Behavioral Health Doctoral Practicum Training
Integrated Modalities
Integrated therapeutic modalities include, but are not limited to: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Systems, Child-Parent psychotherapy and elements of psychodynamic therapies.
Trauma-Focused Services
Training and therapy offering evidence-based, clinical interventions that aid in healing the unseen wounds resulting from single event, multiple-event, and complex traumatic experiences.
Mindfulness-Based
Mindfulness trainings and practices cultivate greater awareness of the mind and body, and identify how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect our emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing.
Social Justice
A social justice framework of psychotherapy is non-pathologizing. It involves understanding how socio-cultural factors such as privilege, SES and personal background impact folks’ access to resources and as a result shapes their experiences and functioning. It also takes into account culture as a healing factor and a source of resiliency.
Program Overview
When: Yearly from August through June
The LifeMoves Behavioral Health Program aims to foster mental and emotional wellness, enhanced interpersonal capacity, and self-efficacy for the children, families, adults, Veterans, and seniors that LifeMoves serves.
The program helps increase our clients’ acquisition of enhanced interpersonal skills and awareness, thereby improving their decision-making processes, capacity, and ability to engage in positive, productive behaviors that increase the likelihood of beneficial outcomes for themselves and their families.
Training: Individual and group therapies are provided by doctoral-level psychology graduate students supervised by licensed clinical psychologists. The graduate students are provided:
- Weekly hour-long individual supervision sessions
- A weekly two-hour-long didactic
- A weekly one-hour group supervision.
- A wide array of clinical support and training including Mandatory Reporter Training and Crisis Prevention Intervention training/certification
- A one-hour weekly Latinx-focused, Spanish-language supervision.
Training Philosophy
The program adheres to a developmental model of supervision in which trainees are provided assignments commensurate with their level of training, skills, and professional interests. Sensitivity to diversity and multiculturalism is essential, and contributes to student therapists’ acquisition of greater self-awareness; an essential component of both personal and professional growth.
Group Therapy Training
We offer training on running group therapy and we provide content that can guide students to run groups. LifeMoves has the following content that the students can use to run groups.
- Emotional Regulation – This group focuses on helping participants identify, understand, and manage their emotions in healthier and more constructive ways. Topics include recognizing emotional triggers, increasing emotional awareness, and learning techniques such as mindfulness, grounding exercises, and distress tolerance. Participants are guided through practical skills drawn from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to reduce emotional reactivity and improve self-control. Group sessions also emphasize building resilience, improving communication, and developing strategies for coping with intense feelings without resorting to impulsive or harmful behaviors.
- Anger Management – This structured group therapy program is adapted from SAMHSA’s evidence-based curriculum and focuses on helping participants recognize and manage their anger in constructive ways. The group explores the connection between anger, substance use, and other behavioral issues, offering psychoeducation on the anger cycle, common triggers, and the physical and emotional cues associated with escalating anger. Participants learn core skills such as cognitive restructuring, assertive communication, conflict resolution, and stress reduction techniques. Emphasis is placed on developing individualized anger control plans, increasing emotional awareness, and using coping strategies to avoid aggressive or impulsive behaviors. Through role-playing, group discussion, and self-monitoring exercises, individuals build greater self-control, accountability, and healthier interpersonal relationships. The program promotes long-term behavioral change and supports relapse prevention, particularly for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.
- CBT for Substance Use Disorders – This group integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help individuals explore ambivalence, build motivation for change, and develop skills to manage substance use. Participants learn to identify triggers, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and practice coping strategies such as craving management, problem-solving, and relapse prevention. The group emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and personal empowerment, supporting individuals in setting and working toward meaningful recovery goals.
Additionally, students are encouraged to explore their own personal interests in specific group modalities and receive supervision to strengthen those skills. Some of the groups that have been facilitated by students in the past include, Seeking Safety, Teen Support Groups, and Wellness and Recovery Groups, to name a few.
Neuropsychological Testing Training Program
Students who are interested in providing comprehensive and culturally-attuned neuropsychological assessments will receive training and supervision. We have a licensed neuropsychologist and at least one alumni from the previous training year who will provide supervision and mentorship.
How to Apply
LifeMoves is a participating BAPIC Practicum Site. Please visit their website to register and apply.
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