The predoctoral psychology internship has four positions. Three of the positions have an emphasis on severe mental illness. The fourth position is a clinical child track. 

 

The internship is structured around a rotational system. The interns interested in severe mental illness complete a twelve month primary placement at the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICENTER).  At EPICENTER, interns receive training in assessment and evidence-based treatments for severe mental illness.  Examples of such evidence-based treatments include: (i) cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis, (ii) family psychoeducation, and (iii) cognitive remediation.  In addition to activities of the primary rotation, the interns participate in three, four month minor rotations in behavior and brain sciences, sleep medicine, and clinical neuropsychology, respectively. 

 

The didactic training offered to interns consists of seminars and individual supervision. Supervisors include full-time faculty and volunteer exemplary practitioners from the community. Multiple supervisors are used so that each activity undertaken by an intern is supervised by an appropriate faculty member. Interns participate in weekly seminars.

 

Presentations are made by psychologists, psychiatrists, and other professionals. In addition, the Department of Psychiatry holds Grand Rounds and an Outpatient Case Conference weekly. Interns may also choose to be involved in relevant aspects of the psychiatry residency teaching. Interns may attend formal seminars and rounds in Neurology, Surgery, and other departments.

 

Interns are evaluated formally at a meeting of supervisors and informally through frequent verbal feedback from supervisors. Interns and supervisors are expected to maintain close, open communication with each other and with the Director of Psychology Training. Twice during the year a written evaluation of the intern's progress toward meeting the training objectives will be shared with the intern and the intern's graduate program Training Director. If the quality of an intern's performance is felt to be problematic, the intern will meet with the Director of Psychology Training to discuss identified deficiencies and to plan remediation.

 

Trainees are expected to abide by the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association and the Arizona statutes pertaining to professional conduct.

The program places a strong emphasis on the quality of supervision provided to the intern. Faculty psychologists serve as supervisors only if they have an interest in doing so and have a strong commitment to training. It is the philosophy of the program that, during the internship year, the psychology intern is best served by being exposed to a variety of approaches to conceptualizing psychopathology, assessment, and clinical interventions. Therefore, the intern will have several supervisors, representing varying orientations, throughout the year. Although most supervision is provided by licensed psychologists, through special arrangements psychiatrists and neurologists may occasionally provide supervision and consultation as well.