Intern Orientation
The internship year begins with a comprehensive, structured two week orientation to the internship. The orientation is designed to welcome interns and begin to integrate them into the UT Student Counseling Center. Interns are introduced to the SCC’s mission and informed about the training program’s model, philosophy and goals; administrative details; service and training activities and referral sources.
The orientation program is developed and coordinated by the Training Director with input from the training staff. Orientation is an ongoing process, and interns are encouraged to consult with their supervisors and/or any senior staff member throughout the orientation period and the internship year.
Interns are assigned a temporary supervisor for the first two weeks of internship. To assist in making permanent supervision assignments, interns meet as a group with each supervisor early in orientation to discuss supervision styles, theoretical orientations and expectations for supervision. Supervisory assignments are made by the Training Director with input from the training staff as well as the interns. Intern preferences are honored as much as possible.
During orientation, each intern will complete the Intern Self-Assessment/Interest Survey which will assist in formulating training goals for the year. Interns also will complete the Evaluation of Intern by Supervisor to continue the self-assessment process and to become familiar with the evaluation process. Together with their supervisors, interns will determine the experiences necessary to attain their individualized training goals.
Initial assessment and intervention using clinical interview (Brief Assessment)
Drop-in sessions are scheduled regularly throughout the week. No appointment is needed for students to use the drop-in services. The interview typically lasts 20-30 minutes and is done in a triage format. The purpose of the initial interview is to provide students with a prompt mental health consultation resulting in appropriate recommendations.
Crisis assessment and intervention
Interns gain experience with crisis assessment and intervention during their drop-in coverage as well as through their caseload management.
Training: Initial assessment, crisis assessment and intervention
During orientation, interns first observe and then assist senior staff during their drop-in times. After an initial period of training, interns are assigned a three hour drop-in block each week to gain experience with initial assessments and interventions, crisis assessment and intervention, psychiatric consultation and referral.
Provision of Therapy and Receiving Supervision
Individual Therapy
Interns provide therapy to students who present with a wide range of issues such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal relationship problems, grief and loss, suicidal ideation, trauma, identity and self-esteem, and personality disorders. Interns may conduct psychological testing as part of the assessment process, refer clients for medication assessment and diagnostic consultation with the Psychiatric Staff, and refer to other resources as needed.
Training: Supervision of individual therapy
Supervision is one of the primary tools utilized to assist interns in their training and development. As such, it is an important focus of the internship experience. Interns receive two hours of weekly individual supervision from a Primary Supervisor, who has been a Licensed Psychologist for at least three years. Interns also meet with a Secondary Supervisor for one hour each week. The primary supervisor is responsible for overseeing triage and case management and clinical supervision. The primary supervisor is rotated once during the year (January). Interns meet with a secondary supervisor for one hour each week. Secondary supervisors coordinate and supervise tracks if a specific track is chosen by an intern. Secondary supervision sessions, regardless of tracks or generalist training, focus on specific case supervision. Interns may keep the same secondary supervisor throughout the year or rotate at the end of the fall and/or spring semester depending on selection of tracks.
Couples Therapy
Interns provide therapy to couples. Couples are inclusively defined and may include married, partnered, platonic relationships, etc. Only one member of a couple needs to be a student for the couple to be eligible for couples counseling. Initially, interns see couples with a senior staff co-therapist.
Training: Supervision of Couples Therapy
Additional supervision dedicated to couples work is scheduled as interns pair with senior staff psychologists to do conjoint co-therapy with couples.
Group Therapy
Interns co-facilitate a therapy group during the fall and/or spring semesters. Interns have an opportunity to choose from several groups, such as general therapy, interpersonal process, and other groups that are formed as clinically needed.
Training: Supervision of Group Therapy
Interns are paired with a senior staff psychologist to co-lead the group. During the spring semester, interns may co-lead a group with another intern or a senior staff member,if co-led with a senior staff member in the first semester. Interns may develop a group based upon their individual interests for the spring and/or summer semester(s). Interns receive supervision for each group they co-facilitate.
Provision of Supervision
Each semester, interns will have the opportunity to supervise one practicum student from the University of Tennessee’s APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology.
Training: Supervision Seminar
The seminar begins in August during the intern orientation period, shortly before fall classes begin. In the beginning of the seminar, readings from the professional supervision literature relevant to their upcoming role as practicum supervisors are provided and discussed. As interns begin meeting with their trainees, the seminar shifts in focus from theoretical to applied in nature. The seminar then becomes a time when licensed psychologists will provide supervision of supervision.
Community Intervention
Interns have the opportunity to engage in all forms of community intervention at the Center. This includes but is not limited to: consultation and liaison, and outreach presentations to the campus.
Consultation and Liaison Relationships. Interns are expected to partner with senior staff members in the areas of liaison relationships and committee involvement.
Community Intervention Activities. Interns are expected to participate in at least six community intervention activities (i.e., presentations, workshops, interviews, events) over the course of the year (with a minimum of three in the fall term).
Program Evaluation/Consultation Project. Interns will engage in an in-depth consultation project and gain experience in providing effective psychological consultation to an organization, including developing and conducting a needs assessment and providing suggestions and feedback to the organization.
Training: Supervision of Community Intervention
During the year, interns meet once a week with a licensed psychologist on staff. Interns will enhance their skills in developing and delivering effective outreach presentations. Interns will discuss their experiences in working with senior staff members on campus committees and/or other liaison/consultative relationships.
Seminars and Case Conference
Professional Topics Seminar
This seminar meets monthly in the fall and spring and focuses on exploring various professional topics and provides training in several areas. Topics may include, but are not limited to: ethical principles, legal and professional standards, and job search process. Multicultural and social justice considerations are incorporated into each presentation.
Diversity Seminar
This seminar will meet for one hour biweekly and focuses on exploring various multicultural topics and provides training in several areas. Topics may include, but are not limited to: spirituality in therapy; veteran identities; serving international populations; intersectionality of therapist identities; and working with trans gender individuals.
Clinical Seminar
This seminar will meet for one hour biweekly throughout the year and focuses on exploring various professional topics and provides training in several areas. Topics may include, but are not limited to: working with trauma/anxiety/depression; DBT; eating disorders; and self-injurious behaviors. Multicultural factors will be incorporated into each presentation.
Psychopharmacology Seminar
During the fall, the university psychiatrist and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist meet weekly with the interns to review the use of psychotropic medications, emphasizing those most frequently used on campus. Interns have an opportunity to discuss client medication issues. During the spring, interns meet with psychiatry staff on a biweekly basis.
Supervision Seminar
During both fall and spring semesters, interns provide supervision to practicum-level trainees. Interns receive two hours of weekly supervision of supervision. The seminar begins in August during the intern orientation period and focuses on topics relevant to becoming a clinical supervisor. As interns begin meeting with their supervisee, the seminar’s focus shifts from didactic in nature to applied.
Consultation Seminar
During spring semester, interns meet bi-weekly for a consultation seminar. At first, the seminar is didactic in nature and interns learn how to provide effective consultation within a university setting. The seminar then transitions into time spent on the Program Evaluation/Consultation project.
Intern Case Conference
A one hour case conference is scheduled weekly for case presentations by interns and senior staff. A senior staff psychologist presents a case once every five weeks and facilitates a discussion among the interns. Interns are then scheduled in subsequent weeks to present formal case presentations and the same senior staff member facilitates the discussion. This is designed to allow interns the opportunity to receive peer supervision of their clinical work, along with feedback from a senior staff psychologist. It also gives interns an opportunity to have regular contact with a variety of senior staff psychologists.
Case presentations include diagnostic information and the appropriate application and interpretation of one or more assessment instruments as well as exploration and discussion of multicultural factors. Interns are encouraged to include assessment materials and selected portions of session recordings as part of their presentation.
Dissertation/Scholarly Activity/Research
Interns are expected to engage in scholarly projects/research and present the findings to center staff. Although most interns focus on their dissertation research, there may be other opportunities in conjunction with senior staff psychologists or faculty members from the Counseling Psychology doctoral program to engage in other research. Interns also present the process and results of the consultation project to both the consultee and to the SCC professional staff.