Home / Internship/ Psychology
Family Service of the Chautauqua Region has a rich, 120 year history of supporting vulnerable individuals in Chautauqua County. For decades, a core strength has been our dedication to educating future counselors in various fields through practicums and internships. Now, we’re thrilled to announce a significant expansion of this commitment: the launch of our Psychology Doctoral Internship Program and Postdoctoral Residency Program in Fall 2026.
These two years of supervised training and practice are a required step for a psychologist to become independently licensed. Our region has historically lacked an organized program for completing this crucial step without leaving the area. That’s about to change—we are excited to be accepting applications for our first cohort of interns and postdocs.
A Comprehensive Training Experience in a Rural Setting
Our program is designed to prepare interns for a generalist experience in psychology. Practicing in a rural area means embracing the role of a generalist. Our interns will have a wide exposure to a variety of outpatient clients and multiple setting. Ages will range from children to senior citizens. Interns can engage in individual as well as family counseling. Interns will have a concurrent placement in either a school or community mental health setting, determined by the intern’s goals and the available opportunities.
Robust Supervision and Didactic Training
Our program provides individually tailored supervision and learning experiences. Along with two hours a week of individual supervision with a licensed psychologist, interns will participate in weekly group supervision and can consult with Licensed Clinical Social Workers and other experienced staff. We encourage a multi-disciplinary team approach. Didactic training will be a combination of training presented by our staff and viewing online continuing education courses which we can then discuss an analyze. We encourage community participation and allot 20% of the internship time for dissertation or other projects. Our internship stipend is $25,000 for a 12-month period, Postdoctoral Resident stipend is $50,000. Full details can be found in our Internship Handbook.
Our Educational Philosophy: Developing Well-Rounded Clinicians
Our educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that a well-rounded psychologist needs an understanding or research as well as a hands-on apprenticeship guided by experienced professionals. We believe that every individual is unique and the ability to foster a therapeutic alliance is fundamental to therapy. Our goals are to prepare interns for the psychological service that is client centered and research informed. Interns should arrive with foundational skills in forming therapeutic relationships and administering psychological assessments. Throughout the internship, skills for diagnosis, treatment planning and implementation will be developed. We welcome eclectic approaches and will emphasize Client Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing as central paradigms.
The Agency: A Legacy of Care
Family Service has been a respected provider of counseling service in Chautauqua County since the 1940’s, providing services in our offices and local schools. Staff includes a licensed psychologist and a psychology doctoral candidate, 2 licensed clinical social workers, and several mental health counselors.
Discover Chautauqua County: A Place to Thrive
Chautauqua County offers a remarkable blend of lifestyle and opportunity. Whether you crave outdoor adventure—hiking, boating, fishing, skiing—or prefer a slower pace by the lake, our landscape matches your desires. For the artistic soul, you’ll discover a vibrant community at the historic Chautauqua Institution, the National Comedy Center, the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, and countless other venues.
But Chautauqua County is more than just places and passions; it’s a place where affordability meets opportunity. Enjoy a great quality of life without the high cost of living. Here, you’ll find people who share your passions, forming connections that make you feel right at home. No matter who you are or what brings you alive, Chautauqua County truly has a place for you.
English 
Spanish