Our program’s specific aims are anchored in the profession-wide competencies expected of a health
service psychologists and around which our training program is structured. Our aims align with
these competencies which in turn guide the development and implementation of our program, the
expectations for our interns, and evaluation of our program’s outcomes. Our program aims to:
Generalist Health Service Psychologist
To recruit and train ethical, skilled, and culturally sensitive health service psychologists who will be
prepared for entry level practice and postdoctoral practice working with children, adolescents, and
families in a clinical setting. Our intern selection process, experiential training activities tied to service
delivery, supervision, and didactic training experiences support this aim.
Integration of Practice and Science
To provide training in the practice of taking an evidence-based practice approach to assessment,
intervention, and consultation with diverse populations. We strive to support interns in developing the
skills to apply clinical theory and empirical research into case conceptualizations, treatment planning,
and clinical interventions. This is accomplished through seminars, individual supervision, consultation,
group supervision, readings, and familiarizing interns with an evidence-based practice approach that
balances available research, clinician expertise, client’s presentation, and the overall system in which
one is practicing. Interns will have the opportunity to work in specialized Disruptive Behavior Clinic and Anxiety Clinic for children, in addition to clinical experience with a more general outpatient community mental health population.
Professional Identity
To facilitate intern’s professional identity as health service psychologists by providing a training
experience whereby the intern balances the many roles a generalist practitioner may have (ex.
therapist, evaluator, consultant, and supervisor). Psychology supervisors serve as role models for
this type of practice and Intern Seminar time is devoted to discussions of professional issues for
entry-level psychologists such as licensure requirements, continuing education opportunities, career
development, and work/life balance.
Collaboration and Openness to Learning
As an agency comprised of psychologists, social workers, speech and language pathologist,
occupational therapists, substance abuse specialist, grief & loss specialists, educators, community
resource specialist, and career counselors, we value the role collaboration plays in service delivery
and ongoing learning. We aim to develop the intern’s capacity to work collaboratively with psychology
colleagues and professionals from other disciplines both within and outside our organization.
Throughout internship, interns are given opportunities to meet one on one with Directors of the
Community Counseling Center (LCSWs) during orientation, they attend the monthly Outpatient Behavioral Health and Community
Counseling Center staff meetings along with psychology supervisors, social workers, and trainees from
other disciplines. A key component of the training year is serving as a consultant to either the Integrative
Pediatric Therapies program or Virginia Frank Child Development Center, providing regular access to a multi-disciplinary team for their own cases, in addition to providing consultation. Interns are consistently linked to agency specialists for input and
resources related to their clients. Lastly, interns are encouraged by supervisors to pursue learning on
their own as it relates to their clients.