Student Practice Experiences
Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) is dedicated to providing comprehensive training opportunities in the public mental health field, including a wide range of exposure to clinical experiences in assessment, intervention and case management. Students will work within an integrated, multi-disciplinary, community-based behavioral health system. We pride ourselves in the design of our program which provides comprehensive clinical experiences, excellent supervision and supplemental seminars and conferences.
VCBH recognizes the importance in promoting the development of the workforce and in the delivery of training for all staff and contracted providers involved in the behavioral health system. Learning opportunities are instilled with the practice of cultural and linguistic competency, wellness, recovery and resiliency. The goal of VCBH is to develop training opportunities that emphasize cultural perspectives that make up our communities, and that increase knowledge and sensitivity, clinical skills and competencies, as well as quality care for those we serve.
2025-2026 OPPORTUNITIES
The focus and priority will remain on providing learning opportunities for students who attend local educational institutions and who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of public behavioral health. Educational experiences are open only to students enrolled in required coursework at universities with which there is an updated and current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). VCBH is appreciative of the following partnerships:
Ventura County Community College District: Oxnard College; California Lutheran University; California State University, Northridge; California State University, Channel Islands; California State University, San Bernardino; California State University, Dominguez Hills; Antioch University; University of Southern California; The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Educational Partnership Recruitment:
Given current capacity, additional educational partnership opportunities are not available at this time. Should additional opportunities become available following Spring interviews, this website will be updated at that time.
PSYCHOLOGY PRE-DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
Currently, Ventura County Behavioral Health does not offer clinical training for Pre-Doctoral Interns. Post-Doctoral opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment.
Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Staff Psychologist.
DOCTORAL PRACTICUM
Ventura County Behavioral Health provides doctoral-level practicum opportunities in an outpatient public mental health setting for PhD/PsyD students enrolled in a graduate PhD/PsyD program with which VCBH has an active MOU.
Advanced students with previous mental health experience and/or previous practicum hours are given priority in the recruitment process given the Level of Care of services provided at VCBH.
A nine-month minimum commitment is required, commencing in the Fall, with a minimum of 16 hours/week.
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now available. The deadline for Round One applications is January 3, 2025 and the deadline for Round 2 applications is February 3, 2025.
Doctoral Practicum Fact Sheet 2025-26 (004)
Doctoral Practicum Application Link
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CLINICAL TRAINING
Currently, there are no openings for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner training positions. For any questions about possible future opportunities, you can contact VCBH.Internships@ventura.org.
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENT
Ventura County Behavioral Health provides learning opportunities in a variety of outpatient mental health clinics and program located throughout the County of Ventura for Master of Social Work (MSW) students enrolled in a graduate MSW program with which VCBH has an active MOU. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services.
Placements begin in the Fall semester and require a two-semester commitment (minimum: 16 hours/week).
The application link will be live in early February, and interviews will be offered in March/April 2025, with placement notification by May 1, 2025.
Associate Clinic Social Worker (ACSW) opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment. Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Behavioral Health Clinician I/II.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY OR PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELING TRAINEESHIP
VCBH provides traineeship opportunities in outpatient public mental health for students enrolled in graduate Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) or Professional Clinical Counseling (PCC) programs with which VCBH has an active MOU. The department follows all state licensing regulations and educational requirements. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) or Professional Clinical Counseling Associate (APCC_ Associate opportunities are provided within the department in the form of employment. Employment opportunities may be accessed via the Ventura County Human Resources website at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ventura. The job classification is: Behavioral Health Clinician I/II.
Traineeships begin in the Fall semester with a nine-month minimum commitment requirement (minimum: 16 hours/week).
The application link will be live in early February, and interviews will be offered in March/April 2025, with placement notification by May 1, 2025.
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATE STUDENT
The program, offered by VCBH, is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program with which VCBH has an active MOU. Students receive experience and training in public mental health services, comprehensive clinical experiences, excellent supervision and supplemental seminars and workshops.
This learning opportunity is only available for students at the Junior or Senior level, majoring in Psychology, Sociology, or other behavioral health field and are enrolled in university required coursework.
Placements begin in the Fall semester with a nine-month minimum commitment requirement (16 hours/week).
The application link will be live in March, and interviews will be offered in April/May, with placement notification in May 2025.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKER STUDENT
The practicum program, offered by VCBH, is dedicated to providing comprehensive training opportunities for students enrolled in the Addictive Disorders Studies Program at VCCCD Oxnard. The practicum provides comprehensive integrated clinical experiences, excellent supervision and supplemental seminars and workshops.
A two-semester commitment is required, with a minimum of 300 hours (16 hours/week).
All students must have completed the minimum pre-requisite courses in an Addictive Disorders Studies or Substance Abuse Counseling program.
For any questions regarding possible future opportunities you can contact VCBH.Internships@ventura.org.
The application link will be live in March with interviews scheduled in April/May and placement notification by June 1, 2025.
Memorandum of understanding (MOU) list update:
Ventura County Community College District: Oxnard College; California Lutheran University; California State University Long Beach, California State University, Northridge; California State University, Channel Islands; California State University, San Bernardino; California State University, Dominguez Hills; Antioch University; University of Southern California; The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, San Jose State University.
