PSYCHOLOGY SERVICES AT CARON
Psychology at Caron Treatment Center, PA includes a team of licensed psychologists and one administrative support staff. Half of our current team members were trained through the former pre-doctoral internship or the current post doctorate training program. Clinical specialties entail an array of dual diagnosis conditions such as addiction with trauma, personality disorders, mood/affective disorders, thought disorders as well as anxiety, depressive and executive functioning disorders. We practice with a variety of evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, CPT, IFS, EMDR and more. The psychology team in conjunction with our interdisciplinary team of medical, health and wellness, spiritual, dietary, counseling professionals work 365/366 days of the year to help individuals and families primarily impacted by addiction. Caron works with a population of individuals ranging in age from 18 to older adult and from various vocational backgrounds. Units are gender, age, and stage of recovery specific. Other areas of treatment and specialized services include the family program, a partial hospitalization program, sober living, neurofeedback services, research, and chronic pain programming.
Current programming within the psych department includes psychological testing and assessment, specialty group programming and trauma services. Psych services are typically dispensed in group or individual format. All patients are assessed and those identified as having dual diagnosis are provided a psychological treatment plan and followed throughout the course of the treatment stay. Upon discharge dual diagnosis patients are provide after care recommendations to support the mental health aspect of recovery.
The psychology team at Caron takes pride in maintaining a group with high morale and great character. For the psychology team, we provide individual and group supervision to support staff and ensure each staff member employs a healthy work/life balance. We also provide training and other didactic needs to meet licensure requirements and enhance the provision of service. Great moral, healthy, well-balanced providers and remaining current with the latest research and best practices in the field ensures we provide excellent psychological services to patients.
Pre-doctoral interns will be fully engaged in all three phases of the psychology department’s current structure including psychological testing, trauma, and specialty programming. For requirements such as research and outreach programs, students will have the opportunity to engage with other departments within the Caron family to enhance their training experience. We have a fully functioning research program and various outlets of community outreach and engagement to make Caron an exciting place to train.
Trauma Services Rotation
Our treatment team focuses on how traumatic events or situations, such as PTSD, are affecting recovery from substance abuse. In the context of a substance use disorder (or addiction), identifying trauma is the first step in treating it. We use measures such as PCL-5, a symptom checklist for PTSD, and the Trauma Symptoms Inventory (TSI), to identify a trauma response or PTSD.
If trauma symptoms or PTSD is identified, our trauma team, which includes on-site, full-time psychologists, works closely with the patient and the primary treatment team to incorporate trauma therapies into the treatment plan. The therapies used will depend on symptoms and needs. Those therapies may include:
- Evidence-based treatments to address PTSD and trauma symptoms, which include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT), gold standards in treating PTSD based on a significant amount of research that proves its efficacy and effectiveness.
- Specialty cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups to address coping skills for anxiety and depression.
- Trauma-sensitive yoga, with certified instructors, provides a safe and gentle way to relearn how to be “in” your body and explore how that feels.
- Mindfulness meditation.
- Neurofeedback, a noninvasive therapeutic intervention that can reinforce recovery and help to manage moods and emotions.
Interns will participate in a six-month rotation that focuses on trauma and specialty group therapy. The trauma program offers psychoeducational and coping skills groups, trauma expressive art therapy, and trauma sensitive yoga to patients experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms across the lifespan. The specialty group are additional therapeutic groups designed for patients with co-occurring mental health needs, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy groups for Depression and Anxiety. Group assignments are sensitive to patient diversity, specifically age, gender, and socioeconomic status. On this rotation, Interns will
- Be actively involved in the assessment and referral process.
- Participate in the weekly multidisciplinary case consultations.
- Facilitate and/or co-facilitate the weekly psychoeducational and coping skills groups.
- Observe the expressive art therapy and trauma sensitive yoga.
- Have educational opportunities in various trauma treatment modalities, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, and/or Internal Family Systems.
- Facilitate and/or co-facilitate weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy groups for Depression and Anxiety.
- Participate in crisis response/management across campus which includes risk assessments, crisis interventions, treatment and safety planning, and communication with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Have the opportunity to observe other specialty groups such as chronic pain, LGBTQIA+, body image, etc.
Psychological Testing Rotation
Patients who come to Caron for the treatment of substance use disorders often have an array of mental health symptoms. These concerns can stem directly from their substance use or may be related to other co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Additionally, other pre-existing factors may be unrelated to the substance use disorder yet mimic the symptoms, contribute to substance use, and complicate the diagnostic picture — often the case for those struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or older adults with cognitive decline, for example.
To successfully treat patients and make informed aftercare recommendations, staff at Caron strive to understand the root causes of each patient’s symptoms to create a comprehensive treatment plan. In some cases, that may require psychological testing to clarify the diagnosis and better understand the relationship between substance use disorder and a patient’s mental and cognitive health.
The psychology department at Caron offers testing and assessment as part of our comprehensive treatment programming for adolescents, adults, and older adults. Psychological testing is available, as needed, to address specific referral questions. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Comprehensive ADHD testing.
- Neuropsychological testing to assess cognitive functioning and identify deficits.
- Assessing personality characteristics and functioning.
- Evaluating emotional health and well-being.
- Accurately identifying psychiatric illnesses.
- Identifying and suggesting evidence-based methods and treatments to address areas of concern.
Participation in psychological assessment provides the patient an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of his/her cognitive and psychological functioning. Most importantly, testing helps to identify areas of concern and target evidence-based interventions that will guide the treatment plan.
Interns will participate in a six-month rotation with a focus on psychological testing and assessment. Interns will have the opportunity to learn, administer, score, and interpret self-report, projective, neuropsychological, and cognitive measures. They will be exposed to the role that psychological testing plays on a variety of units and patient populations within Caron’s continuum of care. Interns are required to complete at least two integrated testing batteries/reports and attend weekly testing consultation and supervision meetings. Interns will utilize testing results to provide feedback and recommendations to patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team, which includes physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and other disciplines.
INTERNSHIP TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
Our pre-doctoral internship program’s philosophy of training endorses a scientific attitude as psychologists to observe, assess, and intervene in all professional capacities such as testing, consultation, therapy, and research within a multidisciplinary treatment approach. In essence, an essential goal is to train interns to think like psychologists and to expand their level of observation, assessment, and intervention beyond the level of the “individual identified patient” to all relevant bio-psycho-social systems (especially the family system) that impacts the patient’s recovery. The highest standards of professional conduct and ethics as well as a maturing sense of professional identify as a psychologist are required of our pre-doctoral interns as they are the foundations of our beliefs.
The internship training program at Caron trains pre-doctoral level clinical psychologists, in accordancewith a practitioner-scholar model. The primary goal of the program is to provide high quality training thatwill prepare pre-doctoral psychology students for the independent practice of professionalpsychology. Upon completion of the program, pre-doctoral interns are expected to be able to function as competent, ethical, responsible, autonomous, entry-level psychologists able to provide professional psychological services in a variety of clinical settings and especially within a substance abuse treatment center.
CHECKLIST FOR INTERN
As outlined in the Site Affiliation Agreement with Agency, the College/Consortium of each Intern is required to attest to current and primary verification of the following documents. All documents are to be housed at the College/Consortium; however, Agency requests the right to access copies at our request. These are required by Agency prior to any Intern beginning his/her observation. The psychology department admin staff will also maintain a copy of these documents.
- Evidence of current certified CPR / First Aid
- Evidence of Mantoux Test administered within the past 12 months.
- Positive test evidence of standardized practice follow through
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania child abuse/ sex offender history clearance (Act 33) completed and no existing record
- Acceptable drug screening result upon hire
- Recent County criminal background check completed
- FBI clearance completed within the past 12 months and cleared to work with adolescents
- Graduate training license to practice medicine within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if applicable
- Provide full coverage of health, professional and privacy liability insurance
- Verification of degree
- Copy of DEA certification, if applicable
- Proof of physical exam and influenza inoculation
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The psychology team is supported by the department administrative assistant. Department administrator will assist with the scheduling of groups and some psych testing services. The intern will be responsible for electing and maintaining all patient appointments with the use of the electronic record and outlook. Pre-doctoral interns will be provided a viable workspace and trained on the use of caron technology to include the medical record, phone, and dictation system as well as other tools and systems required for the position. Psychology interns are responsible for maintaining appropriate documentation in the electronic record of all patients. Caron has a fully functioning IT department that can be utilized to provide as needed support for technology during regular business hours and after hours in an emergency. The facilities department manages office space and equipment outside the electronic resources in all office space. The intern will be provided with access and information governing facilities and office equipment. Caron utilizes a switchboard system for outside and internal communication systems. The operators assist with on-campus emergencies and general communications across campus. The intern will be oriented to all caron’s systems utilized to provide support to the required duties and the provision of services.
Site Interviews
Potential candidates will be invited in for in person interviews that will take place on Tuesdays. Interviews will include a variety of assessment and observational modes to include writing samples and group interaction as well as a traditional interview format.
Covid-19 Considerations
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Caron has maintained in person treatment at our residential PA facility. We adhere strictly to CDC guidelines that includes encouraging vaccination/ boosters, masking, testing as needed, remaining home with any upper respiratory symptoms or those most closely linked to the covid-19 virus or variants. Staff complete personal screening daily and the Covid Task force at Caron provides the status of the virus in our area which dictates our level of mitigation strategies. For example, the use of KN95/double masking is dictated by those status updated. Interns will be held to the same standards as our staff including self-monitoring and reporting instances of exposure and symptoms. In the event of credible exposure or symptoms interns will contact their assigned rotation supervisors. Remote work will be provided by the assigned supervisor when appropriate.
Patients are monitored and constantly tested with exposure or symptoms. Infected patients are isolated and quarantined on the Caron PA campus if they are healthy enough to do so. Caron provides text and email communication whenever there is community spread or credible exposure. Assigned personnel will follow contact tracing procedures. All questions pertaining to Covid-19 should be directed to the interns assigned rotation supervisor.
CHC Psychological Services Clinic
Site Director: Joshua Saks, PsyD
Website
2 Positions
Program Code: 218115
1107 Bethlehem Pike, Ste. 212
Flourtown, PA 19031
The Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic (CHC-PSC) offers interns the opportunity to become well-rounded clinical psychologists with advanced generalist competency in working with diverse populations. Interns complete one full year of training in assessment and psychotherapy, serving children, couples, families and adults living in the greater Philadelphia area. Licensed clinical psychologists on the faculty of the Chestnut Hill College Department of Professional Psychology supervise all clinical services and are active in the CHC-PSC training program.
The setting is a community mental health clinic providing outpatient treatment and assessment services to a diverse population, presenting to treatment with a great range of clinical concerns. The therapeutic approaches utilized focus primarily on psychodynamic and family systems modalities, but students will be encouraged to integrate other evidence-based interventions as needed, in an effort to be as responsive as possible to clients’ individual circumstances and experiences.
Interns will also gain substantial training in the provision of psychosocial psychoeducational and psychodiagnostic assessment services. In collaboration with their supervisors, interns are responsible for the assessment process from start to finish. As such, they will conduct the initial interview, choose appropriate assessment instruments, administer and score tests, and write comprehensive integrated reports. Interns may also go to schools for observation of clients, as well as for the administration of the tests.
The CHC-PSC clinic provides the following types of assessment services to children, adolescents, college students, adults, and older adults:
- Learning disabilities
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Personality
- Behavior disorders
- Intellectual abilities
- Academic achievement
- Clinical/Diagnostic
- Autism spectrum disorder evaluations
Training experiences at CHC-PSC include weekly group supervision of couples and family therapy, participation in a pediatric psychology seminar series, group meetings focused on routine outcomes monitoring, supervision of peer supervision of practicum students, interdisciplinary consultation with referring providers, and community outreach activities. In addition, interns may have the opportunity to engage in research with CHC faculty members, related to testing and/or supervision conducted through the clinic.
This internship provides the opportunity for the trainee to expand on and build skills in assessment and psychotherapy while expanding knowledge into new areas and while developing skills required for independent practice. Interns will be involved in training and consultation with other professionals, program development and enhancement, and community outreach, all within a growing and thriving community health setting.
The internship slots require two evening shifts and occasional Saturdays.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic is located in an office building on Bethlehem Pike in Flourtown, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. The building has ample parking, is wheelchair accessible, and is located near a stop on a public transit bus route. The clinic has a reception desk and a small waiting area. The reception desk is generally staffed by graduate assistants, who are students in the Psy.D. program that earn tuition remission by committing to work for a specified number of hours in a given semester. The front desk area has a computer, a combination printer/copier/fax machine, telephone, and locked file cabinets that contain client records and office supplies. Chestnut Hill College’s Information Technology staff installed the computer system and provides ongoing tech support.
Beyond the waiting area, the clinic contains 9 individual offices. The interns are each assigned individual offices. There is also office space that is shared among clinical supervisors, including the clinic director and associate director, and therapy and assessment practicum clinicians. All of these offices are comfortably equipped for individual therapy. The offices can also be made ready for psychological assessment. The clinic owns several card tables for this purpose.
The clinic’s largest room serves several purposes. It is used for psychological testing, for family therapy sessions, and for clinic team meetings and presentations. It is outfitted with a one-way mirror for direct observation of clinical activities and is newly equipped with video-recording capabilities. Videotaping can also be done in most of the other offices. There are several smaller rooms used for storage of psychological testing materials and office supplies and available to students for test scoring and report-writing. The clinic also has a small, but growing, a reference library of books relevant to clinical practice. Additionally, an amble number of psychological tests and assessment materials are available for cognitive, academic, neuropsychological, and personality assessment materials are available for cognitive, academic, neuropsychological, and personality assessment (for example, Wechsler scales, ADOS-2, MMPI-2, Rorschach). Finally, there is a small kitchenette, with a microwave, coffeemaker, and tea rejuvenation station.
COVID-19 Considerations
Depending upon the recommended CDC, state and local guidelines regarding safety for COVID-19, CHC-PSC may be offering in-person, remote or hybrid of services at the clinic. Currently, all therapy services provided by the interns are conducted from the clnic via telehealth. Clinical staff are continuously monitoring developments and evaluating the safest and most effective ways to organize training and clinical activities. Currently, regarding assessment, we are utilizing a hybrid model with interns adminstering much of the battery remotely, and in-person testing conducted for slect tests/subtests that cannot be administered online. Appropriate training and supervision will be required to ensure the ethical provision of services.
CHC-PSC has a strict safety protocol for all in-person services, including the limitation of the number of people allowed in the clinic at any given time, the requirement of mask-wearing, distancing, and thorough cleaning after each session.
Growth Opportunity Center
Site Director: Diane Sizer, PhD
Website
1 Position
Program Code: 218113
928 Jaymor Road
Southampton, PA 18966
The Growth Opportunity Center is a large, outpatient behavioral health group practice founded in 1974. GOC Mission Statement: A non-profit organization transforming life’s challenges into opportunities for growth through behavioral health and consultation services.
GOC Vision Statement: With a commitment to quality and service, to be a caring and compassionate community of diverse and multi-talented professionals striving for personal and professional excellence by supporting individuals, families, and organizations in meeting their full potential.
Growth Opportunity Center services include:
- Individual, couples, and family counseling for all ages
- Psychological and Psycho-educational evaluations
- School-based support services and consultation
- ADHD assessment and services
- Medication evaluations and management by staff psychiatrists and nurse practitioners
- Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluation and treatment team
- Social Skills training groups
- College Counseling (varies by yearly contract)
- High School Counseling (varies by yearly contract)
- Opportunities to create and run groups to serve the needs of the population such as DBT-informed groups, mindfulness groups, adolescent groups, etc.
The internship experience is designed to provide a full range of psychological services to the community. By the end of the internship, the student will be prepared for independent practice as a psychologist. The responsibilities of a doctoral intern may include the following: psychoeducational evaluations, diagnostic assessments, consultation, coordination of assessment services (e.g. conducting telephone intakes and assignment of cases, management of testing materials), supervision of practicum students, counseling for college student populations in the college setting (we currently have a contract with a local college but this could change yearly), counseling in a high school setting (we currently have a contract with a local private high school, but this could change yearly) and developing and forming psychoeducational groups (e.g., social skills, DBT-Informed, resiliency, mindfulness). The intern will be supported to develop an area of interest or expertise that may serve as a starting point for a specialized area of practice. About 16 hours per week will be spent on psychological assessments and psychoeducational evaluations, 8-10 hours in individual adult and child/family therapy, and 6-8 hours in supervision, consultation, and program development, and supervision of assessment practicum students.
The GOC intern will have opportunities to attend peer supervision groups, didactic training, and to consult and interact with the entire GOC team of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and master’s level therapists. The applicant should be highly motivated for practice development, should be comfortable with independence, and must be a self-starter. Because at least half-time is spent on psychological and psychoeducational evaluations, the intern must have strong writing skills, be highly organized, and be able to perform without external deadlines.
The intern will also have the opportunity to be engage in trauma assessments. The intern will learn how to provide trauma informed and culturally sensitive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for individuals with a history of trauma. Possible intern responsibilities or opportunities would include: receiving trauma training, networking and engaging in professional and public outreach, marketing to help grow the referral base, and engaging in trauma research.
The internship slot requires weekend or evening hours.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
GOC is a large outpatient behavioral health facility. Its main site, where the interns work, has 27 offices. The interns have an office that has a large table for testing, a computer with software for scoring many tests and rating scales, and a file cabinet. It also has an observation mirror which is used for training purposes. The interns will have additional office space to conduct individual and family therapy, but space may not be consistent, and the interns must be comfortable with changing offices frequently, if necessary. GOC has a well-stocked testing closet with the most commonly used cognitive, achievement, memory, information processing, and personality tests. There is also a multitude of rating scales and checklists to help in assessing and diagnosing behavioral, neuropsychological, and mental health disorders. Each student has a voicemail extension and has access to office supplies and a file cabinet in a locked file room. Although the office staff is primarily a billing staff and not secretarial, they are able to support the students by answering common questions and helping them access patient information in the computer system.
Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Peaceful Protests, and Criminal Convictions
Interns at Growth Opportunity Center are NOT considered essential employees. Thus, working virtually is acceptable in accordance with PA State Guidelines. Applicants whose criminal background checks reveal a convicted felony will not be considered; however, those applicants who have exercised their constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests which may have resulted in an arrest or conviction will still be eligible for interviews.
Rider University Counseling Center
Site Director: Anissa Moody, PhD
Website
2 Positions
Program Code: 218119
Counseling Center at the Lawrenceville Campus
Zoerner House 2083 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Rider Counseling Services provides college counseling services for full and part-time students, at undergraduate and graduate levels. Interns engage in personal counseling, crisis counseling, evaluation and referrals when necessary. The internship also includes the provision of emergency services; design, planning, and implementation of psychoeducational programming; assisting with outreach on campus; training of residence life and other staff; and consultation services to faculty, staff, and administrators.
The client/patient population is primarily traditional college-aged students, along with graduate students and non-traditional students. Individuals present with a wide range of adjustment disorders, plus autism spectrum disorders and various psychiatric challenges such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders. Therapy is generally short-term with the option to extend treatment at the discretion of the Director.
Interns training at this site will complete their assessment requirements through the CHC Psychological Services Clinic.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The counseling office is located in a two-story house at the front of the campus and has its own entrance independent of the main university entrance. It is accessible by steps or ramp. The office has an administrative specialist who is responsible for the management of all office functions and procedures. Technical support is supplied by the Office of Information Technology, and the physical space is maintained by Facilities Management.
Basic office equipment is available in each counseling room for research and internet use. All computers are formatted for Medicat, the electronic health records program for client files. Specific training materials are supplied upon request, and there is a library of professional books and journals that may be accessed by any staff member.
Considerations During COVID-19 Pandemic, Peaceful Protests, and Criminal Convictions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, interns at Rider University Counseling are required to complete their clinical hours virtually on-site a minimum of 2 days/week. This requirement follows the NJ State Board of Psychology policy which states that unlicensed trainees must conduct telehealth services in the state of New Jersey. All interviews for the 2021-2022 training year will be conducted virtually. Applicants whose criminal background checks reveal a convicted felony will not be considered; however, those applicants who have exercised their constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests which may have resulted in an arrest or conviction will still be eligible for interviews.
Site Director: Jessica Lax, Psy.D.
Website
1 Position
Program Code: 218124
Behavioral Health & Autism Services
10501 Drummond Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
SPIN is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of direct support, employment, educational, and behavioral health services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 1971, SPIN’s mission and values-led services have supported thousands of children, adults, and families to live inclusive lives in their communities. SPIN’s mission is to provide the highest quality people-first services and supports for children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and autism spectrum disabilities so that each may achieve and enjoy a life of possibilities. SPIN’s mission-driven programs demonstrate the expectant values of hope, possibility, and choice supported by SPIN’s four pillars of People-First, Professionalism, Performance Excellence, and Productivity, the standard to which all employees are held accountable. Today, SPIN supports over 3,000 children and adults annually in the Southeastern and Lehigh/Northampton regions of Pennsylvania to achieve and enjoy a life of possibilities. SPIN has received many awards for its innovative services, partnerships, and professional development practices. SPIN has been ranked among the global elite for its innovative workforce training and development by Training Magazine’s Top 125 distinguished award. SPIN has been ranked by its employees as a Top Workplace in Philadelphia for 15 consecutive years. SPIN has also been recognized by Opportunity Knocks as the best Non-Profit to work for and has been designated as an Employer of Choice within Philadelphia.
The Behavioral Health and Autism Services Department at SPIN currently employs a team of highly trained and experienced clinical professionals who have a variety of roles working with children and youth with behavioral health disorders, with a specific focus within the practice on the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). SPIN has been designated as a Philadelphia Autism Center for Excellence. Within its licensed outpatient mental health clinic, which serves a broad-ranging population, SPIN provides the following services specifically for individuals with Autism and their families: high quality, comprehensive diagnostic assessment of individuals at risk for Autism; outpatient medication management and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and families; social skills treatment groups; intensive home-, school-, and community-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, Blended Case Management, and ongoing parent support groups/activities. Each of these services adopts an integrated treatment approach that supports enhanced coordination of care and integration of interventions across all aspects of the patient’s/family’s life.
The APPIC Internship will be a 12 month, full-time internship within SPIN’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. The intern will typically work Monday-Thursday and will be assigned to work two evenings per week until 8:00 p.m. The internship will prepare professionals to diagnose and support individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as gain experience working with children and families with co-occurring neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism, and serious behavioral health disorders, and those who have a history of trauma, depression, anxiety or other mental health concerns. The primary responsibilities of the intern will be to complete the following responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed psychologist:
- Complete intakes with a variety of patients, and in conjunction with the clinical supervisor, assign diagnoses and make preliminary recommendations for treatment services.
- Carry an ongoing therapy caseload throughout the year, that may include children, families, or adults. Act as a co-facilitator for social skills treatment groups for children/youth with ASD and other social impairments.
- Perform comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for individuals (primarily children/youth ages 2-21) at risk for a diagnosis of autism, including writing reports and making treatment recommendations. This will include being clinically trained in the administration of the ADOS-2, as well as the use of other autism-specific instruments.
- Assist with training and supervision of Masters’ interns within the department.
- Participate in all departmental required meetings, supervision, didactics, and trainings as assigned by their supervisor.
It is expected that the intern will complete this experience with an enhanced degree of specialization in working with children with ASD and their families, as well as gain experience working in a mental health clinic. Many prior interns have remained with SPIN after the internship to complete a post-doctoral fellowship year.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
SPIN has an administrative/clerical support team that reaches out to families to confirm they will be attending appointments and ensures all necessary clinical paperwork is completed. The administrative team also supports the interns with obtaining necessary office supply materials, scheduling confidential meeting spaces, and troubleshooting any other issues that arise on a day to day basis. The administrative team is available Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm for the interns.
With regard to computer/IT support, SPIN has an IT department that supports the intern’s computer, phone, and system access needs. All interns have a cell phone, laptop, a confidential email login, a HIPAA-compliant Zoom account, and a confidential network and electronic medical record login. The IT department is available Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and then on a limited basis over the weekend via an on-call line.
The full-time intern at SPIN has private office space in which he or she can conduct therapy and diagnostic sessions, and this is located in SPIN’s licensed outpatient mental health clinic. There are large rooms in which group sessions are conducted. In addition, video equipment is available for recording sessions, as well as video conferencing, and the clinic has a two-way mirror for live supervision. With regard to training materials, the interns have a full range of psychological assessment materials available for their use, and these are available for inspection during the site visit if needed. Additionally, a library of reference books and journals are available for their access, as are therapeutic games, toys, and other resources to use with clients. Several behavioral health curricula are available to all clinical staff, including the interns, and interns are offered opportunities to participate in clinical staff training throughout the year. All trainees receive pre-service training and orientation at SPIN, and a full curriculum of these courses can be made available to applicants as necessary.
COVID-19 Considerations
Since the state of emergency due to COVID-19 was lifted on May 11, 2023, the remaining regulations regarding masking at SPIN have been lifted as well. Masking is now optional in all SPIN buildings for clients and staff. All staff within the mental health outpatient clinic work a hybrid schedule that includes in-person and remote work. Interns typically work two days in the office and two days remotely. Interns, like all staff, have laptops and SPIN phones which facilitate their working remotely and maintain ongoing access to all platforms and programs that operate at SPIN in support of their work. All telehealth services are delivered through HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Effective July 1, 2021, any intern accepted for placement at SPIN must provide proof of having the COVID vaccine. Any intern who has concerns regarding their ability to deliver face-to-face services due to personal circumstances should bring their concerns immediately to the attention of their supervisor.
Criminal Convictions and Peaceful Protests
At SPIN, an arrest will not stop someone from being hired. We may ask for information on their hearing and outcome if it is one of the prohibited offenses under Act 169. A conviction may impact an applicant’s hiring depending on the charge. If someone is convicted for disorderly conduct or a minor offense as part of a protest or demonstration, it would not prohibit them from gaining employment with SPIN. However, if the protest turned violent and they are convicted of aggravated assault or a more serious crime, it may prevent applicants from being hired. SPIN supports applicants protesting and recognizes they may be arrested in the process. A conviction, however, may interfere with hiring.
