Training and Education Offered by Internship
Please describe your objective in training Predoctoral interms. Please include a brief description of your training program and how it fits within the goals or mission of your agency:
There is a current need for psychologists trained to practice in the area of occupational behavioral health. Occupational mental health is complex in that is medical-legal and requires skill in forensic interviewing, clinical assessment, and evidence-based interventions. The psychologist must be trained in med-legal reporting as well as MTUS (medical treatment utilization schedule) approved interventions for common industrial mental health problems. The overall goal of the Mindhealth internship is to train new psychologists into competence in the specialized practice area of occupational mental health while simultaneously developing the interns professional and ethical identity. Many interns have trained at our program and did not go into this area of practice, but they left well trained in evidence-based interventions, diagnostics, and professional report writing.
If applicable, describe in detail how the internship training differs from practicum training:
RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF PREDOCTORAL INTERNS:
1. Professionalism: The intern’s comportment will consistently reflect the values and attitudes of the field of psychology and professional psychologists.
2. Individual and Cultural Diversity: The intern will demonstrate awareness, sensitivity, and skills in working with diverse patient populations who represent various racial, ethnic, and personal backgrounds and hold a variety of social identities. They will consider interpretation of psychological tests as well as the administration of those tests within the cultural context of the client. Interventions applied in treatment will also reflect the client’s worldview, manner of problem-solving, and social connections. Our clinic serves a wide range of ethnicities across a wide range of socio-economic groups. We frequently work through interpreters. These cross- cultural modes of treatment are a predominant aspect of the internship. We aspire to have the intern accustomed to and working well with a broad range of clients.
3. Ethical Standards: The intern will consistently demonstrate both knowledge and application of ethical concepts and legal issues as they pertain to the practice of psychology. The intern will demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical standards of medical legal reporting.
4. Reflective Self Practice: The intern will practice with personal and professional self-awareness and reflection, awareness of competencies and areas for growth and with appropriate self-care. These practices will be monitored and encouraged in group supervision.
5. Relational Effectiveness: The intern will develop and maintain effective professional relationships with applicant attorneys, defense attorneys, nurse case managers and adjusters as well as referring physicians and others with whom they work. They will develop appropriate professional relationship with colleagues and staff within the clinic.
1. Scholarly Knowledge: The intern will demonstrate the ability to review scholarly literature and integrate this knowledge into clinical practice.
2. Assessment and Diagnosis: The intern will demonstrate proficiency in forensic assessment, disability assessment, diagnosis, and progress testing.
3. Delivery of Services: The intern will effectively use interventions designed to alleviate suffering and to promote health and well-being of patients.
4. Supervision: The intern will recognize the role and function of supervision and training in professional development.
5. Consultation: The intern will demonstrate the ability to provide expert guidance or professional assistance in response to client’s needs or goals.
Training/Clinical Services Offered:
Assessment, Brief, Consultation, Couple, Crisis, Family, Group, Individual, Inpatient, Long Term, Neuropsych, Other, Outpatient, Psych. Testing
Comments Regarding Theoretical Orientation of Staff
HRV biofeedback, EMDR, Psych Pre-surgical Screening, Forensic Consulting for work alleged work related psychological injury