Primary Children's Medical Center's psychology internship program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1985 (Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at APA, 750 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-4242, 202-336-5979). The program adheres to a scholar-practitioner model within a pediatric health/behavioral health care setting, with the goal of preparing doctoral-level interns for entry level psychology post-doctoral or resident positions.
Primary Children's Medical Center Psychology Internship Program
Each intern's experience is carefully designed with his or her supervisor to meet the intern's background, interests and needs, as those fit within the intern's placement's service needs. Treatment experiences offered include individual, group and family therapies. Assessment experiences are specific to interns' particular placements.
Primary Children's does not have a formal division or department of psychology, although a Psychology Discipline Lead coordinates/oversees psychology discipline needs, including credentialing and peer review. Psychologists serve under the administration of each specialty service or program within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. The Psychology Internship Program is coordinated through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, though intern placements may be in any department employing psychologists.
Although employed in different services, programs or departments, psychologists meet monthly and work collaboratively to coordinate the internship program, with the Training Director taking a leadership role. Primary Children's psychology staff represents a variety of interests and theoretical orientations. Some supervising pyschologists are involved in research, others in state or national organizations, and others in university teaching. Some of our supervisors maintain faculty appointments at the University of Utah.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Continuum of Services
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health has established a wide continuum of care to treat patients' individual mental health and chemical dependency problems. The continuum allows clinicians to prescribe treatment within an integrated system by providing excellent continuity of care to meet patients' and families' individual needs.
The Primary Children's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health continuum of care services include:
- acute inpatient behavioral health unit
- latency day treatment and residential program
- adolescent residential and day treatment (psychiatry and chemical dependency tracks)
- outpatient mental health services
- pediatric psychological and neuropsychological services to patients with medical needs
- hospital-based consultation/liaison to various medical clinics
Some programs regularly utilize the services of psychologists and psychology interns, and some do not. Some interns are placed within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and others are involved in affiliated programs.
To ensure a variety of patient populations and professional models, a variety of assessment and treatment opportunities are developed, as much as possible, within each training service or program.
Experiences offered include:
- intake assessments
- psychological and psycho-educational assessments (neuropsychological assessments on the pediatric behavioral health rotation)
- consultation services
- individual, group and family therapies
Internship Program Begins August 12, 2013
All interns accepted for the 2013-2014 training year are required to satisfactorily pass a pre-employment criminal background check and drug screen, a Primary Children's policy. The background check and drug screen are completed prior to or soon upon arriving for the internship. Failed background checks / drug screens could lead to withdrawal of employment opportunity. Internship appointments are for a continuous 12-month period during which approximately 2,000 hours of supervised training must be acquired. Interns work 40 to 50 hours per week and can fulfill their hours while still taking holidays, sick leave and vacations. The current stipend of $23,000 is paid in equal installments over 26 bi-weekly pay periods. Interns receive employee benefits, including medical/dental insurance, and paid vacations and holidays.