Notice to applicants about self-disclosure
Our model emphasizes the use and awareness of the self in the treatment process. Consequently, supervision deals with transference and countertransference related issues and the discussion of feelings and experiences generated in the client and therapist and supervisee and supervisor relationship.
Clinical supervision at FSGC is intended to provide both depth and breadth in clinical treatment and assessment. Interns receive training in a number of treatment modalities and assessment methods and are expected to develop a level of skill proficiency upon completion of the internship to enable them to practice with a minimal amount of supervision. Clinical supervision is a principal form of training and evaluation for the development and attainment of these skills. Interns will work closely with their supervisors at the beginning of the training year to identify clinical strengths and areas for further improvement. Additionally, interns will identify goals and objectives based on their clinical skills and professional interests.
Individual Supervision: Interns receive two hours of individual supervision from a licensed clinical psychologist on site during the week. Interns are assigned primary and secondary supervisors who are responsible for overseeing the intern's therapy and diagnostic intakes. A third supervisor is responsible for the intern's psychological testing and meeting time will likely average once a week, but supervision for testing will be conducted mainly when interns have a testing case in progress. During that time interns will likely meet more frequently during the week to review test protocols and discuss report writing.
The secondary supervisor provides clinical supervision for a six-month period of the intern's training year and is responsible for a portion of the intern's individual psychotherapy and parent guidance cases. At the end of the first six-month period the intern will be assigned a new secondary supervisor
The training year is organized such that interns are provided with more intense supervision and direction early on in their case conceptualizations and methods used, but with growth in their experience and confidence, interns are encouraged to develop increased autonomy and decision-making in their therapeutic approaches.
Optional individual supervision: Interns have the opportunity to receive an additional hour of supervision from any licensed clinical staff psychologist. This third hour may be negotiated between intern and supervisor and may be used on either a time limited basis, for development of a specific skill, enhanced theoretical understanding, or focused on refining skill over a longer period of time.
Group psychotherapy supervision: Interns receive supervision for group therapy from their primary supervisor on an as needed basis. In addition to serving as group therapists in ongoing groups, interns are encouraged to develop a therapy group during their training year that is based on their clinical interests and client needs. Some examples from previous years include a girls journaling group, mother-daughter group, and cognitive behavior therapy for anger management. Interns are expected to conduct 1-2, 1-hour group therapy processes a week and may conduct up to 1-2 hours more depending on their level of interest. Groups range in level of structure from psychoeducational to problem or goal specific and process oriented.
The types of groups conducted at FSGC include, Grief and Loss Group(8-12 week period), Anger Management (8-12 week period), and play therapy groups for ages 4-7 (1-2 hours per week throughout the school year). The client composition of groups is based on age, diagnosis, and developmental level.
Family therapy and parent counseling supervision: Work with families and parents are an important area of clinical focus for children brought to treatment. Interns will learn how to conceptualize family dynamics and systems issues as they relate to the identified patient's clinical issues and how to determine the appropriate type of intervention. To enhance the intern's developing skill level in this area live supervision is provided one afternoon a week. Interns have the opportunity early in the training year to observe experienced staff conducting family therapy and parent guidance sessions. After initial orientation interns begin bringing family therapy cases to live supervision where they can receive direct feedback via telephone and observe others as they conduct family and parent interventions. Two senior clinical staff provide this supervision and are highly experienced family therapists.
