Internship Rotations

The internship is comprised of two major rotations (i.e., outpatient services and psychological assessment) that run throughout the internship year and several minor rotations (i.e., Behavioral Rotation) that extend throughout the internship year on a part-time basis (i.e., four-month rotations). There are also various elective rotations. These include Addiction Recovery Services, Access Center (Crisis), Children's Day Program, the Therapeutic Nursery Program, Child Protection Center (CHEC Program), Consultation Liaison, Pain Management, Neuropsychological Assessment and the Trauma Rotation.

Outpatient Rotation
The Outpatient Rotation represents the core of the intern's experience at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, since trainees are assigned to this service on a part-time basis throughout the entire year. A typical weekly caseload for an intern consists of approximately 10 hours of individual, family, or group treatment. Interns also are expected to conduct intake evaluations, and to perform psychological assessments on clients who are not part of their caseload. These assessments may include intellectual, objective, and projective assessment, as well as neuropsychological screenings. During the first three months of this rotation, interns will spend two hours per week conducting telephone interviews to assess and triage the needs of potential clients, develop an understanding of managed care issues, and gain experience interfacing with community agencies and other referral sources.

Psychological Assessment Rotation
On this year-long rotation, interns conduct comprehensive outpatient evaluations and brief inpatient evaluations to address a variety of referral questions. Interns refine their ability to select, administer, score, and interpret a battery of tests. Interns learn to write clear, concise, well-integrated reports and effectively communicate test results to other professionals and clients to facilitate decisions about treatment. As part of this rotation, interns interface with the Adult Inpatient Unit. The psychiatric inpatient unit is an acute care facility that treats individuals 18 years and older who voluntarily seek treatment for exacerbation of mental health problems. Treatment emphasis is on the rapid resolution of acute distress and return to supported or independent functioning. Interns participate in multidisciplinary rounds regarding patient care and treatment planning and provide psychological assessments of patients on the unit.

Neuropsychological Assessment (Riverview Medical Center Rotation)
Interns will have the opportunity to perform comprehensive evaluations, brief inpatient evaluations, provide psychoeducation and develop emotional/behavioral interventions for individuals and families at Riverview Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Center under the supervision of Dr. Jacqueline Rondeau, a neuropsychologist. Riverview’s Rehabilitation Center has an interdisciplinary team that provides comprehensive physical rehabilitation services for persons requiring treatment for arthritis with acute functional change, cerebrovascular accident, pre-prosthetic training, multi-trauma, degenerative neurological disorders/diseases, de-conditioned prosthetic training, neurological trauma, and orthopedics.

Pain Management Rotation
The Pain Institute is a comprehensive pain management center, evaluating and treating all types of pain. Interns conduct intake evaluations and therapy with patients referred for psychotherapeutic services by their attending physicians. Interns will also assist in medical team evaluations, provide individual and group psychotherapy and conduct psychoeducational groups on pain management. Psychological evaluations of pain management patients are provided upon request of the referring physician.

Trauma/Neuropsychology Rotation
Interns will have previous course work and training in neuropsychology. Interns will be expected to closely follow a trauma patient who has suffered a closed head injury from admission to discharge. A major requirement will be to interface with other disciplines including, but not limited to neurosurgery, trauma surgery, nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy.

Consultation Liaison
Interns attend rounds with the psychiatric staff, and residents and provide consultation to medical units throughout the hospital. Interns work closely with the psychiatric staff to improve their skills in the areas of diagnostic interviewing, psychopharmacology, and the medico-biological aspects of patient care. Interns typically spend four to six months on this rotation.

Behavioral Rotation
The Behavioral Rotation is a required one-semester rotation that meets 90 minutes per week. The purpose of the rotation is to establish a general understanding of the theory of behaviorism and its application in psychology. The interns are instructed in behavioral theory through verbal instruction during an hour and half group supervision. They will also be expected to complete required reading assignments outside of the supervision time and the readings will be reviewed at the beginning of each supervision session. For a minimum of one hour a week, they will be expected to apply the theory of behaviorism in individual and/or group therapy as a treating clinician in the outpatient facility. These cases will be supervised during the supervision hour in a group format. Interns will be instructed on the process of conducting functional analyses of presenting problems, the philosophy of accepting negative private events, and motivating patients to make valued commitments to behavioral change. At completion of the rotation, the interns will be expected to formulate a behavioral analysis of their client(s) presenting problems, write behavioral treatment plans and utilize empirically valid treatment interventions.

Access Center Rotation (Crisis)
The Access Center is a psychiatric emergency service for individuals who present with acute psychiatric crises. Interns spend one trimester rotation in this service. Interns work with the Access Center staff to respond to hotline calls, conduct crisis evaluations, and develop disposition plans for Access Center patients.

Addiction Recovery Services Rotation
Addiction Recovery Services provides outpatient services for individuals who abuse addictive substances. These services include early recovery group therapy, a day and evening intensive outpatient program that includes psychotherapy and psycho educational components, and an Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center (IDRC) program. On this four-month rotation, interns complete intake evaluations, develop treatment plans, and co-lead group treatment sessions. Interns gain comprehensive knowledge and skills in the treatment of substance abuse. Interns also learn standards for assessing and assigning levels of treatment for substance abuse.

Jersey Shore Child Protection Center
The Jersey Shore Child Protection Center, which is housed in the Pediatrics department of the hospital, provides psychological and medical evaluations of children who are entering the New Jersey Foster Care System. This is a four-month rotation in which interns conduct psychological screenings under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Further, interns are required to participate in multidisciplinary meetings that are geared towards developing a medical and psychological treatment plan for the children who are evaluated.

Children's Day Program Rotation
The Children's Day Program provides intensive group therapy for children ages 7 to 14 who are experiencing serious emotional, psychological, and/or behavioral difficulties at home, in school, and in the community. The Program provides treatment in a daily afternoon setting, with the goal of teaching and reinforcing appropriate behavior in the child. The program includes family therapy, group therapy, individual therapy, and activity therapy. On this four-month rotation, interns conduct intake evaluations, develop treatment plans, participate in family sessions, and co-lead therapy groups including planning and implementing sessions to meet individual and group goals. Interns develop skills in behavioral therapy and behavioral management techniques.

Therapeutic Nursery Rotation
The Therapeutic Nursery Program provides treatment for children ages of 3 to 6 who are having difficulties with aggression, impulsivity, non-compliance, tantrums, and other disruptive behaviors. The children and their caregivers attend separate weekly hour-long therapy sessions. The goals of these sessions are to modify and reinforce appropriate behavior in the children, and to provide parenting skills training and support to the caregivers. On this four-month rotation, interns conduct intake evaluations, develop treatment plans, participate in family sessions, and co-lead therapy groups including planning and implementing sessions to meet individual and group goals. Interns develop skills in behavioral therapy and behavior management techniques. Interns also gain a more comprehensive understanding of the cultural and economic factors that may influence a family structure and the approach to parenting skills training.

Exciting News For the 2009-2010 Internship Year:
We are in the midst of developing two new rotations. One in Labor and Delivery assessing Post-Partum depression and the second in Sports Medicine within the Musculoskeletal Clinic. More news to follow.