Elson Student Health Center, University of Virginia

Goal #1:  To develop interns’ clinical skills in preparation for entry-level positions as professional psychologists.

Objective 1.1 To develop and show competence in brief screening assessments that include differentiation of levels of care and disposition determination.

Competencies Expected:

1. Conduct telephone / in-person screenings that meet the appropriate standard of care.
2. Assess the presenting difficulty including the duration of the problem.
3. Gather and document information appropriate to making a disposition determination.
4. Differentiate between client needs that are emergent, urgent and non-urgent.
5. Make disposition determination and communicates options clearly to the client.
6. Consult effectively with supervisor regarding screening and disposition.
7. Complete screening write-ups in a timely fashion.

Objective 1.2 To develop and show competence in assessment of psychological functioning, diagnosis and determination of appropriate treatment recommendations.

Competencies Expected:

1. Conduct intake evaluations that meet the appropriate standard of care.
2. Conduct and document standard-of-care mental status exams and risk assessments.
3. Provide DSM-IV diagnoses.
4. Conduct case formulation.
5. Discuss formulation and treatment plan with patient.
6. Provide appropriate referral and/or case management.
7. Write comprehensive yet concise intake reports in a timely fashion.
8. Present case material to treatment team in an organized and comprehensive manner.

Objective 1.3  To develop and show competence in brief and longer-term individual psychotherapy.

Competencies Expected:

1. Demonstrate empathic skills and ability to establish rapport.
2. Set therapeutic frame, establish contract and attend to boundaries.
3. Work effectively with clients from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
4. Formulate treatment goals and establish treatment foci.
5. Link theory, technique and the scientific bases of both.
6. Consider timing of interventions.
7. Formulate transference and attend to countertransference.
8. Utilize a brief treatment framework.
9. Utilize a longer-term treatment framework.
10. Demonstrate clinical flexibility and conduct integrative treatments as indicated.
11. Appropriately accesses and processes affect.

Objective 1.4  To develop and show competence in group psychotherapy.

Competencies Expected:

1. Identify clients who might benefit from group therapy and provide clients with rationale.
2. Attend to group composition.
3. Set therapeutic frame, establish contract and attend to boundaries.
4. Understand stages of group development and make timely interventions.
5. Intervene at individual, interpersonal and group-as-whole levels.
6. Help group explore issues of difference and commonality.
7. Link theory, technique and the scientific bases of both.
8. Work effectively with co-leader.
9. Process interactions with co-leader in non-defensive fashion.

Objective 1.5  To develop and show competence in crisis intervention and management.

Competencies Expected:

1. Conduct and document standard-of-care mental status exams and risk assessments in urgent and emergency situations.
2. Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of Emergency Commitment Order (ECO) procedures.
3. Maintain good judgment under pressure.
4. Provide appropriate consultation to University constituents and family members.
5. Provide appropriate referrals and/or timely case management.
6. Seek consultation as needed.
7. Complete write-ups in a timely fashion.

Objective 1.6  To develop and show competence in outreach and consultation.

Competencies Expected:

1. Respond to outreach requests and take initiative in planning outreach activities.
2. Plan creative content that is appropriate to the target audience.
3. Provide appropriate consultation at the Resident Advisor Consultation Hour.
4. Respond to phone or in-person requests for consultation appropriately and in a timely manner.
5. Consult in professional manner with Residence Life staff and other University constituents as needed.
6. Demonstrate awareness of and commitment to issues of cultural and individual difference in consultation and outreach activities.

Objective 1.7  To develop skills in cognitive and personality testing assessments.

Competencies Expected:

1. Administer and score psychological tests with knowledge of appropriate standardization procedures.
2. Develop appropriate batteries based on the referral question and presenting issues.
3.  Provide interpretation of individual test results.
4. Integrate test results across a number of measures and with behavioral data.
5. Explain test results meaningfully to clients.
6.  Generate specific, individualized recommendations based on test results.
7. Complete testing and report-writing in a timely manner.
8.  Produce clear and concise intake and evaluation reports.
9.  Effectively establish rapport with testing clients.
10.  Demonstrate working knowledge of ADA and purpose of academic accommodations when applicable.

Objective 1.8  To develop a beginning knowledge regarding the provision of clinical supervision.

Competencies Expected:

1. Develop adequate working rapport with supervisee.
2. Set supervisory frame and establish supervision contract.
3. Demonstrate healthy and professional boundaries with supervisee.
4. Facilitate supervisee's diagnostic, conceptualization, treatment planning and implementation skills.
5. Assist supervisee in integrating conceptualization with technique.
6. Determine and consider developmental level of supervisee.
7. Appreciate how theoretical differences between supervisor and supervisee may impact supervision.
8. Demonstrate awareness of how personal dynamics of supervisee affect clinical abilities, technique and identified theoretical orientation.
9. Delineate personal aspects of supervisee that are relevant versus irrelevant to supervisee's clinical work.
10. Understand and address the effects of individual and cultural difference on supervisor-supervisee relationship, clinical work and professional development.
11. Address ethical issues in treatment and supervision.
12. Understand and utilize parallel and reciprocal processes in supervision.
13. Seek consultation and/or refer supervisee to consultation when issues are beyond supervisor's knowledge base or scope of practice.
14. Evaluate supervisee in the context of the supervisee’s developmental level and awareness of expected competencies.

Goal #2:  To cultivate the self-awareness, attitudes, knowledge and skills needed for effective, ethical and professional practice as a psychologist.

Objective 2.1 To develop awareness and application of ethical principles

Competencies Expected:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of APA ethical principles and apply those principles in interaction with clients and other constituents.
2. Recognize and address ethical issues and dilemmas appropriately.
3. Practice within the appropriate level of competence, recognize when service requests are outside of such competencies and provide adequate referrals.

Objective 2.2.  To demonstrate awareness of personal cultural factors, how those factors influence Self, sensitivity to difference and consequent clinically effective practice.

Competencies Expected:

1. Engage in self-assessment of personal cultural factors as related to personal sense of Self, with recognition of own strengths and areas for growth and learning.
2. Demonstrate awareness of individual and cultural phenomenon, personal biases and how these affect the clinical process.
3. Utilize awareness of cultural phenomenon in clinical interactions.
4. Demonstrate openness, curiosity and willingness to gain knowledge and skills regarding cultures different from one’s own.
5. Demonstrate cultural knowledge and sensitivity in communication with University constituents.
6. Appreciate the value of continued learning about issues of culture by engaging in diversity- related training and outreach activities.

Objective 2.3.  To develop the capacity to utilize supervision and consultation necessary for professional functioning as a psychologist.

Competencies Expected:

1. Present as prepared for supervision sessions.
2. Demonstrate ability to openly discuss areas of strength and weakness with supervisor.
3. Ability to identify and discuss with supervisors personal characteristics and/or behaviors that aid or interfere with therapeutic effectiveness.
4. Demonstrate ability to observe and discuss the supervisory relationship.
5. Incorporate supervisory recommendations into treatment.
6. Receive consultative and supervisory input from treatment team members.
7. Participate in discussions of other clinicians’ clients and provide consultation to colleagues and team members in an appropriate and professional manner.

Objective 2.4.  To develop the interpersonal skills and attitudes necessary for professional functioning in an agency setting.

Competencies Expected:

1. Behave in timely manner for clinical appointments, supervision and meetings and make appropriate arrangements in the event of scheduling changes.
2. Maintain professional demeanor with clients.
3. Maintain effective professional relationships with clinical staff.
4. Maintain effective professional relationships with administrative staff.
5. Demonstrate appropriate boundaries with clients and staff.
6. Demonstrate appropriate use of consultation and awareness of when such consultation is needed.
7. Complete paperwork in a timely fashion.
8. Demonstrate ways to manage workload and stress effectively.
9. Manage collegial and staff related conflicts appropriately.
10. Actively collaborate with treating psychiatrists.
11. Follow agency policies and procedures.