Part-time Internships:

Advocating for Interns with Unique

NeedsBrigid Cahill & Joan Mizrahi

University of Rochester, George Mason University

Existing Part-time Internships

• According to APA in 2012 (personal communication, 2013):o Five PT only accredited internships (e.g., GMU)

• 104 total intern slots (one site has 69)o Six PT/FT mixed accredited internships (e.g., UR)

• 54 total mixed group interns – can’t know how many are PTo Ours are the only UCCs

• APPIC directory 2011-2012o 12 total part-time slots (at least 7 different programs)

• 4 UCC spots • 9 from accredited programs • 3 from unaccredited

• APPIC Directory 2014-2015:o Six sites with PT internships

• Three are unaccredited programs– 14 total PT interns• Three are accredited programs – 8 total PT interns

• Likely that many APA accredited ones are fully affiliated (captive) internships or CAPIC

Why Have a PT Internship?

• Satisfaction of fulfilling a need• Fewer applications• Keep interns for longer • Longer term relationships• Developmental perspective – can see more growth over the

two years• Cost can be lower• 2nd year interns mentor 1st year interns; smoother transition

for staff and new interns • 2nd year interns are better prepared to begin supervising• Interns have time to develop working relationships with other

agencies within the university• Continuity of care from year to year for returning clients

Why Not?• Fewer applications• Keep interns for longer – even problematic ones• More training/supervision responsibilities for staff• More chance of interns with significant life

stressors such as pregnancy and medical problems; requires staff and agency flexibility

UR: History• Originally a PT externship that UR clinical psych

students used to fulfill internship requirements – overlapped with FT interns’ experiences

• Formalized in the early 90s and accredited along with the full-time internship in 1995

• Supported by UR as it made the UR students more marketable o Has always been partially affiliated with the UR

program

UR: Structure• Three part-time interns

o Staggered with 1 or 2 in their first year, the others in their second

• Schedulingo 3 days/week – Tues/Wed /Thurso Overlap with the full-time internso All seminars/didactics are scheduled T/W/Tho Work August to mid May, off 2 ½ months mid-year

• Training Componentso Two hours individual supervisiono One hour group therapy supervision per groupo 3 ½ - 4 ½ hours seminars/weeko Workshops, seminars in summer, winter breaks

UR: Structure cont.• Service requirements

o 8 hours individual therapyo 2 groups first year (process, psychoed), 1 group

second year (process)o On-call coverage (less often than full-time

interns)o Outreach/consultation o In second year – supervise 1 graduate student

and attend supervision seminar

UR: Integrating FT and PT Interns

• Groups are blended – no formal distinction made among 1st yr PT, 2nd yr PT or FT interns in seminars

• More diversity within training group by blending the two

• Second year interns take on culture sharing role with new 1st year and new FT interns

• Need to help 2nd year interns deal with the loss of the training group from their first year

• Subgrouping inevitably occurs but intern groups do develop cohesion over the course of each year

UR Challenges• Balancing the needs of FT and PT interns

o Beginning with orientation schedule – heavily concentrated on T/W/Tho Repeating seminars second year- making them meaningful

GMU: History• Original program: psychology externship • 2002: created ad hoc non-accredited part-time

internship• 2007: started current internship• 2008: “Half-time” internship became “part-time”

to meet APA and APPIC requirements• 2014: APA-accreditation renewed for 7 years

GMU: StructureEach year CAPS accepts either two or three interns,

for a total of 5 part-time interns; internship classes overlap

Interns have additional responsibilities during second year: supervision, overnight on-call, consultation project implementation

Seminars are on a two-year schedule, to avoid repetition.

GMU: StructureScheduling:Interns work 24 hours/week, 11 months/yearInterns are off in JulyAll five interns work together two days/week

(Wed/Fri)Interns’ third day is coordinated with extern

schedules to allow supervision; also coordinated to allow at least one “first year” and one “second year” to be together on those days

All didactics and group supervision are on Wednesday or Friday

GMU: StructureTraining components:

2 hours individual supervision2 hours group supervision1 hour sup of sup (2nd year)1-2 hours/seminars2 hours/month multicultural supervision2 hours/month supervision of group work (if applicable)1 hour/month meetings with consultation mentor

GMU: StructureService requirements:

6-8 hours individual counseling2 hours counseling intakes Group counseling (at least one group/year)On-call/crisis intervention Supervision of extern (2nd year)Consultation project (two-year commitment)Community education (outreach)

GMU: Challenges • Staff time commitment vs. intern clinical hours• Despite multiple efforts, unable to get health

insurance for part-time interns; might limit applicant pool?

• Requires staff flexibility for special needs—e.g. multiple pregnancies in recent classes

• Overlapping internship classes leads to loss of half of cohort; can be difficult for interns and staff

Survey• Why do students actually want PT internships?• What impact, if any, does a PT internship have?

• Surveyed all past graduates of UR and GMU part-time internships

• Heard back from o 11 of 13 GMU (85%)o 13 of 20 UR (65%)

• 22 total graduates, one had died, one we were unable to contact

Why do they choose to apply?

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Did You Also Apply to FT Internships?

Yes

No

What were the advantages of your PT

internship?

Mor

e ou

t of i

nter

nshi

p

Resea

rch/

teac

hing

tim

e

Disse

rtat

ion

time

Finishe

d fa

ster

Stro

nger

rela

tions

hips

Supp

ort n

etwor

k/fa

mily

Less

stres

s

better

bal

ance

wor

k/fa

mily

Not

hing

othe

r0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

What were the disadvantages of your PT

internship?

Non

e

Long

er ti

me

to fi

nish

Repet

ition

Low p

ay lo

nger

Pote

ntia

l per

cept

ion

prob

lem

s

Mor

e wor

k ov

eral

l

othe

r0%

10%20%30%40%50%

Actual Problems Post Internship

• Credentialing 0%• Licensure 0%• Job search/hiring 0%

Case Studies: GMUMedical issue

• Intern had a medical condition that prohibited working full time

• While fully capable of performing all functions of internship, intern needed time to rest and attend doctor’s appointments

• Successfully completed internship, now in private practice

Case Studies: GMUFamily issue

• Intern revealed (after match) that she was pregnant

• Intern was able to make up time missed for maternity leave by working extra hours and not taking vacation leave

• Required staff flexibility, especially as other interns also took maternity leave that year

Case Studies: GMUOutside work

• Intern was a career-changer who had worked for many years in a responsible job

• Intern wanted to continue working part-time at the other job

• Intern successfully completed internship and continues dual career

Case Studies: URDisability• Physical disability caused physical fatigue –

especially when needing to work 40 hours/week• 3 day/week work schedule allowed for four days

of rest in between• Able to complete internship and dissertation on

time successfully

Case Studies: URAcademic career• Intern wanting an academic career• Able to continue teaching and doing research on

off days• Successfully obtained a tenure track position