Internships
As a psychology student at St. Bonaventure, you will be in demand. Psychology students are engaged in many kinds of learning activities outside of the classroom. In fact, 90% of our seniors have participated in two or more high-impact practices, including internships, field experience, research with a faculty member, community service, study abroad, and capstone experiences. Our diverse and involved community of faculty and alumni are dedicated to providing students with the best internship experience. Building your network for success begins on day one.
Psychology Internship Experiences Make A Big Bang
During the fall of 2015, Dr. Stephanie Vogel, assistant professor of psychology at St. Bonaventure, is overseeing the fieldwork/internship experiences for six psychology students.
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Internship with the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office
For a student interested in becoming a police officer after graduation
Supervisors: Lt. Dave Schuman and Dr. Stephanie Vogel.
Experiences: The student has attended criminal court for an entire day and spent the time not only learning this side of the job but also talking to the sheriffs who were testifying to get their perspective. Lt. Schuman wanted the student to see all aspects of an arrest and how they relate to psychology. The student also spent a day at the Cattaraugus County Jail shadowing/observing the mental health counselor as the counselor interviewed inmates. The student will also participate in ride-alongs with officers.
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Internship with the Olean School District
For two students interested in school psychology
Supervisors: Certified school psychologists M. Carucci and C. Crosson, and Dr. Vogel.
Experiences: Each student is assigned to one of the school psychologists. The students are observing special education and regular classrooms, observing standardized testing (IQ/achievement) of individual students, attending CSE meetings (the treatment team meets to discuss an individual student’s challenges and how to best meet them), reading individualized education plans for students, and shadowing the school counselors to see how their jobs differ from that of the school psychologist.
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Internship with the Olean School District
For a student interested in working with autistic individuals
Supervisors: Olean schools autism specialist Karen O’Dell and Dr. Vogel.
Experiences: The student shadows/observes Ms. O’Dell as she travels around the district helping autistic students, their parents, and their teachers. The student has CSE meetings with the treatment team/parents, individual and group counseling sessions with students, and parent meetings. The student also prepares individual education plans, functional behavioral analyses, and other specific assessment devices. The student is encouraged to participate in all appropriate situations.
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Internship with Catholic Charities
For a student interested in marriage/family counseling
Supervisors: Director of area’s Catholic Charities Matt Wenke and Dr. Vogel.
Experiences: The student has attended several group counseling meetings for mandated perpetrators involved in domestic violence. She has also sat in on individual counseling sessions.
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Internship at the Olean General Hospital Behavioral Health Unit (an inpatient psychiatric unit)
For a student interested in clinical psychology
Supervisors: D. Padlo and Dr. Vogel.
Experiences: The student observes group and individual therapy sessions, intakes of new patients, team meetings, family therapy, and relaxation training. In the past, students in this internship have even led a few group therapy sessions (with a professional) toward the end of the semester. The student also has the opportunity to observe not only the mental health professionals but the nurses and psychiatrists as well. The student will see how patients are "linked in" to community services at discharge. This site allows students to gain experience with people with more severe issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.