Trainees maintain a constant presence at University Health Behavioral Health. Trainees will be supervised by licensed psychologists and licensed professional counselors. Training opportunities can be tailored to each individual's professional goals and path toward licensure.
Site options vary each academic year based on supervisor availability, space and other factors. Interested students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure being considered for our limited slots available. Applications received after mid-February will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on available positions. All applicants will be informed of their selection or non-selection within two weeks of their interview.
Contact the Training Director, Abbey Gripka, PhD at Abbey.Gripka@uhkc.org to inquire about rotation availability.
Practicum Details
Practicum experiences at University Health Behavioral Health have a preferred commitment for one academic year and typically begin in August. The number of days on-site and training/clinical interests will be discussed with an individual supervisor.
Applicants are considered without regard of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy status, veteran status, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by law. Gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status is protected by law.
Practicum Rotation Options
University Health Behavioral Health Acute Care is an adult, inpatient psychiatric unit located in downtown Kansas City, and housed inside the building for the Center for Behavioral Medicine. Three inpatient units provide short-term acute care and stabilization for adults by offering a multidisciplinary treatment team approach.
The patient population includes adults 18 years of age and older with a vast range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and mental health diagnoses.
Training Opportunities may include:
- Brief individual therapy
- Assessment
- Group therapy
- Supervision of practicum students
- Interdisciplinary treatment team meetings
Interns also may have the opportunity to observe risk assessment, civil commitment proceedings, and guardianship hearings, when available.
The University Health Primary Care Bess Truman Family Medicine Center is home of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Family Medicine Residency Program. This training site offers education and experience in integrative behavioral medicine, the consultation/liaison model, and working as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
Trainees will work as a comprehensive treatment team member with Family Medicine physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and nursing staff. Training will focus on the development of brief intervention skills, chronic disease management through behavioral modifications, and interprofessional communication and consultation. Inpatient consults occasionally are completed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), general medical/surgical floors, as well as labor and delivery.
Training opportunities may include:
- Brief intervention
- Behavior modification for disease management
- Interprofessional consultation
Intermediate and advanced practicum students with a background or strong interest in integrated behavioral health preferred.
The outpatient practicum rotation will be located within an outpatient behavioral health clinic serving of Kansas City metro area and outlying areas, including the southeast suburbs, and housing both Adult and Child treatment teams. We see a diverse range of patients from varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The outpatient team is a cohesive unit comprised of psychologists, qualified mental health providers (Masters-level social work, counseling), psychiatrists, and psychiatry residents.
We pride ourselves on our ability to provide a high level of clinical care, and to implement evidence-based practices whenever possible.
Current modalities include but are not limited to:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-based skills
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) techniques
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Parent Management Training (PMT).
Common presenting concerns treated include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- OCD
- Behavioral difficulties
- ADHD
- DMDD
- ASD
- Grief & loss issues
- Adjustment disorders
Training opportunities may include:
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- Initial psychosocial assessments
- Short-term individual psychotherapy
- Interdisciplinary consultation
- Outcome measurement
- Additional clinical and training opportunities will vary based on the supervisor, as well as trainee’s professional interests and availability on-site.
Outpatient Therapy Locations include:
Crossroads Counseling - Located in Downtown Kansas City, MO
Lakewood Counseling Services- Located in Lee’s Summit, MO
Trainees will be assigned to a location based on availability of supervisor, clinic capacity, and need. Preference will be considered in location assignment but cannot be guaranteed.
University Health Neurology Department treats a wide variety of conditions that affect the brain, spine and nerves. Trainees will have the opportunity to assist with adult neuropsychological testing. Doctoral level students will be eligible to apply for this rotation.
Training opportunities may include:
- Clinical Interview
- Neuropsychological testing/scoring
- Differential Diagnosis
- Treatment Planning
- Feedback
University Health Behavioral Health Practicum Flyer 2025-2026
How to apply: Interested students may submit curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of interest detailing the practicum rotation desired and training goals to the training director, Abbey Gripka, PhD at Abbey.Gripka@uhkc.org.
Applications received after mid-February will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on available positions. All applicants will be informed of their selection or non-selection within two weeks of interview.
BH Psychology Counseling Practicum Rotation Flyer 2026-2027
How to apply: Interested students may submit curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of interest detailing the practicum rotation desired to the Training Director, Abbey Gripka, PhD at Abbey.Gripka@uhkc.org.