THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM
OF
Assessment & Treatment Alternatives
www.atainc.org
(2014-2015 AcademicYear)
INTRODUCTION
Assessment & Treatment Alternatives (ATA) is an outpatient psychiatric clinic in downtown Philadelphia that specializes in forensic mental health services. ATA has provided forensic mental health services in the Philadelphia and surrounding area for 20 years and is the largest clinic of its kind in Pennsylvania.
The Pre-doctoral internship at Assessment & Treatment Alternatives offers students an opportunity to participate in an intensive and exciting forensic training program. The mission of our clinical and forensic work is to provide the highest caliber of diagnostics, psycho-legal consultation and treatment to our patients, clients and referral sources: clinicians, attorneys, the courts, social service and criminal justice agencies. ATA’s forensic mental health services and programs include:
• The TAP Program for the evaluation and treatment of juvenile and adult sexual offenders.
• A Forensic/Therapeutic Foster Care Program
• Family Assessment Center-Providing an extensive array of evaluation & treatment options in custody and abuse situations.
The staff at ATA provide a variety of forensic evaluations including:
• Competence to Proceed (trial, sentencing, execution, miranda, false confession)
• Insanity Evaluations
• Death Penalty Mitigation
• Juvenile Waiver
• Sex Offender related evaluations for both juveniles and adults
• Evaluation of traumatic emotional distress and/or assessment of exaggerating or "faking" of emotional distress.
• Child Custody
• Sexual and physical abuse and neglect
• Evaluations relating to parenting capacity, termination of parental rights and parental alienation issues
Philosophy and Goals of ATA’s Pre-doctoral Internship
The philosophy of our internship program is that learning takes place best in an environment that provides support and encouragement, a challenging and educative experience with a program tailored to the strengths, interests and needs of each intern. The internship at ATA is primarily a forensic internship. While the internship has a basic generic design, attempts are made to tailor the training and experience to each intern’s unique backgrounds and skills.
A second guiding principle in our philosophy is interns learn best with a balanced assignment of clinical experience and formal didactic instruction. It is the aim of the training staff to integrate the applied clinical experience with a sound base of theoretical knowledge. To accomplish this, interns participate in ongoing seminars and trainings. The program makes every attempt to ensure that interns are perceived as trainees and not auxiliary help for the agency. The purpose and primary goal of the internship is to produce a skilled and competent psycho-diagnostician and psychotherapist who has been exposed to patients suffering from mild to severe psychopathology.
The pre-doctoral program is designed to provide a broad‑based exposure to as many different types of psychopathological problems and referral issues within a forensic practice context as possible. Interns are expected to work with patients of all levels of functioning and from diverse socioeconomic and educational backgrounds.
Components of the Pre-doctoral Training Program
Assessment
During the course of the internship, the interns gain competence in the administration in the administration, scoring and interpretation of traditional projective and objective testing instruments (Rorschach, MMPI, TAT, Bender, IQ, etc) as well as the most frequently used actuarial devices used in risk assessment.
Diagnostics/Forensic Evaluations
The pre-doctoral internship at ATA provides interns with the opportunity to develop knowledge and experience in a variety of forensic evaluations. Interns are afforded an opportunity to participate in a variety of assessments with both juveniles and adults. Most assessments conducted at ATA are for the purpose of answering specific forensic questions (competence, treatment needs, risk assessment, etc.). Some typical types of evaluation in which an intern will participate include:
•Criminal & civil competencies (i.e., Competence to stand trial, Capital cases, Juvenile waiver, fitness to proceed, etc.)
•Risk Assessments of both juveniles and adults
•Sex Offender diagnostic evaluaitons of both juveniles and adults
•Family Court Cases, incluing custody/visitation, neglect and abuse, termination of parental rights.
•Personal injury evaluations
Areas of Involvement
Pre-Doctoral interns will be involved and assist with both criminal and civil matters, ranging from criminal responsibility, to disputed confessions, to psychological torts, to malpractice, to risk assessment, to testamentary capacity, to death investigation, to pre-sentencing issues, and more.
- Document review and fact-checking
- Investigative work
- Organize source documents
- Forensic report referencing & proofreading
- Observe forensic psychiatric interviews
- Observe expert witness court testimony
- Observe and participate in attorney communication
- Literature search utilizing various databases, including PsychLit, PsycInfo, Medline, and Lexis-Nexus
- Participate in ongoing research projects on various topics in the behavioral sciences
- Opportunities for future publication
Psychotherapy
The psychotherapy experience focuses on two major forms of treatment: individual psychotherapy and group therapy. Each intern is expected to carry a caseload of approximately 5‑8 individual cases. Each intern will be assigned to co-facilitate a group with an experienced staff psychologist. The size of the caseload may vary depending upon the strengths of the intern, the demand of each case and the time constraints based on the remainder of the training plan. Cases are assigned by the supervisor. The range of pathology that interns are exposed to is broad offering them a unique diversity difficult to match in other settings. Cases chosen can range from sex offenders, schizophrenics and abuse victims to severe personality disorders and substance abuse problems.
The supervisors at ATA have theoretical orientations that vary from Psychoanalytical and Psychodynamic to Cognitive/behavioral. Individual therapy supervision is provided for a minimum of two hours each week.
Additional Services
Interns will have the opportunity to participate in several areas while interning at ATA, such as: supervision of Master’s level staff in our Behavioral Health Services program, consultation with therapeutic staff in our Forensic Foster Care Program, and/or working with staff and families in our Therapeutic Supervised Visitations.
Supervision
Each intern is assigned a minimum of two primary supervisors one for psychodiagnostics and another for psychotherapy. The primary supervisors are required to be licensed Psychologists. Each intern receives a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per week.
The primary supervisors at ATA vary in their theoretical orientations and areas of interest. The supervisory staff have published a variety of articles over the years and have presented at major conferences in and out of the state.
Non‑licensed staff may provide additional supervision if they have substantiated expertise in a particular area.
Seminar Series and Educational Programs
ATA offers a seminar series presented by the supervisory psychology staff and outside consultants. There are also several ongoing, in-house trainings focusing on specific assessment or treatment areas. Intern attendance is mandatory. The content of the seminars emphasizes forensic and clinical matters pertinent to the diagnosis, dynamics, and treatment of a forensic population. The specific topics selected are decided upon through expressed interest and supervisory expertise. It is the intent of this seminar series to present topics as comprehensively as possible. Interns are expected to present at least seminar or case presentation with research during their time at ATA. Each presentation is one to two hours in length with a 30minute question and answer session afterward.
Monthly Didactics for 2013/2014 (all didactics are conducted on Wednesdays at 1:00pm)
Additional Training:
Every Tuesday from 12:30 until 1:30pm staff and interns discuss testing and personality assessment issues, focusing on the MMPI-2 and the Rorschach.
Every Tuesday from 11:00 until 1:00pm staff and interns discuss current sex offender cases and status
Research Opportunities
Interns are expected to participate in at least one research project while at ATA. These may be new or ongoing projects. Samples of current projects include research on juvenile psychopathy and future risk of violence or arrest and the MMPI-2 with adult sex offenders among others
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE
INTERNSHIP IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
An intern will receive a certificate at the termination of the internship program upon satisfactory completion of the following requirements.
1. Completion of 2000 hours of training based on a full time position for 12 months beginning on the first Monday of July and ending on the last Friday of June.
2. Successful performance clinically in therapeutic and diagnostic work as measured by the mid‑year and end of year formal evaluations.
3. Interns must have satisfactorily completed all written requirements, seminar presentations, monthly experience reports, placement evaluations, written project or case study, etc.
4. Successful completion of eight to ten psychodiagnostic batteries, seen at least five individual patients for ongoing individual psychotherapy.
5. Attendance at didactic programs at ATA unless ill or excused by the Director of Internship Training.
6. Attendance at weekly personality assessment seminar unless ill or excused by the Director of Internship Training.
7. The Training Committee has the final approval in the granting of certificates, and may recommend an extension of the internship when it seems warranted. Their decision is based upon periodic evaluations from supervisors and the recommendation of the placement's Director of Training.
COMPENSATION
ATA compensates predoctoral interns at the rate of $24,000 per year. In addition to the stipend the intern is granted paid vacation days, sick days, personal leave days and holidays. There are no medical benefits provided. However, interns are able to purchase medical coverage at the agency’s discounted group rate.
Weekly Allocation of Hours
All psychology interns work a 40-hour week. The chart below shows how time is usually distributed on a weekly basis among the various training activities.
Direct Service
Hours
|
Activity
|
8-10
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Individual counseling
|
6 - 8
|
Groups (structured or therapy)
|
|
|
6 - 8
|
Evaluations
|
|
|
0 - 3
|
Outreach/Consultation
|
(20 - 25 Approximate Total)
Training
Hours
|
Activity
|
4
|
Training Seminars
|
2-3
|
Individual Supervision
|
1
|
Group Discussions
|
(7 – 9 Approximate Total)
Administrative Planning
Hours
|
Activity
|
2
|
Case Assignment Team
|
6-7
|
Record Keeping, Report writing, Preparations
|
4 - 5
|
Preparation (planning, reviewing)
|
(8 - 10 Approximate Total)
Professional Development
Hours
|
Activity
|
2
|
Reading, Writing, Research
|
1
|
Staff Development
|
(2-3 Approximate Total)
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Pre‑ Doctoral Candidates
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree, supplemented by a Master's Degree in psychology (or it’s equivalent) from an accredited college or university. Candidates must be enrolled in a doctoral program in applied psychology (clinical, counseling, or school) at an accredited university or professional school, or approved by their chairman for the internship, and have completed graduate course training that shall have included a minimum of six semester hours of credit in each of the following areas:
1. Objective and projective testing with practicum experience.
2. Psychotherapeutic techniques and counseling with practicum experience. .
3. Personality development and psychotherapy.
4. Motivation and learning theory.
5. Research design and statistical analysis.
The ideal candidate: is responsible, detail-oriented and self-motivated, with a strong interest in forensic psychology, excellent writing skills, and an ability to work as part of a team. Preference will be given to those with writing and publishing experience. The theoretical orientation of the psychology internship reflects the diversity of the internship training staff. Cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, systemic, gestalt, feminist, and developmental orientations are those represented among the supervisory staff. Understanding of and being responsible for effectively working within a multi-disciplinary setting is emphasized.
Using a scholar-practitioner paradigm, interns are facilitated in developing a range of applied skills as they integrate their clinical experiences with theory and empirical research. Understanding and demonstrating the ethical practice of psychology is paramount.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All internship questions or inquirires should be submitted to:
Doctoral Internship Program Application
Attention: William F. Russell, Ph.D.
1225 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
or
wrussell@atainc.org
Job Description - Title: Psychology Intern
Job Summary: Performs supervised individual and group counseling, supervision, crisis intervention, and consultation/outreach. Provides psychological assessments, intakes and appropriate referrals. May perform other related tasks that are a part of the agency's operation. Work is supervised by professional staff, and individual clinical work is supervised by a licensed psychologist.
Reports to: Training Coordinator and designated supervisors.
Supervises: Doctoral-level counseling psychology practicum student.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conducts assessments and utilizes psychodiagnostic instruments as necessary.
- Provides individual and group therapy as scheduled.
- Provides clinical supervision to a practicum student or other similar level staff.
- Maintains up-to-date clinical notes on clients and supervisees.
- Consults with supervisors and staff as needed.
- Attends training seminars, staff meetings and supervision as directed and in a prompt manner.
- Represents the agency and division at public relations events as requested.
- Interacts with staff and students in a professional and ethical manner.
- Commits to a full-time, 40 hour per week internship.
- Participates in supervision and training with an openness to learning and receiving feedback.
Non-essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Performs additional job-related duties and responsibilities as requested.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education : Must be a current doctoral-level student in a counseling or clinical psychology program. Must be certified by the academic program as ready for an internship.
Experience: The equivalent of 1200 hours of supervised practicum in counseling/psychotherapy and 500 hours of face-to-face therapy contact.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge and basic skills in counseling practices and methods.
- Ability to plan, implement, evaluate and report activities conducted.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and to prepare written and electronic documents.
- Ability to communicate orally, both in person and by telephone.
- Ability to occasionally travel to meetings, other campuses and counseling sites.
- Ability to establish rapport with others as a requisite for healthy and therapeutic relationships.
- Ability to present oneself in an appropriately personable and professional manner to students and staff.
- Ability to receive and utilize constructive feedback regarding performance, presentation and relationships with others.
- Ability to be both consistent and flexible as circumstances warrant.
- Ability to effectively weigh and evaluate personal needs, client needs and the aims and policies of the agency and to respond and negotiate these competing needs as appropriate.
- Ability to remain calm and supportive in psychological emergencies and/or crises when provided with appropriate supervision and direction.
- An enhanced level of self-awareness as to how he or she relates to others and an ability to effectively modulate this personal style as conditions warrant.
- Ability to communicate via computer e-mail.
Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy Statement
Assessment & Treatment Alternatives (ATA), Inc.
ATA prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person employed by or seeking employment with the University on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy1, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran2.
ATA is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. The University undertakes affirmative action to assure equal employment opportunity for minorities and women, for persons with disabilities, and for covered veterans.
ATA policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws.
Inquiries regarding the ATA's equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to: William Russell Executive Director; 1225 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Telephone: 215-405-2100
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(1) Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.
(2) Covered veterans are special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, Vietnam era veterans, or any other veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
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Disciplinary Due Process Procedures
The following guidelines are consistent with the general guideline described in the ATA Employee Handbook.
Given the amount of time and the financial and professional resources that the agency staff invest in each intern, it is essential that the admission process select only those students who are intellectually and personally qualified to succeed. Thus, it is assumed that each student admitted to the internship program will complete it; and that program staff and students are jointly responsible for maximizing the probability of attaining the goal.
For intern grievances:
Interns are encouraged to speak with the Director of Training, their primary supervisor, or any other member of the senior staff about any dissatisfaction. If the concern is resolved through consultation or informal mediation then no further action is taken.
- If the intern is not satisfied with the response of the senior staff member, then the intern may request formal mediation. The intern's concerns and the staff's response are documented and a copy filed with the Director of Training within 5 days of the initiation of the grievance procedure. A review panel comprised of the Director of Training and two non-supervisory personnel (i.e.. senior staff members, consultants to the training program, and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs ) is convened to conduct an appeal no later than 10 days after receiving the letter of disagreement. This panel submits its recommendations to the Center Director who may accept or reject the recommendations, or request further deliberations. The ultimate decision is made by the Center Director. The final decision is communicated in writing to the intern. If necessary, the intern's home department will also be informed in writing. If the Director of Training is a party in the grievance then her/his role will be carried out by a senior staff member of the Training Committee.
2. For staff grievances concerning an intern:
- Individual staff members are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the intern directly. If appropriate, the Director of Training and the intern's primary supervisor will be informed. If the concern is resolved through consultation or informal mediation then no further action is taken.
- If any party is not satisfied with the informal response a formal grievance procedure is initiated. The senior staff's concerns and recommendations for remediation are documented and a copy filed with the Director of Training. These concerns and recommendations are shared with the intern and the intern is given the opportunity to respond in writing.
If the intern accepts the recommendations, the action(s) is implemented and the home department is informed in writing. If the intern wishes to challenge the decision, s/he must submit a letter of addendum or disagreement with the supervisor's evaluation and/or recommendations to the Director of Training, requesting an appeal. The intern must file within 5 days of receiving the written evaluation. A review panel is created by the Director of Training in consultation with the intern. This panel is comprised of the Director of Training and two non-supervisory personnel (i.e.. senior staff members, consultants to the training program, and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs ) conducts the appeal no later than 10 business days after receiving the letter of disagreement. If the Director of Training is a party in the grievance then her /his role will be carried out by a senior staff member of the Training Committee. This panel submits its recommendations to the Center Director who may accept or reject the recommendations, or request further deliberations. The ultimate decision is made by the Center Director. The final decision is communicated in writing to the intern and the home department.
All correspondence regarding internship should be directed to:
Wm. Russell, Ph.D.
Director of Internship Training
1225 Vine Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 405‑2100
Fax: (215) 405-2108
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