This Predoctoral Psychology Internship was formed with the guiding principle that synergy could be achieved by pooling resources and interrelating the respective institutional education efforts in regard to psychology internship training with a focus on interdisciplinary health care settings. With the broader institutional missions of the Georgia Regents University (GRU) and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center (CNVAMC) aimed at providing outstanding educational and clinical service programs involving health professionals, biomedical scientists, and educators at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, this psychology internship has had a breadth of training opportunities in interdisciplinary contexts. The training model focuses on four primary facets of training in the development of professional psychologists:
Interdisciplinary training and service represent a core mission of this program and is supported by strong linkages to multiple interdisciplinary care services throughout. In the GRU Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, psychology interns function in the context of interdisciplinary service teams and engage in joint routine educational efforts with general and child psychiatry residents. At the CNVAMC, the Mental Health (MH) Service Line functions in the context of interdisciplinary teams as well. Psychology interns function in interdisciplinary teams providing psychological assessment, crisis intervention, behavioral interventions, and patient/staff consultations, and liaison projects within the following interdisciplinary services:
Partnering with Project GREAT, the program has been immersing psychology and psychiatry faculty and residents in the Recovery model of mental health care and to participate in the dissemination of these Recovery knowledge, skills, and attitudes throughout Georgia. Recovery-oriented practices in mental health care emphasize freedom and choice in care and the Medical College of Georgia-Charlie Norwood VAMC Psychology Internship has been an integral part of an extensive effort to transform all services and educational endeavors within the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior and at the Charlie Norwood VAMC. To achieve this transformation to a Recovery-oriented model of care, Project GREAT and this training program have engaged in ongoing training to the faculty and residents/interns of the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior that have included interdisciplinary workshops, monthly newsletters, participation of certified peer specialists in practicum and didactic experiences, and use of recovery practice prompts. In addition, trainees are periodically required to observe peer support group meetings and the monthly departmental Behavioral Advisory Council – consumer driven council that reviews and advises on the mental health services provided by the department. Finally, residents/interns are involved in quarterly outreach efforts to provide recovery training to community mental health service providers throughout Georgia.
This program takes into account recovery-oriented care knowledge and attitude assessment, patient satisfaction, sampling of patient documentation, and external reviewers (American College of Psychiatrists and Certified Peer Specialists) when creating evaluations.
* Please note: Information contained in this database is self-reported by representatives from each program. It does not represent an exhaustive list of education and training programs and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement from the PCPCC.