Externship Tracks

Externs at our MDC have completed advanced practica in their doctoral programs. Thus, this program is generally for advanced students in at least their third year of graduate studies. In addition, we have two different tracks in our program, and we select one extern for each track per year.

The Sports Psychology track is an opportunity for externs to work under the guidance and supervision of our Sports Psychologist. Externs on this track work with individual clients who need assistance with performance and with certain teams and military groups in an outreach capacity. The USNA supports 32 Division I varsity sports teams, 10 junior varsity teams, and 15 club sports teams, so there are many opportunities to work with athletes. We also provide specialized mental skills training to optimize performance as part of the developmental process of becoming a military officer.  There are times that the Sport Psychology Extern will need to be on the Yard before or after regular business hours, and this can be figured into the extern’s schedule for each semester. Externs on this track are also trained in providing general psychotherapy for personal-social issues.

The Generalist track is an opportunity for externs to work with the range of issues that are common in our MDC. Adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, and stress management are all typical clinical issues in the caseload of this track. In addition, this track is designed to introduce externs to outreach and prevention activities that are often done by interns and staff psychologists in a university counseling center setting.