Philosophy and Goals

The goal of the internship training program is to help interns prepare for professional careers as psychologists. The underlying philosophy of the program is that newly trained clinical psychology interns should be prepared to function as qualified and competent entry-level practitioners who can provide an array of psychological services in a variety of settings. As such the program incorporates a broad range of professional training activities designed to introduce intern trainees to a range of experiences which they are likely to encounter as they enter the ranks of professional psychology.

The training model consistent with this philosophy is a clinical practice model that

1. prepares interns to provide relevant, up-to-date, effective psychological assessment, treatment and consultation services to a variety of populations in a variety of health care contexts;
2. prepares interns to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary treatment teams in the planning and implementation of mental health services;
3. prepares interns to appreciate the interdependent relationship between psychological science and clinical practice; and,
4. prepares interns to develop a professional identity, assume leadership roles and internalize high ethical and professional standards of conduct.

Training experiences are designed to facilitate the development of a broad knowledge base and intermediate to advanced competencies in the following areas:

1) diagnosis and assessment;

2) psychotherapeutic intervention;

3) appreciation of individual differences and cultural diversity;

4) professional conduct, ethics and legal issues;

5) consultation and supervision;