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Training goals and orientation
The Psychology Department of the
Arkansas State Hospital at the Division of Behavioral Health Services offers a one-year,
full-time, pre-doctoral internship in professional
psychology. The program is fully accredited by the
American Psychological Association and is a member
of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and
Internship Centers. The purpose of the program is to
teach treatment, assessment, consultation and
professional skills needed to function as an
effective professional psychologist. The goal of the
program is to train a generalist who has
competencies to work effectively with a variety of
patients seen in different treatment contexts. The
program's generalist approach capitalizes on the
variety of training opportunities available within
the program. These opportunities include working
with adults, adolescents, and children who present a
range of mental health problems at all levels of
severity. Types of problems seen in inpatient and
outpatient
populations include acute and chronic psychotic
disorders, behavioral disorders and various
adjustment reactions. The orientation of the
Psychology Department is eclectic, as is that of
most supervisors in the program. Interns are
expected to learn to function effectively in a
multidisciplinary team setting, working with the
full range of mental health professionals.
Training Setting
Training is offered in the
clinical facilities on the campuses of the
Arkansas State Hospital (ASH), University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Arkansas
Children’s Hospital (ACH), and locally with
the GAIN Program, Professional Counseling Associates (PCA) and the
Little Rock Community Mental Health Center (LRCMHC).
Division of BEHAVIORAL Health
Services
The DBHS is a state government
agency charged with providing mental health and
substance abuse services for the citizens of Arkansas. The Division’s Little
Rock campus contains Central Administrative Offices
and the Arkansas State Hospital.
DBHS administration includes the Director, Assistant
Directors, Medical Director and various program and support staff.
This component provides overall direction,
coordination, and administrative oversight of the
State-operated programs. Central Administration also
develops and maintains management information
systems; initiates and coordinates all state-wide
mental health and substance abuse planning and development of services;
serves as a liaison with all other Department of
Health and Human Services Divisions and other State
agencies; provides technical assistance and
support; and oversees federal grants and state
funds channeled through the Division of Behavioral
Health Services to fifteen (15) private, non-profit
community mental health centers throughout the
state.
The Arkansas State Hospital provides several types
of services, among which are an adolescent inpatient
treatment program for youth ages 13-18 and a
residential adolescent sex offenders treatment
program, a forensic program, which offers assistance
to state circuit courts and an acute psychiatric
inpatient treatment program for adults prescreened
for admission by the community mental health
centers. Professional Counseling Associates and the
Little Rock Community Mental Health Center provide
mental health services to residents of a defined
geographical area in and around the central Arkansas
area. Services provided on an outpatient basis
include children's services, individual and group
therapy, psychiatric and psychological evaluations,
marital counseling and crisis intervention. PCA also
operates a partial hospitalization psychosocial
program and an acute day treatment for patients with
severe and persistent mental illness.
The Division of Behavioral Health Services/Arkansas
State Hospital Psychology Department provides
services in the above clinical facilities. The
Department has a professional staff of 11 (8
doctoral level and 3 Master’s level), and 3
pre-doctoral interns. Other professional staff of
the Division of Behavioral Health Services includes
approximately 10 psychiatrists, 19 psychiatric
social workers and 245 nursing personnel. In
addition to psychology internship training, the
Division participates in the UAMS Psychiatry Residency
Program and
fellowships in child/adolescent psychiatry and
forensic psychiatry, social work
field placements for GSSW students annually,
and clerkship level training for
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences medical
students. Additionally, there are several doctoral
level psychologists with Professional Counseling
Associates who provide training and supervision to
interns.
University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences
Through an affiliation
arrangement with The Department of Psychiatry of The
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and The
Child Study Center program at the Arkansas
Children's Hospital, DBHS psychology interns may
take a portion of their training at UAMS clinical
facilities under the supervision of UAMS psychology
staff. The primary setting for this training is the Child Study Center. The Center operates specialized
children’s services on a statewide basis. The center
offers outpatient evaluation and treatment, day
treatment and school outreach and consultation
services. The psychology staff of the Child Study Center
consists of three doctoral and three master's level
staff. Other professional staff includes child
psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, and
special educators.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
offers training in all the major health disciplines.
Also, through the affiliation with UAMS, DBHS/ASH
psychology interns have access to the UAMS Medical
Library, which has extensive holdings in the fields
of psychology and mental health. Interns are
encouraged to attend Grand Rounds Continuing
Education Programs offered regularly on the UAMS
campus.
The
Training Program
The
training program consists of a planned sequence of
supervised clinical rotations, attendance at a
variety of didactic seminars, and various optional
training opportunities.
Clinical Rotations:
The training year is divided into three, four-month
rotations. During each rotation, the intern has two
clinical assignments. Rotation assignments are
arranged so the intern can continue following
treatment cases from one rotation to the next thus
providing the opportunity for experience with
longer-term treatment. There are 5 Clinical
Assignments, which must be taken.
Adult Inpatient:
The inpatient treatment of the more serious
psychopathological conditions is covered. An
emphasis is placed on psychological assessment and
specialized inpatient group therapy techniques.
Interns will function as members of a
multidisciplinary treatment team on a 30 bed acute,
inpatient unit. They will participate in treatment
planning meetings, co-lead group therapy with their
supervisor, conduct comprehensive psychological
evaluations and may be called upon to develop
individualized behavior modification plans. A four
month rotation, approximately 20 hours per week.
Forensic Services
Emphasis is on assessment and treatment planning for
individuals court referred for evaluation.
Psychological evaluations are utilized in the
assessment of individuals for court-ordered
evaluations. Interns co-lead group therapy and
participate in milieu program for patients retained
for court ordered treatment in an inpatient setting.
An opportunity to observe expert witness testimony
is usually available. A four month rotation,
approximately 20 hours per week.
Adolescent Sexual Offenders Program
This
is a residential treatment program, which emphasizes
long term treatment of adolescent male sexual
offenders. Group therapy is the primary treatment
modality; additional rotation experiences can
include family therapy, individual therapy, and
psychological testing/consultation. Interns will
also learn about case management, developmental
issues, and multidisciplinary team approach. This
consists of a four- month rotation, approximately 20
hours per week.
Adolescent Inpatient Treatment Program
Concurrently the intern works with adolescent
inpatients in group therapy and in completing
comprehensive assessments. The intern also
participates in Juvenile Court ordered evaluations
of adolescents, which are typically preformed in an
outpatient setting. Further, the intern participates
in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and
case management. This is a four-month rotation,
approximately 20 hours per week.
G.A.I.N.
An
Assertive Community Treatment Program entitled
Greater Assistance for those In Need, GAIN is a team
treatment approach designed to provide
comprehensive, community-based psychiatric
treatment, community rehabilitation, substance abuse
treatment and support to persons with serious and
persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia.
A four-month rotation, approximately 15 hours per
week.
Elective Rotations
Each
intern may choose to spend additional time in one of
the above rotations or select from the following
offerings.
Child Outpatient
The
intern trains in the
Child Study Center (CSC) of the
Arkansas Children’s Hospital on a four month
rotation of approximately 8-12 hours per week.
At the CSC, interns have the possibility of working
directly with young children, ages 3-12. Services
provided include play therapy, family therapy, brief
assessments, and psychological evaluations.
Emphasis is placed on the diagnosis and treatment
of attention deficit disorders, learning
disabilities, and other educational or developmental
problems. Supervision is provided by faculty at the
Child Study Center or UAMS. Typical diagnoses of the
children include ADHD, Asperger’s Disorder,
Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Depressive Disorders,
Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Disorders, and
Sexual/Physical Abuse.
Adult or Child Outpatient:
Interns work either in the PCA program or the Little
Rock Community Mental Health Center. Both are a
multidisciplinary specialty center for adults with
serious mental illness. Interns may see clients in
the Acute Day Treatment program, in the clinic, or
as co-therapists in a variety of psychotherapy
groups and psycho educational classes. Assessment
emphasizes interviewing, integration of history and
environmental information, and treatment planning,
with some psychological evaluations. Intervention
includes crisis assessment and stabilization, short
and longer-term psychotherapy, family and collateral
contact, and case management and client advocacy.
This rotation consists of four months of
approximately 16-18 hours per week.
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program for Adult
Forensic Inpatients
This
program utilizes a structured, token-economy,
rehabilitation model to address the needs of adult
male forensic patients who are experiencing
intermediate or long-term hospital stays. Primary
emphases of the program are personal
responsibility/choice, practical life skills, and
quality of life during hospitalization. This
rotation consists of four months of approximately
16-18 hours per week.
The sample Psychology Internship Schedule that follows
illustrates how the clinical assignments are
organized and how an intern will progress through
the program.
2008-2009 Psychology Internship Schedule
Didactic Seminars
Interns attend a one and one-half hour, three times
per month seminar specifically for interns.
Additionally, the DBHS/ASH Psychology Department
provides in-service training for staff on a monthly
basis. These programs cover a wide range of topics
and are presented either by hospital staff or by
professionals practicing in the central Arkansas
area. Psychiatry Grand Rounds are held every
Thursday from 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the UAMS
College of Public Health. Presenters include
local mental health practitioners, as well as
nationally known visiting speakers from Universities
and Medical Schools around the country. Interns are
also encouraged to attend Psychological Issues
Conferences held by the Little Rock Veteran’s
Administration Hospital and the weekly
Psychopharmacology Conferences held by DBHS'
Research and Training Institute.
Optional Experience
Interns
are encouraged to engage in research during the
training year, including dissertation research if
appropriate. Support for research includes:
-
Time set aside for this activity based on
specific proposals from the intern; this may
include a maximum of four hours per week for
research;
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Excused leave with pay to meet with dissertation
committee or program clinical director.
-
Computer systems available for use by interns.
-
Availability of UAMS library system.
Interns
are encouraged to structure optional rotations to
pursue special interest areas. Special interest
areas may involve either more intensive experience
with an aspect of the basic program experience or in
an area not covered in the basic program. In
addition to the areas described above, there is the
possibility of interns working in Health Psychology
or Adolescent Psychology as areas of special
interest.
Supervision
At any one time each intern has two supervisors, one
for each clinical assignment during a rotation. The
intern may expect to receive a minimum of four hours
of direct individual supervision per week. The
intern spends additional time in observation and
consulting with their. Supervision takes various
forms including co-therapy and co-assessment with
supervisors, review of test data and written
reports, feedback based on observation and modeling
by supervisor.
Feedback on performance is a continuous part of the
supervision process. In addition, at the end of each
rotation each supervisor completes a rating form of
the intern’s clinical and professional functioning.
The intern rates the quality and quantity of the
training program on each rotation, including the
supervision. These ratings are reviewed by the
Director of Intern Training and the Chief of
Psychology.
Most
supervisors are eclectic in orientation. The
following link is a list of current psychology
supervisors with their areas of special interests
and competencies.
For a list of Psychology Supervisors click ==>Psychology
Supervisors
Stipends and Benefits
The stipend for the twelve-month appointment is
$23,783. Fringe benefits include twelve holidays,
twelve vacation days, up to twelve sick leave days
as needed, and an optional comprehensive medical and
hospitalization plan (PLEASE NOTE: Insurance
coverage does not become effective until one month
after the intern begins the training program).
The
Community
The
Little Rock
metropolitan area has a population of
approximately 500,000. Little Rock is the state
capitol of Arkansas and is the center of the states
commercial and retail activity. The Little Rock area
offers a variety of social, cultural, educational,
and recreational opportunities.
The
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Opera
Company, Ballet Arkansas, The
Arkansas Repertory
Theater, and the Little Rock Community Theater each
offer a regular schedule of performances. The
Community Concert organization brings to the city a
series of musical and theatrical productions
including touring companies of Broadway shows. The
Arkansas Arts Center offers training in the visual
and dramatic arts and has galleries for both
permanent and traveling collections.
In
addition to the University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences, other institutions of higher learning
located in Little Rock include the
University of
Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). UALR has a 12,000
member student body and offers a wide variety of
bachelors and masters degree programs. The
University of Arkansas Graduate School Of Social
Work, the Little Rock Division of the
University of
Arkansas Law School, and
Philander Smith College are all
located in Little Rock.
Opportunities for outdoor and competitive sports
abound in “The Natural State”. Several lakes in the
Little Rock area provide opportunities for sailing,
fishing and a variety of water sports. Within a
short drive from Little Rock are many state and
national recreational areas which provide
opportunity for a variety of outdoor recreational
activities, including camping, fishing, hunting,
canoeing, and backpacking. In addition, world class
trout fishing, mountain folk craft, and unique
one-of-a kind attractions are within a short drive.
The University of Arkansas football and basketball
teams play several games each season in the Little
Rock area. The Alltel Arena is the home of the
central Arkansas arena football team
and hosts the UALR basketball team as well as
several professional events each year. The
River Market
entertainment district hosts a variety of musical
and culinary establishments. The
William J.
Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is
nearby. The City of
Little Rock has an extensive bike trail system
covering some 15 miles as well as a well developed
park system offering a wide variety of recreational
opportunities.
Little
Rock has four distinct seasons. High temperatures in
the summer are typically in the 90's, while lows in
the winter are in the 20's. The city usually
experiences one or two light snowfalls each winter.
Temperatures in the spring and fall are moderate.
The nearby Ozark Mountain area is noted for colorful
foliage in the fall season.
Little
Rock is the center for health care for the state. In
addition to the facilities described above, there
are two private hospitals (each with a psychiatric
unit) and a specialized children’s hospital. There
are several private psychiatric hospitals in the
Little Rock area, one of which specializes in
treating children and adolescents. The Veteran’s
Administration has facilities
located in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas (this
facility also operates an A.P.A. approved psychology
internship training program), and a medical-surgical
hospital at an academic medical center is adjacent to the DBHS campus.
Eligibility and Application
Applicants should be doctoral degree candidates from
A.P.A. accredited programs in clinical or counseling
psychology who have completed clinical practica and
their course work by the beginning of the
internship. Applications are preferred from A.P.A.
approved programs in Clinical Psychology. Applicants
from A.P.A. approved programs in Counseling
Psychology will be considered if the applicants’
course of study and past experience are consistent
with the setting and training experience offered by
the internship. Application materials should be
substantially complete by December 1st of each year
and only completed applications are considered on
the APPIC Match list deadline. If an applicant has
been unable to complete their application by
December 1st due to extenuating circumstances, they
are invited to call and talk with the training
director. While the program does not require a
personal visit to the site, applicants will be
notified by December 15th on the availability of a
visit. Telephone visits may be arranged as an
alternative to personal visits. Interviews are
scheduled on Fridays and the days are limited for
visits and all applicants may not be able to visit;
thus personal visits are not required for acceptance
into the internship.
The
DBHS Psychology Training Program is a member of the
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and
Internship Centers. Applications to the program are
made using the APPIC uniform application form
available on the APPIC web site. Internship
applicants should also submit transcripts of all
graduate school work, three letters of reference, a
curriculum vita and a redacted psychological
evaluation work sample. The DBHS internship
program makes offers of internship following the
computerized match procedures and time table set
down by APPIC.
The internship program follows Department of Health
and Human Services’ policy in offering fair and
equal opportunity in acceptance of interns.
Applicants are accepted regardless of race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap,
veteran status, or political affiliation. All
persons selected for new employment or a change
within DHHS must submit to a drug test as a
pre-condition of employment. All hiring
decisions are contingent on the selectee
successfully passing the drug test.
Additionally, as part of the DHHS hiring and
employment process, all applicants selected for job
offers in designated positions and all incumbent
employees in such positions are required to
successfully complete the formal process for
employee criminal and maltreatment history checks as
established in DHHS policy. Applicants for
psychology or internship positions must complete the
formal process of criminal and maltreatment history
checks. The
training program begins the last week in August of
each year and ends the following year on the Friday
before the last Monday in August.
Further Information may be obtained by contacting:
Arkansas Division of Behavioral Health Services
Psychology Internship Program
305 South Palm Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Psychology Department Telephone: (501) 683-6922
or e-mail the Training Director at:
mellany.k.flynn@arkansas.gov
APPIC
match number for the DBHS/ASH Internship Program is
# 1041
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