INPATIENT ADULT POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Program Overview
The primary goal of
the Inpatient Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is for the Psychology
Resident to develop the knowledge base and skill level needed to assess, care
for, and treat seriously and persistently mentally ill adults. Most Residents
take the Psychology licensure exam during their Postdoctoral Fellowship year and
are able to practice independently after they have completed the Program.
The Adult Inpatient Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
provides a wide range of training experiences and opportunities for in-depth,
comprehensive learning. Patients presenting problems include psychosis,
suicidal behavior, affective disorders, substance abuse, and severe personality
disorders. Psychology Residents function as members of a multi-disciplinary
treatment team and, under supervision of a licensed, doctoral-level, Psychologist,
provide a full range of Psychological services on an adult inpatient unit.
Program Information
At the beginning of the year, residents will be assigned to one of three
adult inpatient units. In addition, residents will lead off-unit groups,
and have the opportunity to participate in other training opportunities
such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy, police training, teaching, and supervision.
Didactics
Psychology residents will attend weekly grand rounds and journal club,
bi-weekly case conferences, and monthly Psychology inservices. Residents
will also present at each of these meetings. Residents are welcome to
join other training opportunities offered by the psychology internship
program or psychiatry residency program.
Supervision
Residents receive at least one hour per week of individual supervision
from a licensed, doctoral level psychologist. Group supervision with unit
psychology staff will also occur weekly, as well as monthlytrainee meetings.
The residency director and clinical supervisor provide formal written
evaluations of residents after six months and at the completion of the
12-month training year.
Unit Assignments
Currently, there is one 25-bed and one 15-bed extended stay-acute adult
inpatient units, and one 25-bed competency restoration unit (IST). Patients
on the IST unit are admitted under Chapter 552 of the RSMO as Incompetent
to Proceed and participate in the Competency Restoration Program, where
they are offered a combination of psychopharmacological treatment and
competency education. Presenting problems on the extended stay-acute units
include psychoses, suicidal behavior, affective disorders, severe personality
disorders, and co-morbid substance abuse diagnoses.
The psychology fellow serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, and rehabilitation services. The post-doctoral resident will provide individual psychotherapy, psychological assessment, group therapy, design and implement individual behavior plans, and also may provide supervision to psychology interns or practicum students.
Additional Training
Police Training in Crisis Intervention.
This training occurs three or four times per year, and Psychology Residents
have the opportunity to attend lectures and/or observe crisis reenactment
role plays which focus on effective strategies in dealing with crisis.
Outpatient Psychotherapy Group
Home Residents. CBM operates seven group homes in the greater Kansas
City metropolitan area. Psychology Residents have the opportunity for
experience in providing outpatient individual therapy for referrals from
these group homes.
Dialectical Behavior
Therapy (DBT) Training. Center for Behavioral Medicine has a comprehensive
DBT program which consists of a multidisciplinary consultation team, skills
groups, and individual therapy. Psychology Residents may participate in
this program throughout the year. As part of the DBT training program
a resident would have the opportunity to become involved in facilitating
groups and providing individual therapy for one (1) or two (2) inpatients
throughout the training year. A resident who chooses to have DBT as a
training experience would be asked to make a commitment to attend a weekly
2 hour DBT Consultation Team meeting and to deliver DBT therapy with fidelity
to the model. Supervision would be provided by a licensed psychologist
who is also on the DBT consultation team. In addition, the team receives
consultation and support from the statewide DBT training coordinator.
Forensic Assessment.
The psychology resident on the IST will have the opportunity to work with
a certified forensic examiner to learn and develop skills in forensic
interviewing, assessment, and report writing. Specifically, the resident
will have the opportunity to observe and conduct pretrial evaluations
(competency to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity) and risk
assessments through the outpatient forensic department as time permits
and according to availability.