DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
TRAINING EXPERIENCE
The aim of the internship program at Children’s Center is to train professional psychologists who have a particular interest in child psychology. The program is designed to encourage the development of clinical competence with children and families, with sensitivity to, and facility with, cultural differences, ethical issues, interdisciplinary relationships, and the changing environment of health care.
This program provides the intern with the opportunity to take substantial responsibility for carrying out his or her major professional functions in the context of appropriate supervisory support. It is designed around a fundamental curriculum, which focuses on intern competencies in assessment, diagnostic interviewing, intervention, case management and triage, consultation, and critical thinking about clinical case material.
The program offers two core experiences which include ADHD and Behavioral Dysfunction Treatment and Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment. These experiences last the entire internship. Interns will spend the equivalent of three days per week training in the core experiences. During both experiences, interns will refine and hone their diagnostic skills, learn the process of differential diagnosis, treatment plan formulation. The internship assumes a transtheoretical perspective and will utilize behavioral, trauma-informed, attachment and/or cognitive behavioral techniques to produce treatment gains.
Interns will also have the opportunity to train as a behavioral consultant in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) clinic.
DIDACTIC MODULES
Interns are required to participate in at least two hours of didactic activities weekly that are designed to meet the learning goals, objectives, and competencies of the internship program. Topic areas include evidenced-based treatment and interventions relevant to the patient populations at LSU, conducting psychological assessment, interpretation and report writing, professional ethics, scholarly inquiry, supervision and consultation. Interns may also attend treatment team meetings, faculty developmental activities, and continuing education programs. Interns are also encouraged to participate in a weekly (1) hour Grand Rounds led by psychiatry faculty which addresses the latest development in empirical research and treatment in mental health.
SUPERVISION
Interns receive a minimum of 4 hours of supervision per week including both individual and group supervision.
Each intern individual supervision from the faculty psychologists. Individual supervision (2 hours per week) is primarily case discussion; however, at times, live supervision is available. The individual supervisors oversee the interns’ clinical work and professional development during their tenure at the LSU Health Shreveport Children’s Center. The individual supervisor is responsible for the interns’ specific or focused clinical and professional concerns. In addition to primary supervision by a psychologist, an intern may also receive interdisciplinary supervision from psychiatry and other specialties (e.g., SLP, OT, BCBA) during clinical activities. However, some clinics offer live supervision and role-modeling by supervisors within multidisciplinary teams. Facilities include one-way mirrors and videotaping capability, depending on the location. Supervision will also be provided on psychological assessment reports progress notes as necessary.
Interns also spend two hours a week in group supervision facilitated by licensed psychologists. Case presentation, consultation, and discussion are the primary group supervision format. In addition, the training director structures group supervision relative to professional development, which may focus on consultation, interdisciplinary communications, systems issues and program evaluation.
