O'Grady Residency in Psychology
Training

Our Training Program

The O’Grady Residency in Psychology aims to prepare future leaders in psychology through excellent training in evidence-based clinical care, research, and advocacy. Inclusion initiatives are integrated into all levels of training and is integral to our commitment to promote cultural competence. Throughout the training year, trainees are provided ongoing opportunities to enhance cultural competence through direct clinical care with patients from a variety of backgrounds and didactic trainings. As part of our on-going commitment to improve our curriculum and our clinical services, we invite residents to share their feedback about their experience as an O’Grady Resident. Trainee feedback is welcomed throughout the program and also more formally solicited at the end of the program.

Successful internship completion is evidenced by intern ability to achieve and demonstrate competency (i.e., knowledge, skill not requiring supervision) in all profession-wide competencies:

  • Research
  • Ethical and Legal Standards
  • Individual and Cultural Differences
  • Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Assessment
  • Intervention
  • Supervision
  • Consultation and Inter-Professional / Interdisciplinary Skills

Graduates will be prepared for entry-level independent, health service psychology practice. Evaluation of intern competencies occurs three times a year formally and in written form and supervisors discuss intern performance with interns. Evaluation ratings implement a Minimal Level of Achievement (MLA) on all nine competencies in order to assess intern progress throughout the training year.

Midyear, an intern is expected to have received a rating of “3” (intern is progressing/should remain a consistent focus of supervision) on all nine competencies. At internship completion, an intern is expected to have received a rating of 4 (competent / comparable to autonomous practice at the licensure level) on 90% of all elements and no more than one rating of 3 in any of the 9 competencies.

Interns have the opportunity to train with world-class clinicians and researchers who treat the full spectrum of pediatric diseases, clinical child disorders, and advance health policy. Through supervised clinical, research and didactic experiences, we prepare advanced doctoral students to enter the field as competent psychology professionals.

The O’Grady Residency in Psychology provides broad training in clinical psychology; however, interns focus their training through participation in one of three tracks:

Behavioral Medicine Track

Interns in the Behavioral Medicine track provide medical inpatient and outpatient behavioral health assessment and treatment to child and adolescent patients and their families. Interns complete several rotations, gaining experience treating patients with chronic illnesses, adjustment disorders, behavioral problems, and anxiety / depression.

Interns will be assigned to two of the four following six-month major rotations:

  • Inpatient Medical Consultation-Liaison Service
  • Sleep Disorders Center
  • Pain Management
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) Psychology Service

Additionally, interns participate in two of the following six-month minor rotations:

  • Epilepsy Clinic
  • Headache Center and biofeedback assisted relaxation therapy
  • Diabetes
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • The Functional Independence Restoration Program (FIRST)
  • Nutrition and Wellness Center

Finally, all Behavioral Medicine interns participate in one four-month assessment rotation in either inpatient toddler neurodevelopmental clinic, cardiology or neuropsychology. They also see outpatient therapy cases throughout the training year.

Clinical Child Track

Interns in the Clinical Child track gain year-long training experiences in conducting empirically-based assessment and family focused services to improve the functioning of children and adolescents with ADHD (both with and without a broad range of co-morbid conditions) through the Center for ADHD and receive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Interns also use evidence-based interventions to address other primary concerns (internalizing and externalizing disorders, adjustment to medical concerns, developmental disorders, preventative care) in children and adolescents based on their interests.

In addition, Clinical Child interns participate in four six-month minor rotations. All interns will participate in the following rotation:

  • Evidence-Based Treatment for Youth who have Experienced Trauma or Neglect (includes training in PCIT and TF-CBT)

Interns will rank their preferences for their remaining three rotations:

  • Sleep Disorders Center
  • Epilepsy Clinic
  • Pediatric Primary Care
  • Toddler Neurodevelopmental Assessment Clinic (includes ADOS training and opportunities for multidisciplinary team experience)
  • Early Intervention for Children on the Autism Spectrum
  • Inpatient Medical Consultation-Liaison Service

Finally, they also see outpatient therapy cases throughout the training year.

Acute Care Track

Interns in the acute care track gain experience working within psychiatric inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, medical inpatient, and / or medical clinic settings. There are opportunities to treat youth with a range of behavioral and mental health difficulties (internalizing and externalizing concerns, trauma, eating disorders, adjustment to medical concerns), conduct assessments, deliver comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) intervention, co-lead a DBT Skills Group, train and deliver Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and the opportunity to become certified in TF-CBT.

Interns will be assigned to the following six-month major rotations:

Interns will be assigned to the following six-month minor rotation:

  • Neurodevelopmental Diagnostic Assessment Clinic-School Age / Adolescent (one half day per week)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Group (2-hours per week)

Interns will rank their preferences for their remaining two minor rotations (one half day per week):

  • Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
  • Neurobehavioral Partial Hospitalization
  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Inpatient Eating Disorders
  • Outpatient Eating Disorders Treatment
  • Sleep Disorders Center
  • Epilepsy Clinic
  • Inpatient Medical Consultation-Liaison Service

Finally, all Acute Care Interns also see outpatient therapy cases throughout the training year.

All interns participate in a clinical research placement, which provides time to complete dissertations and become involved in the lab of a research faculty member. This gives interns in-depth training in research and provides an opportunity to begin or continue to make a public contribution (e.g., co-author an abstract or manuscript) to the field of psychology.

Interns wishing to further explore the research side of their careers can collaborate with a mentor on manuscript reviews for journals and participate in a number of research activities, such as scoring and coding psychological measures or participating as a clinical interventionist.

Our hope is that O’Grady residents leave the program with a strong competitive edge, thanks in part to their clinical research activities.

O’Grady residents are evaluated every six months by primary supervisors and the training director. Evaluators use a combination of a standard form and verbal feedback to document each intern's professional growth. A summary report for each intern is submitted to the graduate program Director of Clinical Training twice a year, and each intern receives a competency assessment in December and April. Interns also evaluate their supervisors to provide feedback and address their own needs and expectations.

The O’Grady Residency in Psychology focuses training on seven primary aims:

  • Evidence-based assessment
  • Evidence-based treatment
  • Integration of psychology research and practice
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration and care
  • Professional development
  • Inclusivity
  • Supervision

Interns explore each area through seminars, training sessions and the opportunity to participate in collaborative activities. Click here to learn more.

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