.

Essays & Personal Statements

Your application essays provide an opportunity to communicate who you are as a developing psychologist—not simply repeat what is already on your CV.

I can help you clarify and organize your ideas, identify the experiences and strengths you want to highlight, strengthen your narrative and overall presentation, and provide feedback on drafts while preserving your authentic voice.

The goal is not to make your application sound like someone else's. It is to help you communicate your own experiences, professional identity, and strengths as clearly and effectively as possible.

Interview Preparation

An internship interview is an opportunity to bring your application to life and demonstrate who you are as a clinician and developing psychologist.

Coaching may include mock interviews, practice responding to common and challenging questions, developing concise and confident responses, identifying experiences you want to be prepared to discuss, preparing thoughtful questions for internship sites, and receiving individualized feedback on your communication and presentation.

Preparing for the Transition to Internship

The transition from doctoral training to internship represents an important step in professional development.

Coaching can also help you prepare for entering a new training environment with increased responsibility, new expectations, and a different professional role. We can discuss practical and professional considerations such as expectations, professional identity, boundaries, time management, and navigating a new clinical environment.

A Personalized Approach

There is no single formula for a successful internship application. You may be just beginning to research sites, working on your essays, preparing for an upcoming interview, or comparing internship opportunities.

Sessions are tailored to where you are in the process and what would be most useful to you. We start where you are and focus on helping you move forward.

The goal isn't perfection. It's helping you enter the process prepared, intentional, and confident in what you bring to the table.

Investment

Individual Internship Application Coaching: $175/hour

Sessions may focus on application strategy, site research, essays, interview preparation, or transition planning.

Mock Interview & Feedback: $250 / 90-minute session

A focused session that includes a practice interview followed by individualized feedback and preparation for your upcoming internship interviews.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're preparing to apply for psychology internship and would like individualized support, I invite you to schedule a coaching consultation to determine whether this service is a good fit for your needs.

Important Information

Internship application coaching is a non-clinical professional service and is separate from psychotherapy. Coaching is educational and professional in nature and does not constitute psychological treatment, diagnosis, or mental health care.

Coaching does not guarantee an internship interview, ranking, or match. The purpose of coaching is to provide individualized guidance, feedback, and preparation so that you can navigate the application process thoughtfully and present your own experiences and qualifications effectively.