Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology

Overview

This program is designed specifically for students admitted in a doctoral training program who have completed at least 4 years of full-time graduate study in clinical/counseling psychology, including practicum level experience in diagnostic assessment, various intervention modalities, and specific experience with children and families. Preference is given to students in APA-accredited doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology; applicants from school psychology programs with the requisite experience are also considered.

Salary and Benefits

Interns receive a yearly stipend totaling $25,000.00 (base salary $25,000 + fringe benefits package) for all interns at Children’s Center. Interns receive 10 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) and eleven paid state holidays. Additional leave days may be negotiated for professional activities (e.g., dissertation-related work, presentations at meetings, postdoctoral fellowship and/or job interviews). Most approved time off is related to significant medical issues (COVID-19, pregnancy/delivery) or school related duties (defending dissertation). It should be noted that extended leave may jeopardize completion of the program in 12 months. The Program provides access to medical insurance for intern and some cost contribution by the intern is required.

Internship Mission Statement and Goals

The primary mission of LSU Health Shreveport is to teach, heal, and discover, in order to advance the well-being of the region and beyond. The mission of the LSU Health Shreveport Children's Center is to maximize the potential of children, infancy through 15 years of age, throughout the Ark-La-Tex by providing diagnostic assessment and treatment, supporting and educating families and service providers, and offering technical assistance and outreach to community agencies.

The Children’s Center Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology program's mission is to train doctoral level interns using efficient, high quality, evidence-based mental health practices in order to prepare them for dynamic roles as psychologists in the health care system. The goal of the doctoral internship program is to provide interns with training within the multidisciplinary LSU Health Shreveport system as well as the community at large. By providing robust and intensive training, we can actualize the mission of Children’s Center and that of LSU Health Shreveport.

The Children’s Center Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology is a significant expression of LSU’s ongoing, central commitment to training graduate students in the field of psychology. An important feature of our internship is that while service is a key part of the internship program, the program’s first commitment is to training. The following are our program aims:

Aim 1: Interns will gain the clinical knowledge and skills needed for entry-level positions as professional psychologists.

Competencies:

• Assessment: Interns will be able to conduct assessments using a variety of information sources, develop a comprehensive formulation of the client’s difficulties, and make appropriate treatment recommendations;
• Intervention: Interns will be able to maintain a treatment relationship that facilitates effective client outcomes, and to implement several types of evidence-based psychotherapy and psychological interventions, at a level consistent with beginning professional practice.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Interns will demonstrate effective interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills with clients and coworkers.
• Consultation & Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills: Interns will be familiar with concepts of consultation, and demonstrate beginning skills in this area;
• Supervision: Interns will be familiar with concepts of supervision, and demonstrate beginning skills.

Aim 2: Interns will demonstrate knowledge and skills for research-informed, professional, ethical, and culturally sensitive practice as psychologists.

Competencies:

• Research: Interns will demonstrate critical thinking of research and integration of science into practice.
• Professional Values, Attitudes & Behaviors: Interns will demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of their role.

Application Procedures

Applicants must submit the following information through the APPIC online application process (AAPI):

1. Cover letter indicating their professional goals and interests
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Writing sample (psychological report)
5. Completed AAPI (APPIC Application for Psychology Internship) via APPIC online
6. All graduate school transcripts

NOTE: LSU Health requires successful completion of a standard criminal record check (background check), and a drug screen (including cannabis/marijuana) as part of the new hire onboarding process. A positive test for marijuana, even with a medical marijuana card, will prevent hiring or result in termination. Criminal or other concerning history identified in a background check will be reviewed by the Training Director, the Graduate Medical Education Committee and, if applicable, LSU Health  Shreveport Compliance, on a case-by-case basis to determine if there are mitigating factors that warrant proceeding with the onboarding process. LSU Health Shreveport follows all applicable federal and state laws in conducting any background screening.

Applications must be received on or before November 15, 2023. Our application constitutes the AAPI Online Form. We require 2 letters of recommendation in addition to the letter from the training director of your program which is included in the AAPI Online Form.

Interviews are by invitation only. In order to be considered for an interview, your completed application must be received by November 15, 2023. Invitations for interviews will be sent before December 15th. Please do not call before December 15th. Interviews will be conducted in early January, 2024.

All interviews will be conducted via online teleconferencing.

Requirements for Selection

The following is the minimum requirements for consideration for the program:

• Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours: 400 
• Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours: 100

Preference will be given to those applicants who can demonstrate familiarity with child/adolescent intervention techniques as well as assessment measures.

Start and End Dates

The doctoral internship is a full-time experience for the calendar year, beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025.

Training Experience

The aim of the internship program at Children’s Center is to train professional psychologists who have a particular interest in child psychology. The program is designed to encourage the development of clinical competence with children and families, with sensitivity to, and facility with, cultural differences, ethical issues, interdisciplinary relationships, and the changing environment of health care.

This program provides the intern with the opportunity to take substantial responsibility for carrying out his or her major professional functions in the context of appropriate supervisory support. It is designed around a fundamental curriculum, which focuses on intern competencies in assessment, diagnostic interviewing, intervention, case management and triage, consultation, and critical thinking about clinical case material.

The program offers two core experiences which include ADHD and Behavioral Dysfunction Treatment and Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment. These experiences last the entire internship. Interns will spend the equivalent of three days per week training in the core experiences. During both experiences, interns will refine and hone their diagnostic skills, learn the process of differential diagnosis, treatment plan formulation. The internship assumes a transtheoretical perspective and will utilize behavioral, trauma-informed, attachment and/or cognitive behavioral techniques to produce treatment gains.

Interns will also have the opportunity to spend obtain training in forensic psychology (Juvenile Justice/Forensic), and as a behavioral consultant in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) clinic. All of these additional experiences will be offered at the equivalent of 2 days/week. 

Didactic Modules

Interns are required to participate in at least two hours of didactic activities weekly that are designed to meet the learning goals, objectives, and competencies of the internship program. Topic areas include evidenced-based treatment and interventions relevant to the patient populations at LSU, conducting psychological assessment, interpretation and report writing, professional ethics, scholarly inquiry, cultural diversity, supervision and consultation. Interns may also attend treatment team meetings, faculty developmental activities, and continuing education programs. Interns are also encouraged to participate in a weekly (1) hour Grand Rounds led by psychiatry faculty which addresses the latest development in empirical research and treatment in mental health.

Supervision

Interns receive a minimum of 4 hours of supervision per week including both individual and group supervision.

Each intern individual supervision from the faculty psychologists. Individual supervision (2 hours per week) is primarily case discussion; however, at times, live supervision is available. The individual supervisors oversee the interns’ clinical work and professional development during their tenure at the LSU Health Shreveport Children’s Center. The individual supervisor is responsible for the interns’ specific or focused clinical and professional concerns. In addition to primary supervision by a psychologist, an intern may also receive interdisciplinary supervision from psychiatry and other specialties (e.g., SLP, OT, BCBA) during clinical activities. However, some clinics offer live supervision and role-modeling by supervisors within multidisciplinary teams. Facilities include one-way mirrors and videotaping capability, depending on the location. Supervision will also be provided on psychological assessment reports progress notes as necessary.

Interns also spend two hours a week in group supervision facilitated by licensed psychologists. Case presentation, consultation, and discussion are the primary group supervision format. In addition, the training director structures group supervision relative to professional development, which may focus on consultation, interdisciplinary communications, systems issues and program evaluation.

Diversity

Respect for diversity and values different from one’s own is a core value of the LSU – Health Children’s Center Doctoral Internship in Health Service Psychology program. Psychology interns within LSU provide services to a diverse patient population, often consisting of members of social groups different from their own. We believe that this training is enriched by our collective openness to learning about others who are different from ourselves, as well as striving for acceptance of others.

The internship prepares interns to navigate cultural and individual differences using both formal and informal strategies through:

1.        Training experiences with diverse populations
2.        Didactic training which includes diversity and culturally sensitive material and perspectives
3.        Individual and group supervision, which are ideal arenas to discuss any value conflicts or tensions that arise in treatment/training experiences.

All faculty and supervisors as well as interns are expected to work together to create training environments characterized by respect, trust, and safety. Faculty and interns are also expected to be supportive and respectful of all individuals, including patients, staff and peers, regardless of differences in background or worldviews.