2006-2007 Interns

Lindsey Hammond, Henry Ogden and Vanessa Rempel.

Core Competency Areas

We expect that each intern will finish the training experience with proficiency in these core competency areas:

Personal Counseling

Interns are expected to demonstrate effective therapeutic and case conceptualization skills; develop appropriate treatment plans; respond effectively to therapy issues; and deal with clients on process as well as content levels.

Career Counseling

Interns are expected to develop a conceptual framework for their career counseling work; apply career counseling skills with their clients in the area of assessment, occupational research, job search, communication; and demonstrate effective career counseling and maintain a professional protocol with regard to records and services.

Hear our Career Development Center director discuss how interns incorporate career counseling into their work.

Group Counseling

Interns are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the various stages of group development and significant issues of group work, such as pre-group screening, leader issues, the value of groups, and process issues. Frequently offered groups include Eating Concerns/Body Image groups, Grief and Loss, and General Issues counseling groups. In the summer interns also have the opportunity to co-facilitate a support group for incoming students of color, and may participate in planning and leading a job search support group for graduating seniors. 

Consultation

Interns are expected to develop and administer psychoeducational programs, respond effectively to consultation requests; and represent the agency well to other constituencies. Interns also serve as consultants to residence halls and to student affairs departments, including International Student Services and Multicultural Students Services, and they may also partner with one of the staff psychologists to work with the St. Paul Seminary.

Recent Consultation/Outreach Activities by Interns

• National Depression Screening Day
• National Anxiety Screening Day
• National Eating Disorders Screening Day
• National Alcohol Awareness week
• Outreach in conjunction with Career Development Services: Job Search: Just a Crapshoot?, Interviewing Strategies, Fast Track Hiring, Understanding the MBTI-II, Job Search Support Group
• Lectures to undergraduate and graduate classes: Depression, Depression in Adolescence, Mental Health Issues Facing College Students, Anxiety and Stress Management, Therapy, Eating Disorders, What is Counseling Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Psychological Disorders, Crisis Intervention/Suicide Assessment, Counseling College Age Women, Relationship Issues
• Presentations to staff: Serving Students with Disabilities, Dealing with Holiday Stress, Dissertation research

Supervision

Interns are expected to assume responsibility for supervising developing professionals, including: assessment of counseling skills development, establishing developmental goals and giving appropriate feedback on counseling, ethical and interpersonal issues.

Diversity Issues

Interns are expected to be sensitive to and value the richness of diversity in gender, ethnicity, race, religion and spirituality, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation and differing abilities. They are expected to translate these into culturally relevant interventions. While issues of multiculturalism are integrated into all aspects of the program, interns receive specific training in multicultural issues in their intern seminars.

Recent Multicultural and Diversity Training Seminars

• Training in Cultural Diversity (Minnesota Psychological Association)
• Annual Minnesota Association of Accredited Psychology Internship Centers (MAAPIC) Diversity Training workshop
• Psychosocial Challenges Facing African American Men and Women
• Developing Cultural Competencies: Clinical Applications for People of Mixed Racial Heritage
• Culture Sharing
• Counseling Clients with Disabilities
• Counseling Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Clients
• Multicultural Supervision
• Counseling International Students
• Using Spiritual Approaches in Therapy
• Sexuality and Catholicism
• Diversity Issues in Working with Hmong Families
• Diversity and Change in Working with Muslim Immigrant Families

Clinical Assessment

Interns are expected to assess clients accurately, using both interviewing and testing. Assessment is used as needed and in conjunction with the client's treatment plan.

Common Assessment Instruments Used

• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• California Psychological Inventory (CPI)
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator-2 (MBTI-2)
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2)
• Strong Interest Inventory (SII)

Crisis Intervention

Interns are expected to respond effectively and professionally in crisis situations (e.g., suicide); be sensitive to legal issues (e.g., confidentiality). As part of their consultation relationship to campus residence halls, interns provide, in conjunction with senior staff, after hours-crisis coverage.

Professional Ethics

Interns are expected to act in an ethical, professional manner consistent with the professional ethical principles governing the practice of psychology; demonstrate appropriate interpersonal skills with staff; follow organizational policy; complete tasks carefully and on time; and be aware of current developments in the field of psychology.

Next: Special Opportunities