Supervision

Supervision is one of the biggest strengths of this program. Past interns and the recent APA site visitors comment on the high quality of supervision provided as well as the "open door policy" leading to easy access of supervisors. Interns receive supervised experience through exposure to a variety of clinical activities. The primary training model is experiential as interns are expected to provide direct service to children and families. Interns have an independent caseload, but often also accompany staff members during assessment, intervention, and consultation cases, thus having the opportunity for direct observation/modeling. In addition to observational/vicarious learning, training also is augmented through behind the mirror observation of colleagues, group supervision via videotapes, didactic exposure via seminars, continuous mentoring, and supervisory and consultative guidance.

Training rotations and supervision are designed in order to permit exposure to the entire range of clinical, consultation, and research activities represented by the clinical staff. Supervision is developmentally based in that it is geared to the clinical and personal developmental levels of the individual intern. As the year progresses and the intern becomes more independent, interns and supervisors discuss fading in-room supervision to a more consultative relationship. A minimum of four hours, including two hours of one-on-one supervision, is regularly scheduled each week. However, interns typically receive far more individual supervision in that faculty have an "open door" policy, meaning that they are available on an as-needed basis. Additional one-on-one supervision is provided when inpatient consultations are received, when additional review of assessment cases is needed, and for crisis intervention. Supervisors are frequently in the room for at least 50% of the time during evaluation procedures. Interns receive four hours/week of behind the mirror supervision for the Behavioral Consultation Clinic. In addition, interns participate in biweekly assessment (one-hour) and therapy (one-hour) group supervision seminars. Thus, supervision is intense and comprehensive, far surpassing the requirement of four hours per week.