University of Houston - Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a nine-month 500-hour clinical practicum open to masters students in Social Work (UH system students preferred). There will be 1 training position available for 2026-2027.

These are part-time (16-20 hours/week) unpaid positions. All placements are two semesters long, beginning in August and ending in May at the closing of the University of Houston Spring semester. Trainees are required to include Thursday mornings from 9 – 11am in their schedules. Occasional walking between campus buildings may be required. Trainees are required to have a valid UH parking permit if they plan to park on campus during their placement.

Application Link: TBA

Applications will be accepted from Clinical Concentration students who have been approved by their program to apply to our site. Interviews will be conducted according to the UH GCSW timeline following the Virtual Marketplace. 

Please prepare the following information to submit via the application link:

• a brief letter of interest in UH CAPS
• a CV that includes your previous clinical experience and general work experience
• an unofficial transcript (or list of courses taken to date)*
• you will be asked "Have you had any prior contact with CAPS?" Yes / No **

*Preference will be given to applicants who have taken or will take a course in Groups. **Applicants who have previously received clinical services at CAPS may still apply for training, but a placement will only be offered if dual-role relationships can be minimized or avoided.

Training Activities 

Mental health skills education 

• Essential Skills Workshops
• Tabling events promoting CAPS services and programs
• Mental Health Training (including “You Can Help a Coog” and CAPS Services presentations)

Clinical Intervention 

• Being a process observer for a therapy group (Fall)
• Being a co-facilitator for a therapy group (Spring)
• Case Management / Referrals 

Interacting with community 

• Communicating about CAPS resources to campus partners / media
• Creating educational campaigns that can be sent to liaisons and other key constituents
• Participating on mental health committees

Social Work Trainee Schedule

Social Work trainees are expected to be here 16 hours/week over a minimum of 2 days. Trainees are required to include Thursday mornings from 9 – 11am in their schedules in order to participate in agency case conference meetings. Social Work trainees are required to be here only on days when UH classes are in session and through the end of Final Exam week each semester. Trainees are encouraged to terminate with all clients the week before Final Exams, to leave time for paperwork and final supervision issues. Clients are seen only during the hours CAPS is officially open, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Occasional evening programs (workshops, groups) may be expected, with advance notice.

Training Philosophy

Trainees receive broad exposure to the many professional activities that exist in a multi-faceted, service-oriented agency. CAPS uses a developmental model to guide decisions about skills training. Specifically, an individual trainee’s clinical skills, experience, professional behavior, and progress are considered when determining that trainee’s assignment to and level of participation in various agency activities, as well as the appropriate level of supervisory support needed. As trainees progress, they are typically given more challenge, responsibility, and autonomy. CAPS trainees and supervisors are expected, both individually and collaboratively, to assess the trainee’s needs and goals over the course of the training placement.

Required Supervision Hours

Social Work trainees receive at least 1 hour of supervision per week in the first semester. One hour is face-to-face individual supervision by the primary supervisor. The primary supervisor is involved in an ongoing supervisory relationship with the trainee and has primary professional clinical responsibility for the cases on which he/she provides supervision.

The trainee also meets with their preceptor on a regular basis at set points in the semester. The trainee also receives group therapy supervision (30 minutes per week) from a CAPS clinician. At different points in the placement, additional supervision is provided for outreach activities.

Orientation

Trainees participate in extensive orientation training. In early August, practicum trainees participate in CAPS New Clinician Orientation for 2 full days. Orientation activities continue during the first few weeks of the Fall semester. The orientation covers all major services and activities of the agency, as well as information about affiliated departments. The training program is reviewed in detail, acquainting trainees with their assignments and options for the year. 

no cost; all equipment and materials provided. Takes place in August, usually 2 full days, occurring the week before the first day of Fall classes

Evaluation and Feedback

Trainees and their supervisors are involved in mutual formal and informal evaluations throughout the year. They are encouraged to discuss goals for supervision progress being made toward those goals and areas of supervision needing attention. Each evaluation period, supervisors and trainees complete a formal written evaluation of each other and the supervisory experience. Trainees are also asked to evaluate the training program itself. Information gathered from evaluations is used to assess trainees' progress and to make needed changes in the supervision process and/or the practicum training program.