The Internship Experience

Internship Goals
The purposes of the internship are to:

1. To strengthen skills in diagnosis, assessment, and psychotherapeutic interventions in all interns.
2. To develop competency in administering and assessing objective and projective psychological measures.
3. To develop basic competency in neuropsychological assessment.
4. To provide education and modeling of ethical and professional issues as a psychologist.
5. To enhance multicultural sensitivity and competence through awareness of personal cultural biases.
6. To provide sequential training through teaching, modeling, supervision, and direct experience.

Specific goals for each intern may be discussed at the beginning of the internship and before starting each new rotation. Every attempt is made to individualize the internship experience to meet the needs and preferences of each intern within the limits set by the training staff and the service demands of the Medical Center.

Supervision
Supervision is the core element of the internship program. Supervision provides interns with guidance and models for professional conduct and activities. Supervisory experiences also provide interns with a model for effective and appropriate supervisory behavior. Training staff from the disciplines of psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, and other medical specialists provide supervision. Supervisors vary in their theoretical orientations and styles reflecting Jersey Shore Univerisity Medical Center's diversity in meeting client needs. Interns are expected to experiment with the variety of orientations and integrate them into their own personal style. Interns are exposed to varying experiences including individual and group supervision, formal professional didactic seminars and conferences, and informal staff contacts.

Training Experiences
Participation in seminars and conferences is an important component of the internship. Behavioral Health staff and professionals from the surrounding community present seminars on topics such as Professional and Ethical Issues, Psychopharmacology, Cultural and Ethnic Concerns in Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Substance Abuse, and dual diagnosis treatment. Interns also attend the year-long, biweekly seminar series offered by the New Jersey State Internship Program. In addition, each intern is allowed three conference days (24 hours) to attend outside seminars of their choosing. An annual $100.00 conference allowance is provided. Case conferences, professional staff meetings, and professional staff in-service training events provide additional educational opportunities.