CLINICAL TRAINING:

PRACTICUM

Practicum Training Competencies

• Train Ph.D. clinical psychology graduate students in the application of evidence-based assessment and intervention skills through client and patient care experiences at clinical practicum sites.
  
• Develop competencies in establishing therapeutic relationships with clients and patients.
  
• Develop competencies in diagnostic interviewing skills and accurate diagnosing skills using the DSM-IV-TR. Develop competencies in selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological and neuropsychological assessment instruments; and begin developing effective report writing skills.
  
• Develop competencies in evidence-based psychotherapy skills. Ability to conceptualize clinical cases from a Local Clinical Scientist model.
  
• Develop skills in case formulation from a therapeutic orientation(s), using an integrative view.
  
• Develop skills in formulating interventions based upon diagnosis and case formulation. . Develop skills in learning cultural competencies through students' practicum clinical experiences.
  
• Develop competencies in applying ethical principles and code of conduct guidelines to client and patient care practicum experiences.
  
• Develop competencies in timely and effective case management in clinical practicum experiences.

Each student is evaluated on these objectives, and appears on the Quarterly Practicum Student Evaluation Form. Each quarter the student must meet with their clinical supervisor(s) to review each of these competencies.

Definitions of Practicum in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program

• Practicum involves the acquisition of a clinical skill set, through supervised clinical practice.
  
• Practicum usually includes experiences in psychological assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and treatment evaluation.
  
• Practicum may also include program development, third-party consultation, and other professional skills.
  
• Practicum falls within the curriculum of the Ph.D. program; clinical supervisors must be a director of clinical training approved through a formal practicum agreement with the training site.
  
• Practicum students and their supervisors must provide written quarterly evaluations to the director of clinical training.
  
• Practicum supervisors maintain full clinical responsibility for all patients (clients) seen by students.