The mission of the Doctoral Psychology Internship Program at Mental Health Systems, PC (MHS) is to train Interns to be effective and ethical in their practice of clinical psychology in a community mental health setting. A majority of services provided by MHS incorporate some elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). The goals of training are to assist Interns in developing their own therapeutic style backed by theory, grounded in evidence-based practices.
The Internship Program provides an initial base training in DBT group and individual therapy. Interns, when proficient in DBT are provided the opportunity to train in any of our specialty group programs, e.g. chronic pain/mental illness, chemical dependency/mental illness, adolescents, early adolescents, etc. Throughout their work at MHS, Interns receive training in the provision of individual therapy to clients with a variety of demographics and diagnostic presentations. Individual therapy is audio and video recorded (with singed consent of the client) and reviewed in supervision.
Interns receive training on the provision of clinical supervision through the supervision of psychology practicum students. The assessment portion of the Internship focuses on developing a competency in case conceptualiazation and diagnostics via select instruments and diagnostic assessments. At this writing, the assessment portion of the program has focused on Diagnostic Assesments due to Covid-19 and safe practices related test administration standardization. The completion of outpatient diagnostic assessments emphasizes diagnostics and clear treatment recommendations.
MHS has a strong team based approach, and as a result internship training will emphasize the development of Interns as the part of a therapeutic team. Interns will be trained in consultation within the MHS team, as well as in consultation with individual therapists, case managers, ARMHS workers, psychiatrists, and other professionals at other agencies.
MHS subscribes to the Local Clinical Scientist model of training. As such, interns are trained to provide evidence-based services and apply information gained by science and research to each unique client. Interns are trained to identify how social, biological, and psychological factors impact a client's mental health experience as well as to use this information in the application of effective therapeutic interventions. An important part of training is identifying transference and counter transference issues, and how this impacts clinical interventions.