Counseling and Psychological Services
Other Training Activities
- Staffing Team
- Training Staff Meetings
- Support Group
- Meeting with the Training Director
- Intern Project
Staffing Team
Each intern participates in one of three weekly, one-hour staffing teams attended by all CAPS service providers (psychologists/social worker, psychiatrists, postdoctoral fellows, interns, and practicum externs). Intake cases are presented by each participant and the staffing team discusses treatment options (modality; psychological and psychiatric) and interventions. Disposition of cases (assignment to a CAPS clinician, case management, and/or referral to the community) are often made as a result of team discussion.
Training Staff Meetings
The Training Director convenes periodic training staff meetings to review and discuss training program issues, components and activities, and policies and procedures. In keeping with the collaborative philosophy of the agency and its developmental-mentoring model of training, interns participate in these meetings as junior members of the training staff. As participant-observers, interns gain the opportunity to contribute as staff examine philosophical, theoretical, technical, administrative and systemic aspects related to the professional training and development of psychologists. Intern contributions to discussion, from the vantage point of trainee as well as that of trainer (i.e., extern supervisor), provide valuable input and help shape both the structure and implementation of the training program.
Support Group
Interns meet weekly for one hour three times a month in a confidential, unfacilitated process support group. The meetings are intended to provide the opportunity for interns to get to know each other better and develop cohesiveness, as well as to discuss, process or react to the internship experience and other emerging concerns. The agenda and direction of the meetings are determined by the group.
Meeting with the Training Director
In the time slot for Support Group, the Training Director attends a meeting with interns to discuss general issues related to their experiences in the internship for one hour once a month, or more if appropriate. Issues such as professional development, identity as a psychologist, working collaboratively within a larger system, and managing multiple responsibilities and roles are also appropriate for this meeting. The format is open discussion with no set sequence of topics; the focus of discussion is often related to interns’ perceptions and experience of current events occurring within the agency or the training program. Concerns about the internship program may be discussed as well. Interns’ professional development questions regarding their preparation for job application and interviews are also encouraged in these meetings.
Intern Project
This intern activity is determined by intern interest and agency needs, and will vary over the course of the year. One hour per week is allotted for work on an intern project, but actual level of activity will vary depending on the nature of the project and the time of year. Interns are involved in such projects as selection of practicum externs, comprehensive consultative projects with an academic department or professional program, or development of the CAPS annual report. For example, interns from the 1999-2000 class developed an intake training program to be implemented with practicum training, complete with videotaped demonstrations, sample reports, and supporting articles on topics relevant to intake assessment. The class of 2002-2003 hosted, coordinated, and provided programs for the annual Midwest Intern Conference attended by seven internship programs from three states. A primary training goal for this activity is for interns to negotiate working as a team together. The 2006-2007 class made use of the Big 10 Counseling Center Conference hosted by CAPS at Northwestern in March 2007; they participated in subcommittees that planned and organized events and reviewed submitted proposals for programs.
