Graduate

Setting:

The University of Miami Psychological Services Center (PSC) is a primary clinical training site for graduate students in the three clinical psychology PhD programs. Services provided include individual therapy for children, families, adults and couples, psychological testing and assessments, and groups to address various problems in living.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Trainees have several therapy and assessment opportunities. Practicum students conduct individual therapy with children, adults, families, and couples. They also have the choice to conduct groups, such as a social phobia group, and participate in ongoing therapy programs, such as the Trauma Treatment program. Advanced students also have the opportunity to engage in peer supervision, both with students in their first year of the program before they begin practicum and with students in their first year of practicum. Trainees also conduct several psychoeducational assessments with children, adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of social and educational difficulties. Advanced students may participate in the Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic, conducting comprehensive diagnostic and psychoeducational evaluations of children and adolescents suspected of having autism spectrum disorders.

Supervision:

Trainees are supervised by clinical faculty and licensed clinical psychologists. Amount of supervision varies depending upon students’ practicum year. For therapy, students just beginning practicum and usually those in their second year of practicum receive individual supervision for at least one hour per week. If students carry cases after their second practicum year, they receive group supervision for at least 2 hours per week. There is a special supervision group for trainees seeing couples. Those conducting groups also receive specialized supervision. Further supervision can be arranged as needed. For assessments, trainees are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist on an ongoing basis.

Time Commitment:

Students in their first year of practicum are expected to complete a total of 60 face-to-face therapy hours at this site. Students in the child track are expected to complete nine psychoeducational assessments; students in the health and adult tracks are expected to complete six such assessments. Students typically spend 10 – 12 hours per week working at this site during their first year of practicum. Time commitment varies for students electing to continue to see clients for therapy and/or assessments beyond the first practicum year.

Eligibility:

Almost all students are placed here for their first year of practicum, which typically begins during the summer after their first year in the program and ends during the summer after their second year. Students may elect to continue practicum at the clinic beyond the first practicum year with permission from the clinic director and their clinical track coordinator.

Setting:

The UM Counseling Center is a resource center for students, staff, and faculty at the University of Miami. The center strives to enhance the success of students in achieving their academic goals through providing high quality personal, career, and academic counseling, as well as psychoeducational programs.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Opportunities exist for individual therapy, group therapy, and campus outreach. Practicum students are encouraged to be creative in generating both group therapy ideas and ideas for campus outreach. Students also participate in the intake process with new clients. Because the student body at the University of Miami is extremely diverse, trainees gain experience in working with clients from many different countries, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.

Supervision:

Practicum students receive two hours per week of supervision by a qualified psychologist and are required to participate in a 1-hour per week case conference.

Time Commitment:

Practicum students are encouraged to be on site for 10 hours per week. During this time, they are expected to see four individual clients, receive supervision, and supplement the remaining time with outreach, groups, and record keeping. Students begin practicum in the fall (August/Sept); a 2-semester commitment is required.

Eligibility:

While this is an external practicum site, students are eligible for placement here without previous practicum experience. Students should contact Dr. Rappaport in March to schedule an interview if interested in beginning a practicum in the following fall.

Setting:

The Mailman Center for Child Development is located at 1601 NW 12th Avenue in the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The Mailman Center is an academic center that addresses concerns of individuals with developmental disabilities and children with special health care needs. The Center is housed in a 9-story building with nearly 115,000 square feet of office, clinical, training, conference, and laboratory space. The Mailman Center annually serves over 15,000 children, youths, and their families. There are a number of rotations for practicum training, as summarized below.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Available experiences vary depending on the rotation. In general, practicum students have the opportunity for assessment, individual, family, and group therapy, pediatric consultation, because the population served by the Mailman Center is culturally and ethnically diverse, practicum students gain experience in working with clients from a number of different countries, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.

Supervision:

The amount of supervision varies depending upon the specific rotation. Each rotation is supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist. The psychologist meets with trainees to develop the best plan of treatment for the clients served on that rotation.

Time Commitment:

Time commitment varies by rotation. See descriptions below. Regardless of rotation, all students in their first year of practicum at the Mailman Center are required to attend a didactic case conference for one hour each week.

Eligibility:

Students are eligible for placement at the Mailman Center after completing one year of practicum at the Psychological Services Center. Child track students are required to complete two 6-month rotations as part of their practicum requirement. However, many students choose to complete more than the required number of rotations.

Rotations - Mailman Center for Child Development

Head Start Intervention Team

This rotation focuses on children, ages 3 to 5 years, who are primarily ethnic-minority children living in low-income neighborhoods. Practicum students are involved in several evidence-based therapeutic activities, including: individual intervention, language stimulation intervention, responsive teaching, general play therapy, and behavioral interventions. Evidence based assessment experiences are also a part of this placement, and include learning and administering the following measures: Differential Abilities Scale (DAS), Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI), Behavioral Assessment Scale for Children (BASC), Scales of Independent Behavior – Revised (SIB-R), and Learning Accomplishment Profile: Diagnostic Standardized Assessment (LAP-D). Individual supervision is provided on site, and the amount depends on the number of cases; one hour group supervision is required every other week. In addition, formal training in the implementation of various interventions is provided. The time commitment for this rotation is 5 – 10 hours per week.

Pediatric Mobile Clinic

This rotation serves children, adults, and families. Clients are primarily Spanish-speaking, low income families without health insurance. Practicum students are involved in both assessment and intervention, including administering brief behavioral and psychological evaluations and cognitive behavioral interventions. Practicum students work with a general physician, nurse practitioner, and nutritionist to meet the needs of the families. Trainees receive one hour per week of individual supervision. The time commitment for this rotation is 5 – 10 hours per week.

BEACH Clinic

Trainees on this rotation work with children struggling with obesity and their families. Most clients are physician-referred and at-risk because of their weight. The population served by this clinic is representative of Miami-Dade County demographics. Practicum students engage in brief consultations and assessments, including the Behavioral Assessment Scale for Children and the Children’s Depression Inventory. Trainees also conduct initial intakes, give feedback, and make recommendations to families. Practicum students are also involved in crisis management, family counseling and problem solving. Practicum students are also trained in motivational interviewing. Students learn to coordinate services with a pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, nurse practitioner, nutritionist, and exercise and sports physiologist. Trainees receive supervision from a licensed psychologist as needed and they receive on-site consultation from a pediatrician.

Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic

This rotation serves children experiencing behavior problems and their families. Children served at this clinic are mostly under the age of 13. The population served by the clinic is representative of Miami demographics. Trainees conduct intake interviews and assessments for ADHD and other externalizing problems. The main measures administered are the Connors’ Behavior Assessment for Children and the Children’s Depression Inventory. Trainees provide parent training and coordinate services with the clinic’s pediatrician if there is a need for medication. Practicum students receive 30 minutes to 1 hour of supervision per week from a licensed clinical psychologist. Supervision is also conducted through live observation and students receive immediate feedback. Time commitment is 5 – 6 hours per week.

Special Immunology Clinic

This clinic serves children and adolescents who are HIV positive. Demographics are predominantly African American and Haitian. Practicum students conduct neuropsychological assessments. Students are trained to interpret the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children – Fourth Edition, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales – Third Edition, Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement – Third Edition, Grooved and Purdue Pegboards, Connors’ Performance Test, Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, and the Wechsler Memory Scales – Second Edition from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Practicum students receive at least one hour per week of supervision from a licensed psychologist. Time commitment is 8 – 12 hours per week.

Early Steps Program

This program serves children under the age of 3 with suspected developmental delay. The population serve here is representative of Miami’s demographics. Practicum students are trained to administer developmental assessments and provide feedback to families. Measures used in this program include the Battelle – Second Edition, Developmental Programming for Infants and Young Children (DPIYC), Developmental Profile II, Mullen Scales of Early Learning, and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Trainees receive one hour of individual supervision from a licensed psychologist. Supervision is also conducted through live observation and students receive immediate feedback. Time commitment is 5 – 10 hours per week.

Cleft Lip & Palate Craniofacial Clinic

This rotation serves children and adolescents with craniofacial abnormalities. The population served was largely ethnic minority from varying SES. This multi-disciplinary team meets three times a month and provides services to children and families of children with craniofacial differences including cleft lip and/or palate and craniofacial syndromes. Team members include disciplines such as genetics, plastic surgery, dentistry, speech and language, and nutrition. Opportunities exist to participate as part of the multi-disciplinary assessment team as well as to provide outpatient psychotherapy. Common clinical issues including learning disorders, behavioral difficulties, self-image concerns, and peer relationship difficulties. Trainees receive individual supervision from a licensed psychologist through live observation. Students receive immediate feedback. Time commitment is 5 hours per week.

Psychological Assessment Service

This service provides experience in psychological, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological evaluation of children. Children are referred from other clinics in the Mailman Center and Department of Pediatrics, as well as from the Dade County Schools, community agencies, and private referral sources. Cases are varied in terms of ethnic background, SES, presenting problem, and age range (i.e., infancy through adolescence). Evaluations may include testing, family and school interviews, observations, consultation with other allied professionals, formal communication of findings to parents and other appropriate parties, and follow-up on treatment recommendations. Trainees receive at least one hour of individual supervision per week from a licensed psychologist. Time commitment is 8 – 12 hours per week.

Diabetes Research Institute/Endocrinology Clinic

This rotation serves individuals with Type I and II diabetes and their families. Clients range in age from birth through 18 yrs old. Most of the clients are Medicaid recipients who are monolingual Spanish or Haitian. Trainees engage in brief behavioral and psychological evaluations for patients and families. They also conduct brief behavioral interventions for patients and families to aid in their adjustment to diagnosis and/or improvement in disease management. Trainees receive one hour per week of group supervision from a licensed psychologist. Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Interdisciplinary Developmental Evaluation Service (IDES)

IDES in an interdisciplinary assessment service involving trainees from clinical psychology, audiology, pediatrics, speech and language, nutrition, social work, physical therapy, and education. The population served is representative of Miami Dade County. Trainees have the opportunity to coordinate psychological assessments of developmentally and medically complex children with professionals from these various disciplines, resulting in comprehensive recommendations for intervention or follow-up. Time commitment is 8 – 12 hours per week.

Child, Adolescent and Family Therapy Service

This service provides opportunities for individual and family therapy with children from infancy to adolescence. The emphasis is on behavioral assessment of common behavioral problems (e.g. Parent-adolescent conflict and noncompliance), child clinical disorders (e.g. anxiety, depression, attention deficit and conduct disorders), and problems related to acute and chronic medical conditions (e.g., eating disorders, medical adherence). Cognitive-behavioral and family systems models are emphasized.

Setting:

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center is located at 1201 NW 16th Street in Miami. This medical center provides multiple medical services for both male and female veterans on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The patient population is primarily male and female veterans of multi-cultural ethnicity. There are a number of available rotations for practicum training, as summarized below. The inpatient rotation is normally open to students in the adult track, while the other rotations are normally available to health track students.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Available experiences vary depending on the rotation. In general, practicum students have the opportunity for assessment, individual, family, and group therapy, and consultation. Because the population served by the medical center is culturally and ethnically diverse, practicum students gain experience in working with clients from a number of different countries, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.

Supervision:

The amount of supervision varies depending upon the specific rotation. Each rotation is supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist. The psychologist meets with trainees to develop the best plan of treatment for the clients served on that rotation.

Time Commitment:

Time commitment varies by rotation. See descriptions below.

Eligibility:

Students are eligible for placement at the VA Medical Center after completing one year of practicum at the Psychological Services Center or UM Counseling Center.

Inpatient Psychiatry – Ward 4AB – Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Inpatient Psychiatry (Ward 4AB) is a locked inpatient unit that provides treatment for severe psychopathology including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD. The inpatient program provides stabilization, evaluation and management of patients with acute psychiatric psychopathology and symptoms including alcohol and substance use detoxification. Patients are frequently hospitalized secondary to suicidal/homicidal ideation and/or gross psychotic symptoms.

Psychological services are provided by a clinical psychologist, a rotating pre-doctoral intern, and the practicum student. The psychologist, intern, or practicum student provides one daily group therapy session focusing primarily on goal-setting. Groups are flexible and can include topics such as depression, smoking cessation, and anger management. The unit uses a solution-oriented treatment approach that emphasizes patient’s strengths and success experiences. The group’s purpose is two-fold. First, it is intended to help patients determine short-term goals/plans to maximize gains from their time within the inpatient unit. Second, patients formulate long-term goals and consider potential barriers to treatment adherence to assist them upon discharge. Practicum students also learn to provide patients with clear, comprehensible and practical psychoeducational information for such skills as coping, stress management, medication and treatment adherence, assertiveness, communication and problem solving. Due to the acute nature of both the client population and treatment goals of 4AB, hospital stays are typically short; thus, groups will typically consist of different members from day-to-day.

Individual treatment cases are also available. Practicum students are able to meet with patients for brief, support-oriented, individual psychotherapy sessions. These sessions typically focus on practical issues such as emotional stabilization and treatment adherence. Practicum students are also involved in assessments that can assist the psychiatric team with both diagnosis and coordinating treatment plan. Beyond psychodiagnostic interviews, the most frequently used assessment instruments include the BDI-2 and the MMPI-2. Practicum students are responsible for preparing brief assessment reports that includes relevant history, concise presentation of test results, diagnostic impressions, summary of strengths and weaknesses, and treatment recommendations.

Practicum students will need to be flexible and will be working with patients in a time-limited capacity. Students will also learn to work in an interdisciplinary treatment team to evaluate patients, to develop treatment and discharge plans, and to communicate and consult regarding progress in those plans.

Daily supervision, as well as crisis back-up, is provided by the clinical psychologist. Practicum students are also invited to attend the weekly pre-doctoral intern case conference. This conference currently occurs each Wednesday and focuses on both assessment and therapy cases. Students are expected to devote 10 hours divided into 2 days per week, with a two-semester commitment to this rotation.

PRIME - Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center

This service focuses on outpatient veterans and family members with a variety of medical and psychological diagnoses. Clients reflect Miami demographics and range in age from early adulthood to the elderly. Trainees conduct clinical consultations (clinical interview, case conceptualization, report writing, referrals). They perform psychological evaluations for liver transplant and bariatric surgery eligibility. Therapy responsibilities include individual therapy with patients and/or family members and group therapy with patients and/or family members (e.g., stress mgmt, HIV groups). Trainees receive 1 hour per week of individual supervision, 1 hour per week of group supervision, and are required to attend a 1 hour per week case conference. Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction (SCI/D) Unit – Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center

This rotation serves inpatient and outpatient veterans with new or long-term SCI/D as a result of combat, accident or disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis). Clients reflect Miami demographics and range in age from young adult to geriatric. Student activities include psychological evaluations for new patients on SCI/D unit (clinical interview, BDI-II, Folstein MMSE, case conceptualization, report writing, treatment recommendations), individual therapy to promote adaptive coping and treat multiple conditions (depression, anxiety, personality disorder, substance abuse, chronic pain), and group therapy (Multiple Sclerosis support group). Trainees receive 1 – 2 hours per week of individual supervision and are required to attend 1 hour per week of treatment team meetings. Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Extended Care Service – Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center

This rotation focuses on medically fragile patients who are receiving palliative or hospice care on the Intermediate Care Unit, Hospice, Geriatric Evaluation & Management Unit, Acute Medicine, Oncology, and Renal Service. It serves a primarily geriatric population. Medical diagnoses include cancer, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular problems, and dementia. Student activities include clinical consultations (clinical interview, case conceptualization, report writing, referrals), individual therapy with inpatients and families to promote adaptive coping and adjustment to treatment regimens, grief, depression, anxiety, pain, and other psychological issues attendant to grave medical illnesses. Practicum students also perform group therapy (bi-monthly bereavement support, weekly cancer support). Trainees receive 30 minutes to 1 hour per week of individual supervision, 1 hour per week of group supervision, and are required to attend 1 to 2 hours per week of interdisciplinary treatment team meeting. Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Pain Clinic – Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center

This rotation serves outpatient veterans who are receiving medical management in the Pain Clinic. The population consists primarily of older adults. Common sources of pain symptoms are traumatic arthritis, back injury, neuropathy, and complications from surgery. Practicum students conduct clinical consultations (clinical interview, case conceptualization, report writing, referrals), individual therapy to address pain management and associated psychological issues, and group therapy (weekly cognitive behavioral stress management group). Trainees receive 1 hour per week of individual supervision and ½ hour per week of group supervision. Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Setting:

SFSH is at a state psychiatric facility which provides long-term care for severely mentally ill individuals. The median stay for patients at SFSH is 9 months. SFSH provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for a diverse patient population, including assessment, individual, and group treatment.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Individual and group therapy with adults including opportunities to co-lead anger management, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and smoking cessation groups, to name a few. Students are encouraged to start their own groups based on their clinical interests. Practicum students can also gain experience in administering evidence-based personality, neuropsychological and cognitive assessments, and in comprehensive report writing.

Supervision:

Individual supervision by a licensed clinical psychologist is provided weekly for both therapy and assessment cases. Guest lecturers and supervision on assessments and therapy are part of the practicum. In addition, weekly case conferences provide didactic training regarding disorders and issues particular to the patient population (e.g. psychosis). Twice monthly, students have the opportunity to attend Grand Rounds in which psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and medical and psychology students interview particular patients and then discuss the case.

Time Commitment:

Students are expected to spend no more than 10 hours per week at the practicum. The practicum can be arranged for most days of the week.

Eligibility:

A background in cognitive, neuropsychological, and personality testing is helpful, but not required. Students must have completed one year of practicum training, and have a clear interest in working with severely mentally ill patients.

Setting:

The Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center (MSCCC) is affiliated and housed on the campus of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, Florida’s largest private, independent, not-for-profit teaching hospital. The Center is located in a 75,000 square foot freestanding facility, which houses diagnostic and treatment facilities, as well as the Comprehensive Breast Center.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

This rotation serves inpatients and outpatients with a variety of cancer diagnoses and stages. It serves an ethnically diverse population that is largely middle- to upper- SES. Practicum students engage in brief consultations and perform individual therapy with patients and/or their family members. They also engage in group therapy with patient or hospital staff members (e.g., stress management group).

Supervision:

Trainees receive 1 – 2 hours per week of individual supervision with a licensed psychologist. Students are also required to participate in a 1 hour per week case conference.

Time Commitment:

Time commitment is 10 hours per week.

Eligibility:

This practicum site is open to advanced students, typically in their third or fourth year in the program, with at least one year of supervised practicum experience.

Setting:

UMH Neuropsychology is located in the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. This setting serves Department of Neurology patients with a range of conditions (e.g., Dementia, TBI, Parkinson's Disease, etc.) who are referred for neuropsychological complaints or for learning difficulties. Clients reflect Miami demographics and range in age from young adults to the elderly.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Practicum students are trained to conduct assessments which include standardized testing, clinical interview, case conceptualization, report writing, and provision of feedback. Practicum students are also trained in neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessment.

Supervision:

Trainees receive 1 - 3 hours per week of individual supervision per case. In addition, practicum students are required to attend a weekly 2-hour case conference/group supervision.

Time Commitment:

Time commitment is 15 hours per week for two semesters.

Eligibility:

This practicum site is open to advanced students, typically in their third or fourth year in the program, with at least one year of supervised practicum experience. Some basic knowledge of brain anatomy and neuropsychology is helpful, but not required to participate in this practicum.

Setting:

The Wellness Community-Greater Miami is part of a national organization that provides free services to adult cancer patients and their families, friends, and caregivers. This community-based organization provides psychoeducation and support at any stage of illness, from first diagnosis to several years of remission.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

This rotation provides practicum students with the opportunity to co-facilitate several different groups at the facility, provide short-term counseling for cancer patients and their families, and conduct directed relaxation and visualization sessions, and attend orientation meetings.

Supervision:

Trainees are supervised by a licensed psychologist. Trainees are expected to attend formal weekly supervision meetings with the Program Director. Practicum students are also expected to attend and participate in monthly staff meetings.

Time Commitment:

Students are expected to devote 5 - 10 hours per week to this rotation.

Eligibility:

This practicum site is open to advanced students, typically in their third or fourth year in the program, with at least one year of supervised practicum experience. Experience working with individuals with physical illness is helpful, but not necessary to participate in this practicum.

Setting:

The Clinical Research Building (CRB) of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is located at 1120 N.W. 14th Street in Miami. This new facility was finished in 2006 and is now home to more than 300,000 square feet of clinical research space, in such areas as psychology, pediatrics, psychiatry, genetics, and clinical pharmacology.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Psychologists at the CRB provide individual outpatient treatment for those with comorbid bipolar disorder and substance use disorder. Practicum students serve as therapists for individual cases. A major goal of the psychological team is to help people become empowered to abstain from alcohol/drug use and consequently live more effectively. In addition, therapists work with patients to improve symptoms of bipolar disorder using techniques such as motivational therapy, disease management, and psychoeducation. Practicum students also are involved in initial and follow-up assessments administering validated rating scales. Where possible, practicum experiences will be tailored to the relative interests of the students. Seminars in related topics are offered at the medical school as well. The patient population will vary, but should be approximately 60 % Hispanic, 20 % Caucasian, 15 % African-American, and 5 % other ethnicities.

Supervision:

Weekly supervision, as well as crisis back-up, is provided by a Florida-licensed clinical psychologist.

Time Commitment:

Students should plan to spend at least two consecutive semesters at the placement. They will be present at the facility for 5 days per week, with clinical duties between 1 pm and 3 pm, for a total of no more than 10 hours per week.

Eligibility:

Students who have completed at least one year of clinically-oriented, supervised practice will be eligible for this placement. Interested students must complete an interview with Dr. Ihsan Salloum at the CRB.

Setting:

The Autism Spectrum Assessment Clinic (ASAC), located in the Flipse Building, Coral Gables campus, provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations to children, adolescents, and adults who are seeking clarification about an autism spectrum diagnosis. Clients come from the South Florida community, as well as other states and countries. Services include assessment, school observations as needed, and written reports with in-person feedback with families. Bilingual testing is available.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Practicum students will participate in the entire autism diagnostic process. Test administration, interpretation, and report writing are completed by teams of practicum students, as well as supervising psychologists. The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) consultants, behavior analysts, and speech and language pathologists (as needed) are also frequently involved, providing student the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary teams. Assessments incorporate a variety of cognitive measures, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R), academic achievement as needed, adaptive behavior scales (e.g., Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition), parent/teacher rating scales, language assessments, and systematic reviews of previous evaluations. Training on the ADOS and ADI-R will be provided. Students will learn how to choose appropriate tests, interpret test data, provide appropriate treatment recommendations based on best practices strategies, work with behaviorally challenging children, and provide difficult diagnoses to families. Students also have the opportunity to participate in school observations and feedback sessions with families. Because clients in ASAC are extremely diverse, trainees gain experience in working with clients from many different countries, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds.

Supervision:

Practicum students are supervised by clinical faculty and licensed clinical psychologists. Students receive a minimum of one hour group supervision per week. Additional ongoing group and individual supervision are available as needed

Time Commitment:

Practicum students typically spend 6-8 hours per week working at this site. Students must be available on Tuesdays or Wednesdays between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for testing. Report writing, feedbacks, school observations, and additional supervision are scheduled at other times during the week, depending on students’ schedules. Student teams are expected to complete two full assessments per month. Students may participate in this placement for one or two semesters.

Eligibility:

Students are eligible for placement at ASAC after completing one year of a supervised assessment practicum (e.g., Psychological Services Center). Students should have experience administering and scoring cognitive, behavioral, and academic measures.

Setting:

This research-based clinical program provides detailed assessments of older adults, who vary in their functioning from “normal” to individuals with mild Alzheimer’s; all are community patients (outpatients) who are functioning relatively well. The client population is about 60% English-speaking and 40% Spanish-speaking. This appears to be a scientist-practitioner model of assessment that would fit well within our clinical program’s model of training.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Assessment of older adults; report writing; extensive training and supervision on assessment battery; practicum students are not in charge of feedback, but are able to sit in/observe feedback sessions with patients, contingent upon approval of patient.
As a part of this training, students would be expected to learn how to administer and interpret neuropsychological and other tests for adults; provide differential diagnoses based on test results; learn when to make recommendations for a more detailed emotional evaluation or psychological treatment; and learn when a full neurological evaluation is indicated. Recommendations for rehabilitation are also a part of the report preparation; alternate placement recommendations are rarely an issue.

Sequence of Training/Supervision:

First semester: intense training (1 day per week) for 2 months, before seeing a patient; then remainder of placement involves supervised assessment and report writing, with observation of feedback; occasionally there is “retraining” to insure that all assessors are consistent.
Supervision is provided in three different ways: primary supervisor for assessment component, while learning the tasks; then supervised by doctoral level psychologist (A or L observe) for 1 or 2 cases; then students complete assessments on their own but are given feedback on scoring and report writing/preparation.

Time Commitment:

Practicum can be done in one day a week on-site, plus outside study time to learn tests; prepare reports. The practicum can be arranged for most days of the week, but once a didactic training session is established, that doesn’t move. Students can begin practicum in the fall (August/Sept), spring (January) or summer. A one-year commitment is required.

Eligibility:

Advanced clinical standing, including the completion of an assessment course and experience with testing and treatment of outpatient/community populations (e.g., PSC) is required. Previous experience or coursework in neuropsychology is helpful, but not required. This placement is appropriate for monolingual or bilingual students.

Setting:

Jefferson Reeves is a primary care clinic located in Overtown. The clinic provides services to predominantly low income individuals. About 50% of clients are African American, and 50% are Hispanic, with many speaking only Spanish. This placement involves participation in a research team consisting of David Brown, a physician, Ray Ownby, MD/Ph.D., Dr. Barry Nierenberg, Dr. Nicole Eull, and Erika Daugherty, a case counselor. The clinic also staffs 24 residents, attending physicians, support staff, a social worker, nutritionist, diabetes case manager, dentists, and physical therapist. As part of a comprehensive services research program, the clinic is invested in doing more intensive screening and treatment for mental health concerns.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Clients in the primary care clinic are routinely screened for anxiety and depressive disorders, and frequently receive prescriptions for antidepressant medication. The goal of this practicum placement is to provide empirically-supported anxiety and depression psychotherapies. In one 6 month period, 266 clients were referred for psychological evaluation, and more than 100 attended these evaluations. This practicum provides opportunities to conduct evaluations, as well as individual and group therapy. Site supervisors encourage potential practicum students to incorporate their own treatment and research interests into their work at the clinic.

Time Commitment:

Students should plan to spend at least 2 consecutive semesters at the placement. They will be present at the facility for at least two days per week depending on availability of office space. Students will spend 10 hours at this practicum

Eligibility:

Students who have completed one year of practicum will be eligible for this placement. Interested students must submit a resume to Dr. Nicole Eull and complete an interview. Spanish is a definite plus, but not required. An interest in research and experience managing data is also a plus

Setting:

The Country Family Medical Center is located at 45 NW 4th Street in Homestead. It currently operates as community health center.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Dr. Smith conducts Social Security Disability Assessments two days per week. Assessment batteries are limited to clinical interviews and examinations of mental status and cognitive functioning. Practicum students will typically see three or four individuals each day and write one psychological report per week. The population of is primarily low income minorities with significant incidence of mental and physical illness

Supervision:

Weekly supervision is provided by Dr. Smith

Time Commitment:

Students should plan to spend at least 2 consecutive semesters at the placement. They will be present at the facility for two days per week, with clinical duties between 9:00am and 5:00pm on those two days.

Eligibility:

Students who have completed one year of clinical training will be eligible for this placement. Interested students must complete an interview with Dr. Smith

Setting:

The Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) is located at 15801 SW 137th street in Miami. They currently operate as a low security facility for 1100 men, and minimum security for another 300 men. Psychological services are provided by 3 clinical psychologists, drug treatment specialists, and trainees. Weekly supervision, as well as crisis back-up, is provided by the clinical psychologists.

Main Aspects of the Placement:

The psychologists at FCI provide as many groups as they can, including programs to help people prepare for life outside of FCI, seven habits of highly effective people, and groups focused on criminal thinking errors. A major goal of the psychological team is to help people consider cognitive and lifestyle patterns that may have led to their becoming incarcerated, and to help people become empowered to live more effectively and make sound occupational choices once they leave the system. The FCI psychological team is part of a national effort to provide more intensive social rehabilitation within federal prison systems. In the minimum security center, more intensive alcohol and drug treatment programs are available. Practicum students are also encouraged to develop new group treatment programs, including anger management, smoking cessation, stress management, and human sexuality programs.
Individual cases are available, as are psychoeducational assessment opportunities. Practicum students also are involved in initial assessments, as well as MMPI and malingering assessments before clients begin treatment. Where possible, practicum experiences will be tailored to the relative interests of the students in assessment versus therapy. Seminars on forensic topics are offered as well. Students who are interested can take part in training for the hostage negotiation team, which stages mock drills four times per year. The population of the inmates is approximately 1/3 Caucasian, 1/3 African American and 1/3 Hispanic.

Supervision:

Weekly supervision, as well as crisis back-up, is provided by the clinical psychologists

Time Commitment:

Students should plan to spend at least 2 consecutive semesters at the placement. They will be present at the facility for two days per week, with clinical duties between 7:30 and 11 am, and then from 1-3 pm on those two days.

Eligibility:

Students who have completed one external placement will be eligible for this placement. Interested students must complete an interview with the psychologists at FCI, as well as a background check that involves fingerprints and drug tests. Because background checks take a couple months to complete, interested students should contact Dr. Skibinski by March at the latest to begin a September practicum.

Setting:

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is located at 1000 Joe DiMaggio Drive in Hollywood, FL. The pediatric psychology program at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is currently involved with several pediatric specialty clinics. The goal of the hospital is to serve patients from all pediatric specialties and to develop new programs that will address the psychological needs of children and families living with medical conditions

Main Aspects of the Placement:

Practicum students will be trained: 1) to use empirically validated psychological interventions in the treatment of children with medical conditions; 2) to provide consultation-liaison services to medical staff; and 3) to work in multidisciplinary treatment teams. Specific experiences vary depending on the rotation. Practicum students will have the opportunity to work with culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse. There are a number of available rotations for practicum training, as summarized below. Students involved in assessment of clients will be trained in the following instruments, among others: Child Depression Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Revised Manifest Anxiety Scale, Piers Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, Behavior Assessment System for Children, Child Development Chart, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Quality of Life Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index, Overeating Questionnaire, Thematic Apperception Test, Kinetic Family Drawing, House-Tree-Person Drawing.

Supervision:

A licensed clinical psychologist supervises all students. There is also the opportunity for students to participate in group supervision with other trainees and staff members. One-hour of face-to-face supervision is provided by the clinical psychologist and on-going supervision is provided when students and the supervisor shadow each other. Depending on the rotation, students will receive anywhere between 2-4 hours of supervision per week

Time Commitment:

Time commitment varies by rotation. See descriptions below.

Eligibility:

Preference is given to advanced doctoral students who have taken course work in pediatric psychology and have had prior clinical experience. In addition, students must have completed the required rotations at the Mailman Center for Child Development.

Rotations – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Hematology-Oncology (HEMOC)

This rotation requires a commitment of 20 hours/week. Students are involved in multidisciplinary teamwork. Responsibilities include assessment and treatment of patient’s coping skills, adjustment issues, and medical adherence issues. Students are also trained to assess the impact of family dynamics on patient’s coping with medical conditions. Patients are followed closely through inpatient hospitalizations and outpatient clinic visits. Practicum students are expected to become familiar with the most common forms of pediatric cancer and their effects on children’s adjustment and cognitive abilities. Additionally, students will be exposed to hematological disorders, primarily sickle cell disease and the stressors that patients encounter when living with this illness. As part of this team, students will work closely with physicians, nurses, social workers and child life therapists. Psychology students are an integral part of this program and are expected to attend weekly multidisciplinary rounds on Wednesday from 8:30 – 10:00 A.M. and monthly tumor board meetings that take place on the first Wednesday of the month from 12:30 – 2:00 P.M. Students will also co-lead a monthly support group for sickle cell patients.

Fitness and Nutrition (FAN)

This rotation requires a commitment of 10-15 hours/week. Students will be involved in leading a weekly psychoeducational group for children and adolescents on Mondays from 5:30 – 7:00 P.M. Students will participate in a multidisciplinary clinic two Fridays a month. Patients are screened using motivational interviewing techniques to assess their readiness for participation in the FAN program. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to carry an outpatient caseload of 3-4 patients.

Hemodialysis

This rotation requires a commitment of 10-15 hours/week. Students will be able to see patients during outpatient dialysis clinics on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Students are also required to participate in monthly multidisciplinary meetings that take place on the second Wednesday of each month.

Craniofacial

This rotation requires a commitment of 10 - 12 hours/week. Students will participate in a weekly multidisciplinary clinic where 10-12 patients are screened for developmental delays and/or social-emotional concerns. Students are expected to become familiar with common craniofacial abnormalities and concurring developmental delays that are often seen in this population. Students will also have the opportunity to carry an outpatient caseload of 1-2 patients from this clinic. In addition, students will be invited to work on one presentation provided to families who are helping children cope with craniofacial deformities.

Rehabilitation

This rotation requires a commitment of 10 - 12 hours/week. Students will work with inpatient rehabilitation patients that are hospitalized due to motor vehicle accidents and/or complications that arise from medical conditions and require intensive rehabilitation services. As part of this team students will work closely with physical, occupational, and speech therapists, neuropsychologists, social workers, child life therapists, nurses and the rehabilitation physician. Common psychological issues addressed in this program are helping patients cope with life altering handicapping conditions that include both physical and cognitive limitations. Students are expected to participate in weekly team rounds on Thursdays from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. Due to the intense services patients receive in this program students should be available to work with patients between 12-2:00 P.M. and/or after 3:00 P.M

Other training experiences:

Although not formal rotations at this point, it can also be arranged for students to work with the following medical populations:

• Diabetes
• Cystic Fibrosis
• General hospital consults
• Pediatric Intensive Care patients

Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Treatment Program at the University of Miami