Generalist Track

Fostering professional development as an independent clinical psychologist is the primary goal of training. Interns will obtain enhanced competence in the following areas: evidence-based psychological interventions, assessment in forensic and/or behavioral medicine populations, and consultation with multidisciplinary treatment team members. Additional objectives include: proficiency with intake procedures; increased familiarity with clinical diagnosis and case conceptualization; development of skills in interacting and consulting with other professionals; understanding and using relevant ethical and legal principles arising in the treatment of adults; and the development of sensitivity and competency in providing services to a racially, culturally, and socio-economically diverse patient population.

The structure for this placement includes three and one-half days in the Adult Psychiatry inpatient and outpatient settings, one day of placement at a secondary site within the consortium, and one-half day of didactic training with all consortium interns.  Two and one-half days in Adult Psychiatry will focus on learning and conducting individual and group psychotherapy. Delivery of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Skills Training, and other evidence-based psychotherapy techniques is emphasized. The intern will also have the option to lead and co-lead several ongoing psychotherapy groups.  One half-to one whole day a week is focused on clinical assessment, including opportunities to take part in behavioral medicine assessments and/or forensic assessment. 

The internship experience takes place in a clinical setting and the intern will gain valuable experience with managed care (primarily Tennessee’s version of Medicaid), electronic medical record keeping, and aspects of working within the organizational and administrative structure of a busy mental health center.

The intern whose primary placement is in Adult Psychiatry will receive supervision from multiple sources, including: Weekly individual supervision with the primary therapy supervisor, Dr. Kirsten Haman, focusing on psychotherapy cases; weekly supervision for group therapy experiences, with the supervisor varying according to the group the intern chooses to co-lead; individual supervision with the assessment supervisor, either Dr. Kimberly Brown for the forensic assessment or one of the newly-hired faculty in Bariatric Surgery for the Behavioral Medicine assessment experience; and additional weekly individual supervision from the supervisor of his or her secondary placement site.  Applicants interested in learning more about forensic psychology training experiences offered at Vanderbilt Psychiatry are encouraged to visit the websites for Vanderbilt Forensic Psychiatry and the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Assessment Program.

Didactic training occurs weekly with all interns throughout the consortium. Half of the weekly meeting is spent participating in a case conference that is facilitated by a Vanderbilt, VA, or community psychologist. Each week a different intern presents a case and a different facilitator is present. The second half of the meeting consists of a guest speaker or intern who presents on topics pertinent to the science and practice of psychology. There is also an open invitation for interns to attend additional training opportunities throughout the year, such as psychiatry and general medical center Grand Rounds, psychiatric resident psychotherapy trainings, and a neuropsychological assessment seminar held at the VA.

There are active research programs ongoing in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. Involvement in clinical research is an option for the intern; however, research participation will require a commitment of additional time on the part of the intern. Before accepting any invitations to conduct research, the intern is expected to discuss the matter with the internship site director (Dr. Haman) and the Co-Directors of the Internship Consortium (Drs. Woodward and Jimenez). However, we encourage involvement in a research project.

We have a consortium-wide Research Day presentation at the end of the year. Each intern will present a topic of scholarly and scientific research in an interest area of their choosing. This requirement can be met in several ways: by completing a unique research or quality improvement project in collaboration with a faculty member on-site during the training year; by presenting their previous or ongoing research, with emphasis on demonstrating the clinical relevance of their findings (this may include work related to the dissertation): or by presenting a case study highlighting and incorporating the relevant research literature.

The intern collaborates with his or her supervisor to accommodate the scheduling needs of both primary and secondary placements.  The intern whose primary placement is in Adult Psychiatry will interview for a secondary placement at one of the other sites in the consortium, such as the PCC or the VA. For an intern whose primary placement is at one of the other sites in the consortium, Adult Psychiatry offers several potential secondary placement options. Specific options are determined each year based on supervisor availability but may include experiences in child and adolescent inpatient assessment, forensic assessment, behavioral medicine, and neuropsychological assessment.

Successful candidates will have experience conducting evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment as well as having an attitude of cooperation and motivation.  Consistent with the overall requirements of the Consortium, applicants should have a minimum of 550 total intervention and assessment hours as defined by AAPI.  While not required, it is recommended that applicants have at least 150 hours of assessment experience. 

Note: All interns with primary placements in the Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences must pass a background check. This will be performed after match day. Match results and selection decisions are contingent on passing the background check. No prospective Consortium intern has ever been refused employment as a result of the background check, but it is a possibility. Several have had difficulty, in all cases because of past legal problems they chose not to reveal during the application process. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences interns performing a secondary placement in the VA must also complete a VA background check.

Kimberly Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Interests: Forensic psychology and competency evaluations including competency to stand trial, competency to waive Miranda rights, insanity defense, risk assessment of violence and sexual violence, fitness for duty evaluations, pre-employment psychological evaluations, personality disorders, psychopathy, and malingering

Kirsten Haman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Interests: Training and supervision of CBT; efficacy of CBT for anxiety and depressive disorders; relation of medical conditions (cancer, POTS) to anxiety and depression

Monica Jacobs, Psy.D.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Interests: Neuropsychological assessment

Neil Woodward, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Interests: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Neuroimaging, Neuropsychological assessment, Neuropharmacology