Optional Training Experiences:

Our internship philosophy is to meet interns’ professional development needs to the extent possible.  We can offer additional opportunities for specialized training.  Interns are encouraged to ask about different possibilities to tailor their training, and every effort will be made to accommodate them, as long as the proposed modification to the training plan permits the acquisition of all the core competencies of the internship program.  Generally these opportunities will be available as minor rotations.

At the time of this writing, there are additional pediatric experiences available in cystic fibrosis, gastrointestinal disorders, feeding, and HIV.  Interns have the opportunity to work with children and adolescents on issues centering around compliance with medical regimens, coping with the demands of their diagnosis, pain management, and other psychosocial issues involved with chronic illness. 

All medical areas have highly diverse populations (primarily Latino and Asian), and thus trainees will have the opportunity to develop skills working with translators to improve the care provided to patients in the hospital.  Interns are trained in pertinent culture-specific practices.  This training includes a seminar in Multicultural issues.

Training Opportunities for Spanish Speaking Interns:

Our internship is dedicated to providing training opportunities for interns who speak Spanish.  These experiences include the ability to conduct assessments in Spanish utilizing our library of assessment instruments that have been developed and normed with Spanish speaking populations.

In addition, interns who speak Spanish have the opportunity to participate in a weekly seminar, CHiSPA, led by two bilingual faculty members (Mery Taylor, Ph.D. and Nadia Torres-Eaton, Psy.D.).  The seminar is designed to help increase skills in and comfort with conducting psychological interventions and assessments in Spanish.  Activities include working on psychological vocabulary, practice in discussing cases and case conceptualizations in Spanish.  The goal of the seminar is to provide support and build on participants’ individual strengths.  Every other week interns will have individual supervision in Spanish with one of three bilingual licensed psychologists on staff.

We currently have 3 full time licensed psychologists who are bi-lingual in Spanish and bi-cultural (Dr. Mery Taylor, Dr. Nadia Torres-Eaton, Dr. Marcos Di Pinto) as well as 2 part time licensed psychologists (Dr. Priscilla Armstrong and Dr. Alfonso Bustamante). 

Supervision

All trainees receive a combination of individual and group supervision (a minimum of four hours) per week.  Supervision occurs on an individual basis, during group rounds, within clinic settings and within the Training Program seminars.  All supervision is performed by departmental staff who meet the California Board of Psychology requirements and CHOC Hospital’s Medical Staff qualifications.

Interns are offered at least two hours of individual supervision per week for ongoing therapy cases and rotational experiences.  Supervision of the consultation-liaison service is handled with both individual supervision and group supervision (rounds). Rounds are co-led by a board certified child & adolescent psychiatrist/pediatrician and a licensed psychologist.  The amount and frequency of this supervision will vary depending on the complexity and number of consults received.  Typically, individual consultation supervision occurs for approximately ½ hour per week.  Additionally, consultation services are often provided using co-therapy, especially for high risk and complex consults.  Therefore, interns are able to observe their supervisors providing psychological services.  There may also be opportunities to participate in co-therapy with supervisors and receive immediate feedback based on direct observation of clinical skills.  Assessment supervision is provided as the case progresses, and generally lasts for ½ to 1 hour per week.  Supervision is also provided informally during medical rounds on major rotations. 

You will be assigned one outpatient therapy supervisor who will work with you throughout the year on more long term outpatient therapy cases.  This supervisor will provide continuity throughout the year and will also serve as a professional mentor.  You will also be assigned one neuropsychological assessment supervisor who will also work with you throughout the year.