Goals and Objectives
GOALS
The goal of this internship is to prepare student 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, the interns will be trained to where they are able to work in any of those environments, as well as in the private practice domain.
OBJECTIVES
- The intern will demonstrate an intermediate level of competence in the theories and methods of diagnoses, assessments, and interventions.
- The intern will be well versed in the issues of cultural diversity that are relevant to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
- The intern will demonstrate an understanding of how science-based research can significantly influence clinical practice.
COMPETENCIES
- Diagnosis
The intern will demonstrate a sound working knowledge of the DSM-IV nomenclature and will be able to make valid diagnoses on all five axes based upon the data from a) chart review, b) interview, c) psychological testing, or d) a combination of chart, interview, and test data.
- Assessment
- Cognitive Assessment - The intern will be able to competently administer the major cognitive tests for children and adults (WPPSI-III, WISC-IV, WAIS-III). They will be able to use the data from the cognitive tests to generate valid hypotheses about 1) learning disabilities, 2) personality functioning/psychopathology, 3) cognitive strengths and weaknesses (Kaufman approach), and 4) neuropsychological dysfunction.
- Objective Personality Assessment - The interns will be able to competently integrate the data from interpretive reports generated by the major objective personality instruments; the MMPI and the MCMI.
- Projective Techniques - The interns will be able to competently administer the Rorschach and the TAT. In addition, interns will be able to code Rorschach records according to the Comprehensive System (Exner) with at least intermediate, entry-level accuracy. Interns will be able to utilize data from the Structural Summary of Rorschach Codes to generate verifiable hypotheses about personality functioning and psychopathology. The interns will know the stimulus value of each TAT card and will demonstrate the capacity to use an interpretive strategy for generating reasonable, testable hypotheses about personality and psychopathology.
- Neuropsychological Screening - The intern will be able to appropriately screen patients for significant signs of neuropsychological dysfunction using elements of the WAIS-III, Bender Gestalt, the Kaufman Short Neuropsychological Assessment Procedure (K-SNAP) and the Rey-Osterith. The intern will be able to independently determine the appropriateness of referral for detailed neuropsychological assessment.
- Cognitive Assessment - The intern will be able to competently administer the major cognitive tests for children and adults (WPPSI-III, WISC-IV, WAIS-III). They will be able to use the data from the cognitive tests to generate valid hypotheses about 1) learning disabilities, 2) personality functioning/psychopathology, 3) cognitive strengths and weaknesses (Kaufman approach), and 4) neuropsychological dysfunction.
- Intervention
- 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 choose between supportive techniques, cognitive behavioral principles, psychodynamic techniques, and modes of emotional ventilation when devising patient-specific courses of brief treatment.
- 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) the difference between conscious and unconscious communication, 2) the ground rules of sound psychotherapeutic technique, 3) the role of insight in personality change, and 4) the role of transference and countertransference in the psychotherapy process.
- Psychopharmacology - The intern will have intermediate to advanced knowledge in the area of psychopharmacology so as to be able to competently and independently determine when patients are in need of psychotropic medications. Interns will be able to make these determinations using chart and interview data as well as with psychological test data.
- 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 choose between supportive techniques, cognitive behavioral principles, psychodynamic techniques, and modes of emotional ventilation when devising patient-specific courses of brief treatment.
- Knowledge Concerning Cultural and Individual Diversity Issues
The interns will manifest advanced-level knowledge about how diagnosis, assessment, and intervention are all influenced by elements of cultural and individual diversity. They will have a working knowledge of the relevant research in these areas, and be capable of independently incorporating elements of this knowledge base into their work with populations for which diversity is important.
- Scholarly Inquiry
The intern will have an advanced knowledge of how to utilize research resources to facilitate diagnoses and treatment. They will have an at least intermediate ability to evaluate the quality of the research when designing treatment strategies. The intern will show an ability to utilize resources and to determine research quality at a competent, independent level.
