Predoctoral Internship in

Professional Psychology

2009-2010

Letter to Prospective Applicants

Welcome to our website for the Ohio University Predoctoral Psychology Internship Program at Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS).  Our goal is to provide high quality training in the practice of professional psychology.  Interns in our program have the opportunity to receive a wide variety of training experiences that will help you prepare for full-time clinical work.  This brochure is designed to help you become familiar with the organization and goals of our training program, in order to help you in your application decisions.

CPS is a department within the Division of Student Affairs.  Interns have an opportunity to gain familiarity with how an organization such as the Division interacts cooperatively across departments to meet student needs and promote success, wellness, and good citizenship.

It is important for you to know that our predoctoral internship program is currently not accredited by APA.  We are members in good standing of APPIC and participate in the Match and the Clearinghouse.  If you have any questions about our status, you can contact the Commission on Accreditation at APA, (202-336-5979)

Our full-time staff consists of four licensed psychologists and three licensed clinical mental health counselors, one of whom is an alcohol/other drugs specialist.  We have two clerical support staff who operate the front desk, schedule clients, manage files, coordinate meetings and communications, and also provide a wide variety of support tasks for staff.  We provide training for up to six graduate student trainees from Ohio University’s Psychology department and Counselor Education program, in addition to our psychology internship program.  We also currently have two postdoctoral psychology fellows whose job it is to work with branch campuses, providing mental health education, brief interventions, and referral to longer-term services. They also work on our Athens campus at CPS for two days a week.  As you can imagine, the staff, including interns, have many opportunities to engage in rich interaction with each other.  We have opportunities to take on many different roles and types of activities.

On this webpage, you can find a complete description of our training program, including a link to our Internship Training Handbook and the Training Policies and Procedures of our agency, but if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via e-mail:  youngs2@ohio.edu.

Regards,

Susan B. Young, Ph.D.

Philosophy of Training

At Ohio University’s Counseling and Psychological Services, interns engage in structured training and professional practice designed to provide a sequence of increasingly complex professional experiences, roles, and responsibilities. As confidence and competency increase, interns learn by becoming progressively more independent while retaining access to consultation, training and support. By the end of the internship year, interns are expected to be ready to function as autonomous, entry-level practitioners with an intermediate to advanced level of competency in all professional areas.

To accomplish this, the training program at Ohio University uses the Practitioner-Scholar-Mentor model. We help interns build on previous skills and knowledge with hands-on learning opportunities as full-time practitioners in training under the guidance of skilled clinicians. We emphasize the dynamic relationship between the larger conversations going on in the scientific field of psychology and the more intimate conversations going on between the mentor and the apprentice.

The three basic components of our training program are first, a strong emphasis on the growth process of the interns throughout their experience of socialization into the field of professional psychology. Second, we consider as critical the amount and quality of supervision and mentoring the intern receives from experienced clinicians. Third, we understand good professional practice to be possible only when science and practice are integrated (Belar and Perry, 1992) and when the practitioner "reflects-in-action" (Peterson 1995 p.980). We believe that to be responsible and effective practitioners, we must also be scholars.

Description of Internship Activities

Training Activities

Special Topics Seminar (1 hour/wk, all year)

This seminar is designed to give special attention to issues such as multicultural competence and cross-cultural counseling, eating disorders, substance abuse, brief therapy models, and many others.  Although the seminar is designed to meet for one hour weekly, it is often formatted as a workshop, and so can sometimes be scheduled for 2, 3, or 4 hours once or twice a month.

Professional Development/Ethics Seminar (1 hour/wk, all year)

This is a seminar focused on professional development and ethics throughout the year.

Supervision of Supervision Seminar (1 hour/wk, fall quarter)

Provides training and preparation for supervision of counseling and psychology practicum students and trainees at CPS.

Group Supervision of Supervision (2 hours/wk, winter and spring quarters)

Interns provide supervision of practicum students in winter and trainees in spring quarters under supervision of licensed staff.

Group Therapy Seminar/Supervision (1 hour/wk, fall, 2 hours/week winter and spring quarters)

Interns meet to learn about group facilitation and to get supervision for their ongoing therapy groups at CPS.  

Consultation/Outreach Seminar/Supervision (1 hour/wk, fall, 1 hour/alternating weeks winter and spring)

Ongoing seminar looking at theory, models, and techniques of consultation and outreach, including how to design programming, conduct a needs assessment, etc. Intern activities in the areas of consultation and outreach are supervised at this time.  This seminar meets for 2 hours at a time and alternates times with the Clinical Issues Seminar.

Assessment and Conceptualization Seminar/Supervision (1 hour/wk, fall and winter)
Interns develop more expertise in the area of assessment for the wide variety of clinical cases we see at CPS with a focus on clinical interviewing. Optional formal testing opportunities are available. Interns develop further expertise in case conceptualization skills through hearing senior staff case presentations and presenting their own cases for discussion.

Summer intensive seminars (Approximately 12 hours/week, approximately 6 weeks in summer)

Brief, intensive seminars are offered in summer to get interns “jump-started” so they can begin providing services in a wide range of areas for fall quarter and our busier periods.  These seminars are offered in the following areas: alcohol and substance abuse treatment (10 hours), group therapy (12 hours), couples’ therapy (4 hours), career development (10 hours), clinical interviewing (20 hours), emergency services and clinical management (8 hours).

Clinical Team Meeting (1.5 hours/week, all year starting in fall)
All interns join with the clinical staff for weekly clinical consultation. This meeting provides an opportunity to distribute new cases as well as receive support, feedback, and suggestions for particularly interesting and challenging cases, or those where some factor(s) present potential ethical conflicts, etc. This is also a forum to discuss emerging critical clinical issues from the university community: recent university crises, or emerging situations likely to lead to crisis, such as severe conflict in a program, a student death, an attempted suicide, etc. It is also used at times for professional development topics of interest to the staff.  The meetings are informal in format, and trainees as well as staff are invited to bring in relevant information, viewpoints, or case material.

Individual Clinical Supervision (2 hours/wk, all year)

Intern supervision is a priority of the program and is geared to the intern’s level of professional development.  Each intern receives a minimum of two hours of individual supervision weekly. All primary supervisors are licensed psychologists.  As might benefit the intern, other staff contribute supplementary supervision in areas such as group work, consultation and outreach, etc.

Apprenticeship Supervision (weekly as arranged, see list of apprenticeships)
Clinicians at CPS have expertise in a number of different areas, whether clinically (i.e., eating disorders, substance abuse), in other services areas (i.e., groups coordination, outreach), or administratively (i.e., training, clinic management)  for which they offer specific mentorship.  Interns will need to choose one all-year or “major” rotation for apprenticeship and also can become involved in “minor” rotations or apprenticeship experiences for fall, winter, or spring.  It is expected that interns will integrate their apprenticeships into their requirements so that their hours stay within reasonable limits, such as choosing consultation and outreach programming to meet the requirements within the apprenticeships.

Administrative/Staff Activities

Administrative Staff Meeting (1 hour/week, all year)

All interns and the full staff meet together once a week, for one hour for an administrative meeting to discuss issues, changes, concerns, or information important to all staff. Procedural changes, additions to the computer networks, new forms and documents, or scheduling of programs are examples of topics that may be covered in these meetings. Trainees as well as full staff are invited to bring in relevant information or bring up topics and concerns to be discussed. 

Meeting with the Training Director (1 hour/week, fall; 1 hour/month, winter and spring)

The training director meets with the interns as an opportunity to do any business that we need to do, air problems, process, and relax together. This is for the purpose of keeping the lines of communication open between the interns, the training director, and the staff.

Committee Work (variable)

Interns, as part of their apprenticeship experiences and interests, may become involved in committee work either in CPS to further our own goals, for the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), or for the Ohio University campus at large.  Some examples of committee work might be: for the purpose of improving outreach and prevention of eating disorders, improving services to athletes, improving the process of identification and referral of students with substance abuse problems, assessing some aspect of CPS or DSA functioning through benchmarking or use of CAS standards, etc. 

Dissertation/Research Hours (4 hours/week, variable)
Each intern is allowed up to four hours per week time for professional development. This time can be used for dissertation, to work on the intern’s own research (articles, presentations, etc.), to attend conferences, go to job interviews, or defend the dissertation.  Although this time is flexible, it cannot EVER be “banked” for other purposes (i.e., vacation or sick time).  It must be used expressly for professional activities and tracked accordingly. Conferences, job interviews, etc. that would require saving up these hours for use over several days need to be discussed ahead of time to the training director.

Direct Services

Clinical Services
Interns are required to provide direct clinical services to individuals and couples, as well as conduct group therapy sessions throughout the year.  They are also required to provide emergency walk-in services in rotation with the rest of the professional staff.  Clients at CPS represent a wide range of backgrounds and identities, presenting concerns, and levels of clinical complexity.  Interns must contract for the minimum number of hours weekly to meet training requirements, but each intern will be able to either develop some specific clinical interests within an apprenticeship structure or develop broad generalist skills in the counseling center.

Consultation and Outreach Services
Interns engage in regular outreach and prevention programming for CPS, while attending the C/O seminar and group supervision meetings. Over the course of the year, each intern must provide a minimum of three programs per quarter for the fall, winter, and spring quarters.  In addition, each intern will work with the C/O supervisor to design a consultation project that will meet the goals of the division’s strategic plan and the needs of the university community.  Within this requirement, there is a great deal of flexibility to choose programming or consultation projects that fit within each interns developed interests as an apprentice.

Supervision of Practicum and Trainees
Interns will be required to provide direct supervision to at least one clinical psychology trainee who is working at CPS on an externship.  Those trainees see between 7-9 clients and their supervision is split between two supervisors, one of which will be an intern. Part of the supervision will involve reviewing tapes and notes of the supervisee.  Training and supervision for supervision will be provided throughout the year, first in the form of a seminar in the fall, then in the form of a 2-hour supervision-of-supervision meeting.

Documentation of Hours
Interns are responsible for documenting their hours on an Excel spreadsheet that is provided to them ahead of time.  Hours can be totaled for report in the spreadsheet.  A copy of the spreadsheet data needs to be submitted to the Training Director on a monthly basis.  Interns will be given feedback about their hours every three months at minimum.

List of Potential Apprenticeships

NOTE:  Apprenticeships vary in their time commitment and intensity and interns should plan for their commitment by meeting with mentors early in the year.  Interns are expected to integrate their apprenticeship interests into their expected hours for the agency, such that, for example, an apprenticeship in the area of eating disorders would mean that some of the outreach programming, clients, and other activities as considered (i.e., committee work, consultation project), would be devoted to the topic of eating disorders to maximize learning as well as efficient use of hours. 

An intern apprenticing in this area would develop more indepth experience with clients who have diagnosed with an eating disorder, would meet regularly with the ED interdisciplinary team, and his or her outreach and/or consultation responsibilities could be focused on outreach, training, and consultation with the Ping Center, OU Athletics, Wellworks, Health Promotion, and other groups on campus as needed.  The staff member in charge of organizing and monitoring this area is Deanna Potkanowicz. 

Substance Abuse (full apprenticeship only)

Alcohol and other drug use present a huge challenge to student development and wellbeing.  An intern wanting extra experience in this area can shadow our AOD specialist, work with him on programming, training, and consultation with the many departments and people he collaborates with regularly.  The intern will also develop more indepth clinical experience with alcohol and drug issues by having a greater concentration of AOD issues in their client caseload.  This apprenticeship will be mentored by Jason Weber.

Sexual Assault (can be minor experience or full apprenticeship)

CPS collaborates with a number of administrative related to sexual assault prevention, training, treatment, and reporting. An intern apprenticing in this area would develop more indepth experience with clients who have experienced or are accused of perpetrating a sexual assault, would meet regularly with groups such as ACASA, the sexual assault task force for OU, and other concerned groups. He or she would also collaborate regularly with the Sexual Assault Educator at Health Promotions.  The staff member in charge of organizing and monitoring this area is Michelle Pride.

Sexual/Gender Orientation (can be minor experience or full apprenticeship)

CPS collaborates regularly with the LGBT programming office and provides clinical services for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgendered students across the campus.  An intern apprenticing in this area would get a chance to have greater individual clinical experience with queer students, co-lead Transitions, which is the transgender student support group, and involve themselves in consultation and outreach programming to benefit this student population and subsequently all students on campus.  The staff member mentoring this experience is Susan Young

Training (can be minor experience or full apprenticeship)

This is an administrative apprenticeship that permits the intern to gain expertise with organizing a training program.  This intern would co-teach the trainee seminar throughout the year, help to manage coordination and communication between the students’ home departments, the supervisors on staff, and the training director at CPS.  The staff member responsible for this area is Susan Young.

Group Programming (full apprenticeship only)

An intern choosing a more intensive experience with group work will get experience doing process observation, co-lead an additional group of their choice, and aid in administrating and promoting the group program at CPS.  The staff member responsible for this area is Michelle Pride.

Consultation and Outreach (can be minor experience or full apprenticeship)

An intern can work directly with the C/O coordinator, learning how outreach programming is organized and managed, how to connect staff with expertise and potential clients needing outreach and consultation.  The intern will have an opportunity to get more indepth experience in the practice of consultation, developing and working on additional projects that are the direct responsibility of the coordinator.  The staff member mentoring this opportunity is Sheila Williams. 

Time Commitments

The Intern Weekly Schedule given here is a prototype, offered as a typical example.  An  actual week may vary somewhat depending on intern activities (e.g., workshops or special trainings) and commitments.

Goals and Expected Competencies for Internship

Goals and Objectives  

I.            To provide interns the opportunity to function as professional psychologists.  This objective is implemented through

a.    providing a collegial environment in which interns work with other professional psychologists as staff members;

b.   exposing interns to a variety of client concerns and diagnoses, a diversity of client ethnic and cultural backgrounds, different theoretical orientations, and a variety of treatment modalities;

c.    increasing interns’ responsibilities and opportunities for autonomous functioning over the duration of the internship;

d.   exposing interns to a variety of professional activities beyond assessment, diagnosis, and treatment including activities such as outreach programming, supervision of trainees, administrative and committee involvement, consultation, etc.;

II.          To provide regular, intensive supervision of intern activities.  This objective is accomplished through the provision of

a.    a minimum of two hours a week of individual, face-to-face supervision by a licensed psychologist in addition to other supervision experiences as described below, to total a minimum of approximately one hour of direct supervision for every four hours of direct service provided;

b.   formal and informal consultation as requested with staff members;

c.    apprenticeship opportunities for one-on-one supervision in specialized areas such as eating disorders, substance abuse, cross-cultural services, or administration.

d.    group supervision provided within training activities such as professional issues seminar, outreach and consultation seminar, clinical issues seminar, and group seminar.

III.        To provide a depth and breadth of educational experiences focused on the acquisition of core and secondary professional skills.  This objective is accomplished through

a.    participating in training seminars and apprenticeship experiences offered by professional staff with expertise in working with special populations, (clients with alcohol or drug problems; eating disordered clients); counseling ethnic and cultural minorities; counseling couples; and/or using special treatment modalities such as brief psychodynamic therapy, stress debriefing, motivational interviewing, or Dialectical Behavioral therapy;

b.   providing direct psychological services with a professional staff member, e.g. group or couples’ therapy;

IV.         To provide individualized experiences in addition to the required activities.  These activities are provided via

a.    opportunities for individualizing intern experience including participation in the multidisciplinary Eating Disorders Treatment Team; participating in Student Affairs committees and other professional student affairs activities; working collaboratively with professional staff on administration and assessment projects; developing a consultation project that is an outgrowth of the intern’s particular interests combined with the institution’s strategic goals; apprenticeship experiences;

b.   allowing time for individualized personal and professional growth experiences (attending workshops, attending regional professional conferences, continuing education, etc.).

Competency Areas for Evaluation

Throughout the internship experience, the intern is to display competency in the following areas:

 

I.     Legal and Ethical Issues

II.    Professional Behavior

III.   Psychotherapy

IV.   Assessment

V.    Consultation and Outreach

VI.   Providing Supervision

VII.  Receiving Supervision

VIII. Counseling Special Populations

For more information on competency areas for evaluation and exit criteria, please refer to the Internship Training Handbook.

Evaluation, Disciplinary Actions, Appeals and Grievance Procedures are available in the Internship Training Handbook. Further information is available in the Traing Policies and Procedures.

Application Procedures

Eligibility
Candidates must be enrolled in an APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling or clinical psychology or a closely related area.  All of the formal coursework and comprehensive examinations for the doctorate should be completed, including all supervised practicum courses. It is strongly recommended, but not required that applicants have completed at minimum their dissertation proposal by the time of the internship interview. A complete description of the entrance criteria is provided in the handbook.

Stipend

The internship is for 12 months and carries a stipend of $23,660.  Included benefits are health insurance, dental insurance, retirement benefits, sick leave, and vacation.

Start Date

Internship begins on July 26th.

How to Apply

Applicants for internship must currently be enrolled in an APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology. 

Applications reviewed will include the completed AAPI Online (Application for Psychology Internship) with the following elements attached:

1.     A curriculum vitae

2.     All graduate transcripts

3.     A cover letter describing how you would be a good fit with the internship program at Ohio University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Please be specific about your goals for internship and how our particular program will help you meet these goals.

      4.     Three letters of reference, at least two of which are from licensed psychologists who have supervised your clinical work.

  All application materials must be available for our review by 4pm on November 30, 2009.

For questions or clarifications regarding the Ohio University CPS internship program or application procedures, contact:

Susan B. Young, Ph.D.

Counseling and Psychological Services
2 Health Center Drive
Athens, Ohio 45701
(740) 593-1616

E-mail:  youngs2@ohio.edu

Equal Employment and Education Opportunity/Affirmative Action

CPS operates within the context of a university counseling center that puts a high premium on valuing diversity among people.Any trainee/intern coming to CPS would work within this value:

Training Staff

Gregory Janson, Ph.D., PCC-S
Director
Ohio University

Fred Weiner, Ph.D.
Clinical Director
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Sheila Y. Williams, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Outreach Coordinator
Ohio University

Susan B. Young, Ph.D.
Director of Training
Indiana University

Michelle Pride, Ph.D.
Groups Coordinator
Michigan State University

Jason C. Weber, M.Ed., LPCC-S, L.I.C.D.C.
Alcohol and Other Drug Specialist
Ohio University

Deanna Potkanowicz, Ph.D.
Coordinator of the Postdoctoral Fellowship
Kent State University

Additional Staff at CPS

Brooke Wright, Psy.D.
Clinical Fellow
Wright State University

Christopher Smith, Ph.D.
Indiana State University
Postdoctoral Fellow

Keely Hope, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Florida

Curtiss Wright, D.O.
Consulting Psychiatrist
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

Current Interns:

Sasha Ribic, M.A.
Adler School of Professional Psychology

Steven Hubbard, M.S.
Oklahoma State University

Dawn Graham, M.A.
Purdue University

Click here for more information on Professional Staff at CPS

Internship Training Handbook