Benchmarking the highest academic and student experience standards, Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling has achieved national accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) through 2035. Driven by the mission to promote advancement, communication and application of psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives, APA is the nation’s leading scientific and professional psychology organization.

Recognizing the Barnes Center’s Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology with APA accreditation signifies that the program has successfully completed a rigorous evaluation process. The evaluation process is inclusive of a comprehensive self-study, an extensive professional peer-reviewed site visit and a committee review.

Accreditation also demonstrates the Barnes Center at The Arch’s commitment to academic excellence and ethical practice, alongside evidence-based psychological training.

“The Barnes Center at The Arch’s commitment to high-quality, multidisciplinary supervision, training seminars and clinical experiences are only a few of the highlights that really resonated with the APA throughout the accreditation process,” shares Carrie Brown, Ph.D., Barnes Center Counseling director. “This milestone reflects the time, dedication and effort the Barnes Center Counseling team has invested in the Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology and affirms our commitment to providing high-quality academic and professional development.”

The internship program not only prepares the next generation of mental health professionals but also strengthens daily student counseling care services. Through hands-on experience in delivering research-based, human-focused support, interns contribute to a positive ripple effect and to the Barnes Center’s high-standard of care. This dual impact—developing skilled practitioners while enhancing the student experience through wellbeing—is reflected in the program’s APA accreditation, a mark of excellence and commitment to the highest professional standards.

“We’re working to create well-rounded, culturally responsive and competent psychologists, capable of providing ethical and meaningful support to the people and communities they serve,” Brown says.

As interns strengthen skills, they bring fresh insight and dedication to the counseling services that students rely on. This shared growth strengthens both the learning experience and the quality of care on campus—a commitment recognized through the program’s APA accreditation for its outstanding training and human-centered approach.

Mentorship and experiential learning are also core values of the internship program.

“Our training program operates from a Developmental-Mentoring Model, emphasizing experiential learning, cultural competency, identity development and scholarly inquiry,” says Danqing Huo, Psy.D., Barnes Center Counseling director of training. “Interns can expect to receive exposure to diverse professional role models, experience multiple supervisors and a variety of opportunities to work conjointly with staff through integration into mental health work. On a gradual integration and alongside intern’s training goals, offerings including individual and group counseling, on-call response, outreach programs, community building programs and more are offered.”

APA accreditation strengthens licensure eligibility and career opportunities for participants, showcasing to employers, peers and clients that graduates have achieved a level of training recognized nationally for making a meaningful impact on mental health and wellbeing.

Annually, the Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling recruits three doctoral interns. Interns are hosted from Aug. 1-July 31. Those interested in applying are invited to learn more on the Barnes Center Training Opportunities webpage.

“The most valuable part for me was supportiveness and flexibility in my clinical interests and career goals. I was able to fully immerse myself in various areas aligned with my interests and felt completely supported along the way,”  Brianna Rivera, M.A., a Barnes Center Counseling staff psychologist and graduate of the Barnes Center’s Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology, says. “I now have a clearer understanding of who I am as a clinician, greater confidence in working with complex cases and a deepened interest in training/supervision. The experience has truly prepared me for the next steps in my career.”