Training Goals
A primary focus of training is brief individual and group psychotherapy in a medical context. Our model is best described as practitioner-scholar, with an emphasis on research-supported clinical practice. Our approach is integrationist and broadly biopsychosocial, incorporating different theories and orientations, while always keeping in mind individual patient characteristics (including cultural considerations) and preferences. We recognize, as well, that individual intern characteristics and preferences are an important consideration in training. Training, like therapy, is a process that works best when it is flexible and individualized. Our goal is to help interns develop their own perspective on brief psychotherapy, while providing the didactic, supervisory, and experiential opportunities to move them closer to integrating evidence-based frameworks and techniques.
Other foci of training include clinical assessment, crisis intervention, psychoeducation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary medical teams. With regard to neuropsychological assessments, there is an emphasis on choosing, administering, and interpreting empirically validated measures in a clinically and culturally sensitive but largely standardized approach. The use of contemporary peer-reviewed research in neuropsychology informs assessment methodology, case formulation, and treatment recommendations. Our overarching training program goals and objectives are as follows: |
Goal 1: Help prepare our interns to be competent, ethical clinical psychologists. By the end of the training year, interns will be expected to:
a) Demonstrate awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the role of cultural and individual diversity in the professional practice of psychology.
b) Demonstrate the ability to conduct competent psychological intakes/assessments/evaluations. (Assessment track: perform competent neuropsychological evaluations.)
c) Demonstrate the ability to provide competent case formulations and choose appropriate, empirically-supported interventions.
d) Demonstrate understanding of applicable laws and ethical principles.
e) Demonstrate appropriate professionalism and socialization within the field of psychology, including appropriate use of supervision.
Goal 2: Produce clinicians who can work effectively and ethically in a multidisciplinary medical environment. Toward this end, we strive to develop interns’ abilities to:
a) Collaborate and communicate assertively and respectfully with medical providers, in person and in writing.
b) Gain the requisite medical knowledge to effectively treat patients with, e.g., chronic health conditions (Assessment track: gain the requisite knowledge to understand brain-behavior correlations as they pertain to relevant neurological damage/disorders).
c) Understand and employ the principles of Integrated Behavioral Health.
d) Gain experience and comfort working in outpatient clinic, medical inpatient, and psychiatric inpatient settings.
e) Function increasingly independently in their roles as mental health providers in a medical setting.
Program’s Expectation for Intern Performance
Our internship program aims to provide empirically based, culturally sensitive, diverse mental health training. Our primary goals are to help prepare interns to be competent, ethical clinical psychologists and to produce clinicians that can work effectively and ethically in a multidisciplinary medical environment. Interns are expected to demonstrate the following competencies: (a) appreciation of individual and cultural differences as they affect psychology and the psychotherapeutic relationship; (b) utilization of research literature and personal competencies to choose appropriate empirically-supported interventions; (c) ability to establish and maintain rapport in therapy, and deliver empirically-supported time-limited treatments; (d) knowledge of the medical and psychological aspects of chronic health conditions; (e) ability to function as a member of a multidisciplinary team; (f) familiarity with APA ethics code; (g) ability to seek consultation with supervisor regarding ethical issues if/and when appropriate; (h) ability to manage his or her clinical schedule and provide outreach to patients and community agencies; (i) ability to provide succinct and accurate notes for the medical record.
Our training program highly values continuous feedback to interns focused on their clinical and professional growth. Supervisors complete mid-year and end-of-year (January and June) written evaluation forms, which are reviewed and discussed with supervisees. Based on these evaluations, intern specific goals and expectations are revisited. In addition to this evaluation process, trainees will receive regular feedback through the course of their training year in supervision sessions. The Training Director is informed of any concerns related to intern competencies, and becomes involved as appropriate.
a) Demonstrate awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the role of cultural and individual diversity in the professional practice of psychology.
b) Demonstrate the ability to conduct competent psychological intakes/assessments/evaluations. (Assessment track: perform competent neuropsychological evaluations.)
c) Demonstrate the ability to provide competent case formulations and choose appropriate, empirically-supported interventions.
d) Demonstrate understanding of applicable laws and ethical principles.
e) Demonstrate appropriate professionalism and socialization within the field of psychology, including appropriate use of supervision.
Goal 2: Produce clinicians who can work effectively and ethically in a multidisciplinary medical environment. Toward this end, we strive to develop interns’ abilities to:
a) Collaborate and communicate assertively and respectfully with medical providers, in person and in writing.
b) Gain the requisite medical knowledge to effectively treat patients with, e.g., chronic health conditions (Assessment track: gain the requisite knowledge to understand brain-behavior correlations as they pertain to relevant neurological damage/disorders).
c) Understand and employ the principles of Integrated Behavioral Health.
d) Gain experience and comfort working in outpatient clinic, medical inpatient, and psychiatric inpatient settings.
e) Function increasingly independently in their roles as mental health providers in a medical setting.
Program’s Expectation for Intern Performance
Our internship program aims to provide empirically based, culturally sensitive, diverse mental health training. Our primary goals are to help prepare interns to be competent, ethical clinical psychologists and to produce clinicians that can work effectively and ethically in a multidisciplinary medical environment. Interns are expected to demonstrate the following competencies: (a) appreciation of individual and cultural differences as they affect psychology and the psychotherapeutic relationship; (b) utilization of research literature and personal competencies to choose appropriate empirically-supported interventions; (c) ability to establish and maintain rapport in therapy, and deliver empirically-supported time-limited treatments; (d) knowledge of the medical and psychological aspects of chronic health conditions; (e) ability to function as a member of a multidisciplinary team; (f) familiarity with APA ethics code; (g) ability to seek consultation with supervisor regarding ethical issues if/and when appropriate; (h) ability to manage his or her clinical schedule and provide outreach to patients and community agencies; (i) ability to provide succinct and accurate notes for the medical record.
Our training program highly values continuous feedback to interns focused on their clinical and professional growth. Supervisors complete mid-year and end-of-year (January and June) written evaluation forms, which are reviewed and discussed with supervisees. Based on these evaluations, intern specific goals and expectations are revisited. In addition to this evaluation process, trainees will receive regular feedback through the course of their training year in supervision sessions. The Training Director is informed of any concerns related to intern competencies, and becomes involved as appropriate.