Training Goals
Individual Supervision
For each six month period, each intern is assigned individual psychotherapy supervisors from the counseling staff. All of the primary supervisors are licensed, three-years-out psychologists. Interns receive a minimum of two hours of individual supervision weekly with additional supervision arranged as needed. Interns are matched with supervisors on the basis of a professional needs assessment, staff expertise, interns' interests and mutual preferences.
Group Supervision of Individual clients
Each intern receives 1 hour per week of supervision on individual clients in a group format. The focus of this group experience is on helping the interns to conceptualize client dynamics and structural issues as well as to learn more refined therapeutic "uses of self as instrument" in treatment. Transference and counter-transference issues are discussed as well as any manifest parallel process issues. The dynamics of conflict or the interaction between the therapist and client are explored as a guide to hypothesizing about developmental issues and subsequent treatment strategies.
Administrative Meeting
The interns meet monthly with the Training Director to discuss administrative concerns and their transition from student to professional.
Psychotherapy of Diversity
The development of an appreciation and understanding of differences starts with identification and understanding of one's own cultural background. Understanding cultural and ethnic stage development theory from one's own experience enhances the learning. It also reinforces the understanding that we all present differences to others in terms of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language or socioeconomic status. This seminar is one hour per week.
Supervision of Supervision
Each qualified intern supervises a doctoral-level graduate student in practicum and participates in a supervision seminar which focuses on explicating the development and training issues relevant to a beginning therapist. Assessment of the intern's supervision style are explored, and the interns are exposed to various supervision theories.
Group Therapy Seminar
Interns participate in a 1 hour a week group therapy training. Topics covered include: how to start a group, selection criteria, different models, treatment issues, and co-therapy issues. This training balances didactic with experiential (e.g. roleplaying, co-therapy, video-supervision) formats. Group supervision of group therapy continues throughout the year for all interns providing group therapy.
PTSD and Working with Trauma Survivors
This seminar provides one hour per week for one semester of training in working with PTSD and trauma survivors with other diagnoses. Herman's model of trauma treatment and Meichenbaum's empirically validated treatment are both included. The seminar is both didactic and experiential. Intern cases also are discussed.
Ethics Seminar
Ethics is covered early in the year, but the training program views ethics as a central aspect of professional development and it is integrated throughout the year in all training activities. Discussion of interns' ethical dilemmas will help interns to utilize ethical guidelines.
Additional Seminars
Depending on interns' interest and availability of instructors, additional seminars may be scheduled as part of the internship year. These may include: Alcohol and Drug, Couples Therapy, Brief Psychotherapy, Professional Development, Outreach, and Eating Disorders. If scheduled, the seminars would be one hour a week for either one semester or scheduled to meet a designated number of times within a semester period.
Other Formalized Training
Two-three weeks of Orientation is provided. Topics include front office procedures, emergency/crisis procedures, initial assessment procedures, Life Skills program, introduction to seminars, Titanium training, and group therapy procedures. The first week and half also involves meeting professionals from other units and departments across campus. Professional development/social activities for trainees and faculty will be provided throughout the weeks as well.
