Advanced Practicum
Change young lives while working toward your higher education goals.
100% of students
feel supported by Youth Homes leadership and feel the Advanced Practicum Program supports their overall educational and career goals.
*Statistics based on 2024 student satisfaction survey
Due to limited capacity, Youth Homes will not accept external applicants for our 2026-27 Trainee Cohort. However, if you're interested in an advanced practicum placement in the 2027-2028 Trainee Cohort, please check back in December 2026.
What we do.
Youth Homes provides mental and behavioral health services to youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds within Contra Costa County to promote healing and re-connection. All share similar challenges with mental health diagnoses and life stressors/trauma, substance use disorders, foster care involvement, and family dynamics that require intervention from a dynamic treatment team. Learn more here.
As an Advanced Practicum student, you will gain paid experience in individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, intensive case management, therapeutic behavioral services, youth and family advocacy, and more.
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As community-based clinicians, students will provide individual, group, and family therapy and case management to MediCal consumers ages 12-26.
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All practicum students will provide Intensive Case Coordination. ICCs support youth and young adults ages 3-21. They are responsible for identifying and coordinating/connecting the youth's entire treatment team, facilitating regular treatment team meetings, and connecting youth and caregivers with other Medi-Cal services and resources.
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Some students may choose to provide Therapeutic Behavioral Services. Therapeutic Behavioral Specialists offer short-term, intensive behavioral interventions to the youth and their caregivers. Treatment plans emphasize the family's strengths and abilities while building skills to help reduce negative behaviors for youth ages 3-21. TBS providers may meet with the youth at school, at home, or in the community based on the needs of the client.
Why Youth Homes?
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Youth Homes strives to build a diverse team of providers to reflect the diversity of the population we serve throughout the community.
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Youth Homes is proud to maintain a team of providers dedicated to healing, optimism, and the human capacity to grow and change.
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Practicum students will gain confidence in their clinical skills and approach through ongoing and supportive supervision, training, and case consultation.
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Practicum students will develop strong documentation skills through Medi-Cal Billing and Electronic Health Records documentation.
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Practicum students will gain experience within an expanding non-profit mental health organization that may have future paid positions available upon successfully completing our practicum and graduating from your program.
Meet our 2025/26 Student Cohort!
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Harpreet is pursuing degrees in both Forensic Psychology and Counseling Psychology with the goal of being the change she wants to see in the world. Specifically, she plans to open a private practice serving individuals recently released from incarceration and their families, and eventually start her own nonprofit that supports underserved populations.
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While pursuing her Bachelor’s degree, Sarah became interested in working with at-risk populations who require community support. After graduating and working with neurodivergent youth and young adults, she’s found the overlap of her passions and pursued her goal of becoming a therapist. Sarah plans to practice trauma-informed, one-on-one and group therapy in community-based settings, and eventually family therapy as well.
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Sydney’s inherent talent for helping others heal and thrive has led her to pursue counseling psychology, where her passion can become impact. Through becoming a therapist and obtaining dual licensure, Sydney plans to support women and youth through trauma-informed care practices.
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Obehi’s passion for social work is inspired by the desire to empower under-served populations. On the road to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she is committed to connecting people with the services and support they need to thrive and be self-sufficient.
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Blaise pursues counseling psychology with a curiosity about the nature of the mind and conscious experience. By eventually developing his own practice that allows him to provide community mental health services and see private clients, he wants to explore mindful practices as a tool to alleviate distress and help clients align with their personal values.
Here’s what our students are saying about their experience with Youth Homes…
“I have had a positive experience and would overall recommend Youth Homes to prospective interns looking for a placement!”
“I appreciated how the interview felt more like a conversation than pointed questions. It helped me relax and not feel so anxious about what Kendra [Advanced Practicum Clinical Director] would ask me. I also liked that this program knew what they were looking for.”
“Kendra made me feel really comfortable during the entire interview process. I never felt like I was being interrogated. She actively listened to my responses and even shared some of her experience as well.”
“The onboarding process was extremely smooth. The onboarding team was patient with me, and they answered all of my questions in a timely manner. They never made me feel like I was bothering them.”
“The culture at Youth Homes feels open, inclusive, and warm.”
“I really appreciated the comprehensive and thorough training and found the shadowing part specifically beneficial.”
Youth Homes’ next Advanced Practicum opportunity begins Summer 2026.
Minimum Requirements:
Youth Homes has an active field placement agreement with your graduate program
Completion of at least 1 year of coursework toward a master’s degree in clinical/counseling psychology or social work
Experience working with children and/or families
Ability to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed services
Ability to work independently with strong time-management skills and autonomy
Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
Participate in practicum 20-24 hours per week over three weekdays in-person in Contra Costa County (program hour requirements vary by university)
Due to limited capacity, Youth Homes will not accept external applicants for our 2026-27 Trainee Cohort. However, if you're interested in an advanced practicum placement in the 2027-2028 Trainee Cohort, please check back in December 2026.
For more information, please email: