Doctoral Psychology Internship program Behavioral Health Services Department of Psychiatry 484-628-8070 www.towerhealth.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS Program Philosophy... 1 Internship Goals and Objectives... 2 Training Model... 2 Program Structure... 2 Rotations... 3 Didactic/Educational Components.... 4 Supervision... 5 Internship Supervisory Staff.... 6 Facilities and Support Services.... 8 Salary and Benefits... 9 Application, Selection, and Completion Guidelines.... 10 Intern Application Process.... 10 Evaluation Procedures... 11 Local Attractions... 11 Accreditations... 12 For More Information... 13 Revised January 2018/CMH/Doctoral Psychology Booklet
Doctoral Psychology Internship program The APA-accredited Doctoral Psychology Internship Program is designed to provide clinical training in the practice of psychology across a range of settings: Psychiatric Inpatient (Adult & Geriatric), Partial Hospitalization, Outpatient Mental Health, and Family Medicine. Interns gain experience with individual and group therapy and psychological assessment. Interns are trained to be entry-level general practitioners of psychology. Interns are exposed to a diverse patient population, varied in age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, presenting problems, and degree of psychopathology. Interns have the opportunity to work with patients across the full continuum of care, including patients funded by commercial and public insurance plans. The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program operates under the planning and direction of the Department of Psychology, within the Department of Psychiatry and the Center for Mental Health. Director of Training, John MacDonnell, PhD, administers the program with the assistance of other psychology staff. Reading Hospital Doctoral Psychology Internship is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA), and adheres to the policies and guidelines of the Association for Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). Questions related to the program s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: 202-336-5979 / E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation Reading Hospital began its Doctoral Internship Program in 1978 and received APA accreditation in 1997. The internship consists of one full year of supervised training which begins the last week of August. There are four full-time intern positions. The internship is full-time with evening hours required depending on time pressures and patient needs. While the internship program is structured to meet the training needs of doctoral candidates in clinical psychology, doctoral candidates from other psychology programs are considered if they have compatible background and/or experience. Program Philosophy The program s philosophy of training is compatible with the mission of its sponsor institution, Reading Hospital. Reading Hospital s mission is to provide compassionate, accessible, high-quality, cost-effective health care to the community without distinction to race, color, age, creed, handicap, sex, national origin, or economic status; to promote health; to educate healthcare professionals; and to participate in appropriate clinical research. Consistent with Reading Hospital s mission, the Doctoral Psychology Internship Program attempts to integrate current knowledge and supervised experience with diverse populations, in varied settings, and with different treatment approaches. The training and education offered is broad and based on the existing and evolving body of knowledge, skills, and competencies of professional psychology. - 1 -
Internship Goals and Objectives The overall goal of the Doctoral Psychology Internship Program is to prepare the interns for the professional practice of psychology. The following objectives help clarify this goal: Objective 1: Interns will demonstrate competence in psychological assessment. Objective 2: Interns will demonstrate competence in the psychotherapy process. Objective 3: Interns will demonstrate the ability to function as an entry-level psychologist. Training Model The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program at Reading Hospital identifies with the Practitioner-Scholar model of training. The program provides exposure to a broad range of clinical intervention, roles, and responsibilities, and emphasizes professional ethics and accountability. Interns not only learn clinical skills and roles, but also are challenged to attend to their personal development as they develop their professional identity within an interdisciplinary setting. Through supervision and involvement in the inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization and family medicine areas at Reading Hospital, interns gain understanding of the interaction among the psychological, sociological, and biological contributions to both psychopathology and health. The Psychology Internship is the formal transition from student to practitioner. Interns function as members of the professional staff at the Center for Mental Health and in the Department of Psychiatry at Reading Hospital, but with a caseload compatible with the additional training and supervision requirements. Responsibility increases throughout the year as the interns skill level, efficiency, and knowledge of CMH procedures increases. Interns learn to function as generalists in a wide variety of settings, employing a range of therapeutic modalities and assessment techniques. The diversity of our program helps interns clarify their future interests or specialties they may wish to develop. Program Structure Clinical Rotations: The internship consists of four clinical rotations: Inpatient, Partial Hospitalization, Outpatient with optional forensic component, and Family Medicine, each for a three-month duration. There is one intern on each rotation at any given time. Interns are exposed to most aspects of a mental health continuum of care embedded within a large health system. During each rotation, interns evolve from the student role into a more professional, collegial role with other staff, and assume increasing amounts of responsibility. Outpatient Case Load: Interns maintain an outpatient case load throughout the year, providing the opportunity to experience short and long term therapy cases. Interns schedule their own outpatient appointments and manage their schedules within the requirements of each rotation. Psychological Assessment: Interns are able to conduct psychological assessments throughout the year in various settings across the full continuum of care. Psychological assessment is an important aspect of the internship experience. Interns perform inpatient assessments, outpatient assessments, and forensic evaluations. Interns are expected to conduct at least 30 psychological assessments during the course of the internship year, including ten Rorschach inkblot tests using the Exner Comprehensive Scoring System. - 2 -
Didactics/Education: The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program includes both clinical and didactic experiences as an integral part of the training experience. Educational programs range from our departmental lecture series to targeted seminars based on each intern cohort s training goals and needs. Also provided are a monthly countertransference seminar, medical neuropsychology training seminar, and theories of consultation, evaluation, and supervision seminars, designed specifically for our doctoral interns. Supervision: Supervision is provided in several formats, including individual, group, direct observation, and video review. Supervisors represent a broad range of perspectives and theoretical backgrounds, enabling interns to develop their personal theoretical orientation and expand their use of various treatment techniques. Rotations Inpatient: Interns conduct individual and group psychotherapy, diagnostic assessments including psychological and brief neuropsychological testing, and serve as contributing members of a multi-disciplinary treatment team on the 40- bed psychiatric inpatient unit. Interns work closely with the inpatient psychologist and psychiatrists throughout this rotation. Interns provide individual and family psychotherapy as indicated, develop treatment plans, and assist in discharge planning. Interns are expected to contribute suggestions, recommendations, and feedback to inpatient staff throughout the rotation. As with the medical students and psychiatric residents who work on the inpatient unit, interns work closely with staff improving their skills in the areas of diagnostic interviewing, psychopharmacology, reading brain scans, and the medico-biological aspects of inpatient care. On this rotation, interns maintain an outpatient caseload of 8 or more patient contact hours per week. Partial Hospitalization: During this rotation, interns gain an understanding of the role and function of a partial hospitalization program in the mental health care continuum. Interns develop skills in patient assessment, group dynamics, and group therapy through active participation for two days per week in the adult partial program. Interns participate in daily planning meetings, as well as in the full range of partial activities during the 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. patient day. Interns co-facilitate groups and participate in all phases of assessment, treatment, and discharge planning, as well as a variety of group experiences (i.e., group psychotherapy, psychoeducational groups, community lunch, and therapeutic activity groups). Interns are seen as integral members of the multidisciplinary treatment team, which includes psychiatrists, counselors, and psychologists. After 2:15 p.m., interns conduct intake assessments, perform insurance reviews, and complete paperwork. Interns receive close supervision from the director of the Partial Hospital Program. During this rotation, interns maintain an outpatient caseload of 10 patient contact hours per week. Outpatient/Forensic: Interns are exposed to all aspects of the clinical and administrative requirements of conducting outpatient psychotherapy with increasing independence throughout the internship. Interns become familiar with the triage system and may conduct initial phone assessments. Interns perform initial evaluations and make recommendations for ongoing treatment, need for psychological testing, or psychiatric consultation. Interns are encouraged to attend the psychiatric evaluations of their patients. Interns conduct individual, family, and couples psychotherapy as appropriate, and have the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, and adults - 3 -
from diverse backgrounds. With supervision, interns function as the primary therapist for their patients. The total number of patient contact hours on this rotation is approximately 18 (10 if the intern chooses the optional forensics component.) Forensic Component: A unique aspect of this rotation is the chance for interns to work with Larry A. Rotenberg, M.D., former Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and expert forensic psychiatrist, in conducting forensic evaluations. This involves observation of psychiatric interviews in prison and hospital settings, psychological assessment when requested, and observation of subsequent court proceedings. Evaluations involve a diversity of civil and criminal legal issues including Workman s Compensation, competency, child custody, and homicide. Family Medicine: In this rotation the intern will be exposed to a busy primary care medical home and will work side by side with family medicine residents providing patient care. The intern will shadow the medical resident to become acquainted with the medical aspects of care. The intern will identify stress related, mental health, and/or developmental issues that impact patient care and provide evidenced-based psychological interventions the same day. In addition, the intern will participate in inpatient rounds and offer teaching points and therapeutic recommendations. They will follow up with patients as requested by the medical team. Didactics are provided in daily morning report and by the supervisor. There are opportunities for group work. Opportunities to observe patient evaluations with an addiction specialist, psychiatrist and pain management psychologist are available. The intern may have opportunities for limited psychological and neuropsychological testing. During this rotation, interns maintain an outpatient case load of 10 patient contact hours per week. Didactic/Educational Components Reading Hospital has been accredited by the American Psychological Association as an approved sponsor of Continuing Education Credits since 1994. The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program includes both clinical and didactic experiences as an integral part of the training experience. 1. Department of Psychiatry Lecture Series: This series provide updates on contemporary topics in psychiatry/ psychology, including clinical, basic science, and policy issues in the field and is designed for a multidisciplinary audience. These conferences are held monthly on the second and fourth Tuesdays, September through May. The second Tuesday focuses on adult issues and the fourth Tuesday focuses on adolescent issues. Speakers include national and local experts and our own staff. Conferences last from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., and are held in the Thun/Janssen Auditorium. Included in this series is our Annual ½ Day Conference in Primary Care and Child/ Adolescent Psychiatry. 2. Countertransference Seminar: Led by Dr. Paul Delfin, this monthly group provides the opportunity for interns to present difficult cases in which there are issues of transference and countertransference. The intern presents a summary of the patient, treatment, and issues of concern. The group then processes this information, and, along with commentary by Dr. Delfin, provides feedback on transference and countertransference issues and how to deal with them. 3. PPA Advocacy Day: Interns travel to Harrisburg, PA to take part in the Pennsylvania Psychological Association s Annual Advocacy Day. Advocacy Day is a yearly event where members of the PPA are encouraged to meet with legislators to discuss issues that are relevant to the practice of psychology in Pennsylvania. This day includes an educational seminar on relevant laws and pending legislation. - 4 -
4. Psychology Intern Seminar Series: This series is coordinated by Dr. John MacDonnell and is conducted by CMH staff, consulting psychologists, and local clinicians for two hours. Specific topics are developed during each internship year depending on the training needs and interests of the interns. 5. Medical Neuropsychology Seminar: Led by Dr. Kevin Riley, this two-hour monthly seminar explores and elucidates the interwoven relationships among medical, neurological and psychiatric conditions using an admixture of formal lecture and clinical case presentation. The seminar progresses from a review of functional neuroanatomy and the influence of medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart failure) on cognitive and emotional functioning, continues with neuropsychological presentations of commonly-encountered disorders (delirium, dementia, depression, schizophrenia) and culminates with strategies to approach the Gordian Knot of complex clinical cases. 6. Theory and Practice of Consultation, Evaluation and Supervision: This seminar, led by Dr. Farah Moyer, is designed to help interns develop a practical knowledge base regarding the theories, methods, and research associated with psychological consultation, evaluation, and supervision. The schedule and training opportunities will be tailored based on experience levels of current interns. 7. Other training opportunities exist throughout the hospital, such as shadowing in our Emergency Department, observing evaluations for cochlear implants and bariatric surgery, and conducting depression screenings at a local university. Further grand rounds and seminar series accessible include Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine, and Family Medicine. These programs are posted on the hospital intranet home page. Supervision The Doctoral Psychology Internship Program operates under a committee of supervisors led by the Director of Training. Members of this team are all staff psychologists at the Center for Mental Health, who, in addition to supervisory roles, carry active caseloads. All decisions and intern assignments to rotations are discussed and decided by this committee. The interns are asked to provide input into many of the decisions made by the committee. All rotations include consistent and supportive supervision in both individual and group formats. Opportunities for peer consultation and case conferencing are also provided. Interns are assigned two outpatient supervisors for the year as well as a supervisor specific for adult inpatient, partial hospitalization, and family medicine rotations. They also meet weekly in group supervision with the Director of Training. Up to three hours of additional weekly supervision for psychological assessment is provided. Each intern will be assigned supervisors at the beginning of the year. Supervisors and interns are encouraged to clarify the expectations for use of the supervisory time and to enhance the supervisory experience through co-therapy, direct observation, and video recordings. Interns will receive a minimum of three individual hours and two group hours of supervision each week. - 5 -
Internship Supervisory Staff John M. MacDonnell, PhD Dr. MacDonnell received his doctorate from Saint Louis University in 1983, and completed a clinical internship at Topeka State Hospital. He is the Clinical Director of the Center for Mental Health, as well as Director of Training for the Internship Program. He has particular interest in work with children and families, couples, men s issues, biofeedback, and stress management. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and is a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania (1982). Deb Bevvino, PhD Dr. Bevvino received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology Ph.D. from the Lehigh University in 2000 following a doctoral internship at the Reading Hospital. Dr. Bevvino oversees the Behavioral Medicine curriculum for the Family Medicine Residency Program. She is a licensed psychologist (2000) and has a psychotherapy practice at the Reading Hospital. Her approach to psychotherapy is eclectic. Dr. Bevvino is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine and Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College Philadelphia, PA. Professional interests include effects of stress on emotional and physical well-being, Ayurveda medicine, and adult mental health. Dr. Bevvino is the primary supervisor on the family medicine rotation. Paul Delfin, PhD Dr. Delfin received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University in 1978, and completed his internship at the University of Rochester. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and past president of both the Pennsylvania Psychological Association and Berks Area Psychological Society. He is a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania (1980) and a consulting psychologist at the Center for Mental Health. Dr. Delfin facilitates the Countertransference Seminar and PPA Advocacy Day. John J. Heilenman, MA Mr. Heilenman received his master s degree in psychology from Kutztown University in 1985, and completed a supervised practicum experience at the Center for Mental Health. He is the director of the Group Center and Partners programs which are the Center s Partial Hospitalization Programs. His specialty is in group psychotherapy and he is a member of our Comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy program. He is a member of the North American Masters in Psychology Association and past president of Berks Area Psychological Society. He is a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania (1991). Mr. Heilenman has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty of Alvernia University since 1999. Mr. Heilenman is the primary supervisor for the Partial Hospital rotation. Michael Magdalinski, PhD Dr. Magdalinski received his doctorate from St. Louis University in 2002, and completed a clinical internship at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio. He served four years of active-duty military service in the United States Air Force. His clinical work focuses on adult outpatient services in the areas of mood and anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and anger management. He has significant experience with psychological and neuropsychological assessment. He is a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania (2004). Dr. Magdalinski provides assessment training and supervision. - 6 -
Farah A. Moyer, PsyD Dr. Moyer received her doctorate from LaSalle University in 2007 and completed her Doctoral internship at Reading Hospital. She is licensed to practice psychology in Pennsylvania (2009). She primarily treats adults, specializing in working with college students and patients who engage in high risk behaviors. She is a member of our comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy treatment team and Pennsylvania Psychological Association. Dr. Moyer works from a cognitive behavioral model and uses evidence based treatment approaches. Dr. Moyer provides supervision of outpatient therapy cases and facilitates the Theories and Methods of Consultation, Evaluation and Supervision seminar. Kevin C. Riley, PhD Dr. Riley received his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985, and completed a clinical internship at Temple University Health Sciences Center. He provides clinical services and trainee supervision on the psychiatric inpatient units at the Spruce Pavilion. His specialties include psychological and neuropsychological assessment, medical psychology, and serious psychopathology. His current research programs focus on suicide prevention and violence prediction and prevention. He is a Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist since 1987. Dr. Riley is the primary supervisor on the inpatient rotation, facilitates the medical neuropsychology seminar and provides additional training and supervision in assessment. Janet Sebes, PhD Dr. Sebes received her doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University in 1983. She completed her Doctoral internship in Clinical Psychology at the Devereux Foundation and a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at The McLean Hospital in Boston. She is eclectic in her orientation to therapy, and identifies with psychodynamic, family systems, and cognitive behavioral models. Areas of interest include behavior and anxiety disorders in children, parent education, and depression and anxiety disorders in adults. She received her license in 1984. Dr. Sebes provides supervision of outpatient therapy cases. Peggy Siebert, PsyD Dr. Siebert received her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Nova University in Florida in 1994. She completed her Doctoral internship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and is licensed to practice psychology in Pennsylvania (1996) and New Jersey (1997). Her main theoretical orientation is psychodynamic, specifically object-relations. However, she does conceptualize and treat eclectically. She works with children and adults in individual and family therapy. Dr. Siebert provides supervision of outpatient therapy cases. George Woodruff, PhD Dr. Woodruff received his doctorate in professional psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993. He is also licensed (1995) to practice psychology in Pennsylvania. He works primarily with adolescents and adults. Clinical interests include individual and group psychotherapy with adults, psychosocial issues and cardiac rehabilitation, and ethical and legal issues in psychotherapy. Dr. Woodruff provides supervision of outpatient therapy cases. - 7 -
Facilities and Support Services Tower Health includes Reading Hospital, a 695-bed acute care hospital located in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing, a facility in Spring Township, featuring a 50-bed skilled nursing unit and a 62-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit. We also provide office-based primary and specialty care through Tower Health Medical Group and in-home nursing care through Affilia Home Health. An extensive network of outpatient services are provided through offices and Urgent Care walk-in centers throughout the region. The Reading Hospital has had a behavioral health service, known as the Center for Mental Health, for over 40 years which now includes: Spruce Pavilion, a 40-bed inpatient psychiatric unit The Center for Mental Health, encompassing the following community-based behavioral health and addictions programs: Two outpatient clinics An adult and an adolescent partial hospitalization program A Drug and Alcohol Center Dual disorders and addictions clinics School-based and college-based mental health programs Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) program Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team Senior Assessment Program consultation services for older adults Hospital behavioral health consultation services Reading Hospital has opened a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency Service comprised of ten psychiatric beds staffed by trained mental health professions. The hospital has just opened a medical complexity unit that serves individuals with co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions. Over 15,000 patients are served on an annual basis in all these programs. Reading Hospital s Department of Psychiatry/Center for Mental Health includes over 100 mental health professionals from all disciplines, including psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatric social workers, counselors and therapists of different training backgrounds. Many of these are senior in their experience and expertise and have a broad range of expertise with many populations, such as the seriously mentally ill, older adults, children and youth, dual disorders, forensic, and culturally diverse populations. The Center for Mental Health currently occupies three floors of a five-story building, with the upper floors used as a residential facility for medical and other students. The building is connected to the Spruce Pavilion, allowing easy access between the outpatient and inpatient facilities. The outpatient facility consists primarily of private offices. In addition there are several group/activity rooms and a conference room. The Center for Mental Health also has off campus-offices in the nearby Van Reed Professional Building. Senior Psychologists usually see outpatients in these offices. The inpatient psychiatric unit is housed in the two-story Spruce Pavilion. This model facility includes psychiatric consultation offices, state-of-the-art therapy rooms, a gymnasium, and an ECT suite. The Spruce Pavilion offers - 8 -
treatment to the general population, as well as geriatric and co-existing disorders. A multidisciplinary treatment team, consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, therapists and social workers provides clinical services at Spruce for adult and geriatric patients. Testing Materials and Support: Interns have access to a wide selection of psychological assessment instruments, including commonly used measures of intelligence, personality, and achievement, as well as visual-motor and neuropsychological instruments. A variety of symptom checklists are also available. Computerized scoring and interpretation of Pearson Assessments (NCS) products (MMPI-2, MCMI-III, MAPL, BSI, etc.) and computerized interpretation of Rorschach (RIAP5) are available. Interns have access to computers for on-line test administration, word processing, e-mail, and internet access. Library: Reading Hospital Library, located in the hospital, maintains a collection of professional resources, including books and major journals, as well as resources related to loss, death, and grief. The library has connections with a number of professional schools, universities, and public libraries, and can obtain computer searches, article reprints, and inter-library loans of books and reference materials. Audio/Visual Services: The hospital has a professionally staffed audio/visual department. Services include a fully equipped television studio, audio-visual aids, and satellite reception capabilities. The Center for Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry also has videotape recording and playback equipment for use by professional staff. Clerical Support and Office Space: The four interns share two large offices with bathrooms in the outpatient services building. Offices are equipped with desks, telephones, dictation equipment, and ample seating for working with individuals and families. Each office is also equipped with two computers for patient scheduling, word-processing, e-mail, internet access, and a web camera for recording therapy sessions. Additional offices are available for patient care and record-keeping when intern offices are in use. Interns also have access to consultation offices on the inpatient unit. They have full support of the secretarial and clerical staff at the Center for Mental Health. Salary and Benefits Annual Salary: $27,498 This salary is reviewed every summer, and, when appropriate, is increased to keep competitive with other internship programs. Paychecks are issued every two weeks. Insurance Health, Dental, Vision, Liability and Life: The Hospital offers a health insurance program for the intern and family at a reduced cost. Dental coverage is also available in the second month of employment at a reduced rate. Liability insurance is available immediately, and is provided by the Hospital. Life insurance equal to your annual stipend is available after six months of employment. Paid Time Off: The intern is entitled to two weeks of vacation, six paid holidays, and two weeks of sick time. Additional time off for professional development may be negotiated. Additional Savings Options: A tax-sheltered annuity program, savings bonds deductions, and credit union membership are available. Meal Plan: The intern receives seven free meals per week in the three hospital cafeterias and Starbucks. - 9 -
Housing: If moving from out of town, the intern is eligible for a housing allowance or a free room at a local hotel. Shuttle service from the hotel to the hospital is provided. Free Onsite Parking Child Care: Child care through the hospital s Child Development Center is available for a fee. Discounts: Hospital employees receive discounts at many local businesses. Application, Selection, and Completion Guidelines The criteria to select interns involve both objective and subjective assessment of application information, including the personal interview. Preference is given to applicants enrolled in APA- accredited doctoral programs, and applications are encouraged from persons with diverse backgrounds and experiences. To be qualified for consideration, the applicant must: Be enrolled in a professional psychology training program (clinical programs preferred) Have completed all coursework for the doctoral degree Have passed doctoral comprehensive examinations Preference given to applicants with a minimum of 500 hours of supervised practicum and/or externship in a clinical setting and ten integrative testing reports. Intern Application Process The deadline for the receipt of application materials is November 15. The following materials are required: Completed APPIC Online Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI Online) available at APPIC website http://appic.org including: Cover letter Curriculum Vitae Official transcripts from all graduate training programs Three letters of recommendation, including at least one graduate faculty member and at least one practicum/externship clinical supervisor Two work samples such as a psychological assessment and a therapy summary. A personal interview is strongly recommended, and will be scheduled in December or January by invitation. The personal interview will last four to six hours, and include interviews with internship supervisory staff and current interns. Selection and notification will be made following APPIC guidelines and policies. Interns who accept an offer of employment will complete Reading Hospital employment process, and employment will be contingent on meeting the requirements of all hospital employees. A detailed description of this hiring policy can be found here. - 10 -
Criteria for Completion of the Internship: In order to receive certification of internship, the intern must complete the following requirements to the satisfaction of the Director of Training: A minimum of 1,880 hours worked. Hours need to be completed within a 12-month period. Satisfactory completion of four clinical rotations as assigned. Completion of a minimum of 30 psychological assessment batteries, ten of which include the Rorschach. Attendance at 90% of required educational programs. Successful presentation of formal case review to staff. Completion of all assigned clinical and administrative record keeping. Attainment of knowledge and skills at a level commensurate with that of a beginning doctoral level practitioner as judged by a consensus of supervisors. Completion of any additional requirements established by the Director of Training based on the individual intern s specific training needs. Evaluation Procedures: Evaluation, both formal and informal, is an ongoing process throughout the internship. Each supervisor will formally evaluate the intern s performance at the end of each rotation, and discuss the evaluation with the intern. Based on these evaluations, the intern s training goals or activities may be adjusted. Additionally, supervisors meet bi-weekly with the Director of Training to discuss the interns progress through the program. Supervisors share impressions and discuss work with specific patients. Any issues or concerns are also discussed. If problems are noted, the primary supervisor will discuss with the intern. If concerns persist, additional training may be designed to help remedy any deficits. In the rare instance of significant problems, a three month probationary period may be instituted and a remediation plan will be developed. Intern self-evaluation is formally undertaken throughout the internship. In the first week of internship, interns will complete the Intern self-evaluation form. This will be shared with supervisors, and used to develop individual training goals and activities. At year-end, the intern will complete a formal self-evaluation that will be discussed with supervisors as part of the intern evaluative process. Reading Hospital Doctoral Psychology Internship Program is committed to evaluating the effectiveness of the Internship Program in preparing interns for professional practice. After each rotation, interns will formally evaluate the program s activities, resources, and training goals, using the Program Evaluation form, and review this with the Director of Training. Appropriate changes will be made to assure the continued effectiveness of the program. Local Attractions Reading is situated in southeastern Pennsylvania (Berks County), less than 90 minutes from center city Philadelphia and two hours from New York and Baltimore. A wide range of recreational, cultural, and athletic activities are available in the area, with examples outlined below. Arts and Entertainment: Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center: Located in downtown Reading, the arena and performing arts center host a variety of concerts, shows and sporting events. - 11 -
GoggleWorks; A community interactive art center located in the heart of Reading that provides exhibits, interactive studio space, educational classes and hosts an independent film theater. Reading Public Museum: Located adjacent to the hospital s West Reading campus. This facility is home to a museum, planetarium, and arboretum, providing a nearby sanctuary and walking trails for stress relief. Additional events are held by several local Colleges and Universities, including Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus and Reading Area Community College. Nature and Recreation: Blue Marsh Lake is a ten-minute drive from Reading Hospital, and offers boating, swimming, sandy beaches, and a host of forested walking trails. The Appalachian Trail is a 30-minute drive to the north. Hawk Mountain sanctuary is nearby and offers easy access to observe nesting and migrating raptors, with spectacular hiking and mountain views. In addition, there are numerous biking and hiking trails and local parks in surrounding towns. Shopping: Sports: West Reading Shopping district: Revitalized town center with specialty shops/boutiques and a variety of restaurants and bars; hosts a weekly Farmer s Market (May-October) and several outdoor weekend festivals throughout the year. VF Outlet Center located in West Reading, Philadelphia Premium Outlets (30-minute drive), Tanger and Rockvale Outlets in nearby Lancaster (30-minute drive). Home to Fightin Phils, a minor league baseball team of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Reading Royals, a minor league hockey team of the Philadelphia Flyers. Accreditations Reading Hospital s Doctoral Psychology Internship program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Doctoral Internship Centers (APPIC). The program complies with all APA and APPIC standards. Questions related to the program s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE Washington DC 20002 Phone: 302-336-5979 Email: apaaccred@apa.org Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation - 12 -
Reading Hospital s Center for Mental Health is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Office of Mental Health and Department of Health, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Reading Hospital is also an approved teaching hospital, and has an agreement with Temple University School of Medicine for training medical students and as an elective rotation for psychiatry residents. Reading Hospital also has a research affiliation with Johns Hopkins University. For More Information: John M. MacDonnell, PhD Director, Internship Program Behavioral Health Services Reading Hospital-Tower Health PO Box 16052 Reading, PA 19612-6052 Phone: 484-628-8070 Fax: 484-628-5829 E-mail: John.MacDonnell@towerhealth.org - 13 -