The Graduate Training Practica In Psychology at The McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs Boston, Massachusetts 2013-2014 Academic Year Application Packet November, 2012 Dear Practicum Applicant: Thank you for requesting information about the 2013-2014 Advanced Practicum & Practicum Programs in Psychology at the McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Program. You will find position descriptions, a program description, and a formal application accompanying this letter. An applicant checklist is also included to assist you in making your application complete. Please send all of the required information as a combined packet, or email to Pat Speros as noted below. You may contact me by email at [email protected] with questions regarding your application or the practicum experiences. You can also contact my assistant, Pat Speros, with practical questions about the program or application at [email protected] . Admissions are rolling, but positions will be filled as qualified applicants are identified. Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to reviewing your application and knowing more about you. Sincerely, Ralph J. Buonopane, Ph.D. Program Director McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Program Clinical Instructor in Psychology Dept. of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Enclosures McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Program Located at The Franciscan Hospital for Children 30 Warren St. Brighton, MA 02135 2013-2014 Psychology Training Programs McLean Hospital and The Franciscan Hospital for Children have joined professional forces to provide mental health treatment for children and adolescents. With this union of historically strong teaching institutions, it seems natural that a commitment to training evolves as a priority. The McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Program offers psychology training practica to graduate students seeking a scientist-practitioner model of psychology training, and operates alongside the Mass General Child Psychiatry fellowship training program and McLean social work training program. The psychology training program is on a 32-bed child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric program located at the Franciscan Hospital for Children. The McLean-Franciscan program is widely recognized within the state as a provider of very high quality inpatient psychiatric care for both children and adolescents, providing inpatient psychiatric treatment for some of the most complex cases in severe psychiatric crisis. The program also serves as a graduate psychology training site. The inpatient program provides prompt response to psychiatric emergencies with comprehensive assessment and treatment for children and adolescents. The breadth of the treatment population on the inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric program and the corresponding ability to individualize high quality psychiatric crisis care are defining characteristics of the program, treating youth ages three through nineteen, of all developmental abilities, and all diagnostic categories. Further, the inpatient program is the only inpatient child psychiatric program in the state with a sub-specialty in treatment of youth with comorbid developmental disorders who are in psychiatric crisis. Multidisciplinary assessment and crisis intervention on the inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric unit consists of expert diagnostic assessment, psychopharmacological treatment, and mobilization of the child’s family and support system. Program goals include the restoration of safety and successful continuation of treatment and recovery outside of the hospital setting. These goals must be met rapidly, within the typical parameters of managed care. Standardized assessments of behavior, diagnosis, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning contribute to assessment and treatment planning on an individualized basis. The focus of treatment involves restoration of safety, targeting high risk behaviors, and most frequently, reduction of suicidal behaviors. Treatment occurs within the context of a structured therapeutic program, based on a strength-based model of care. Such a strength-based model of care is informed by emerging research on the effectiveness of the promotion of resilience in children and by research on the creation of trauma sensitive and person-centered treatment environments. The goal of the strength-based treatment program is to promote safety and a sense of hope and mastery, while encouraging active child and family involvement in treatment within the inpatient unit and in treatment that follows hospital discharge. The therapeutic program introduces the youth involved to a range of techniques designed to assist in stabilizing children in crisis, reduction of high risk symptoms, and beginning of skill acquisition related to emotional regulation and distress tolerance. Nationwide, the prevention of restraint and seclusion has become an important measure of the quality of inpatient programs. The McLean-Franciscan program has been a leader in the development and application of a strength-based model, with remarkable success in the reduction and prevention of restraint and seclusion. The inpatient therapeutic program provides an introduction to cognitive-behavioral and psychoeducational techniques which show some evidence base for reduction of suicidal behaviors; increasing emotional regulation and distress tolerance; decreasing depressive, anxiety and thought disorder symptoms; and increasing outpatient treatment and medication compliance. Other evidence based therapeutic techniques employed include elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), guided relaxation, and psychoeducation regarding mental health and psychiatric medication. Though the provision of care is the primary focus of the unit, there are several clinical research projects underway, including clinical outcomes research, perceptions of safety, and efficacy of inpatient DBT & guided journal modules. Practicum Position Descriptions Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology Advanced Practicum Student Advanced Psychology Practicum Students are assigned duties commensurate with academic and professional experiences. The student will participate in the unit’s training model for group therapists, attend daily rounds, design group curricula, observe & provide psychological and behavioral consultations, attend community meetings and co-facilitate psychotherapy groups. The design and implementation of group therapy is the major focus of the training program, with students typically planning & co-leading about 6 therapy groups per week of different modalities, with different age ranges. Students also have an opportunity to develop individual therapy skills in the context of a short-term, focused treatment, typically with a caseload of 2 youth who they will meet with at least twice weekly, as well as ongoing consultation with the team of clinicians involved in the case. The position is designed for a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week for the full academic year, and requires a clinical, counseling, or related behavioral sciences background. The student will receive individual supervision from a licensed psychologist on a weekly basis and will attend a weekly Psychology Seminar. Additional supervision by another licensed staff member is provided, as is one group per week that is co-led with a supervisor in the group. Two hours per week involve participation in multidisciplinary treatment team. The weekly seminar covers a range of topics related to professional skills as well as working with youth in crisis, including group therapy, the child mental health care system, resilience, trauma, basic psychopharm., understanding high risk behaviors, & DBT & CBT techniques for youth in crisis. Students with prior psychological assessment experience may have some opportunity to develop some their psychological assessment skills, including both personality and cognitive assessment. Students with limited assessment experience will have some opportunity to do brief behavioral and personality assessments and reports. McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs 2013-2014 Advanced Practicum Application Form Name: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: __________________________________________________ Telephone: __________________ Email:__________________________ Academic Institution: __________________________________________________ Supervisor: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________ Telephone: __________________________________________________ Indicate academic degree program you are enrolled in at the time you would begin a practicum at FCH: Graduate Program __Doctoral __CAGS __Masters Fall, 2012 will be your ______ (e.g. 1st, 4th, etc.) year in the above program Designate the term(s) and beginning/completion dates you are available for an internship. Academic year (Fall/Winter/Spring) Est. Beginning Date: ____September, 2013________________ Est. Completion Date: ____________________ Hours/Week: 20 Days: M 24 Tu W 32 Th F McLean-Franciscan Advanced Practica Application Checklist _____Letter of Interest _____Current C.V. or Resume _____Completed Application _____At Least Two Letters of Recommendation _____Submit Application Materials in a packet to: Ralph Buonopane, Ph.D., Program Director c/o Pat Speros McLean-Franciscan Programs Franciscan Hospital for Children 30 Warren Street Brighton, Massachusetts 02135 Or email in a packet to: Ralph Buonopane, Ph.D., Program Director c/o Pat Speros at [email protected] Application deadline is open and positions are filled as qualified applicants are identified. Please contact Dr. Buonopane’s assistant, Pat Speros, if you have any questions regarding the practicum positions. She can be reached at [email protected]