Psychology Internship Training Program Structure and Requirements

Completion of the Psychology Internship Program requires a minimum of 1,900 hours of supervised clinical experience and participation in our program on a full-time basis for 12 months beginning on the Monday closest to July 1. Although interns may reach the maximum hour requirement prior to the official ending date (on or near June 30), interns are expected to continue clinical responsibilities until that date. If illness or some other circumstance makes it impossible to meet the 1,900-hour minimum definition of the internship by the official ending date, special arrangements will be made to ensure satisfactory completion of the Internship Training Program.

Restrictions

During the internship year at CHOP, interns will not be allowed to participate in any other outside professional activities without first being granted permission. Interns are also not allowed to provide clinical services to the public outside of the purview of the internship. Non-funded supervised clinical service of a training nature will be considered. All other activities will be considered for approval on an individual basis.

Each semester, interns select an array of three to four rotations, including one rotation from each of our three functional competency areas.  Rotations vary year to year, but could include (descriptions below are accurate for the current 2021-22 training year):

Assessment

• Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment in Outpatient Psychiatry
• Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment – Center for Autism Research
• Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment – Dept of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DCAPBS)
• ADHD Diagnostic Clinic
• ADHD Psychoeducational Assessment
• Outpatient Division Assessment and Referral Center
• Cardiac Kids Development Follow-up Program
• Neonatal Follow-up Program
• Post Surgery Neurodevelopmental Assessment
• Pediatric Neuropsychology Service (Neuropsychology Track only)
• Pediatric Neuropsychology – Focus in Oncology/Late Effects
• Psychological/Psycho-Educational Assessment

Consultation

• Acquired Autonomic Dysfunction Program (AADP) Clinic
• Behavioral Health Integrated Program (BHIP)
• Cardiac Psychology Consultation
• Endocrine
• Healthy Weight
• Inpatient Rehabilitation
• Neuropsychology/Rehabilitation (Pediatric Neuropsychology Track only)
• Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit
• Oncology Survivorship
• Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Center
• Pediatric Primary Care (IBH Track only)
• Pediatric Stroke Program
• Perinatal Mental Health and Bereavement
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Regional Autism Center (ASD Track only)
• Solid Organ Transplant Program

Intervention and Prevention

• ABC: The Anxiety Behaviors Clinic
• The Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome Program (AMPS)
• ASD Intervention
• Behavioral Parent Training
• Center for Management of ADHD – Group Treatment for Families
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy Multi-Family Skills Group
• Diabetes Center for Children
• Eating Disorders
• Family Stress and Illness Program (FSIP)
• Gastroenterology and Nutrition
• Hematology (Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center & Bone Marrow Failure Program
• Pediatric Regional Epilepsy Program and Tic Disorders
• Primary Care (for IBH Track Interns)

Numerous seminar series are available to Interns throughout the training year. Seminars are sequential, building upon previous knowledge and skills, and organized around achievement of the core competencies.

The following is a description of seminars attended by interns:

• Behavioral Health Seminar. This required department-wide seminar series meets twice a month and is open to the entire Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, which is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Seminars are organized into training modules related to a unifying theme. Faculty, trainees, and outside presenters take responsibility for conducting seminars that are interactive and geared toward the professional development and clinical skill development of all attendees.
• Intern Research Series. One intern presents each month on a research topic of their choice (typically focused on the dissertation project) to the rest of the intern class.  Other trainees and faculty/staff members are also invited to attend.  The series provides presentation experience for the interns, and allows the CHOP community to learn about the trainees’ research interests. 
• Professional Development Seminar. This required seminar series meets monthly and is designed to educate interns about professional issues pertaining to clinical practice, working with families of diverse backgrounds, collegial relationships, ethics, professional standards, professional development, and career development
• LEND Seminar Series. Interns are required to attend weekly seminars (three to four hours total) on a variety of topics related to neurodevelopmental disabilities and the development of leadership skills within the healthcare environment.
• Rotation Specific Seminars. Many clinical rotations sponsor ongoing seminars or staff meetings that are required or offered to interns on the rotation.
• Group Supervision Seminar. This seminar meets monthly and is designed to assist interns with the development of supervisory skills. The seminar includes readings on the core competencies of supervision. It also includes opportunities for interns to provide supervised peer supervision on case presentations, written assessments, and therapy skills.
• Diversity & Inclusion Forum. This non-evaluative monthly seminar designed only for psychology interns provides a venue for processing issues relevant to development of skills and competencies for effective assessment, treatment, and consultation. Interns will examine how identity, worldview, social context, and current events influence patient care and interactions with colleagues.
• Interprofessional Seminar in Community-Based Practice. This required seminar series  is related to the care of medically underserved populations, and includes psychology interns, as well as child and adolescent psychiatry fellows, and social work trainees. The specific seminar topics and session format are determined by the trainees at the start of the training year. 
• Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds and Teaching Rounds. This monthly rounds series features nationally/internationally recognized experts in behavioral health and is open to the entire medical center community. Departmental trainees also participate in case-based teaching rounds with the invited speaker.
• Additional multidisciplinary seminars may be scheduled.

Psychology interns participate in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program, which provides training in an interdisciplinary forum.

As LEND fellows, CHOP interns devote three to four hours per week to a LEND Core Curriculum. The Psychology Internship Program research requirement is mentored through the LEND program. Psychology interns will spend approximately three additional hours per week on other LEND related activities, such as community-based programs regarding children with special needs, and work with families of children with special needs on improving the delivery of services and supports.

CHOP LEND also provides ASD specific training in collaboration with the Center for Autism Research. For all LEND fellows, this includes additional coursework in ASD, options for ASD research and community projects, training in evidence-based ASD screening, diagnosis, and intervention, and opportunities to observe ASD assessments at the Regional Autism Clinic.

One internship position is reserved for an intern who has selected autism as their area of emphasis. This intern will participate in the LEND program, complete the Autism Assessment Rotations, focus on autism in their research, and may have the opportunity to participate as a postdoctoral fellow through the Center for Autism Research following the internship year.

Learn more about the LEND Training Program.

Interns, as LEND fellows, are required to participate in an interdisciplinary research project with LEND fellows from other disciplines (e.g. audiology, physical therapy, developmental pediatrics), resulting in an oral or poster presentation in May. The Internship Program provides four hours per week support to allow interns time to develop their leadership research project. The goal of the research requirement is to support the development of research leadership skills. Interns can choose to participate on an existing project in collaboration with their discipline research mentor or develop a new project. It is expected that interns will engage in a research project separate from their dissertations.

Numerous resources are available to interns conducting research, including the extensive library system of the University of Pennsylvania as well as mentoring from numerous faculty at both the university and hospital.