Internship Summary
Pre-doctoral psychology residents at SSM Health (formerly Agnesian HealthCare) work with children, adolescents, and adults diverse in diagnosis and socio-economic status. The behavioral health department is focused on providing services to the community with both outpatient and inpatient care. Over the course of one year residents will develop expertise in individual, group, and couple/family therapy as referrals allow.. They will become proficient in skills related to differential diagnosis and assessment; creating and maintaining a treatment plan with measureable goals; appropriate interventions specific to each patient; risk and crisis management; collaboration with other professionals in team consultation meetings; design and facilitation of psychoeducational and psychotherapy groups; and integration of research into practice. Time for personal research and dissertation completion can be negotiated. Outcome research is ongoing and residents are able to be involved in that capacity.
Psychology residents at SSM Health work in 2 tracks allowing them to specialize with a particular population and age group. The Fond du Lac area offers diversity in diagnostic presentations. There is a focus on strong clinical skills and supervisory relationships which support residents’ desired therapeutic orientation, while adding knowledge and a more extensive therapeutic toolbox. This includes EMDR training, which is optional and funded at 50%. Residents get yearlong group therapy experience which they can tailor to their own expertise. DBT group training is provided.
Residents will become proficient in skills related to differential diagnosis and assessment; creating and maintaining a treatment plan with measurable goals; appropriate interventions specific to each patient; risk and crisis management; collaboration with other professionals in team consultation meetings; and integration of research into practice.
Residents will have the opportunity to receive assessment supervision focusing on learning, practicing, administering, and scoring psychological (e.g., TSI-II, MMPI-3, CAARS, etc.) and cognitive testing (e.g., WAIS-IV/WISC-V, WIAT-IV, etc.) relevant to various presenting concerns that may be seen by residents in clinical practice (e.g., learning disability, intellectual disability, ADHD, psychiatric conditions). Weekly assessment supervision may also include discussion of resident assessment cases or relevant/new assessment-focused research.
SSM Health mental health professionals are a culturally and professionally diverse group of trauma-informed clinicians. We have an inpatient psychiatry and addiction inpatient unit and a large outpatient unit. Psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists and PMPNP’s, nurses, SUD counselors and masters’ prepared clinicians, social workers, art therapists and kind support specialists combine to make our services fine-tuned to the individual at any age. Specialization in neurodiverse children and adolescents and a world-class Autism Center bring innovation and a 7-pronged model for social emotional teaching. There is a focus on suicide prevention and treatment of trauma (50% or more of our clinicians are trained and regularly utilize EMDR). Our diverse staff treat mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, child and adolescent concerns and academic difficulties, addiction, eating disorders, chronic pain, couples and family conflict, questions of neuropsychological function and competency and complex trauma.
