Center for the Assessment & Prevention of Prodromal States (CAPPS) Externship

The Adolescent Serious Mental Illness externship program within the Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States (CAPPS) at UCLA's Semel Institute is a 12-month training program for graduate students enrolled in an APA approved Clinical Psychology doctoral program. CAPPS is an early intervention/prevention outpatient clinical research program focused on individuals between the ages of 12 and 35 that are at high-risk for developing psychosis. The emphasis of the training is on psychosocial treatment for adolescent patients and their families, and on psychodiagnostic assessment of prodromal or subthreshold psychotic-like symptoms. Externs participate in several didactic seminars as part of the multidisciplinary treatment team at CAPPS.

Second Year

The Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States and Adolescent Brain-Behavior Research Clinic (CAPPS/ABBRC) offers 2nd year research placements in neuropsychological assessment, for adolescents and young adults with psychotic disorders, and those who are at very high-risk for developing psychotic disorders. Graduate students will develop cognitive assessment skills and report-writing skills in a challenging clinical population, while broadening their understanding of brain-behavior relationships.

Third Year Practicum

The Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States and Adolescent Brain-Behavior Research Clinic (CAPPS/ABBRC) offers research placements in clinical assessment and psychosocial treatment for adolescents and young adults with psychotic disorders, and those who are at very high-risk for developing psychotic disorders. Graduate students will develop diagnostic assessment and treatment skills (case management and group based interventions) with patients with serious mental illness and their families and have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing research efforts.