Jefferson Center is the private 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community mental health center serving Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties (metro-Denver and the foothills communities) since 1958. Clients are predominantly low income, with Medicaid coverage, or uninsured/underinsured, however the client mix includes all payor sources such as Medicare and private insurance. All age ranges, from infants to seniors, are served, with a variety of specialty programs. Jefferson Center’s Doctoral Psychology Internship Training Program promotes the professional development of its interns by providing a wide range of hands-on experiences with diverse clientele, preparing them to provide the highest quality treatment to individuals struggling with a wide range of psychological and behavioral disorders.
Internships are full time, starting in mid-August, and consist of a Major Clinical rotation and Minor Rotations each semester. The Major Rotations are sixteen to twenty hours weekly and change after six months to maximize the intern’s experience. Interns choose from 4 Major Rotations: 1) Older Adult Services, 2) Adult Services, 3) Family Services, and 4) Spanish Language Services. There are 3 required Minor Rotations: 1) Crisis – 8 hours per week for 6 months, 2) Innovation/Research Rotation 4 hours per week over 12 months and 3) Psychological Assessment 6 – 8 hours per week for 12 months. For the Psychological Assessment rotation interns will complete 8 integrated batteries. Interns will also supervise a doctoral extern or master’s level intern over the course of the training year.
Work is conducted at a variety of settings across Jefferson Center outpatient offices. Services are being done in a hybrid model and interns are onsite 3 days a week and may work remote 2 days a week. Crisis rotation is 100% onsite due to the nature of the work. Psychological assessment hours are done in a hybrid model. Interns also participate in individual supervision and training seminars.
Successful program completion requires 2,000 hours over a 12 month period and the demonstration of the following competency areas to the level of a generalist, entry-level psychologist: Research, Ethical standards and legal standards, Individual and cultural diversity, Professional values, attitudes, and behavior, Communications and interpersonal skills, Assessment, Intervention, Supervision, and Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.
Interns are also required to:
- complete 8 integrated psychological assessments
- present a case study utilizing evidence-based interventions or psychological assessments before the Psychology Doctoral Internship Training Committee
- provide dissertation presentation to psychology panel
- present innovation/research project to Jefferson Center staff