Central Region
Missouri
Great Lakes Region
Indiana
Cascades Region
Washington
Cy-Hawk Region
Iowa
Pacific Region
Washington
Match #260313
Internship positions available: 1
Residency/Job positions available: 1
Mission
We walk with people through counseling and education to find hope and healing, and to live a fulfilling life.
About Our Site
The Mind & Spirit Counseling Center (formerly known as the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center) walks with people through counseling and education to find hope and healing, and to live a fulfilling life. The Center is a nonprofit clinic committed to providing high-quality and affordable mental health services to adolescents and children, couples and families, adults, and older adults. For over 50 years, the Center has retained its vision of being recognized as the welcoming place for diverse clients seeking inspiration and holistic treatment of mind, body, and spirit.
The Center is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community for our clients and employees. We recognize that diversity and inclusion of age, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, SED, and disabilities will enhance our ability to honor our core values of equity, respect, compassion, and creating accessibility to high-quality services for all.
The Center is made up of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and serves an estimated 2,400 clients annually. Our current clinical staff includes nine fully-licensed psychologists, three psychiatric providers and one conditional prescribing psychologist, fifteen independent master’s level counselors, and multiple trainees.
Our ongoing commitment to training quality and diverse mental health professionals who help alleviate the workforce shortage in the industry began in 1980 and has expanded to include master’s level practica and internships, a doctoral psychology internship, postmaster’s residencies, and a postdoctoral psychology fellowship.
About This Rotation
At the Center, our single doctoral intern can expect a generalist training experience, with major emphases on individual psychotherapy/counseling and psychological assessment with outpatient clients. Our intern will be based out of the Center’s primary office, though there may be some option to conduct some services via telehealth from the intern’s residence during the course of the internship. The intern will have access to a personal office (nearly all have bright windows!), a dedicated testing office, the two different play offices in C.O.O.L. (the Soft Room and an art and play room with one-way mirror), and a work-room/kitchen for staff only. While the doctoral intern will receive primary supervision with two independently-licensed psychologists, there may be secondary supervision provided to the intern if s/he wishes to work with a provisionally-licensed psychologist or allied professional on a special modality or population outside the specialty of our psychologist faculty.
Training Opportunities
Because of our history, size, and status in an underserved and largely rural state, our staff operate as psychology generalists, and we intend to train doctoral interns to function in a similar role. We hope to balance breadth of training with sufficient depth to allow the intern to begin identifying their own unique passions in clinical work. It is our intention to tailor supervision and support to the unique developmental needs of each doctoral intern, with the goal to achieve entry-level clinical skills by the end of the internship year. Thus, more time might be spent on modeling, observation, reviewing work samples, and/or co-therapy in the beginning of the training year. As the year and the intern’s development progresses, we would expect that interns be capable of greater autonomy and clinical skill, as evidenced by larger and more complex caseloads, more sophisticated case conceptualizations, and more developed professional identities as ethical psychologists.
Based on the intern’s interests, developmental needs, supervisor input, and Center needs, the intern will be able to construct an experience that may vary from trainee to trainee. However, each intern should anticipate carrying a caseload of individual therapy clients that will grow over the course of the internship year. The caseload may include children, adolescents, adults, and/or older adults, and may include both short and longer-term cases. The intern may also carry couples or families as part of their therapy caseload.
In addition, the intern should plan to complete a number of psychological assessment and testing cases throughout the internship year. Psychological assessment remains a core component and skill of psychologists’ identity, and our faculty will help the intern to bolster their assessment skills wherever the intern may be developmentally. There are a variety of testing cases from which the intern may to choose, including evaluations focused on ASD, ADHD, clergy candidacy, memory, mood disorders, personality, therapeutic assessment, trauma, complex differential diagnosis, etc.
Beyond their therapy and assessment cases, interns may have opportunities to engage in a variety of other learning activities. Some examples could include: consultation with colleagues, outreach presentations, teaching a didactic, spiritually-integrated interventions, learning about administration or nonprofits, health and behavioral interventions, providing supervision, expressive arts therapeutic interventions, etc.
Rotation Schedule
The doctoral intern will generally spend the lion share of their internship hours at the Center, and should plan to be at the Center Mondays through Fridays. Most clinicians start their day around 8 AM, and most ends around 5 PM; it is expected the intern would have a similar schedule so that there will be a fully-licensed clinician in the building with them while the intern offer clinical services. They may have time away from their supervised clinical activities for didactic trainings and for the Center’s Thursday morning consultation offerings. Otherwise, the intern will be physically at the Center for most services, though exceptions may be considered for telehealth or other off-site activities that may arise (e.g., participating in a school meeting, outreach presentation at a local church, etc.).
Placement Location
Mind and Spirit Counseling Center is located in Urbandale, Iowa, which is 15 minutes outside of Des Moines. The Center plans to host some of the in-person didactic trainings, and is also approximately 45 minutes from where another in-person didactic training location.
Title | Address | Description | Link |
---|
APPIC Training Experiences
Treatment Modalities
Supervised Experiences
Predoctoral interns at the Center will be exposed to a range of outpatient diagnoses and presenting concerns with children and adolescents through our C.O.O.L. Program, with adults and older adults, and with couples and families. Some of the most common reasons clients seek services include (in no particular order): depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma and adjustment issues, OCD, ADHD, ASD, sleep disorders, family or relationship problems, chronic pain or health conditions, etc. While less common, there are also a variety of other concerns and diagnoses that present at the Center, with some examples including: substance use disorders, enuresis, bulimia, binge-eating disorder, anorexia, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, somatic symptom disorders, neurocognitive disorders, specific learning disorders and intellectual disabilities, dissociative disorders, etc. In short, interns may expect to have some exposure to many of the various DSM disorders.
Example supervised experiences (as listed by APPIC):
Health Psychology |
Exposure (1% to 20%)
|
Forensics / Corrections
|
Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Women’s Health |
Experience (21% to 30%)
|
Sexual Offenders
|
N/A |
HIV / AIDS
|
N/A | Geropsychology | Experience (21% to 30%) |
Eating Disorders | Exposure (1% to 20%) | Pediatrics | Major Area (50%+) |
Sexual Disorders | Experience (21% to 30%) | School | N/A |
Sports Psychology | Exposure (1% to 20%) | Counseling | Major Area (50%+) |
Rehabilitation Psychology | N/A |
Vocational / Career Development
|
Experience (21% to 30%) |
Physical Disabilities | Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Multicultural Therapy
|
Experience (21% to 30%) |
Learning Disabilities | Major Area (50%+) |
Feminist Therapy
|
Experience (21% to 30%) |
Developmental Disabilities | Major Area (50%+) |
Religion / Spirituality
|
Major Area (50%+) |
Assessment | Major Area (50%+) |
Empirically-Supported Treatment
|
Major Area (50%+) |
Neuropsychology – Adult | Experience (21% to 30%) |
Public Policy / Advocacy
|
Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Neuropsychology – Child
|
Experience (21% to 30%) |
Program Development/Evaluation
|
Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Serious Mental Illness | Exposure (1% to 20%) | Supervision | Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Anxiety Disorders | Major Area (50%+) | Research | Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Trauma/PTSD | Major Area (50%+) | Administration | Experience (21% to 30%) |
Sexual Abuse
|
Emphasis (31% to 49%) |
Integrated Health Care–Primary
|
N/A |
Substance Use Disorders | Exposure (1% to 20%) |
Integrated Health Care–Specialty
|
N/A |
Other (Teaching, LGBTQ-affirming Tx)
|
Experience (21% to 30%) |
Patient Population
As Iowa is a rural and underserved state, we see a wide variety of clients from all over Iowa. While we have more adult-focused clinicians serving clients, we have child and adolescent clients from all over the state seeking services at the Center due to the reputation of our Children Overcoming the Obstacles of Life (C.O.O.L.) program. While we have a good percentage of our clients who have financial barriers and are on Client Assistance Funds or Medicaid, we also have clients who are among the most affluent in the state. We work hard to provide quality care for all our clients. Because of the range of clients we see, the predoctoral intern will be able to work with their supervisor to focus their caseloads on the interns preferences and learning objectives, within the generalist experience of our internship. Some interns may have a primary caseload of children and adolescents, while others may work primarily with adults, etc. Thus, the percentage of clients the intern will serve will vary depending on their training needs and interests, along with the Center’s preferences. The percentages provided, therefore, may not reflect the individual experience of each intern during their training year.
Our Supervisors
While we won’t know your exact supervisor assignments until the internship starts, these are examples of some of the individuals you may work with over the course of your year at the site.
Site Training Directors
Scott Young, Ph.D./M.S.C.P.
Shannon Welch-Groves, Psy.D.
Supervisors
Greg Lengel, Ph.D.
Dr. Greg Lengel is a Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in Psychology. He provides psychotherapy to adults and adolescents, as well as psychological and neuropsychological assessments for all ages. He utilizes a collaborative approach that is firmly rooted in the integration of evidence-based practices to address a wide variety of presenting concerns. Dr. Lengel has special interests in interventions for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, nonsuicidal self-injury, suicide prevention, emotion dysregulation, personality disorders and eating disorders. Dr. Lengel earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University. In addition to his practice at Mind and Spirit Counseling Center, Dr. Lengel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Drake University, where he teaches several psychology courses as well as maintains an active research program that explores personality-related maladaptive behaviors (e.g., nonsuicidal self-injury), clinical utility, diagnostic classification, as well as personality’s role in psychopathology and problems in living. Additionally, Dr. Lengel is a member of the Iowa Psychological Association, the International Association for the Study of Self-Injury, as well as other professional organizations.
Doug Aupperle, Ph.D.
Kelli Hill, Ph.D.
Dr. Kelli Hill specializes in assessment and treatment with children and adolescents/young adults and their families. She incorporates play, movement, music and art to facilitate communication as needed as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, EMDR, and family therapy. She conducts psychological testing to assess ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities, and emotional/personality issues.
Mark Minnear, Ph.D.
After completing seminary and 20 years of pastoral ministry, Mark Minear shifted his vocational path at midlife by completing a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University in 1997. Working over the years with adults across the life spectrum, Dr. Minear joined the Mind & Spirit Counseling Center in 2012 and is now working at a part-time level, gently tapering down into retirement – not seeking new clients but endeavoring to accommodate returning clients. Over the years, he has provided supervision at a number of levels — Masters level internship and residency for licensure, predoctoral internship and postdoctoral residency for licensure, and over a mental health department in an institution. He has been drawn to the theoretical approaches of logotherapy and mindfulness to address the various psychological issues of depression, anxiety including trauma, loss and grief, transitions and adjustments, and spiritual concerns; and, with an emphasis on spiritual integration, and he also has a background in working with a variety of churches, denominations and faith traditions along with a focus of individual religious leaders in need of support.
Mary Schenkenfelder, Ph.D.
Dr. Mary Schenkenfelder graduated from Iowa State University in 2020 with a PhD in Counseling Psychology, and was licensed in Iowa in 2021. Most of her training during her PhD was in university counseling centers, with some emphasis on career counseling. She has since specialized in treating anxiety and trauma in adults using evidence based practices, including EMDR and also provides assessment services for a broad range of presenting concerns for people 8+.
Wade Leuwerke, Ph.D.
Dr. Wade Leuwerke is a licensed psychologist who works with adults to improve their mental health in areas of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, life transitions, identity, career change and interpersonal disorders. His therapy approach starts with creating a safe and comfortable working relationship that allows individuals to share their thoughts and feelings without judgment. Dr. Leuwerke works collaboratively with individuals to identify achievable therapy goals and helps individuals identify patterns in their lives that aren’t working well and collaboratively identify different ways of being to achieve desired outcomes.
Ellery Duke, Ph.D.
Dr. Ellery Duke a licensed psychologist and pastoral counselor. He works with adults who are experiencing stress and/or grief related to loss or other life transitions. Dr. Duke seek to understand the client’s current life situation as well as any life experiences that contribute to the current difficulties. He believes that many life challenges and emotional pain result from damaging relationships and that healing can result from an interested, caring and hopeful therapeutic relationship.
Through his experience of being a parish pastor, Dr. Duke discovered an appreciation for the hope offered in a counseling relationship. His further graduate education integrated psychology and spirituality at Northwestern University, and allowed him to be licensed as a clinical psychologist in 1981. He joined the staff of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center in 1977, and became the executive director in 1979. Through the years, Dr. Duke witnessed a growth in Center staff, services and clients served. Although retired from his former administrative responsibilities, Dr. Duke has continued his clinical work with individuals, couples and families who seek the Center’s services.
Being interested in the life stories of others and joining in a journey toward understanding and healing is the ongoing mission of Dr. Duke’s career as a psychologist and pastoral counselor. His now-retired clinical social worker wife and he are the parents of an adult daughter and son. He enjoys traveling, spending time with his grands and maintaining hope for “next year” regarding the St. Louis Cardinals. Bicycling hopefully keeps his legs and heart functioning, and reading stimulates his mind.
Life in Des Moines, Iowa
The Des Moines Metro area is a midsized city, with pretty good access around the city and suburbs. As the Center is located in Urbandale, interns may wish to find a residence in the western suburbs if they wish to be close to the Center. There are various apartment complexes near to the Center, with several that are within easy walking distance. There are also apartments and houses for rent in many areas of the Metro, allowing the intern to elect urban or suburban living. While there are bus lines running around the Metro, driving continues to be the most popular mode of transportation. There are a number of public and parochial school systems in the Metro, for interns with children, and many job opportunities for interns with partners. Indeed, Forbes has named Des Moines the best city for business and careers. U.S. New and World Report has also repeatedly ranked Des Moines among the top cities to live affordably.
Annual Pay, Benefits, and Support
Annual Pay: $36,000
Benefits provided at this site:
- The option of participating in the Center’s individual health insurance and dental insurance policies
- Eligible to participate in the Center’s 403(b) retirement program at her/his discretion
- 2 weeks of vacation time and will accrue 1 day of sick leave per month
- Time allotted during the internship for attendance at the Iowa Psychological Association Conferences
- The doctoral intern will be included in the Center’s professional liability insurance policy
- Long-term disability insurance is provided, and the doctoral intern may elect additional insurance coverages (e.g., short-term disability, life, etc.)
Holidays Observed:
- New Years Day
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Friday after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Please note that available benefits and observed holidays are subject to change. Matched interns will receive full benefit orientations at their site which will go over all benefit information for the training year. More information about the Support and Benefits offered in each of our regions can be found here.
Employment Requirements
To be considered for an internship at the Center, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Approval by the applicant’s academic training program, verifying their readiness for internship
- A minimum of three years of an APA-Accredited doctoral program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology
- Have completed their comprehensive exams by the ranking deadline
- Have dissertation proposal be accepted by the doctoral committee prior to the ranking deadline
- A minimum of 300 intervention hours by the time of application
- A minimum of three integrated assessment evaluation reports
- Eligibility to obtain the Iowa provisional psychologist licensure.
Preference will be given to applicants who have greater assessment experience and who will have defended their dissertation by the start of the internship year.
In addition, the Center is not able to financially support Visa sponsorship but welcomes those applicants with Student Visas or who are eligible to work in the United States.
After matching, the aspiring intern would need to agree to a background check, and to sign a confidentiality agreement upon beginning employment.
The Center does not routinely require urinalysis for drug testing, and does not require regular vaccinations (e.g., COVID-19, influenza, etc.). The Center does encourage and support employees to keep current with vaccinations, and traditionally has offered a flu vaccine clinic day.
Intern Selection Process
The selection process for doctoral internship applicants is a multiple-step review that will involve a group of the training faculty/supervisors, both internship training directors, our executive director, administrative support staff, and other Center staff as appropriate.
- The selection process for doctoral internship applicants begins with a thorough review of the “written” materials requested (e.g., letter of recommendation, cover letter, case conceptualization, testing report, etc.). The co-directors of the predoctoral internship will complete the first review, then forward applications that appear to be a good fit for our site to the training faculty.
- Ideally, applicants would be eligible for provisional licensure in Iowa prior to the start of internship, however this does not require the applicant to have received a master’s degree in order to qualify.
- Those applicants who are considered the best fit for the Center will be asked for an interview.
What would make an intern a poor fit for the Center? Characteristics that may be likely to increase friction for the intern and Center include:
- Having restricted or highly-focused clinical interests
- Possessing few or no areas in which we can help the intern to grow in competence or professionalism
- Seeking training specifically in “Bible-based” counseling
- Having difficulty with direct communication
- Having difficulty being open to cultural or religious differences
- Focus on remuneration as the highest professional priority
What would make an intern a good fit for the Center? Characteristics that are especially appreciated include:
- Intellectual curiosity about clients and clinical work
- Having a genuine desire to learn
- Willingness to be vulnerable and open to feedback
- Being self-motivated/self-starter
- Problem-solving
- Feeling passion for our mission
- Interest in spiritually-integrated care
- Cultural humility and curiosity
- Community participation
- Willingness to engage in direct communication and “creative interchange”
- Psychological Mindedness
Interview Process
Applicants felt to be an especially good fit for the Center will be invited to participate in a virtual, individual interview of about an hour with our psychology faculty. The purpose of these interviews is to help both the Center and the applicants to discern goodness of fit between what the Center can offer the applicant, and what the applicant can offer the Center. Applicants may expect questions about theoretical orientation and clinical style, questions about training needs and preferences, and some “get to know you” questions among others. Applicants may also wish to prepare questions they would like to ask the faculty, and will be given time in the interview to address those. Applicants who are interested in visiting the Center for a physical tour, may schedule individually with us after the interview have taken place.
COVID-19 Response
During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Center took rapid action to increase our ability to provide care via telehealth. All clinicians have the technical capacity to provide services amenable to telehealth in that modality, and most are currently practicing in a hybrid manner based on the infection rates. Masks are not currently required, but are provided, and may be required should the circumstances warrant again. The Center has augmented cleaning supplies, ventilation filtration, and air purifiers available to be used in each office. There are thermometers and rapid tests available for clinicians to use, and clinicians are encouraged (though not required) to keep vaccinations updated. Many meetings remain either hybrid or virtual.