Psychology Internship Brochure - Florida Department of Children ...

PSYCHOLOGY SERVICESThe mission of the Psychology Department is to provide comprehensive psychological, substanceabuse and mental health assessments and treatment to individuals with severe mental health disorders.These services will include a wide range of scientifically established techniques provided by qualifiedpsychologists and mental health counselors, aimed at assisting residents of NEFSH to return to the communityas expediently as possible.The Psychology Department is composed of ten full-time licensed psychologists, six doctoral levelmental health providers, two mental health counselors, one social worker (forensic discharge services)and the psychology interns. One full time secretary devoted solely to the Psychology Department supportsthese positions.The Psychology Department provides multiple services to the hospital. Staff are responsible forperforming psychological assessments and evaluations, providing individual therapy, group therapy, andpsychosocial skills training, participating in and representing psychology in each resident's treatmentplan meeting, and providing the court system with forensic assessments as required by the forensic commitments.INTERNSHIP PROGRAMThe NEFSH Doctoral Psychology Internship Program was inaugurated in September 1993. Theprogram is accredited by the American Psychological Association. The mission of this internship is toprovide quality training necessary to facilitate the transitional process from student to professional psychologistpossessing core knowledge and skills to work with a primarily severely mentally ill (SMI) adultpopulation. Our Training Model is the Scientifically Informed Practitioner Model. This model emphasizesservice delivery based on the integration of scientific principles, research, clinical judgment, and patientvalues. The APA Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice defined “evidence-based practicein psychology (EBPP)” as the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the contextof patient characteristics, culture, and preferences. Training is designed to provide a supervised environmentin which interns continue to develop and refine their skills and abilities and gradually assumeincreased clinical responsibility. They are encouraged and supported in cultivating their own professionalstyle as they progress toward the role of autonomous psychologist. While opportunities increase fordecision-making as the intern demonstrates greater clinical proficiency, the role of the intern is clearlydefined to be that of a trainee.Training objectives are realized through supervised experiences in a variety of clinical settings.Training is structured such that interns complete two six month long major rotations and optional minorrotations. Major and minor rotations run concurrently. These assignments are negotiated withknowledge of the intern's training goals, needs, and preferences. While variability in assignments allowsfor some degree of individualization of the internship, this is a facility for the adult seriously mentally ill,so in-depth experience in some areas (such as pediatrics or families) is not possible. Individuals who willbenefit the most from this internship are those interested in working with the severely mentally ill andthose wanting a solid foundation in the basic skills of clinical psychology. All major and minor rotationsare subject to change.4