Internship Aims

The Psychology Internship Program provides interns with numerous opportunities to gain further proficiency in an array of clinical modalities and therapeutic and assessment techniques, while serving a vulnerable and underserved population that encompasses a broad variety of ages, cultures, psychiatric diagnoses and levels of functioning.
The Program further aims to train and prepare professional psychologists for the practice of psychology in accordance with the professional and ethical standards set forth by the American Psychological Association. The internship emphasizes the acquisition and integration of advanced clinical skills within a context of culturally-sensitive practice.
Within the general structure of the internship, the program is individualized to meet each trainee’s specific needs and interests. Clinical rotations are assigned based on training needs and interns’ clinical interests. Thereafter, regular meetings with the internship director allow the intern to remain aware of options available and to be involved in the decision-making process regarding the specific components of the program as it evolves. Attempts are made throughout the year both to address gaps in the intern’s previous experience and further his/her clinical training goals.

Competencies

To meet these aims, the program provides training in and assesses interns’ performance in these nine profession-wide competencies: Research; Ethical and Legal Standards; Individual and Cultural Diversity; Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors; Communication and Interpersonal Skills; Psychological Diagnosis and Assessment; Psychotherapeutic Intervention; Supervision; and Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills. The program also provides training in and assesses interns’ performance in two program specific competencies: prevention and treatment services in OUD/SUD (Adult Track with OUD/SUD Focus only) and child-systems based consultation (Child and Adolescent Track only).

Expectations

In order to successfully complete the internship program, interns have to demonstrate that they have achieved the profession-wide competencies and the program specific competencies, as defined through the evaluation process. Interns must complete a variety of clinical experiences including rotations, outpatient psychotherapy, psychological assessment, supervision, and attend didactics in order to graduate.