Internship
SMU Pre-Doctoral Psychology Internship/Fellowship Program
(A Captive Internship Placement for University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
at Dallas)
Southern Methodist University Counseling and Psychiatric
Services (CAPS) is a highly regarded internship/fellowship site for University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas clinical psychology doctoral
students who desire to gain experience in psychotherapy and in working with
college populations. The internship/fellowship is a half-time, twelve-month
training program running from August to August each year. Fellows are required
to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, and are paid a flat rate stipend with
benefits through UT-Southwestern.
Fellows at this rotation work as members of an
inter-disciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, and
substance abuse counselors. The clinical work of fellows focuses on providing
quality evaluation, counseling, treatment and crisis intervention (including
rotating after-hour call duty) to SMU students. Issues addressed in counseling
include the following: adjustment issues, relationship concerns, sexuality
issues, emotional problems, substance abuse, and eating disorders The objective
of the internship/fellowship is that each fellow be able to enhance fellowsí
clinical skills, diversity understanding, and professional development in order
to treat diverse individuals with a wide variety of psychological problems, and
to conduct appropriate consultations. The primary emphasis is on providing
fellows with rich and varied training experiences to assist them through this
critical transition period in their growth and development into professional
psychologists.
Fellows typically see a caseload of approximately 12-14
clients per week. Most individual clients are seen for short-term therapy.
In addition to conducting individual therapy, other internship responsibilities
include:
* Conduct triage interviews and intakes sessions.
* Provide day-time crisis services.
* Rotate after-hour emergency call duties.
* Participate in multidisciplinary case consultations.
* Participate in didactic presentations on professional issues.
* Conduct workshops on campus.
Fellows may also have the opportunity to create and co-lead
therapy groups, assist in university outreach, and liaison with a university
department. Fellows are given autonomy with outreach presentations based on
their level of comfort regarding making presentation. They have access to an
extensive array of workshop and outreach materials on site, and are encouraged
to consult with senior staff members for help in developing workshop and
outreach programming.
Supervision & Meetings
Individual Supervision: Each fellow is assigned a
supervisor who is a licensed psychologist at CAPS. A minimum of one hour of
face-to-face individual supervision is provided each week. Supervisors serve as
mentors and role models to process clinical experiences, integrate theory, apply
scientific knowledge, exchange ideas, review technical aspects of clinical work,
and provide support and feedback. Fellows and supervisors also discuss basic and
advanced therapeutic skills, case conceptualization, diversity considerations,
interventions and timing, crisis management, ethical and legal considerations,
and proper documentation. Supervisors regularly evaluate and discuss progress
toward the fellow competency goals as well as the goals established by the
fellows at the beginning of the year. The supervision time also affords the
fellow and the supervisor the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship
where issues such as adjustment to the internship, development of professional
identity, dissertation progress, and job search strategies might be discussed.
Other senior staff are also readily available for consultation.
Group Supervision: Fellows attend group supervision every Tuesday morning, which
includes case consultations and case presentations. Group supervision provides
fellows with an opportunity to gain feedback and share information with other
fellows, and to address any internship-related issues with the training
director.
Staff Meeting: Fellows are included in weekly staff meetings, where they have
the opportunity to learn about new developments and relevant issues at the
health center news and on the SMU campus.
Application to Internship/Fellowship: Interested UT
Southwestern students should arrange for a SMU CAPS interview during the early
spring semester for the following internship year beginning in August.
Preference is given to incoming 4th-year students due to the complex demands of
the Center. For more information, contact Dr. Cathey Soutter at CAPS (csoutter@smu.edu).