The Tulane University School of Medicine internship in adult psychology has been an integral part of the training program since its initiation in 1984. The training program offers a broad range of experiences throughout the year to one well-qualified applicant.
The Adult Track intern’s major area of study is Forensic Psychology. The intern spends two days per week for the training year at an inpatient forensic and psychiatric hospital (Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System) and two days per week conducting outpatient forensic evaluations (in person and remotely). The aim of the Forensic Psychology major area of study is to offer a planned, programmatic sequence of supervised forensic training experiences in accordance with the education and training guidelines promulgated by the America Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). Specific training opportunities are described under “Clinical Experiences and Training Opportunities."
To enhance the intern’s competence as a psychodiagnostician across the full range of adult psychopathology.
To train the intern to become a valued member of a multidisciplinary treatment team in a hospital/medical center setting, a university counseling center setting, and/or in community-based outpatient clinics.
To enhance the intern’s psychotherapy competence. This includes appropriate evaluation/assessment, accurate psychological/psychiatric diagnosis, a plan of intervention including realistic and obtainable goals, and skilled provision of individual and group psychotherapy.
To train the intern to provide effective consultation to other professionals, and to educate them about psychological methods and principles.
To ensure that the intern maintains professional conduct with patients, colleagues, peers, and supervisors and to demonstrate that the intern obtains adequate knowledge of ethical principles and state law.
To engender sensitivity to cultural and individual diversity of patients, colleagues, peers, and supervisors, and to provide culturally sensitive and responsive care.
To ensure that the intern becomes proficient and professional in documentation in both the inpatient and outpatient setting as required by accrediting agencies.
Supervisors facilitate and monitor interns' acquisition of knowledge and skills through the following methods:
- Individual supervision at least two hours weekly at each training site
- Direct observation of the intern’s evaluation and treatment sessions with patients/evaluees (at all clinical training sites) provide the opportunity for immediate supervision on issues of evaluation, therapy content and process, and triage, as necessary.
- Attendance at psychology didactics and seminars, psychiatry grand rounds, case conferences and seminars to facilitate learning about pertinent theory, evaluation, treatment, clinical practice, and research issues in psychology and psychiatry.
- Participation in and direct supervision at mock trial
- Observation of expert testimony
Some websites within the Tulane Health Sciences Center that might be of interest to individuals seeking the Adult Track Internship are:
