Psychology Education and Training Program

Core Training Area III: Intervention and Prevention

Center for Management of ADHD (Therapy)

Referrals on behalf of children 3 to 18 years of age are accepted for intervention services. Intervention models typically entail child and family behavior therapy, parent education and training (in individual or group formats), teacher and school consultation and, when indicated, closely monitored and evaluated medication trials conducted alone or in combination with cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational strategies. You will develop skills pertinent to developmental psychopathology, school consultation, child and family behavior therapy, home-school collaboration, psychopharmacology, and outcome assessment.

Training objectives

• To develop an understanding of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and associated learning and behavioral disorders
• To learn instructional and behavioral interventions alone and in combination with psychopharmacology
• To acquire skills in conducting a data-based evaluation of treatment outcomes
• To collaborate in developing research projects related to ADHD and school problems

The Family Stress and Illness Program

The Family Stress and Illness Program provides family based outpatient services to address the psychological needs of children and families experiencing acute or chronic illnesses. The unique strengths of families are recognized through all aspects of care, in particular the essential impact families have on illness management and health outcomes. Priority is assigned to providing care for children and families who have recently experienced inpatient medical hospitalization and require ongoing psychological care to optimize healthy adjustments.

Training objectives

• To understand the impact of acute and chronic illness on child, family, and caregiver functioning
• To acquire skills in family systems conceptualization of cases
• To develop collaborative relationships with healthcare providers through conjoint conceptualization and management of cases
• To acquire an understanding of medical conditions as they impact upon the child’s emotional development or behavior

Gastroenterology and Nutrition

This rotation offers an opportunity to be part of an outpatient interdisciplinary team comprised of medicine, nursing, nutrition, social work, and psychology. Our patient population includes children and adolescents with a range of presenting gastrointestinal conditions that include Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, as well as Defecation Disorders.

This rotation is generally completed as a four-hour rotation. However, other arrangements may be made to accommodate needs of a particular intern’s training interests/schedule.

Training objectives

• Interventions with our children, adolescents, and families include improving adjustment to new diagnosis
• Coping with chronic illness, adherence to medical recommendations, as well as targeted behavioral interventions to improve toileting.
• To develop skills in consultation with medical and nursing staff to support patient and family coping.
• To gain exposure to the types of cardiothoracic illnesses seen in children awaiting transplant, in order to develop a further understanding of potential illness-specific psychological, cognitive, and social sequelae.

Training activities

Required training activities include:

• Specific training goals of the intern will be discussed at the start of the rotation.
• Weekly psychosocial rounds, Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m., GI Endoscopy Suite
• Individual supervision, one hour, TBA

Paperwork expectations

• Initial and follow-up electronic consult notes; communication with gastroenterology team as indicated

The Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome Program (AMPS)

The AMPS Program consists of an interdisciplinary team including a physician, a nurse practitioner, a psychologist (psychiatrist if needed), physical therapists, occupational therapists, a music therapist, an art therapist, a school coordinator, a social worker, an aquatic specialist and support staff. We treat children and adolescents with amplified pain through intensive physical, occupational and psychological/creative arts therapy to restore function without pain medications. This is a daily program, M-F, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., that may take from one to seven weeks (average four weeks), and can be either inpatient or outpatient, depending on the need.

Our mission is to provide a comprehensive holistic interdisciplinary team approach to the individualized treatment and care of children with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain/RND. We uphold this mission by empowering children and their families through instilling confidence and providing hope to restore overall healthy life function.

Interns participating in the AMPS Program will provide psychological services to patients including a minimum of two sessions per week, co-treatment with PT/OT and consultation with the interdisciplinary team to inform treatment planning. Interns will also work with parents and participate in family meetings, as appropriate. Additionally, interns will have the opportunity to consult with patients’ schools and outside mental health treatment providers, as appropriate. There are also opportunities to participate in patient and parent group psychotherapy.

Training objectives

• Increase understanding of amplified pain syndromes and their treatment
• Develop psychotherapy skills as a member of an interdisciplinary team providing care to RND patients and their families.
• Develop skills working within an interdisciplinary treatment team, including providing feedback and consultation to the team.

Interns are expected to attend RND rounds and patient care meetings. Specific training objectives of the rotation will be tailored to each intern’s training needs, goals and objectives.

Plastics

Rotation description

Hours/week: 4-8 hours on Thursdays. Cleft Palate Clinic is held three times a month; Craniofacial Clinic is held on the third Thursday of each month. Each clinic day concludes with a one hour multidisciplinary team meeting.

Population: Patients (ages: birth to 21 years) with a variety of medical concerns, including:

• Congenital conditions (e.g., cleft lip and palate, craniofacial conditions, and birthmarks)
• Acquired differences resulting from trauma (such as MVAs and burns), tumors (from cancer and neurofibromatosis)
• A variety of hand problems resulting from birth deformities, injury or trauma

Clinical opportunities
This is an outpatient rotation, although opportunities for inpatient consultation may be available (e.g., when patients are hospitalized for surgical procedures). Common referrals include:

• Preparing children/families for surgical procedures
• Coping with appearance-related teasing/bullying
• School/learning problems
• Adjustment to birth of child with craniofacial/cleft condition
• Decision making in relation to elective surgical procedures

Interns who elect to complete this rotation will participate in the following activities:

• Conduct psychosocial assessments for patients with craniofacial conditions presenting for their annual team evaluation
• Provide consultation to multidisciplinary craniofacial and cleft palate teams, which include specialists from plastic surgery, ophthalmology, speech pathology, audiology, nursing, neurosurgery, psychology, social work, orthodontics, pediatrics, genetics, growth and otolaryngology
• Provide follow-up care (e.g., therapy) for children/families with acquired and congenital conditions

Research opportunities
Opportunities to participate in several ongoing research projects are available.

Responsibilities
Interns will be responsible for writing consultation notes, initial evaluations, and progress notes. Consultation and progress notes should be completed on the day of the patient visit. Initial evaluations (including treatment plan) should be completed within three sessions. Samples of consultation notes, initial evaluations, and progress notes will be provided. Interns will meet with Dr. Crerand for weekly supervision.