HealthEast’s Doctoral Psychology Internship Program is a generalist model rooted in a practitioner-scholar orientation. Our goal is to ensure that interns acquire solid science-based knowledge and superlative clinical skills. We believe that a well-trained psychologist delivers patient care grounded in evidenced-based clinical practices. In the same way, the science of psychology is influenced by questions created through clinical work. Accordingly, we encourage our interns to contribute to the professional literature through their clinical observations and encounters with patients. Our interns are expected to be sensitive to ethnic, cultural and individual differences.
The program’s primary focus is to help interns become competent as professional psychologists. We believe that universities provide the initial pre-clinical preparation (the core areas of psychology, research methodology and the fundamentals of clinical practice) while internships help trainees apply what they have learned and develop advanced clinical skills. Interns are expected to work with a variety of patients using a wide range of assessment, therapeutic approaches and techniques.
The internship year is a time of transition from student to independent practitioner. Interns initially receive close clinical supervision and intensive instruction. Over time, interns gain greater autonomy. By program completion, they largely function as independent practitioners. Our interns also develop the flexibility and adaptability to meet the changing landscape of complex health care systems. For this reason, professional attitude and demeanor are as important as psychological knowledge and skills. These competencies are thus included in formal evaluations by each rotation supervisor.
Training Goals & Objectives:
The Training Program Model and Philosophy are expressed in the following broad goals:
1. Interns will develop competence in diagnostic interviewing and administration of a variety of psychological instruments, techniques and assessments.
2. Interns will develop competence in psychological interventions for a variety of diagnoses, difficulties, and needs. Interns will learn a wide range of therapeutic orientations, techniques, and approaches. General psychotherapy skills will be emphasized along with at least one empirically-supported modality.
3. Interns will develop competence in translating psychological principles to department leaders, colleagues, and professionals from different disciplines.
4. Interns will demonstrate behavior consistent with professional standards and ethical guidelines (i.e., a mature understanding of professional ethics as well as issues of ethnic, cultural, gender, sexual, and other aspects of diversity).
5. Interns are expected to be aware of their continuing developmental and professional goals. Interns will be aware of emerging developments and possess realistic career plans (as judged by their supervisors) as evidenced by vocational or training choices to be pursued upon completion of the program.
6. Interns will understand the interface between science and practice by applying scientific knowledge to the clinical setting, being educated consumers of empirical research, and participating in research projects or program evaluation.