Training Opportunities

Core Rotation: The Outpatient Rotation trains the intern to be a well-rounded, generalist practitioner informed by relevant research using empirically validated intervention models. The rotation includes adult clinical activities with a diverse patient population of varying ages, duty status, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Most outpatient rotation training experiences occur through the treatment and assessment of active duty service members or their family members. Interns typically have the opportunity to conduct both individual and group treatment. Interns also receive comprehensive training in the full range of specialty evaluations to include command-directed mental health evaluations, fitness for duty evaluations, security clearance evaluations, special duty evaluations, persons of trust evaluations, among many others. The Outpatient Rotation is intellectually challenging and interns can develop additional professional skills including: supervision (of behavioral health technicians), consultation (multi-disciplinary teams), time management, inter-departmental communication, critical thinking (especially evaluation, analysis, and synthesis), and concise verbal and written communication.

Neuropsychology Rotation: The goal of this rotation is to provide an introduction to clinical neuropsychology that will allow intern’s to assess patients suspected of having neuropsychological problems; recognize common syndromes such as mild traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, early dementia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and know when to make appropriate referrals for neuropsychological evaluation. In addition, the intern will learn to provide neurobehavioral recommendations, treatment suggestions, and patient-family psychoeducation. Interns in this rotation will master the essential tools of a screening battery and a comprehensive battery and its application to a wide variety of cases observed in a major medical training center. There may be opportunities for attending neurology rounds and neuroradiology conferences. Opportunities to obtain training beyond this basic foundation are encouraged and dependent on the individual's rate of learning, initiative, and motivation, and availability of opportunities.

Behavioral Medicine Rotation: The Behavioral Medicine rotation provides interns to a general overview of a hospital-based Behavioral Medicine practice by providing various training opportunities and experiences in this specialty area. The rotation utilizes a systems-oriented, biopsychosocial model to develop practice skills in prevention, assessment, and treatment of several medical disorders. Interns may have the opportunity to participate in specific training in biofeedback-assisted, hypnosis, self-regulation, sleep, and pain management. Interns will be allowed to supervise practicum students or behavioral health technicians, when opportunities arise. 

Intensive Outpatient Rotation: This rotation consists of two tracks, trauma and behavioral health, The goal of this rotation is to provide interns with opportunities to administer evidence-based trauma treatments in group and individual settings, lead psychoeducational groups, conduct individual behavioral health treatment (non-trauma related), interface with commanders and multi-disciplinary providers. They may also have the opportunity to supervise behavioral health technicians.

Mini Rotations: Additional training experiences may be offered within a wide range of clinical settings to include inpatient psychiatric ward, emergency/urgent behavioral health, and a variety of specialized clinics as opportunities arise such as sleep, Behavioral Health Consultation Liaison Service, Primary Care or the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Clinic among others.

Didactics and Presentations: Many didactic opportunities are available to interns throughout the training year Fridays are reserved for required didactics and case conferences. Didactic topics include: assessment, therapeutic intervention, ethics, cultural diversity, professional development, and research among others. There are also periodic faculty and intern case conferences. In addition, interns may attend workshops. In addition, there may be 1-2 day workshops offered on various topics throughout the year. These workshops are typically presented by notable clinicians in their respective fields of psychology.

Supervision: Interns will be supervised by staff members throughout the training year. A licensed psychologist is available whenever an intern is providing services to a patient. Each rotation has a primary supervisor who is responsible for overall coordination of the intern's work. Interns will have a minimum of 2 hours of individual supervision per week with many more opportunities for informal supervision. In addition to clinical supervision, all interns are offered a preceptor. The preceptor's role is to assist the intern in his/her development as a psychologist. The preceptor serves as a confidential helper and guide to stimulate professional development and optimize the internship training experience.

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