Interns will develop advanced understanding of the DSM-5-TR such that they are able to develop accurate diagnostic formulations, including the ability to consider suitable differential diagnoses when appropriate.
The process of diagnosis is advanced in a variety of ways. Formal exposure to the process of diagnosis occurs through didactic training, with some seminars focusing specifically on diagnosis, and other seminars containing a diagnostic component. Supervised, applied diagnostic work occurs through the process of formal assessment, treatment planning, and conducting intake sessions. Finally, interns participate in a mock oral licensure exam that requires them to arrive at a diagnostic determination and formulate a basic treatment plan based on the nature of the vignette presented to them.
The outcome expected from this aspect of the training is for the intern to be able to formulate accurate diagnostic formulations based on the information available from an intake assessment or formal psychological assessment.
Interns will develop the ability to formulate interventions based on his or her assessment and diagnosis of the client. Interns will develop the ability to verbalize a systematic approach to psychological treatment from which they will be able to formulate appropriate treatment goals, as well as develop and implement interventions that are empirically and theoretically sound.
Competency to provide treatment will be advanced through a variety of didactic seminars, and a wide variety of supervised practice opportunities. Several of the didactic seminars offered throughout the training year address treatment related issues. These seminars address therapeutic approaches to treatment, treatment with different populations such as children, adults, couples, and families. Additionally, didactic seminars are presented on the treatment of clients with a variety of presenting problems, such as eating disorders, attachment disorders, crisis management, multicultural counseling, and working with student-athletes to name a few. Interns are then given the opportunity to gain supervised experience with clients with a variety of presenting issues. Exposure to empirically supported treatments, as well as empirically identified common factors in therapy, is provided through didactic presentations as well as emphasized in supervision.
The expected outcome from this aspect of the training is for interns to develop a theoretical orientation that informs treatment related decision-making. Additionally, interns are expected to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize cases, develop relevant goals for treatment, and design and implement interventions that are well designed, well-timed, and consistent with empirically supported treatments when such treatments are available. In the absence of empirically supported treatments, interns are expected to develop the ability to make treatment decisions that are theoretically sound.
