The primary aim of the EOVAHCS training program is to provide the highest quality generalist training using evidence-based psychotherapies and psychological assessments that are inclusive of diverse cultural methodologies and critical consciousness frameworks. Culturally responsive models and social justice principles are illuminated throughout our training program so that interns are equipped to serve BIPOC and marginalized groups who have historically and systematically been denied access to liberated spaces within mental health systems in their own communities.
The Internship year is divided into two rotations of six months each and yearlong rotations focused on evidenced based assessment and therapy. In general, interns are expected to achieve foundational competencies in the area of clinical assessment, group and individual psychotherapy, consultation and treatment planning, professionalism and ethical/legal standards and policy, sensitivity to individual differences and cultural diversity, supervision and scientific knowledge and methods.
Over the course of the internship year, interns will conduct evidence-based assessments from referral sources throughout our service. Assessment training at EOVAHCS emphasizes collaborative/therapeutic and recovery-oriented approaches throughout the testing and feedback process. During the year-long assessment rotation, interns will be expected to attend an assessment group supervision session in addition to their individual supervision with an assessment supervisor. Assessment group supervision will also incorporate a monthly, intern-led psychological testing-related journal article discussion. Interns will either be assigned to conduct personality/diagnostic assessments and/or neuropsychological assessments based on their foundational assessment experience prior to internship.
Among all rotations, Interns will train/work with multidisciplinary staff/teams and evidence-based interventions. Interns will have the unique opportunity for in depth training and supervision by a VA Trainer and Consultant in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Depression. Successful completion of CPT requirements during the training year will allow them to apply for VA and/or Community Provider Status in CPT once they are licensed.
Interns will work together to complete a yearlong diversity group project in the Diversity Seminar. The goal of the seminar is to foster and encourage a life-long practice of professional multicultural consideration and competence. The interns and seminar leaders will work to embrace the idea of cultural humility and develop a process of openness, self-reflection and ongoing professional and personal development. Aspects of the project might include: participation in culturally considerate supervision, delivery of culturally competent clinical interventions, reflection on cultural identity and cultural interactions in professional spaces, personal reflective practice and group discussion, facilitation of experiences that increase awareness of cultural identity and interactions, as well as knowledge of a cultural group.
Interns also participate a Supervision Seminar during the second half of the training year which provides the opportunity for interns to gain experience supervising trainees including psychology and social work graduate students and psychiatry residents in individual and group formats over the course of the year. A bi-weekly seminar provides a variety of experiences for beginning supervisors including: didactic presentations, discussions of readings, review of video depictions of supervision models, role-play exercises and real supervision experiences of interns and faculty. The seminar will serve to facilitate an understanding of basic functions and roles of clinical supervision, ethical and cultural diversity considerations which will be integrated across activities. Content will include specific theory, supervisor interventions and a range of topical and situational considerations.
Rotation options include: PTSD Clinical Team, Women Veteran's Mental Health/Sexual Trauma Treatment Team, Substance Use Disorder Team, Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, General Mental Health Clinic, Home Based Primary Care, LGBTQQ + Program, and PCMHI. Rotation enhancements include: Rural Telemental Health, Special Populations, Specialty Assessments (bariatric, organ transplant, police evaluations), LGBTQ+ Program, DBT Team, Multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Team, and Administration.
