The Larned State Hospital (LSH) has two primary rotations: 1) State Security Program (SSP) and 2) Psychiatric Services Program (PSP).
The State Security Program is comprised of units which serves patients who are criminally committed by the court system for treatment and evaluation. SSP provides court ordered pre- and post-trial assessments (e.g., competency to stand trial assessments, pre-sentence evaluations), competency restoration treatment, treatment for patients found not guilty by reason of mental defect, and treatment in lieu of confinement. Also housed on SSP, is the Security Behavior Unit (SBU) for civilly committed male patients who have severe behavioral disturbances including extreme aggressiveness. The Security Behavior Unit accepts patients from PSP and from our sister hospital (Osawatomie State Hospital). SSP is the only “forensic” hospital in the State of Kansas and therefore, accepts patients from all counties in the state.
On SSP, all interns will be exposed to working with criminally committed patients. Doctoral interns will participate in initial diagnostic assessment, psychological testing, comprehensive test battery administration and report writing, treatment planning meetings, and individual and group psychological therapy. As the training year progresses, doctoral interns will assist with various forensic evaluations (e.g., competency to stand trial assessments, mental state at the time of the offense determinations, and pre-sentence evaluations), as this will be an emphasis during this clinical rotation. Doctoral interns will also facilitate competency restoration classes. Interns will have several opportunities to observe expert testimony. Finally, all psychology interns will learn about the provision of services within a social learning framework.
On PSP, all interns will be working with patients either voluntarily or involuntarily civilly committed by the court for inpatient treatment due to psychiatric issues causing them to be a danger to themselves or others. Interns will have the opportunity to work with patient populations that range from age 18 to older adults in various units designed to meet the specific needs of patients based on age, current psychiatric functioning, and estimated length of stay. All interns will participate in diagnostic assessment, psychological testing, treatment planning, report writing, crisis de-escalation, consultation, individual/group therapy, forensic assessment, forensic treatment and, as available, family therapy. Interns will become proficient in test selection and administration, report writing, crisis intervention, program development, treatment planning, diagnosis, individual/group therapy, and interdisciplinary treatment team functioning.
Interns will complete a 4-day a week primary rotation for 12 months and 1-day a week secondary rotation on the opposite program. We will have two internship positions on the State Security Program and one internship position on the Psychiatric Services Program.
Note: Due to COVID 19 precautions we are unsure at this time if the secondary rotation will be offered.
Note: LSH will rely on self asstettation reguarding COVID-19 vaccination and employees are required to be vaccinated. Religous and medical excemptions are available.