|
|
Psychology Internship Competency Areas
|
|
|
Competency Areas Internship Setting at UHM & CSDC Applying for Internship at CSDC-UHM
© UHM CSDC |
Our training goals and objectives are keyed to ten areas of professional competencies. Each intern is expected to develop confidence and skill in each area. The first three areas involve basic attitudes and behaviors that we expect to be displayed throughout the internship: I. Professional Conduct and Development II. Ethical Conduct III. Multicultural Competence Professionalism, ethics, and multiculturalism are infused throughout all training activities and pervade all facets of service delivery. The next seven competency areas comprise specific professional activities that our interns are trained in and become skilled at: IV. Psychological Assessment V. Individual Psychotherapy VI. Career Counseling VII. Crisis Intervention VIII. Group Counseling IX. Clinical Supervision X. Program Evaluation, Consultation and Outreach Each of these ten professional competencies, with their specific objectives, training activities, and expected outcomes will be introduced next. I. Professional Conduct and Development Interns are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times during the internship. The Psychology Internship strives to increase the professionalism of the interns. Training activities emphasize a blending of psychological skill and theory with self-awareness. As interns encourage clients toward greater self-understanding, interns must also explore their own needs, strengths, limitations, motivations, and behaviors to develop personally and professionally. During internship, interns are encouraged to demonstrate a concern for their own psychological and emotional development as well as the development of their intern colleagues. A significant and deliberate component of internship training is continued development of the professional identity of the intern. Supervisors intentionally monitor and assist with the professional and career development of interns and note when the training program can create experiences or provide resources to assist in this process. Intern seminar addresses topics related to professional development including the job search process and professional development after graduation. Monitoring of professional conduct and development occurs with each intern's Clinical Supervisor and with the Training Coordinator. Other members of the training faculty are also available for individual guidance at the request of the intern.
II. Ethical Conduct Interns are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (2002). Ethical practice guided by the APA Ethics Code is stressed within the normal course of Center operations. The Training Committee highlights the importance of ethics in the work of the Center and to insure that ethics are considered in all aspects of service delivery and training. Discussions regarding professional conduct and ethics occur during intern orientation, training seminars, individual and group clinical supervision, clinical staff meetings, case disposition meetings, and staff development presentations. In addition, interns are provided written materials and exposed to learning opportunities that challenge interns to deepen their understanding of professional ethics.
III. Multicultural Competence Interns are expected to be able to provide psychological services to clients who are different in terms of race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, class status, education, religious/spiritual orientation, and other cultural dimensions. The CSDC training faculty is committed to infusing diversity awareness, knowledge, and skills into all aspects of training and expects interns to develop multicultural competencies in all skill areas. Self-examination of values, personal experiences, and areas of growth are considered basic and critical to enhancing interns¨ understanding and appreciation of differences. The main venue for addressing the complexity and impact of cultural dynamics on the practice of psychology is the Multicultural Training Seminar. Supervisors and facilitators of other seminars challenge and support interns to integrate diversity factors into service delivery and program development.
IV. Psychological Assessment Interns are expected to evaluate the psychological needs of clients based on intakes and other clinical interviews, make accurate diagnoses, and use psychometric instruments to guide treatment. The clinical interview is the most frequently used assessment method in the agency. Interns are taught to use information from the clinical interview to influence the content and process of psychotherapy. Conducting intake interviews is an important way to practice interview skills, make accurate diagnosis, determine the appropriateness of agency services and make suitable case assignments. Interns are assigned three intake appointments each week and discuss clinical issues in supervision, weekly disposition meetings, and clinical team meetings. Interns are also trained to use psychometric tests including the MMPI-2-RF, MMPI-2, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Strong Interest Inventory. Training in psychological assessment occurs during Intern Orientation and is available to interns in the monthly Psychological Assessment Grand Rounds coordinated by the Coordinator of Psychological Assessment Services. Assessments to help plan treatment possibilities also occur during disposition team meetings, clinical team meetings, and case conferences. Interns are not required to conduct full test batteries but can acquire more testing experience with the support and supervision of qualified members of the training faculty.
V. Individual Psychotherapy Interns are expected to provide individual psychotherapy to diverse clients using interventions from a variety of theoretical approaches. Short-term psychotherapy is the primary means of direct service delivery at CSDC. Most clients are seen for less than 12 sessions, although interns are encouraged to work with some long-term clients. Training is organized around the theme of psychotherapy integration and interns learn how to engage in multi-theoretical conceptualization and integrative treatment planning. Intern orientation includes an introduction to Center perspectives on the delivery of psychotherapeutic services. An integrative approach is emphasized in on-going case consultations and formal case presentations required of each intern each semester. Individual psychotherapy is a central focus in clinical supervision and interns are required to share videotaped samples of their work with their supervisors.
VI. Career Counseling Interns are expected to provide career counseling to CSDC clients and to be able to interpret career assessment instruments. Approximately 10-15 percent of the individual counseling caseload an intern carries deals with career-life development issues. Career counseling involves assisting students to select an academic major; choose a career; explore the self, careers, and the world of work; access occupational information; learn effective career decision-making strategies; and engage in realistic goal setting. During a five week-long career development seminar, interns are trained in the basics of career development theory and practice, interpretation, and use of other appropriate tools and techniques. Consultation with supervisors and other psychologists regarding career counseling and assessment occurs during the course of the training year.
VII. Crisis Intervention Interns are expected to serve as the Counselor-on-Duty (the Blue-Line Counselor) to provide crisis intervention for students experiencing acute distress. Interns serve as the Blue-Line Counselor for three to four hours per week. The responsibility of the Blue-Line Counselor is to clarify the presenting problem(s), assess what is needed, provide crisis intervention, and make referrals within or outside the Center. Crisis intervention training occurs during Intern Orientation and Intern Seminar. Psychologists provide supervision to interns for crisis cases during clinical supervision, clinical team meetings, and weekly disposition team meetings. Members of the training faculty are always available for consultation and back-up when interns are dealing with crisis clients as part of their role as Blue-Line Counselor.
VIII. Group Counseling Interns are expected to provide group counseling by facilitating process- or theme-oriented groups. CSDC maintains an active group counseling program and all interns gain experience co-facilitating psychotherapy groups. Interns without group experience usually co-facilitate groups with psychologists who provide supervision. Interns with experience in providing group psychotherapy can take the lead in facilitating group with other interns or practicum counselors. Interns are first exposed to the Group Counseling Program during Orientation and then participate in a weekly Group Counseling Seminar to learn skills and receive group supervision.
IX. Clinical Supervision Interns are expected to provide clinical supervision to doctoral-level practicum counselors who receive training and provide direct services to CSDC clients. Practicum counselors provide individual psychotherapy and career counseling for 6-8 clients each per week. The intern supervisors oversee their practicum student counselor's assessment and treatment of clients, and other case management issues. Interns meet face-to-face with practicum counselors for two hour per week during the fall semester and one hour per week during the spring semester. They are available for additional consultation as needed. Training to supervise others begins at Orientation and is facilitated through the weekly Supervision of Supervision Seminar and during individual clinical supervision with psychologists.
X. Program Evaluation, Consultation and Outreach Interns are expected to gain experience and demonstrate effectiveness in providing outreach and consultation services to students, staff, and faculty at UH M─noa using current conceptual models and methods. They are also expected to evaluate their clinical, outreach, and consultative services and help evaluate the effectiveness and value of CSDC programs and services (e.g., practicum training, intern training, outreach and consultation, clinical and assessment services). Outreach, consultation, and evaluation training occurs during the Intern Orientation and Intern Seminar. Staff and training faculty psychologists supervise interns before, during, and/or after actual outreach or consultation experiences. Interns are expected to participate in at least two outreach activities each semester and are required to do one written evaluative report on a formal consultation or outreach project with a UH agency each semester.
|
