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Philosophy and General Objectives

We seek intern candidates who are as committed as we are to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology. Primary goals of the internship are to provide a year of intensive exposure to a variety of professional psychological services within an academic medical setting and to appreciate how research should inform practice and promote knowledge.

The Clinical Psychology Internship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine prepares interns not only to practice clinical psychology with particular emphasis on severe mental illness or child psychology, but to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field. Our program follows a scientist-practitioner model. The primary goals of the internship are:
  1. To provide a year of training in professional psychological services with an emphasis on either severe mental illness, or child assessment, intervention, and consultation. A foundation in clinical psychology is deemed necessary for the development of more specialized skills and expertise. The training primarily occurs in exposure in a variety of clinical experiences within an academic medical center.
  2. To promote in the intern (a) a commitment to develop and practice clinical skills that are consistent with the scientific foundation of clinical psychology; (b) recognition of the mutual influence of the science and professional practice of psychology, research should inform practice, and experience with clinical issues should inform research, and both should be guided by principles of scientific inquiry; (c) knowledge of and adherence to the ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct of the American Psychological Association (December 1992, American Psychologist); (d) a strong appreciation of the importance of multicultural and individual diversity relevant to professional activities; and (3) development and demonstration of a sense of professional identity and responsibility.
  3. To certify that upon completion of internship, the intern is prepared to provide clinical psychological services at the relatively greater independence expected of an entry-level fellow.
The psychology internship is guided by the values statement of the Department of Psychiatry. These are as follows:
  • Pioneering and productive scientific research
  • Teaching excellence
  • Passion and quality in clinical care
  • Creation and nurturing of mutually beneficial relationships with community service organizations to deliver and improve behavioral health services
  • Integrity and ethical behavior in all we do
  • Exceeding customer expectations both internally and externally
  • Fiscal responsibility with decision making and accountability aligned at all levels of the department
  • Collaboration and respect among department members with recognition and rewards for innovation, creativity, productivity and individual growth in science, teaching and clinical care.
Clinical training occurs primarily in an experiential sphere. The intern is supervised closely by a clinical psychologist with the expectation that the development of clinical skills and acumen will occur in an environment that emphasizes individual supervision tailored to the individual abilities and needs of the interns.
 
Throughout the year, supervising psychologists help to shape an intern's developing professional style and skills. As the intern progresses in his or her ability, he or she assumes more responsibility for the assessment, intervention or consultation.
 
Integration of science and practice is accomplished both formally via training lecture series and informally by the use of role models. The internship has a strong didactic program which includes seminar series on a variety of topics and Grand Rounds presentation. The seminars largely focus on clinical issues with an emphasis on empirically supported findings. The Grand Rounds presentation is a format for transmission of some of the latest research findings.
 
The interns also attend case conferences which give them an opportunity to organize and present their clinical experience before a group of other mental health professionals and trainees for discussion and analysis. Finally, teachers and supervisors provide the interns with journal articles and other reading selections to complement their classroom and clinical experiences.