This internship is a collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School (DMS) and Dell Children’s Medical Center (DCMC). This internship program primarily provides clinical services at Dell Children’s Medical Center and is housed within the Dell Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The internship aims to train clinicians to provide assessment and evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and developmental disabilities, ranging from adjustment difficulties to more chronic medical and psychiatric conditions
Philosophy and Training Model
Consistent with the scientist-practitioner model the integration of research and clinical practice is emphasized. The program aims to provide broad- and evidence-based clinical training in pediatric and child clinical psychology or neuropsychology. A developmental training model is employed that emphasizes bio-psycho-social approaches and focuses on building competencies in assessment and cognitive and behavioral methods. The program also teaches interns to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams across a variety of clinical settings. Significant consideration is placed on the developmental stage of the trainee with goals to increase autonomy, assist with emerging professional identity, and prepare the intern for postdoctoral specialization.
Interns have opportunities to complete rotations in assessment, outpatient therapy, and pediatric subspecialty services. Assessment rotations include psychoeducational, neuropsychological, and developmental assessments, as well as risk assessments throughout rotations. Outpatient therapy rotations take place at Texas Child Study Center, where the focus is to provide evidence-based treatment with a focus on clinical child interventions. Pediatric rotations include consultation and liaison work with inpatient medical teams, and embedded work within pediatric subspecialty services
Training Experiences:
The Internship has two training tracks: (1) Pediatric Health Psychology (4-interns) and (2) Pediatric Neuropsychology (2-interns).
Pediatric Integrated Care Track (4-interns): Interns interested in this track should be committed to a career working within integrated health settings with underserved youth. Participation in this track will provide a foundation of training for interns preparing for future board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and/or Health Psychology. Pediatric Health Psychology interns will have major rotations in integrated care, intervention, and consultation, minor rotations in pediatric subspecialty services, and a year-long rotation in outpatient psychotherapy. Major rotations over approximately two days a week, while minor rotations take place on one day a week. Outpatient therapy is one to one and a half days a week.
Pediatric Neuropsychology Track (2-interns): Interns interested in this track should be committed to a career in pediatric neuropsychology, potentially in a medical setting, and working towards board certification in neuropsychology. Pediatric neuropsychology interns will have major and minor rotation opportunities in various neuropsychology clinics, as well as a year-long rotation in outpatient psychotherapy.
Accreditation:
This Internship is accredited by the Comission on Accredidation, American Psychological Association.