Education

Goals and Objectives

GOALS
The goal of this internship is to prepare interns for the independent practice of professional psychology. Since this internship is a consortium consisting of a private general hospital, a state psychiatric center, and a federal (VA) general hospital, interns are trained to be able to work in any of those environments, as well as in the private/clinic practice domain.

OBJECTIVES

1. The intern will demonstrate an intermediate level of competence in the theories and methods of diagnosis, assessment, and intervention.
2. The intern will be well versed in issues of cultural diversity relevant to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
3. The intern will demonstrate an understanding of how evidence-based research can significantly influence clinical practice.

COMPETENCIES

1. Diagnosis
   The intern will demonstrate a sound working knowledge of DSM-IV-TR nomenclature, and will be able to make multi-axial diagnoses based upon the data from: a) clinical interview, b) history and chart review, and c) psychological testing.
2. Assessment
   1. Personality Assessment. The interns will be able to competently integrate the data from broadband self-report personality measures (e.g., MMPI-2, PAI).
   2. Performance Based (and “projective”) Assessment. The interns will be able to competently administer the Rorschach. Interns will be able to code Rorschach records according to the Comprehensive System with at least intermediate, entry-level accuracy. Interns will be able to utilize data from the Rorschach to generate hypotheses about personality functioning and psychopathology.
   3. Cognitive Assessment. The intern will be able to competently administer the major cognitive measures (WISC-IV, WAIS-III/WAIS-IV). They will be able to use the data from the cognitive tests to generate valid hypotheses about: 1) learning disabilities, 2) cognitive strengths and weaknesses, and 3) neuropsychological dysfunction.
   4. Neuropsychological Screening. The intern will be able to appropriately screen patients for significant signs of neuropsychological dysfunction using common cognitive and neuropsychological measures (e.g., WAIS-III, WMS-III, CVLT-II, RCFT, etc…). The intern will be able to determine the appropriateness of referral for detailed neuropsychological assessment.
3. Intervention
   1. Brief Psychotherapy. The intern will be able to conduct brief forms of psychotherapy ranging from three weeks to four months in duration at a level of competence commensurate with that of entry-level, independent practitioners. The intern will be able to competently select between supportive, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic techniques, in formulating courses of brief treatment.
   2. Long-Term Psychotherapy. The intern will be able to conduct a coherent, internally consistent course of treatment over a period of 6–12 months at the level expected of the entry-level independent practitioner. The intern will have a greater than intermediate level of understanding of: 1) unconscious processes, 2) the ground rules of psychotherapeutic technique, 3) the maintenance of the therapeutic alliance, and 4) the role of transference and countertransference in psychotherapy.
   3. Psychopharmacology. The intern will have intermediate knowledge of current  psychopharmacological agents, and to competently determine when patients are in need of psychiatric medication referral.
4. Knowledge Concerning Cultural and Individual Diversity Issues
   The interns will manifest multicultural competence in regard  to diagnosis, assessment, and intervention. They will have a working knowledge of the relevant research in these areas, as well as awareness of current standards of practice.