Internship in Professional Psychology |
Vanderbilt University Psychological and Counseling Center
Setting and Population Served: The Psychological and Counseling Center is a multifaceted facility serving Vanderbilt University students, staff, and their partners and dependents. Supervision is provided by clinical and counseling psychologists who represent diverse theoretical orientations. There are also vocational and educational counselors, social workers, outreach and training personnel, and approximately twenty practicum students, masters level pre-license trainees, pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral fellows. On the average, the Center provides over 2000 therapy hours per year with an additional 1800 hours of presentations/training on campus. In particular the Center works closely with the Department of Residential Education and the Athletic Department. Organizational consulting to university programs and departments is also provided.
The population seen at the Center ranges in age from early childhood to retirement eligible, with approximately 80% being in early adulthood. Sixty percent are female, forty percent male. The ethnic/nationality mix reflects that of the university, with ethnic minorities or international students comprising approximately 25% of the clientele.
Training Objectives: The internship at the Center is designed to provide intensive individualized professional training experience in the varied activities carried out by psychologists in an innovative, service oriented counseling center. Graduates of our program are trained in short and long term individual as well as group psychotherapy, couples counseling, family and child work, diagnostic interviewing, personality assessment, cognitive assessment, sports psychology, supervision, crisis intervention, vocational counseling, outreach and consultation, program development, and research. This primary placement provides sound preparation for those seeking a career in outpatient settings or for those desiring placement in a setting charged with multiple responsibilities for mental health and organizational development in a broad university community or business-consulting firm.
Training Program/Experiences: The primary focus for interns includes individual psychotherapy, but allows for participation in any or all of the experiences listed above. Clients exhibit a diverse range of issues, mostly of moderate or greater severity. Interns carry an average of 18 client hours per week, with an increase during peak seasons. Services range from crisis intervention to long-term therapy. Some of the clinical opportunities available to interns are intensive study in groups, treatment of eating disorders, treatment of sexual abuse survivors, couples work, lesbian/gay/bisexual issues, and rather uniquely for a university counseling center, child and family issues. Additionally, there is opportunity for the development of skills in vocational counseling.
Psychological assessment focuses on ADHD, learning disabilities, screening of commissioned police candidates, and personality evaluation of Center clients in ongoing therapy. Each intern is encouraged to develop his or her own clinical program, consulting project, or research effort for the year which would correspond with a Center need. Interns are given the chance to experience the role of supervisor by providing individual ancillary supervision to a masters level practicum student. This experience is helpful in developing supervision skills and is another key part of the intern experience. Interns are also expected to participate in on-call emergency duty. Currently, this requires our interns to be available to handle after-hour emergency calls for a one week period every 13 weeks during the academic year (3-4 weeks total for the internship year).
The experiences at this site are fairly constant throughout the year in that there is no provision for a rotational system through different experiences. However, interns are given a degree of autonomy, selecting from many diverse opportunities, to design a program at the Center, which will fit their training needs, interests, and talents.
Special emphasis is placed on supervision during the internship. All interns are assigned to two psychologists with experience in direct client service, supervision, and training. Interns meet with supervisors for a total of at least two hours per week of individual supervision for the three and one-half days spent at the Center. Additionally, all interns participate in a vocational assessment seminar, psychological assessment seminar, group therapy seminar and a supervision of supervision group. Group seminars are also available for some of the clinical subspecialties mentioned above. Each intern also has a one day a week secondary placement at another site in the Consortium where there is an additional hour of weekly individual supervision.
Diversity: The staff of the Center is committed to the affirmation of diversity. The Center provides accentuated training in this area, including didactic experiences regarding gender, different ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious backgrounds, ages, and abilities.
Research Possibilities: Interns can participate in or create team research relevant to Center operations. The amount and focus of such research varies from year to year. Previous interns have worked on the Campus Suicide Prevention grant awarded to the Center in 2005.
Constraints on Secondary Placement Selection: Since there is no inpatient service and limited experience with the chronically mentally ill and health psychology, Center interns are encouraged to seek such experiences through the secondary placement.
Additional Criteria for Acceptance: None. Previous counseling center experience is valued.
Potential for Program Change: Not significant over the next year.
Positions:
3
Salary: $26,626.69
Starting Date: July 1, 2010
Ending Date: June 30, 2011
Contact:
Rhonda R. Venable, Ph.D., Director, Training Director and Assistant Dean of
Students
Daniel J. Sullivan, Psy. D., J.D., Associate Director and Assessment Coordinator
(615) 322-2571
www.vanderbilt.edu/pcc
Faculty:
Allison K. Bradshaw, Ph.D., Indiana State University; M.A., Murray State University. Interests include: Anxiety, Psychological Assessment, ADHD & Learning Disorders, Women's Issues, and working with international and graduate students.
Ryan Gillespie, Ph.D.; Indiana State University. Vocational Assessment Coordinator. Occupational Assessment Interests: Individual, group, and couples psychotherapy, student-athletes, men and masculinity, existential concerns, and student development/supervision.
Ira Helderman, LPC/MHSP, M.A., Trevecca Nazarene University. Co-Coordinator of Case Assignment; Coordinator of MAPS (Mental Health Awareness and Prevention of Suicide) program; Liaison to Vanderbilt Recovery Support Community. Interests include: Use of Mindfulness and Meditation in psychotherapy, Addictions, Suicidology, Religious/Spiritual Issues and Diversity.
Monicah Muhomba, Ph.D., University of Kentucky, M.A. Asbury Theological Seminary. Research Coordinator. Interests include: Diversity Issues, Spirituality, International Student Issues, Adjustment Issues, Relationship Concerns, Couples Therapy, and Group Therapy.
Parrish L. Paul, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University. Therapeutic orientation: Psychodynamic/Humanistic. Interests include: LGBTQQI Issues, Trauma, PTSD, Dissociation, Characterological Concerns, Group Therapy, Psychological Assessment, Multicultural and Diversity Issues, and Training.
Johanna C. Shadoin, M.S.S.W., L.C.S.W., UT-Knoxville; M.P.S. Loyola University- New Orleans. Staff Therapist at VU Psychological and Counseling Center. Interests include: Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment/Transition Issues, Bereavement/Loss, and Spiritual Issues.
Vida Sobie, Ph.D.; University of Miami. Co-Coordinator of Case Assignment; Interests: Psychodynamic/Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Personality Disorders, Body Image Disturbances and Eating Disorders.
Daniel Sullivan, Psy.D.; Wright State University. J.D.; University of Alabama. Assistant Director and Testing Coordinator, Psychological and Counseling Center. Interests: Learning Disabilities & ADHD, GLBTQ Issues, Trauma/PTSD Issues, Group Therapy, Psychological Assessment.
Erin Vasconcelles, Ph.D., Bowling Green State University; Initial Interview Coordinator, Psychological and Counseling Center. Interests include: Sport Psychology, Couples Therapy, Relationship Concerns, Anxiety and Performance Issues, Group Therapy, and Vocational Counseling and Assessment.
Rhonda Venable, Ph.D.; Georgia State University. Director, Training Director, Psychological and Counseling Center. Assistant Dean of Students, Vanderbilt University. Associate Director, Vanderbilt-Department of Veterans Affairs Internship in Professional Psychology. Interests: Training and Supervision, Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Child and Family Therapy, Diversity Issues and Training (including gay and lesbian issues), Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Group Psychotherapy, Couple Therapy, Sports and Performance.
Vickie Woosley, Psy.D., Argosy University, Washington, D.C. Coordinator of Sport Psychology Services. Interests include: Individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, sports and human performance, and police assessments.
9-22-2009