Aurora Mental Health Center (AuMHC) provides comprehensive mental health services to people of all ages, who represent virtually all DSM diagnostic categories. Services include outpatient and intensive treatment for early childhood, school-age children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. The psychology internship program allows interns to select and match to one of three tracks: child and family focused; adult focused; or placement at the Asian Pacific Development Center (an affiliate of Aurora Mental Health Center). The internship program will be accepting four interns this coming year (1- child track; 2 - adult track; 1 - APDC track).
As part of the match process to the tracks, interns are placed on a year long primary placement with either Adult, Child and Family, or Asian Pacific Development Center emphasis. In addition to the primary placement, each intern completes two minor rotations during the year that can be with any age group regardless of track assignment. The primary placement is 16 hours per week (i.e., 2 days) for 12 months and each minor rotation is 16 hours per week (i.e., 2 days) for six months. Additional observational experiences available to interns include the addiction and recovery programs (detox and outpatient) and the crisis services continnum (walk-in clinic and crisis stabilization unit).
Other training experiences include the interns completeing at least five testing evaluations during the year and a small research/program evaluation project. The program strives to provide interns with the opportunity to supervise a practicum student, but cannot guarantee it. Monday mornings are set-aside for didactics and seminars and peer socialization and support.
To successfully complete internship, interns must demonstrate competency in diagnosis and assessment, conceptualization and treatment, consultation, professional conduct and ethical standards, individual and cultural diversity, application of current scientific knowledge to practice, and supervision. Interns are expected to maintain the same ethical standards as licensed professionals, which includes maintaining treatment records and keeping up to date with clinical documentation on a daily basis. Interns carry clinical caseloads for both primary placement and minor rotations. Graduates of the internship are well prepared for the responsibilities that come with full-time employment, or advanced fellowship training, in a variety of settings.
Interns matched with the AuMHC internship program can expect to provide in-person and telehealth services via phone or video conference – commonly referred to as hybrid service delivery. The agency provides interns with an agency laptop and office work space with phone and printer access. Should interns find it necessary to provide telehealth services from an off-site location, they are expected to use their personal telephone and internet services at their expense. The agency expects the same of staff and is mindful of the burden this could place on an intern.
The Center serves one of the most diverse racial and ethnic populations in the United States based on the city size for Aurora, Colorado. Both the internship program and the Center are committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice and strive to ensure they are interwoven in the fabric of the organization and training program. AuMHC supports and nourishes an inclusive and welcoming environment for employees from diverse backgrounds, and welcomes diverse and unique viewpoints of employees. The agency aims to champion and promote staff engagement, peer networking, and leadership development.
