The Guam Psychology Internship Consortium (Guam-PIC) represents the collaborative effort of two agencies – Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC) in Tamuning, Guam, and Guam’s Department of Corrections (DOC) in Mangilao, Guam, where GBHWC provides clinical services. These agencies have partnered for the purpose of providing a diversified educational program for psychology interns, focusing on training in culturally relevant and competent services for Guam’s diverse and often underserved population. Guam-PIC offers generalist training with a focus on rural and underserved populations, with the opportunity for specialized training that varies across training sites, and creating clinicians who are effective consumers of research and who utilize scholarly inquiry to inform their practice.
Guam-PIC is the ideal internship for applicants interested in receiving specialized training in treating and serving rural and underserved populations as well as building their cultural competence. As such, Guam-PIC firmly believes that all forms of diversity serve to enhance the training environment and professional growth of interns and faculty alike, as well as allow the diverse range of patients served to see themselves in their providers. To this end, Guam-PIC recruits applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Across the training year, interns complete two 6-month major rotations and two 6-month minor rotations. Rotation options include Guam - Department of Corrections, GBHWC-Adult Services Division, GBHWC-New Beginnings (substance use treatment), and GBHWC-I’Famagu’on-ta (children and adolescent services). Each rotation can either serve as a major or minor rotation. Interns participate in rich clinical and didactic (two hours weekly) experiences that highlight the shared experiences and demands of this region, as well as focus on creative ways to address barriers common to rural, underserved settings. Interns also receive 4 hours of supervision per week, 2 hours of individual supervision and 2 hours of group supervision. Additionally, each rotation has the following major training emphases.
Behavioral Health Intervention - As behavioral health intervention is the primary training emphasis, interns across training sites spend approximately 10-15 hours per week in activities related to behavioral health intervention. All sites provide interns the chance to work with a diverse range of underserved clients within a variety of therapeutic modalities. Individual, group, family, and/or couples therapy treatments are available at some sites. Clients served range widely in age, race, ethnicity, and diagnostic presentation.
Psychological Assessment -Interns across training sites spend approximately 5-15 hours per week in activities related to assessment. Interns at every site administer, interpret, and provide written synthesis of psychological test batteries. Assessments may include record reviews, clinical interviews, intellectual, achievement, personality, risk assessment, drug assessments, and/or competency-based measures. Interns have opportunities to write reports and make recommendations that convey meaningful information to prescribers, treatment teams, clients, and families. Assessment opportunities and requirements vary by site.
Consultation and Systems Collaboration -Interns spend approximately 6-8 hours per week in activities related to consultation and systems collaboration, learning to consult with a variety of other providers and stakeholders. Collaborative opportunities include working within an interdisciplinary treatment team, providing psychological consultation to other disciplines, and partnering with community social service, medical and legal services. Opportunities for consultation and systems collaboration vary by site.
The Island of Guam - The beautiful and tropical island of Guam is an unincorporated U.S. territory located in the Western Pacific. It is the southernmost and largest member of the Mariana Islands and part of the geographic region of Micronesia. Interns will experience Guam's diverse culture and gain experience working with diverse populations including Chamorro, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian, and other. Interns are afforded the opportunity to participate in rich clinical and didactic experiences that highlight the shared experiences and demands of this region, as well as focus on creative ways to address barriers common to rural, underserved settings.