Rotations

Adult Inpatient Currently there are two (2) 24-bed adult acute inpatient units and one (1) 24-bed adult intermediate inpatient unit. Presenting problems may include psychoses, suicidal behavior, affective disorders, severe personality disorders, and substance abuse diagnoses. The average length of stay for patients on an acute unit is one week. On the intermediate unit the length of stay ranges from 30 days to one (1) year. For this rotation the intern will be asked to chose one (1) of the two (2) available acute units or the intermediate unit.

During this rotation the intern serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. Each team consists of a doctoral level psychologist, a social worker, a psychiatrist, psychiatric residents, rehabilitation staff, registered nurses, and psychiatric aides.

Under supervision the psychology intern performs such activities as psychological assessments, designing /implementing individual behavior modification plans, individual therapy, and group therapy.

By the end of the four (4) month rotation interns will be providing services commensurate with that of the supervising psychologist and will be versed in implementing treatment strategies based on case conceptualization skills and psychological assessment.

Child Inpatient The Child Inpatient Unit at Western Missouri Mental Health Center serves primarily as an acute treatment milieu for seriously emotionally disordered children and adolescents. The unit also occasionally serves as an intermediate treatment milieu for patients requiring longer-term hospitalization for stabilization and/or determination of placement. Interns on this rotation conduct psychological evaluations, consult with the team in designing individual behavior modification plans, and provide individual, group and family therapy.

Forensic Psychology The Forensic Psychology rotation offers interns the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of Criminal-Forensic Psychology, particularly as it applies to the issues of competency to stand trial and criminal responsibility. This rotation focuses on conducting and writing pre-trial court-ordered evaluations under the provisions of the Missouri State Statues. Psychology interns receive didactic and experiential training under supervision of the certified forensic examiners.