The May Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, behavioral, and rehabilitative services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, behavior disorders, and brain injury. The primary goal of the Doctoral Psychology Internship program is to train interns who will become psychologists prepared to practice independently as scientist-practitioners in a variety of settings (e.g., community day and residential programs for individuals with disabilities, and public and private educational programs serving children with disabilities).
The program is designed around three possible training sites. Interns in our child educational programs rotate between two sites (6 months each). Interns in adult services alternate their caseload between day habilitative services and community-based residential programs throughout the training year.
The May Center School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Randolph, MA. This rotation is in a day and residential school supporting adolescent and transition age classrooms (up to age 21). Interns are trained in delivering consultation and direct service, primarily for students with autism and other developmental disabilities, and severe behavior disorders. The principles of applied behavior analysis are used to address skill acquisition needs as well as developing intervention plans for problem behavior.
The May Center School for Brain Injury and Neurobehavioral Disorders, Norwood, MA. This rotation is in a day and residential school primarily supporting students with brain injuries, neurodevelopmental disorders, and severe behavior disorders. The school uses a multidisciplinary approach with behavior specialists, social workers, nursing, and allied health professionals (speech and language pathologists, OTs and PTs). The principles of applied behavior analysis are used to design intervention plans for problem behavior.
The May Center for Adult Services also offers a 1 year internship in our residential and day habilitation programs that are located across MA. The focus of our clinical work is improving quality of life for adults with disabilities through meaningful home and community engagement. Our efforts to achieve this aim require curriculum design and the development of treatment plans our employees can use to teach adaptive, functional life skills. We design and implement employee training focused on building therapeutic relationships, engagement in person-centered planning, teaching essential life skills, and promoting healthy relationships. This site will be a one-year rotation, with 6 months focusing on our Randolph and Revere Day Habilitation programs, and 6 months working in our residential programs. This internship site will be primarily located in Randolph, MA and will involve overseeing research, supervision, and training projects with the clinical teams in our adult services programs.