This article, written from the perspective of both a recent intern and an internship director, discusses some of the major stresses of the internship year, including adjusting to a new program, developing a sense of trust in the training staff, questioning one's competence as a psychotherapist, taking risks to learn new skills with different patient groups, accurately assessing one's own strengths and weaknesses, and planning one's professional life after the internship. The internship year is viewed as part of the "professional adolescence" of clinical psychologists. In this year, interns pass through the stages of a separationindividuation 'process, similar to that described by Mahler and her colleagues. Internship staff members need to be aware of the personal and professional developmental needs of each intern. Helpful recommendations for training staff during each stage of the intern's development are presented.