Post-Doctoral Counselor Intern

Department/College Summary

The Student Wellness Center provides caring, quality, integrated, student-centered health, counseling, and wellness promotion services to SJSU students in support of their ability to perform optimally, physically, and mentally. Within Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), professionally trained clinicians are available for students on an individual, couple, or group basis for therapeutic services on a variety of psychological and mental health issues. CAPS is proud to host a Multicultural Postdoctoral Residency in support of the services provides across CAPS, the Student Wellness Center, and the Division of Student Affairs.

Position Details

The Multicultural Postdoctoral Residency is a 1500-hour program beginning August 3, 2026 and ending July 30, 2027. Postdoctoral Residents will be expected to perform all the duties of a generalist clinician in a comprehensive multicultural university counseling center and will receive supervision according to the State of California Board of Psychology guidelines. The Multicultural Postdoctoral Residency also provides the opportunity to develop or continue an area of emphasis regarding cultural diversity. Due to CAPS’ commitment to the development of practitioners who promote social justice and consistently work from a multicultural lens, Postdoctoral Residents are provided supervision and training as they develop an area of focus related to a specific cultural group or topic related to multiculturalism and diversity. The Multicultural Postdoctoral Residents are expected to engage in these activities as part of increasing their competency regarding the selected area of focus. The training coordinator, primary supervisor, and/or project mentor will provide support and guidance throughout these steps.

Summary of Duties

There are four major component areas of the Training Program. These areas are Cultural Diversity, Training (including Supervision), Direct Service, and Indirect Service.

Cultural Diversity

This component is considered one of the most important of the training program for Postdoctoral Residents and is woven throughout all other components. Cultural diversity themes appear in individual

and group sessions, supervision, in the outreach programming in which Postdoctoral Residents take part, in the training seminar presentations, and in clinical meetings. In addition, there are many seminar experiences focusing on self-awareness of cultural identities. Additionally, CAPS hosts an annual one-day Multicultural Training Day conference, which Postdoctoral Residents attend. Postdoctoral Residents have the option to deliver presentations at the conference.

Training

Social Justice and Outreach Seminar : The Social Justice and Outreach Seminar occurs during the Fall semester and is led by a licensed psychologist. Trainees will discuss the role of psychologists in addressing social justice issues that may prevent or alleviate mental health struggles; explore the relationship between social justice and the development of outreach services and programs; and may help in developing specialization areas in which they focus their outreach and group efforts (e.g., LGBT student services, cross-cultural center, international students, substance abuse, eating disorders and body image, suicide prevention).

Supervision/Case Consultation :

• Individual (1:1) Supervision (all trainees): CAPS meets or exceeds the supervision requirement in the Board of Psychology’s Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) regulation. Postdoctoral Residents will be provided with supervision for at least 10% (4 hours) of the total time worked each week. Postdoctoral Residents will have at least one hour per week of individual supervision for the training year. Supervisor assignments for the Fall semester are made by the Training Committee. All trainees are required to change supervisors during the second semester to obtain a breadth of orientations, techniques, and styles. For the second semester, trainees’ preferences for supervisors are solicited and considered in assignments made by the Training Committee. Every effort is made to match requests.
• Group Supervision: Group supervision occurs one hour per week. Group supervision is led by a licensed psychologist and is attended by the Postdoctoral Residents. Group supervision provides a forum for discussing clinical work and improving clinical skills, as well as professional development issues.
• Clinical Consultation Meeting: This weekly meeting is for all clinicians, psychiatric providers, and trainees. It is an opportunity to present cases to one another and engage in consultation. The emphasis in the meeting is on viewing our work as an interdisciplinary team effort to provide the best possible service to students.

Audio/Video Recording : Postdoctoral residents are highly encouraged to record most of their sessions and are required to record 10 sessions per semester for training purposes.

Case Presentations/Mock Job Interviews : Postdoctoral Residents, due to their unique developmental needs, are required to complete a form of professional development during the training year. The Postdoctoral Residents will provide one case presentation and a mock job interview. Presentations will be provided to the members of the training committee in a scheduled meeting.

Multicultural Project : Postdoctoral Residents will also complete a special multicultural project that focuses on Postdoctoral Residents’ interest area. Multicultural Postdoctoral Residents will have an opportunity to create or join a project that focuses on a student population. Due to Counseling and Psychological Services’ commitment to the development of practitioners who promote social justice and consistently work within a multicultural lens, Postdoctoral Residents are provided guidance as they develop an area of focus related to a specific cultural group or topic related to multiculturalism and diversity. The Training Coordinator or designee will meet with the postdocs in the Fall Semester to provide initial guidance and connect the postdocs to the appropriate collaborator on campus.

Direct Service

Direct service hours are provided through individual, couple, and group counseling sessions; outreach presentations; assessment and crises coverage, and providing supervision. Postdoctoral Residents are expected to deliver 22.5 hours per week in Fall semester and 24.5 hours of direct service per week in the Spring.

Individual/Couple Psychotherapy: Trainees are expected to accrue the majority of the direct service hours through work with individual clients and/or couples. The size of the caseload varies considerably depending on whether clients are seen weekly or less often. Clinical load may also vary during slower times of the year, such as winter break and the beginning of Fall semester, and higher during peak times such as midterms and finals.

Groups : Trainees may be involved in providing group therapy. Formation of groups will be discussed in orientation, individual and group supervision. Groups are supervised by the licensed clinician co-leading the group, or the designated supervisor.

Outreach, Workshops, and Consultation : Trainees are encouraged to be involved in various CAPS programming. Trainees are encouraged to present psycho-educational workshops at CAPS. Topics may include: stress management, procrastination, time management, cross-cultural communication skills, sleep hygiene, and many more. Trainees may also be part of programs presented during re-occurring campus events such as Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Transgender Awareness Week, or African American History month. Trainees may establish consultation relationships with any number of student organizations or offices, including: Gender Equity Center, MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center, Athletics Department, Residence Life, Accessible Education Center, The Greek System, Mental Health Ambassadors (student group de-stigmatizing mental health services), and Peers In Pride (LGBTQ mentoring program) or the Pride Center. Time spent on these projects varies widely. Trainees are welcome to suggest programs based on their interest areas.

Intake and Same Day Coverage: Postdoctoral Residents will be required to have 2 Intake appointments per week (2 x 1-hour assessments or 2 hours); intake appointments are generally the entry point for our students and are scheduled appointments that last approximately 45 minutes and are designed to assess the student’s reason for wanting personal counseling, assess for risk, and plan treatment. After the intake appointment, if determined to be appropriate for our services, the student is scheduled for a personal returning visit.

CAPS counselors provide same day services during business hours Monday to Friday. Each semester, a variety of same day cases demand our attention. These include walk-in clients who seem to be in same day, calls from staff in the residence halls, or requests from faculty or staff to consult about troubled students. Postdoctoral Residents are required to have 4 hours of same day coverage per week, during which you manage any crises that arise/come into the center. In addition to the assigned shift, from time to time all counselors may be called on to assist with same day situations or cover for other team members.

Trainees are not responsible for after-hour emergency coverage. All after-hours emergency coverage is managed by department administrators.

Indirect Service

Peer Support Meetings : Each level of trainee group is encouraged to develop a weekly meeting to support each other and process their unique developmental experiences. Meetings may focus on supporting each other through transitions, discussing issues that come up around working in CAPS, and processing the dynamics within the cohort. This experience is optional but highly encouraged for Postdoctoral Residents.

Administrative Time : Trainees schedule time into their weekly schedules to complete their case records, review session recordings, and attend to other administrative tasks. In addition, certain blocks of free time for this will present themselves from time to time (e.g., cancellations, no-shows).

Other Consultation, Club, or Committee Work : In the past, trainees have become involved with other organizations that correspond to their own interests. These have included the Career Services; Health Services; MOSAIC Cross-cultural Center; Cesar Chavez Community Action Center; Pride Center; Gender Equity Center; Athletic Department, etc. Postdoctoral Residents also may have the opportunity to sit on search committees.

Attendance at Division or Departmental Meetings and Functions : As part of CAPS, trainees attend various meetings throughout the year that involve the staff and faculty, such as Division meetings and functions. CAPS also provides 1-3 trainings per year to all staff which include trainees.

Responsibilities

• Candidates must address the mental health, developmental and academic achievement needs of a student population of great diversity - in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation - through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement.
• Successful candidates are expected to collaborate and work closely with other disciplines/departments, developing and implementing innovative non-traditional services for the diverse student population.
• The candidate may participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.

Required Qualifications

• Post-Doctoral Residents must have completed the requirement of a terminal academic degree in an accredited PhD, PsyD, or EdD program prior to starting the residency.
  • Individuals who are still completing their doctoral program may still receive an offer of employment. However, this offer will be rescinded if the doctoral degree is not conferred by the start date of the residency.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a multicultural population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching and other comparable experience.

Compensation

Residents receive a salary of $4,370/month. In addition, SJSU provides excellent medical and dental benefits. Residents will also have university privileges that include library use, discounts on public transportation, days off for holiday closures and paid time off accrual.

Application Procedures

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• CV
• Cover Letter
  • Applicants must indicate an area of interest to develop or continue emphasis regarding cultural diversity in the cover letter.
• List of at least three (3) or as many as five (5) references
• Three recent (less than 3 years old) original letters of recommendation, including at least two letters from licensed clinical supervisors)
• Transcript of terminal degree (unofficial transcripts/copies are acceptable for the application process, but official transcripts will be required if an offer is made).

To receive full consideration, applications should be received by Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM, Pacific Standard Time (PST). It is our hope to notify applicants regarding interview offers around mid- January. Video conference or phone interviews will be offered to select applicants which will occur in January. CAPS will follow the APPIC Postdoctoral Selection Standards and Common Hold Date (CHD; February 23, 2026). However, the position will be open until filled.

SJSU’s application portal allows 6 uploads total. Please upload as follows:

1. Cover Letter/Letter of Interest

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Under “Additional Documents”, select “Portfolio” to upload your transcript.

4-6. Under “Additional Supporting Document” sections #1-3, upload three letters of recommendation.

All application materials need to be submitted by the deadline. Applications that do not include all required materials will not be considered. All letters (i.e., cover letter and letters of recommendation) need to be dated and have original signatures. Please check these materials before submitting.

Questions about the application process should be addressed to:

Stephen Garcia, People Operations Support Coordinator

Phone: 408-924-5934 or Email: stephen.garcia@sjsu.edu

Questions about the program should be addressed to:

Megan Turner-Cabrera, Psy.D., Associate Director and Postdoctoral Training Coordinator

Phone: 408-924-5678 or Email: megan.turner@sjsu.edu

Employment Conditions

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., preventing discrimination and harassment, gender equity and Title IX, health and safety). Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, the faculty member in this position will subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). Individuals designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and to complete Clery Act training as determined by the University Clery Director. Questions regarding CSA designation and training can be sent to the Clery Director at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu . The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position is located in the State of California and requires commuting to the campus. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Offers of employment are conditional, and may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Appointment is contingent upon budget and enrollment considerations and subject to order of assignment provisions in the collective bargaining agreement between California State University and California Faculty Association. These provisions state the order in which available courses must be assigned to faculty, starting with tenure line faculty and ending with new lecturer appointees.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley-one of the most innovative and diverse regions in the world- San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a national leader in transformative higher education, San José State University is an essential contributor to the economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU ranks high nationally in research funding and is second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, combined with world-class scholarship, student-centered learning opportunities, and experiential and interdisciplinary programs, allows SJSU to provide transformative opportunities that advance the public good locally and globally.

San José State enrolls more than 36,000 students - many are historically underserved, and around 45% are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant, inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000 alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and community can benefit from different and divergent cultural and identity perspectives.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf . The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu .

Advertised: Dec 09 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

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• Cal State University (CSU) San Jose

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