The Medical College of Georgia-Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center Psychology Internship (MCG-Charlie Norwood VAMC 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.
Our training model focuses on four primary facets of training in the development of
professional psychologists: (1) Training in the implementation of essential practice skills in key field settings;
(2) Training in an empirical approach to practice (fostering attitudes of empiricism
and reflection); (3) Training in the provision of care for underserved populations and areas; and (4) Training of recovery-oriented care that emphasizes the processes of Connectedness,
Hope and optimism about the future, Identity, Meaning in life, and Empowerment (Leamy, Bird, Le Boutillier, Williams, & Slade, 2011). The distinguishing characteristic of our training efforts, however, has been our
focus on producing professional and racially/ethnically diverse psychologists who
are well prepared for and seek out careers that are directed toward integrated approaches
to health care issues and who aspire to cultural competence in their practice. Consequently,
the MCG-Charlie Norwood VAMC Psychology Internship has combined solid grounding in
core clinical psychology skills with emphasis training in the areas of clinical health
psychology and health behavior care. Integral to all required rotations are joint
educational and clinical service activities with primary care physicians, psychiatrists
and other physician specialists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and other allied
health professionals. Furthermore, core competencies that are taught include skills
specifically relevant to the provision of mental health care in medical settings:
(1) the application of clinical assessment and treatment in medical settings; (2) the ability to function effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team; and
(3) the development of consultation strategies in medical contexts. Consistent with
overarching principles of professional psychology training the curriculum of MCG-Charlie
Norwood VAMC Psychology Internship is intended to provide sequential and cumulative
opportunities for the development of and demonstration of core competencies. Furthermore,
we strive toward diversity among our trainees and faculty and a training environment
that is supportive of diverse individuals and achievement in cultural/diversity competence.
The MCG-Charlie Norwood VAMC Internship supports the foundational value of the scientist-practitioner
model of training for the professional psychologist. Scientific methods can both inform
us of the human experience and guide in the development and implementation of therapeutic
responses to life problems. Therefore, training in scientific methods should be a
core endeavor for the development of the professional psychologist. For the information
achieved through scientific methods to be effectively integrated into clinical practice,
however, systematic methods of observation and inquiry along with critical reasoning
must be employed from an idiographic perspective. Furthermore, the practice of professional
psychology entails an intense interpersonal experience that requires essential skills
of communication and social interchange that enable the Clinician to successfully
engage another in diagnostic and therapeutic processes.
Our model of training emphasizes two primary facets of training in the development
of professional psychologists: (1) Training in an empirical approach to practice -
critical thinking processes and the application of empirically validated treatments;
(2) Training in the attitude of reflection - capability for dynamic reflection entails
a system of practice that incorporates routinized habits that encourage the Clinician
to “stop and think” and also requires developing capabilities to reflect while in
action.
Finally, the MCG-Charlie Norwood VAMC Internship aspires to a recovery-oriented model
of care with its emphasis on freedom and choice in mental health services. The recovery-oriented
model of care places emphasis less on symptom reduction or cure and more on restoration
of individuals to meaningful lives regardless of the ongoing presence of mental illness.
This internship thus provides didactics and training experiences that promote a collaborative
approach to care that emphasizes the processes of Connectedness, Hope and optimism
about the future, Identity, Meaning in life, and Empowerment.
There are two rotations required of all Interns: (1) The General Practice Rotation
– located at Uptown VA, MCG/AU, or East Central Georgia Regional Hospital sites, and
(2) the General Health Psychology Rotation – located at the Uptown VA, Downtown
VA and MCG sites. The third rotation -Emphasis Track Rotations - is selected prior
to entry into the internship program and represents one of the bases upon which Intern
are selected in the APPIC match (i.e., Intern apply to and are matched according to
emphasis training interest). Due to the size and diversity of the internship classes
and the complexity of the training program, rotations cannot be sequenced to facilitate
a particular progression of skills/competencies. Nevertheless, within each rotation
training experiences and supervisory priorities are intended to reflect the anticipated
progression in the skills/competencies of the Interns such that Interns practice more
independently as the rotations progress and supervision increasingly become more reflective
and collaborative.
General Practice Rotation: By providing a blend of inpatient and outpatient services at the Uptown VA Medical Center and/or MCG/AU, and/or East Central Georgia Regional Hospital (ECRH), we have developed a broad-based clinical training experience designed to maximize both the range of patient diagnostic categories and the variety of clinical training experiences. During the 4-month General Practice Rotation, Interns will have opportunities for development of their psychological assessment skills, skills pertaining to rapid assessment, de-escalation/stabilization, and triaging in individuals with acute psychiatric conditions, co-leadership of time-limited evidence-based psychotherapy groups and, individual, and possibly couple, and family psychotherapy. Interns have opportunity to gain experience in assessing and treating various mood, psychotic, and dementing conditions, as well as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, adjustment to serious injury, and substance abuse problems. The Interns will also take an active role in treatment planning as part of an interdisciplinary team.
At the CNVAMC, psychological assessment and treatment are provided in the context of interdisciplinary teams. Within Mental Health there are five Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team, a suicide prevention team and disruptive Behavior Committee, and two specialty teams – Trauma Recovery Clinic (PTSD) and Substance Use Recovery Clinic – that, together, offer the bulk of Internship training in the VA General Practice site. Additional behavioral medicine and trauma training opportunities are offered through the Medical Rehabilitation units, and the OEF/OIF/OND Primary Care. The Intern will spend two to three days per week at the VAMC.
BHIP Teams: Interns in consultation with the supervising psychologist will conduct psychological
assessment for patients with a range of disorders including, schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, major depressive disorder, various cognitive disorders and personality disorders.
Instruments frequently used include the WAIS-III, WMS-III, other brief measures of
intelligence and cognitive functioning, MMPI-2, MMPI2 RF, MCMI and, PAI. In the VAMC
Walk-In Clinic, interns are provided opportunities to learn the skills of rapid assessment
of and stabilization of patients in crisis. Patients range in age from 18 to 80+ and
frequently have multiple psychiatric diagnoses. Consultation/interaction with a
multidisciplinary team is a typical component of the rotation as is exposure to a
range of psychopharmacological interventions. Intern will gain experience with suicide
risk assessment.
Trauma Recovery Clinic Team (TRC): The comprehensive trauma recovery team serves male and female veterans who
have encountered a variety of psychologically traumatic events. In addition to incidents
occurring during war or other dangerous military assignments, treatment can focus
on sexual assault, criminal assault, accidents, disasters, and child abuse. Program
elements include assessment, crisis intervention, Trauma orientation class, time-limited
skills training groups, evidence based psychotherapy (EBP), couples therapy, and case
management. Interns will learn and be supervised in the delivery of EBP as part of
their experience. Interns work closely with other disciplines as part of the clinic
team. TRC also cares for veterans with trauma and substance use disorder history.
Program elements include assessment and evidence based treatment for this population.
At the MCG/AU Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, psychological assessment and treatment are provided in the interdisciplinary contexts
of the Child, Adolescent, and Family Psychiatry Division and/or the Behavioral Health
Team. Practicum experiences include diagnostic interviewing, psychological assessment,
and individual/group psychotherapy.
Child, Adolescent, and Family Child Psychiatry: This program entails services for children and their families with a broad array of
problems/disorders and focusing on a biopsychosocial approach to treatment that often
includes the integrated services of child psychiatry faculty and trainees along with
psychology faculty and trainees. In assessment work, the Interns become proficient
in the use of WISC-5, WRAT-3 or WIAT-III, the PAI-A, and the BASC-3 instruments. Treatment
focuses on cognitive behavioral/ ACT approaches of care as well as to a variety of
psychoeducational approaches to treatment that include DBT Skills groups, Peer Friendship
Skills Training, and Parent Training.
Behavioral Health Team: This program provides psychological assessment and treatment in the context of interdisciplinary
teams. The adults served have a broad array of problems/disorders including mood
disorders, trauma-related disorders, and eating disorders. Treatments include individual
and group therapies using CBT/ACT/DBT models.
At the ECRH, assessment and treatment are also provided in the context of interdisciplinary teams within the General Mental Health Unit- a unit dedicated to the rapid assessment and de-escalation/stabilization care for individuals with serious mental illness and the Forensic Unit – this unit serves patients who are determined to be Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) or Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). The clinical training experience in these units focus on a cross training curriculum (with psychiatry interns, medical students, nurses, and social workers) that address the following skills/ competencies:
GENERAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY ROTATION: The General Health Psychology Rotation focuses on the delivery of psychological services in interdisciplinary health care settings. Training is offered in many inpatient and outpatient medical settings spread across all VA and MCG/AU hospitals and clinics and the MCG/AU Children’s Hospital of Georgia. This rotation focuses on acquiring a knowledge base that will enable the psychology interns to apply fundamental psychological principles to health care settings with a goal of training interns to function independently in interdisciplinary health care settings. This rotation focuses on the following competencies:
Interns will develop these skills through placements in different clinics or hospital settings in both the VA hospital and the Medical College of Georgia/Augusta University. Each intern typically works in 5-6 different settings during the rotation. Selected experiences include multiple integrated health care settings including such choices as: (1) MCG/AU services - Adult Infectious Disease Clinic (HIV/AIDS), Adult Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Service, Bariatric Clinic, Cancer Center, feeding disorders program, Pediatric Endocrinology - diabetes, Pediatric GI Clinic; (2) VA Services - Blind Rehabilitation Inpatient Unit, Chronic Pain Program, inpatient medical rehabilitation units, primary care clinics, Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Unit, and the TBI Polytrauma Evaluation Clinic. Additional options may be added to this list depending on circumstances.
EMPHASIS TRAINING TRACKS ROTATIONS: Emphasis Training Track Rotations and the weekly track day (Wednesdays) are devoted to emphasis training. This allows Interns to accumulate a specific expertise that is consistent with their long-range career interests and enhances their marketability upon graduation. Interns select one emphasis training track in which the training will occur during a 4- month rotation and each Wednesday of the week (for the entire year). Note that when applying via APPIC, Interns will see and select from six Track choices (the availability of track rotations may be subject to funding limitations in any given year):
Interns may apply for any or all of the tracks on their APPIC match forms.
