PREDOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
IN
CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGY
2010-2011
OUR MISSION
CORNERSTONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
THE
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE, ACTIVITIES
AND CLIENTELE
TREATMENT SERVICES
THE PSYCHOLOGY STAFF
BENEFITS FOR
PSYCHOLOGY INTERNS
EVANSTON AND THE WESTERN WYOMING
AREA
APPLICATION PROCESS
The APA accredited predoctoral internship program in clinical psychology at Cornerstone Behavioral Health is committed to developing the skills, competencies, and rigorous scientific attitude necessary for entering the professional practice of psychology, with special sensitivity to the personal and professional growth of the interns while simultaneously improving the quality of life for the persons served.
2009-2010 interns (left to right): Alysha
Buonerba, Megan Alsop, Meagon Pryor, and Clinical Director - Director
of Internship Training Dr. Adam Fuller.
PHILOSOPHY AND
TRAINING MODEL
The Local Clinical Scientist
The Cornerstone Behavioral Health internship in clinical psychology recognizes that becoming a professional psychologist is a developmental process. It is a core belief of our program that the path from student to expert is illuminated by developing a working knowledge of a coherent theoretical model of the mind, personality, psychopathology, and therapeutic change that serves as a basis for not only techniques and strategies of practice, but as a unifying way of thinking and clinical judgement.
The practicing psychologist typically is presented with unique, complex, multi-determined, and often ill-defined, emotionally-charged problems immersed in an intensive interpersonal matrix. At Cornerstone, like many other clinical settings, we are practitioners repeatedly faced with demands to solve problems that are influenced strongly by unique local factors for which there are no clear answers provided by the research literature. As for most practitioners, our clientele are more likely to be those people who would be excluded from research protocols. Yet, as psychologists, we accept the challenge of developing well-reasoned, empirically-based solutions, whether serving as therapist, consultant, or formulating useful recommendations in a well-conceptualized psychodiagnostic report.
Under these circumstances, we view ourselves as clinicians who approach problems scientifically, with the same discipline, rigor, logic, critical thinking, and openness to falsification, described by Stricker and Trierweiler (1995) as the essential nature of the local clinical scientist, which serves as our model of training. We approach each person seeking services with a commitment to understanding their individuality and the diversity of human experience and backgrounds. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to treatment. Instead, each clinical situation represents a problem to be solved in the context of the uniqueness of the individual immersed in a therapeutic relationship, using theory-driven hypotheses and a scientific attitude of inquiry as our guides.
Our approach to training is to provide interns with the tools and the theoretical framework for making sense out of the complex and seemingly disparate data of the practitioner's world and coming up with practical solutions that are sound, empirically-minded, and respectful of human diversity. These tools and theories we teach are firmly rooted in empirical demonstrations of the efficacy of psychodynamic/psychoanalytic approaches to treatment, among others, yet applied in the local context. In addition to learning specific techniques and strategies, our interns develop a style of thinking and a structure for clinical judgment–an over-arching guide to negotiating and making sense out of the complexities of clinical practice– which can be applied in any setting.
In accomplishing this, we recognize that the developmental process of becoming a psychologist is best facilitated by a learning environment that contains a number of essential elements. First, the ideal internship environment requires complete immersion of the intern in intensive work that gradually progresses in complexity and responsibility in a way synchronized with each intern's individual development. This intensive environment places demands on the interns’ abilities, thus stimulating growth, and adds levels of responsibility beyond what was experienced in graduate school. Despite the intensity of the work, it is also essential that the interns have enough time where they are not over-burdened by demands, leaving them the opportunity for contemplation, reading, thinking, and personal time which allow for thorough incorporation of their internship experiences.
The internship offers plentiful direct-care clinical experience interwoven with didactic training and in-depth supervision. Didactic seminars continue to deepen the interns’ knowledge while the clinical work provides opportunities to directly apply new knowledge and broaden the interns’ view of the diversity of human experience through exposure and empathy. The performance of clinical work occurs under supervision that focuses on development of new skills, application and integration of new learning in the context of direct clinical work with individuals, clear feedback on progress, and overall professional development and support.
Other essential ingredients include opportunities for observation of others performing the work of professional psychologists and opportunities to integrate information in written form. We recognize that observing, practicing, listening, reading, writing, contemplating, and verbally articulating thoughts are all ways of "knowing." Each is a learning modality, which, when combined in an intensive setting, creates the environment necessary for education at the predoctoral internship level.
Stricker, G. & Trierweiler, S. (1995). The local clinical scientist. American Psychologist, 50(12), 995-1002.
CORNERSTONE BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH
Cornerstone Behavioral Health is a private, not-for-profit division of
Mountain Regional Services, Inc. (MRSI). Established in 1985, and first
accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
(CARF) in 1987, Mountain Regional Services has earned a national reputation for
ground breaking work with persons with developmental disabilities and
co-occurring mental illness, using community-based residential and day-treatment
services in contrast to traditional state-run facilities or inpatient units. As
the mental health branch of MRSI, Cornerstone's psychology staff direct a
multidisciplinary team consisting of psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy,
case management, speech therapy, and dietary services providing effective
treatment to approximately 70 people with dual diagnosis
(DD/MI).
Cornerstone expanded the breadth of services offered by MRSI by
developing general mental health services in an outpatient private-practice
setting, and an intensive substance abuse treatment program, both serving
Evanston and surrounding rural communities in southwestern Wyoming.
Cornerstone's substance abuse treatment program is one of only two in the State
of Wyoming accredited by CARF. The mental health program received CARF
accreditation in the fall of 1997, offering clients professional and
confidential services traditionally found in urban environments. The substance
abuse program and outpatient mental health practice now supplement the primary
internship experience serving people with developmental disabilities and severe
mental illness. The professional staff at Cornerstone is anchored by six
licensed doctoral level psychologists, one post doctoral resident, and one
consulting psychiatrist.
THE INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
INTERNSHIP STRUCTURE,
ACTIVITIES AND
CLIENTELE
The primary experience for interns is working with adults who have
developmental disabilities in individual and group psychotherapy. Over 90% of
these clients have concomitant major psychiatric disorders, comparable to
typical inpatient psychiatric hospital populations. In many settings, working
with people who have developmental disabilities is a neglected and poorly
understood area of psychology. For Cornerstone interns, the common course of
development through the year is one that starts with limited awareness and often
misunderstanding of people with developmental disabilities and moves toward an
attitude of profound respect and admiration for a group of people who repeatedly
demonstrate courage and resiliency in the face of overwhelming hardship,
prejudice, abuse, and social rejection. Some interns have called their therapy
work with people who have developmental disabilities the richest and most
rewarding therapy experiences they have had. Psychological processes, symptoms,
motivations for behavior, defense mechanisms and other strategies for managing
tension and coping with trauma common to all people are often so vividly
illustrated, interns are left with highly honed skills in recognizing such
psychological concepts in any individual with whom they have clinical contact,
including the general mental health and substance abuse clients with whom they
work.
Additional activities for the interns include developing and
coordinating behavioral interventions for their caseload of clients with
developmental disabilities, consulting with staff members who work directly with
the clients, and evaluating clients to determine eligibility for state funded
services.
The substance abuse treatment rotation includes spending a either a half or a full year co-leading intensive outpatient adult treatment or after-care substance-abuse groups. Interns who participate in the half-year rotation spend the other half of the year working more intensively with outpatient private practice clientele.
In our private practice setting, interns have opportunities to provide psychotherapy services to people who are referred for supplemental individual or couple's treatment by Cornerstone's intensive outpatient substance abuse program, or to adults, adolescents, and children from the local community seeking general mental health services. This smaller portion of the interns' caseload generally accounts for approximately two to four therapy hours per week.
Experiences in psychodiagnostic testing and assessment include performing psychological evaluations of people with developmental disabilities, evaluations of people referred to Cornerstone for possible substance abuse problems, and participation on teams of professionals who conduct comprehensive developmental disability evaluations.Interns have three hours of didactic seminars each week. The first hour is devoted to the study of psychoanalytic theory. The second hour focuses on psychotherapy and assessment, including topics suchas the interaction of culture and psychotherapy, interpretation, the role of metaphor, transference and countertransference, brief models of psychodynamic psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, psychodynamic case formulation, using the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual, models of supervision, and specialty training in the Rorschach and MMPI-2. The third hour focuses on understanding and treating individuals with developmental disabilities including such topics as psychopathology in people with DD, character disorders, psychosis, mood disorders, the effects of trauma on ego development, seizure disorders, sexuality, aggression, and self-injurious behavior.
Interns receive a minimum of seven hours of face-to-face individual and group supervision per week. Interns meet individually with their primary supervisor for two-hours each week, focusing on psychotherapy supervision and general professional development. Interns are assigned a separate supervisor for their assessment experience, with whom they meet individually for an additional one hour per week. Interns have group supervision with the Clinical Director, one hour per week, and an additional hour of group supervision specifically focused on group psychotherapy. Finally, for the substance abuse experience, interns have a two-hour substance abuse group supervision every week.
INTERNSHIP GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND COMPETENCIES
Based on our philosophy of treatment and training model, we have developed the following broad goals for our program, supported by specific objectives for training and competencies to be achieved by each intern. The structured activities and clinical experiences of the internship provide the basis for each intern to develop the competencies listed below. To facilitate development of these competencies, interns work closely with their supervisors, receiving regular feedback as well as formal evaluation of their progress to help ensure satisfactory accomplishment of the objectives set forth by the program, all in the context of a supportive learning environment.
Goal 1: To produce graduates well-prepared for the practice of professional psychology who have a working knowledge of a core theoretical model of the mind, personality, psychopathology, and therapeutic change that serves as an over-arching guide to clinical practice.
Goal 2: To produce graduates capable of assuming multiple professional roles as psychotherapists, psychodiagnostic examiners, consultants, supervisors, and evaluators.
Goal 3: To produce graduates who identify with the broader role of the professional psychologist with respect to ethics, diversity, and science. Our program objectives and the competencies interns develop in the process of accomplishing these goals include:
Goal 1: Objective A: Achieve capacity for scientific thinking within a theoretical framework, using theory as a foundation for sound clinical judgement, conceptualizing clients, and clinical decision-making.
Competency 2: Bridge theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.
Competency 2: Proficiency in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and report-writing. Competency 3: Proficiency in consultation. Competency 4: Develop skills and knowledge related to supervision.
Goal 3: Objective C: Integrate sensitivity to issues of individual and cultural diversity into professional identity.Competency 1: Ability to exercise good judgement and ethical behavior.
Goal 3: Objective D: Develop an understanding of the professional psychologist's role as one that integrates science and practice, consistent with the local clinical scientist model of training.Competency 1: Respect for individual and cultural diversity.
Competency 1: Develop skills in accessing, evaluating, and applying existing research.
ABOUT OUR TREATMENT
SERVICES
(Offered by Mountain Regional
Services, Inc. and Cornerstone Behavioral Health)
Developmental Disability Services provide evaluations, consultation, and long-term psychotherapy, incorporating a variety of theoretical models with an over-arching psychoanalytic perspective. Psychologists provide psychotherapy to a population of people with developmental disabilities and chronic mental illness in addition to writing treatment plans and guiding the multi-disciplinary team in implementing the plans. Rare in most clinical settings, Cornerstone’s psychology staff also treat disorders not typically found in the general clinical population such as Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett’s Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Autism. Interns participate in these services as part of their primary experience.
General Mental Health Services offer psychotherapy and evaluations for children, adolescents and adults. Psychotherapy services are conducted in individual, marital, or family modalities. Psychological evaluations include psychodiagnostic testing using objective and projective techniques, and specialty assessments for learning disorders and attention problems. Interns have the opportunity to work with outpatient general mental health clients in a traditional private-practice setting. This smaller portion of the interns’ caseload generally accounts for approximately two to four therapy hours per week, plus assessments depending on availability.
Substance Abuse Treatment Services consist of evaluations and intensive outpatient programs for adults, plus a less intensive outpatient psychotherapy group for people with substance abuse issues. These multifaceted, highly comprehensive programs are designed to help individuals with chemical dependencies and substance abuse issues through individual, group, and family therapy. Cornerstone also offers adult aftercare programs, co-dependency workshops, DUI school, drug and alcohol education, and prevention seminars. Interns participate in these services as co-therapists in the adult aftercare group, and the outpatient group psychotherapy, plus providing individual or couple’s psychotherapy to clients enrolled in the intensive outpatient treatment. Interns also attend the weekly substance abuse staff meetings and specialized substance abuse supervision.
THE PSYCHOLOGY STAFF
Cornerstone's
psychology staff (left to right): (front) Dr. Mikaela Bernthaler, Dr.
Joshua Clauson, Dr. Robert Matzelle
(back) Dr. Suzanne Petren, Dr. Adam
Fuller, Dr. Cora Courage, and Dr. Patrick Lewis.
Mikaela Bernthaler, Psy.D., MS.Ed., M.B.A.
Staff
Psychologist
Dr. Bernthaler earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the George Washington University. She also completed a one year fellowship at the Washington-Baltimore Institute for Psychoanalysis. Throughout her training, she worked primarily in residential and inpatient settings with chronic, multi-problem, under-served and culturally diverse adults and their families. In these settings, she provided individual therapy, psychodiagnostic assessments and co-lead groups. Dr. Bernthaler completed an APA accredited internship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Bronx Psychiatric Center, a state inpatient facility specialized in the psychodynamic treatment of chronically mentally ill and forensic clients, where, in addition to working with adults, their families and co-leading groups, she also received training in Emergency Room intervention, psychodiagnostic assessment of children as well as neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Bernthaler also holds a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Miami and provided couples and family therapy from structural and strategic systems perspectives. She also worked with children and was a volunteer in the Guardian ad Litem Program at the 11th Judicial Circuit in Florida. She has considerable experience working with the Hispanic community andis a bilingual therapist. She is a member of the APA Division of Psychoanalysis. Prior to turning to the field of psychology, Dr. Bernthaler worked for a multinational corporation throughout Europe and South America in various managerial capacities. Her primary interests are in the role of language in the structuring of internal and external experience, as well as the interweaving influences of trauma, gender, and culture to human development.
Joshua Clauson, Psy.D.
Staff Psychologist
Dr. Clauson completed his undergraduate studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, and continued on to earn his masters and doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology. He completed an APA accredited predoctoral internship at Cornerstone Behavioral Health. While completing his internship, Dr. Clauson received training in psychodynamic theory and practice, and worked with a wide variety of clients from this perspective. Following his Internship, Dr. Clauson went on to work in several correctional facilities, providing both individual and group therapy to a diverse population. He has also had training in working with a multicultural population. His interests include both long-term and brief psychodynamic psychotherapy, correctional psychology, and psychotherapy with chronically mentally ill.
Cora Courage, Psy.D.
Clinical
Psychologist
Director of Children's Services
Dr. Courage holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology and received training in psychodynamic theory and practice during several field training experiences. She brings twenty years of experience in dual diagnoses to her practice. The APA accredited predoctoral internship at the VA Medical Center of the Black Hills in South Dakota she completed emphasized outreach to rural, underserved, culturally diverse communities, and treatment of minority populations. Her master's degree in counseling psychology from Saint Mary's University integrated the application of psychodynamic orientation with family systems approaches in the treatment of addictions. Her primary interests are in psychodynamic theory and therapy with children and adolescents, trauma and critical incidents, sexuality/gender issues, and the impact of multi-cultural diversity in psychoanalysis. She is a licensed psychologist and a member of the American Psychological Association (Div. 33, 39, 53). Dr. Courage is a Team Leader for the state of Wyoming in the Child Trauma Treatment Network of the Intermountain West, part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, as well as many local organizations serving the needs of children and adolescents. Dr. Courage is also a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps, serving as the psychologist for the 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota Army National Guard, and a member of the National Health Service Corps.
Adam K. Fuller, Ph.D.
Clinical
Psychologist
Clinical Director
Director of Internship
Training
Dr. Fuller earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida. He completed an APA accredited predoctoral internship at the State University of New York, Health Science Center in Syracuse (SUNY Upstate Medical Center). In both settings he received extensive experience in outpatient psychotherapy and psychodiagnostic testing with adults, adolescents, and children. In addition, Dr. Fuller has worked on a number of inpatient psychiatric units focusing on group therapy, crisis intervention, and psychotherapy with chronically mentally ill clients. Coming from a scientist- practitioner tradition, Dr. Fuller has published several research articles related to chronic pain and pain perception. Prior to joining Mountain Regional Services in 1997, he worked in a group private practice which provided him the practical experience of applying a psychologist's skills within a managed care environment. Dr. Fuller's special interests are related to psychoanalytic theory and therapy, the empirical basis for psychoanalytic principles and treatment, and applications of psychodynamic concepts in brief psychotherapy. Dr. Fuller is a member of the American Psychological Association (Divisions 12, 29, and 39) and the Wyoming Psychological Association.
Patrick J. Lewis, Psy.D.
Post Doctorate
Resident
Dr. Lewis completed his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St.
Louis before earning his masters and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology at
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lewis completed an
APA-accredited predoctoral internship at Cornerstone Behavioral Health, where he
has remained as a postdoctoral resident. He has pursued training in
psychodynamic theory and practice and has applied this specific training and
knowledge in his work with individuals, groups, adults, children, families, and
couples. Dr. Lewis has pursued extensive training in working with
underserved populations in both urban and rural settings and is interested in
psychodynamic psychotherapy with a relational emphasis. He has also
sought extensive training in substance abuse treatment and has provided
substance abuse group therapy at Cornerstone for more than one year.
He is also interested in the impact of culture and difference in
psychotherapy, the experience of depression, the treatment of the disease of
addiction, the process of loss and mourning, sexual orientation and gender
issues, and supporting clients in their efforts to live more purposeful and
satisfying lives.
Robert Matzelle, Psy.D.
Staff
Psychologist
Dr. Matzelle completed his undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. He continued his education at John Jay College of Criminal Justice earning a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology. Dr. Matzelle completed an APA pre-doctoral internship at Cornerstone Behavioral Health, where he remained to continue his training as a postdoctoral resident and subsequently as a licensed psychologist. Dr. Matzelle received training in psychodynamic theory and practice throughout his graduate and internship studies. He has worked with a wide variety of populations from this perspective, including children, families, couples, and adults. Dr. Matzelle's areas of interest include psychodynamic psychotherapy with an interpersonal emphasis, trauma and posttraumatic stress, couples therapy, sexual orientation and gender issues. Additionally, Dr. Matzelle has focused on working with underserved populations throughout his training and clinical experiences.
Suzanne Petren, Ph.D., J.D.
Staff
Psychologist
Suzanne Petren holds a Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri in Kansas City, Missouri. She is also a licensed attorney, having earned her J.D. degree from the University of Missouri School of Law, where she distinguished herself as Administrative Editor of the Law Review as well as speaker and Appellate writer on the National Moot Court Team. She completed her APA accredited internship at Cornerstone Behavioral Health, where she received training in psychoanalytic theory and substance abuse, working with individuals and groups. While at the University of Missouri, she received training in existential phenomenology, biofeedback, and worked extensively with individuals and their supporters through all stages of the cancer experience. Her clinical interests are in psychoanalytic theory and in working with individuals suffering from severe and chronic mental illness as well as substance abuse. She has a long-standing interest in working with groups. Her publications are in the areas of emotion and group treatment methods. She received a National Institute of Health (NIH) Predoctoral Fellowship in the research area of the psychophysiology of emotion. Suzanne Petren was a 2007-2008 Fellow of the American Psychoanalytic Association for Outstanding Early Career Psychologist.
BENEFITS FOR PSYCHOLOGY INTERNS
Cornerstone Behavioral Health offers interns a stipend of $18,000 plus benefits for the one year, full-time (2000 hour) program.
Fringe benefits include the following:
EVANSTON AND THE WESTERN WYOMING AREA
Cornerstone Behavioral Health is located in the southwest corner of Wyoming in the city of Evanston. Situated along the fabled California, Mormon and Pony Express Trails, Evanston was founded by the Union Pacific Railroad during their westward expansion. What began as a rustic frontier town has evolved into a thriving community of 12,000 residents. Evanston embodies all that is good about life in a small city with friendly people, safe, uncrowded streets, and a wonderful sense of community pride. Unique to rural living is Evanston's close proximity to Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, providing residents with a full range of urban amenities including professional sports, shopping, fine dining, art galleries, museums, the Sundance Film Festival and the Utah Symphony. Located on the north slope of the great Uinta Mountains, Evanston boasts more than 300 days of sunshine each year and is just a short drive to some of America's finest outdoor recreational opportunities. Backpacking, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and world famous skiing are literally in Evanston's back yard. Salt Lake City, Utah, host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is just over an hour from Evanston. Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park are just a four hour scenic drive to the north, with the spectacular red rock deserts of Moab and Southern Utah to the south. For additional information, call the Evanston Chamber of Commerce at 800-328-9708.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants must be in good standing in a doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology and have completed all course work, practica, and qualifying examinations. Born of our work with people with developmental disabilities, we are committed to promoting inclusion. We recognize the richness brought to an organization by people of diverse backgrounds and encourage applications from people who offer such diversity. "Goodness of fit" is important to us in the selection process. In addition to the concrete criteria we look for in graduate training and clinical experience, several non-specific factors seem most critical in how prospective applicants view their "fit" with our program. These include: sharing our values of inclusion, equality, and respect for individual differences; commitment to working with disadvantaged people; a sense of adventure for living in a ruggedly beautiful rural, western town; and experience, interest and curiosity in exploring the richness of psychoanlaytically-oriented theory and therapy as an over-arching guide to clinical practice and understanding human experience. If you are interested in applying to our program, please submit the following materials:
Applications should be mailed to the following
address:
Adam K. Fuller, Ph.D.
Clinical
Director
Director of Internship Training
Cornerstone Behavioral
Health
P.O. Box 6005
Evanston, WY 82931-6005
(307) 789-0715
(307)
789-4774 FAX
E-mail: corner@cornerstonebh.com
All application materials must be received no later than December 5, 2008.
Applicants selected for interview will be notified by December 15. In-person
interviews are preferred. Telephone interviews can be arranged if necessary.
In-person interviews typically last for half to two-thirds of the day and
include: individual interview with the psychology staff as a group, interviews
with selected psychology staff, tours of the facilities, lunch.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
POLICY
Mountain Regional Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and subscribes to the Wyoming Fair Employment Act. It is the stated policy of MRSI/Cornerstone that each employee and each applicant for employment, including predoctoral interns, will be accorded equal treatment with regard to recruitment, selection, and employment without discrimination due to race, religion, national origin, disabling condition, sex, age, or sexual orientation. The internship program avoids any actions that would limit access on grounds that would be irrelevant to the success in internship training or a career in professional psychology. The program encourages actions that indicate respect for and understanding of people with varying disabilities, ethnicity, racial background, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other source of individual or cultural diversity. The Cornerstone Behavioral Health Predoctoral Internship is accredited by APA. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any applicant.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street,
N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979
www.apa.org
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