Psychology Education and Training Program

Internship Program

Welcome to the Clinical Child Psychology Internship Training Program, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We are glad you are visiting our site! The website describes in detail the Program mission and goals, structure and requirements, and other important information to help you get to know our training program. We are very interested in promoting the strongest match possible between your training needs and goals, and our program mission and goals.

As you will see, we are a large and diverse training faculty within the first hospital in the nation dedicated solely to the healthcare of children. We take our training mission seriously and enjoy what we do. It is within this spirit of shared collaboration that we invite you to learn about the Clinical Child Psychology Internship Training Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Sincerely,

Paul M. Robins, PhD
Director of Internship Training

Program mission and goals

Program mission

The mission of the Internship Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is to train future child psychologists who are well-prepared to promote the adaptive development of children from diverse backgrounds. Specifically, the Program aims to prepare advanced doctoral-level students for entry level practice, and to take leadership roles in developing, providing, evaluating, and disseminating effective psychological services for the diverse population of children and families with health and/or mental health needs. The Program is committed to preparing psychologists as leaders in the field, engaged in clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy and scientific investigation.

Approaches to training

The training program embraces a scientist-practitioner training model and is guided by developmental, ecological and systems-based theories of psychology. Interns learn how biologically-based processes interact with environmental influences in a transactional manner throughout the developmental course of childhood to influence the adaptation of children and families. Children operate in multiple systems, most notably the family, healthcare, and school systems, that have a profound impact on their cognitive, emotional, health and social functioning. As a result, training occurs in multiple formats and multidisciplinary environments, with significant emphasis placed on effective functioning as a team member.

Interns participate in a cumulative sequence of clinical rotations, individual and group supervision, and a variety of didactic learning forums. These training opportunities guide interns in the application of empirically supported interventions, within the multiple contexts of a child’s development.

Program goals

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DCAPBS) Psychology Internship Program is a one-year clinical experience and typically includes five interns matched nationally. The program is horizontally structured along the following clinical competencies: assessment, consultation and prevention/intervention. In addition, there are cross-cutting competencies in cultural effectiveness, professional development and research leadership. The program is vertically structured through the following depth areas: pediatric psychology, clinical/school/community psychology, pediatric neuropsychology, autism spectrum disorders, and early childhood psychology. The program is divided into two, six-month blocks. Interns select clinical rotations within each of the three clinical competencies each semester, guided by their training director and their career focus within their depth area. In addition, psychology interns participate in the LEND program, in which their research competency is accomplished.

The Psychology Internship Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia embraces five overarching foci. These foci reflect our understanding of effective leadership training in child clinical psychology: using ecological-developmental/systems theories to understand children and families; developing effective interdisciplinary relationships; developing and implementing prevention and advocacy activities; demonstrating leadership skills; and working with community-based and/or medically underserved populations.

Each semester interns choose rotations in assessment, prevention/intervention, and consultation to support the development of these core competencies, at least one of which must be community-based. In addition, didactics, focused supervision, and other activities are provided and support professional development as a clinical child psychologist within our leadership foci. Throughout all training activities, best practices, as evidenced by available empirical data, are emphasized. The recursive relationship between research and practice is examined through the content of regular didactic seminars and journal clubs, as well as group and individual supervision.

Core Competencies

Interns are expected to demonstrate competencies in the following six domains:

Assessment

• Demonstrates effective clinical interviewing skills with children and families
• Demonstrates ability to effectively collect and integrate data from multiple sources and/or disciplines
• Demonstrates ability to appropriately select tests and measures to be used in assessment
• Demonstrates ability to accurately administer tests and measures
• Demonstrates ability to accurately score tests and measures
• Demonstrates skills in interpreting the results of cognitive and/or developmental assessment
• Demonstrates skills in interpreting behavioral rating scales
• Demonstrates knowledge of DSM-IV and skills in diagnostic assessment of psychopathology
• Demonstrates skills in assessment of children and adolescents of diverse backgrounds
• Effectively conceptualizes key clinical issues
• Writes reports in an accurate, organized, and clear manner
• Completes reports in a timely manner
• Effectively communicates findings to families and interdisciplinary team members
• Demonstrates skills in assessing child functioning in family, school, and peer group systems using clinical interview techniques

Intervention/Prevention

• Effectively collaborates to identify intervention goals
• Demonstrates the ability to formulate and implement an intervention plan
• Demonstrates the ability to monitor and adjust the intervention plan as needed
• Effectively collaborates with other disciplines in intervention efforts
• Demonstrates understanding of ecological/development theory applied to intervention
• Demonstrates skills in parent and family education and training
• Demonstrates skills in community-based prevention
• Demonstrates commitment to applying evidence-based interventions
• Demonstrates skills in intervention with families of diverse backgrounds
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with children, adolescents, and families
• Develops intervention strategies in collaboration with parents, children, and families that are viewed as reasonable and appropriate
• Effectively evaluates treatment outcomes

Consultation

• Demonstrates the ability to determine and clarify the referral issue
• Effectively consults with professionals across multiple disciplines
• Forms effective consultative relationships
• Effectively communicates consultation results and recommendations
• Demonstrates skills in case centered consultation
• Demonstrates skills in linking hospital, family, and community systems
• Demonstrates skills in program development
• Demonstrates skills in consulting with professionals from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrates understanding of the organization of a pediatric medical setting and many possible roles for psychologists

Research

• Demonstrates skills in developing research designs
• Demonstrates skills in developing science-based intervention and prevention programs
• Demonstrates knowledge of data analytic strategies
• Demonstrates skills in writing and reviewing research manuscripts
• Demonstrates knowledge of grant application processes
• Demonstrates skills in research with diverse populations
• Demonstrates skills in providing research leadership to other health care trainees

Diversity and Cultural Competence

• Demonstrates skills in assessment of children and adolescents of diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrates skills in intervention with families of diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrates skills in consulting with professionals from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrates skills in research with diverse populations

Professional Skills and Development

• Demonstrates well developed understanding of ethical principles
• Demonstrates skills in applying ethical principles in research and practice
• Develops skills in identifying professional strengths and limitations
• Seeks supervisory input as appropriate
• Accepts and integrates supervisory input in a professional manner
• Organizes time effectively
• Effectively manages stress and competing demands
• Works independently as appropriate
• Demonstrates ongoing commitment to expanding knowledge base
• Effectively communicates in group situations
• Establishes effective relationships with professionals from multiple disciplines
• Demonstrates skills in applying for fellowship positions
• Demonstrates skills in delivering didactic presentations