Students and interns are essential partners in advancing our mission and helping individuals and families thrive. By choosing a Wilder placement, you’re not just gaining valuable experience, you’re making a real difference in the lives of people in St. Paul and beyond.
Whether you’re pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree, Wilder offers meaningful internships and clinical training opportunities that prepare you for a career in health and human services. Our placements provide hands-on learning and professional development, helping you grow your skills while supporting families and communities.
Wilder offers clinic placements for junior-level Bachelor of Social Work students from Metropolitan State University and St. Thomas University. This placement program provides students with hands-on experience in health and human services through a cohort-based training and supervision model.
Wilder offers clinic placements for junior-level Bachelor of Social Work students from Metropolitan State University and St. Thomas University. This placement program provides students with hands-on experience in health and human services through a cohort-based training and supervision model.
Wilder offers placements for undergraduate students with studies in early childhood education, youth development, psychology, or a similar field. This placement provides hands-on experience in a classroom at Wilder Child Development Center, our preschool and childcare center. We have openings three times per year: summer, fall, and winter/spring semesters.
We regularly place students from the following disciplines: Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Alcohol and Drug Counseling. Placement openings vary from year to year.
Access Services
Wilder Recovery Services: Substance Use Disorders Treatment
Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services
Children’s Therapeutic Services & Supports
Therapeutic Teaching Model
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
Mental Health Day Treatment
Most graduate-level placements start in early September and end in late April or early May. Applications for a September start should be submitted by February. Master of Social Work students must follow the application, interview, and ranking timeline set by their academic programs. Occasionally, placements are available for spring (January) or summer (May) start dates. Applications for spring placements are due by October, and for summer placements by February.
To apply, students should complete a brief application, submit a cover letter, and provide a resume/CV. Send all inquiries and application materials to [email protected].
Our programs for doctoral students offer a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in health and human services while working alongside experienced professionals. Students can enhance their clinical skills through direct client interaction and comprehensive supervision. Wilder’s clinical supervisors, all licensed professionals, provide the guidance and mentorship needed to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world practice, helping you advance in your career.
Community Mental Health and Wellness offers field placements for doctoral psychology students seeking a practicum in therapy or assessment, or for an advanced practicum.
Therapy practicum placement offers opportunities for students to provide individual, family, and group psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and adults in our outpatient clinic. Our clinical staff utilize a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and relational treatment approaches. Interventions are grounded in a trauma-informed approach to treatment and consider social determinants in the formulation of health problems and solutions. Students develop a generalist approach to practice, working with a variety of age groups and modalities, but also have the opportunity to practice in their area of preference.
Our assessment practicum placement provides students a hands-on experience in psychological evaluation and testing within a collaborative, interdisciplinary team. Students work alongside other professionals to provide comprehensive recommendations for children, adolescents, and adults. In addition, evaluations for young children, ages 0-5, are also part of the training experience. Students gain valuable experience in all aspects of evaluation services including assessment planning and test selection, case formulation, and explanation of results. Advanced practicum students are preferred for assessment placements; although students with previous clinical experience and coursework in assessment are considered.
Our placements for doctoral practicum students begin in early September and end in May or early summer. Applications for a September start date should be submitted by January. Please note we adhere to the established timeline for applications, interviews, and placement offers that is established by local academic programs.
To apply, students are asked to complete a brief application indicating their placement interest and needs, and submit this along with their cover letter and resume/CV. All inquiries and application materials can be sent to [email protected].
The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation serves individuals and families in Saint Paul, Minnesota and the surrounding communities. Through direct services, research, and community building we strive to help people achieve their goals for health, stability, and prosperity. Psychology internships at Wilder are provided through our division of Community Mental Health & Wellness (CMHW). As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, CMHW provides integrated mental health services for children, adults, and families, as well as addiction and substance use disorder services for adults. We also provide mental health services in select schools in Saint Paul and beyond.
The psychology training program at Wilder focuses on providing trauma-informed, integrated care to clients and their families, guided by best practices in mental health assessment and treatment. The program emphasizes a whole-person and culturally-informed, family-centered approach, with a strong commitment to inclusive practices and health equity. Interns receive extensive training in understanding the development of psychological disorders and using a variety of assessment tools to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions. The clinic serves a broad client population representing various racial, ethnic, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The program is best suited for self-motivated interns who are passionate about social justice and person- and family-centered care.
Our core training experience is comprised of generalist training in both psychotherapy and evaluation and testing. Interns maintain a balance of training in each area, but are able to tailor their preference for greater emphasis on intervention or assessment.
In addition to direct services in therapy and assessment, interns are able to advance their skills through other focused practice opportunities. Interns can elect to receive additional training in the following specialty areas of focus: Early childhood evaluation, group psychotherapy, alternative and Indigenous healing practices, supervision and consultation
We participate in the Internship Matching Program sponsored by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). Our internship program code is 2632. More information about APPIC and the Match can be found at www.appic.org.
Please note that we are not an APA accredited internship at this time. For more information on our training program, please review our brochure. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Internship Training Director, Dr. Bee Xiong-Vang ([email protected]), with questions.
Wilder Healthy Aging & Caregiving Services offers direct service experience for students to support our Customized Living Services at Hamline and Ravoux Hi-Rises in Saint Paul. Learn and practice your skills alongside our Aging & Caregiving Services team to provide person-centered care for older adults, adults with disabilities, and those with chronic conditions. We have openings for Level I and II Fieldwork throughout the year through affiliated schools (University of Minnesota, Anoka Technical College, St. Kate’s University, and University of North Dakota) for students in occupational therapy assistant and doctor of occupational therapy programs.
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