Internship in Professional Psychology |
Department of Psychiatry (Adult Psychiatry)
Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Setting and Population Served: Training in the provision of outpatient psychological services is conducted through the Vanderbilt Mental Health Center (VMHC). The clinic is staffed by a team of multidisciplinary professionals from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, education, and social work. Adults with chronic mental illness, a history that makes obtaining private insurance difficult, and the working poor with mental health needs are eligible for treatment regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin. The VMHC offers services to a broad spectrum of mental health clients ranging from those with mild impairment to severe disability. Co-morbid Axis I and Axis II diagnoses are common for this population.
Training Objectives: Fostering professional development is emphasized as a primary goal of training. Interns are encouraged to obtain enhanced competence in the following areas: evidence-based psychological interventions, psychological assessment, and consultation with treatment team members. Additional objectives include proficiency with intake procedures, clinical diagnosis, and community referrals.
Training Program/Experiences: The weekly schedule for the intern at VMHC consists of three and one half days of working primarily with therapy clients, one day of placement at a secondary site within the consortium, and one half day of didactic training. The internship experience takes place in a clinical setting and therefore the intern gains valuable experience with managed care (TennCare), electronic medical record keeping, and general productivity. The intern will gain experience treating a variety of psychiatric disorders. Additionally, while at the VMHC, the intern will be oriented to the organizational and administrative structure of a busy mental health center. Didactic training occurs weekly with all interns throughout the consortium. Half of the weekly meeting is spent participating in a case conference that is facilitated by a Vanderbilt, VA, or community psychologist. Each week a different intern presents a case and a different facilitator is present. The second half of the meeting consists of a guest speaker or intern who presents on topics pertinent to the science and practice of psychology. There is also an open invitation for interns to attend medical center Grand Rounds throughout the training year.
Conducting individual and group psychotherapy is the primary focus of training. Intake assessment, psychological evaluations, and crisis intervention are experiences that supplement the overall training program. Although the testing of mental health center patients takes priority, there will be occasions when the intern has the opportunity to participate in the evaluation of the supervisor’s most challenging and interesting cases. Supervision for the VMHC intern occurs through multiple sources. The intern will meet weekly with his or her primary therapy supervisor to discuss therapy cases seen through the mental health center. The intern will also attend weekly group supervision meetings with a Cognitive-Behaviorally oriented psychologist. Assessment experiences are supervised as they occur on a case-by-case basis. Finally, the intern will receive individual supervision at his or her secondary placement site.
Research Possibilities: There are active research programs ongoing in the Department. Involvement in clinical research is an option for the intern; however, research participation will require a commitment of additional time on the part of the intern. Before accepting any invitations to conduct research, the intern is expected to discuss the matter with Dr. Roback or Mr. Cull (Mental Health Center Director) and the coordinator of the internship program (Dr. May).
Constraints on Secondary Placement Selection: The intern collaborates with his or her supervisor to accommodate scheduling needs of both primary and secondary placements.
Secondary placement experiences available: Assessment: In the Vanderbilt Adult Psychiatry secondary placement, interns work closely with Dr. Howard Roback and practicum students. Interns participate weekly in clinical interviews, the administration and scoring of assessment tools, and report writing. Persons assessed include candidates for 911 operator positions, physicians accused of ethical violations, candidates for disability benefits, private outpatient referrals, and occasionally, candidates for sexual reassignment surgery. Assessment instruments used are both objective and projective measures, and include the PAI, MMPI-2, TAT, Rorschach, BDI, BAI, GARS, COPE, Jasper-Goldberg, CPT-II, OCD and mood disorder screens, and the SCT,. Generally, one assessment is completed each week, although occasionally two are required. In either case, the report(s) is (are) finished by the time the intern leaves for the day. The weekly time commitment is one work day per week, which lasts 4-10 hours, but is usually between six and seven hours long. The work day begins at 7:30am.
Psychotherapy: When possible, the MHC-ADULT offers a secondary site in psychotherapy. This site emphasizes evidence based therapies (e.g., CBT, DBT) with MHC patients.
Additional Criteria for Acceptance: Successful candidates will have experience conducting therapy and psychological assessment as well as having an attitude of cooperation and motivation. Note: All interns with primary placements in the Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry must pass a background check. This will be performed after match day. Match results and selection decisions are contingent on passing the background check.. No prospective TVHS intern has ever been refused employment as a result of the background check, but it is a possibility. Several have had difficulty, in all cases because of past legal problems they chose not to reveal during the application process. Department of Psychiatry Interns performing a secondary placement in the VA must also complete a VA background check.
Potential for Change: There are no current indications for change.
Positions: 1
Salary: $16,480
Starting Date: July 1, 2009
Ending Date: June 30, 2010
Contact:
Howard Roback, Ph.D.
howard.b.roback@vanderbilt.edu
Office Phone: (615) 343-9681
Faculty:
Kimberly P. Brown, Ph.D.; University of Alabama. Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Director of the Forensic Evaluation Team. Research Interests: Forensic Psychology, Risk Assessment of Future Violence, Malingering, Personality Disorders, Psychopathology, Ethics, Interpersonal and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.
Kirsten Haman, Ph.D.; Vanderbilt University. Research Assistant Professor. Supervision of Psychotherapy. Interests: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychosocial Issues in Cancer Patients, Psychotherapy Supervision.
Howard Roback, Ph.D.; York University. Professor, Training Director. Supervision of Psychological Assessment. Research Interests: Group Therapy Process and Outcome, Mental Health and the Law. Psychosocial/Psychodynamic Orientation.
Non-Psychologist DBT Supervisors:
David F. Street, M.D. ; Medical College of Pennsylvania. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry (Research).
Cheryl Margolis, LCSW. Vanderbilt Mental Health Center.
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9-30-2009