See our Online Brochure at the website listed for all program details. Feel free to contact Training Director by phone or email with questions. Interns can apply for one of two separate training tracks, each being a yearlong rotation with supplemental experience throughout the Department: A Outpatient track or a Forensic Track. Clinical requirements are set for the year (e.g., 340 therapy hours, 50 hours of assessment -see brochure). Interns receive two individual hours of supervision each week (One hour clinical, one-hour testing). Interns meet with the Training Director each week for two hours of group supervision and two hours of didactic seminar. Interns can attend live, Department-sponsored trainings throughout the year, and have access to a 24-7 online library of trainings. Interns attend a weekly countertransference learning and sharing group.
The program aims to help interns to understand human behavior in all its aspects so that abnormal behavior is a subset of that total, and intervention is individualized to each client's specific dynamics and habits. Understanding one's own motives and emotions is viewed as necessary for depth-oriented therapists. Understanding case-conceptualization, not just intervention, is emphasized. Supervisor orientations are varied, but most are psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, or eclectic/integrative. The Department, like all other California county mental health departments, uses a mental health recovery vision of care, focusing on client empowerment and involvement. Shorter-term and group treatment are typical, but longer-term cases are also possible. All interns in outpatient rotations will work with children and adolescents, and with adult populations. Psychological testing is a major component here, and prior experience and comfort with testing are essential.
Professionalism is of paramount importance in our program. We believe that growing into the role of a psychologist involves interns presenting themselves at all times in a professional manner with consumers, peers, and supervisors alike. Receptivity to constructive criticism, openness to supervisory input, and maintaining a positive and respectful demeanor and attitude are greatly valued and expected during the internship. Interns who may struggle in these areas will be supported to address personal issues that may be interfering with the various demands of internship. Humility is a quality highly prized in interns by all staff in our Department, and professionalism and respect for others are viewed as equal in importance to clinical skill and work.
Interns have the opportunity to work on multidisciplinary teams, and with interns from other disciplines. Interns will have the chance to practice supervision-like activities during the second rotation. The Department has a long tradition of intern training -a typical year sees about 40-50 interns and students of various disciplines here to receive training. Our department staff, as well as the populations served, are richly diverse.