Psychology Internship Program

Thank you for your interest in our predoctoral psychology internship. We are very proud of our training program and believe that we offer a variety of unique clinical training opportunities that will supplement your current training and provide a foundation for your future training and professional aspirations. We attempt to create an atmosphere for interns that will enhance personal and professional growth through a series of clinical rotations, didactic offerings, and opportunities for participation in special projects.

Fulton State Hospital (FSH) sponsors an exciting, challenging, and varied predoctoral psycholoby internship. The psychology internship program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Our accreditation became effective on March 26, 2002 and in July 2007, our accreditation was renewed for seven years, the longest offered by APA.

The discipline of Psychology holds central importance at FSH. In fact, psychologists hold key administrative positions (e.g., CEO, Director of Treatment Services) and clinical roles (i.e., program coordinator, treatment team leader) that drive treatment throughout the hospital. FSH also has a program-based supervisory hierarchy wherein program supervisors have direct line authority for all clinical and direct care staff assigned to a program, which helps to ensure a high degree of fidelity to the various treatment models. Psychology interns are warmly welcomed into this pro-psychology atmosphere, and are valued contributors to our inter-disciplinary treatment teams who provide frequent consultation regarding the professional psychology services they provide.

Interns selected for this program will have opportunity to receive training in innovative, evidenced-based best practices, within nationally recognized treatment programs targeting varied populations.  Included among these populations are those with: a) intellectual/developmental disabilities (Developmental Disabilities Intern Rotation) ; b) severe mood and behavioral dysregulation (New Outlook Rotation Description); c) history of illegal or inappropriate sexual behaviors (SO Rotation); d) serious mental illness resulting in significant functional impairment (Social Learning rotation description) and e) moderate and long-term mental disorders with resultant symptoms and behavior challenges (PRSM Rotation info) .  In addition, to program-based training emphasizing evidence-based/best practice interventions with different clinical populations, interns gain experience in various types of psychological assessments and in program evaluation.  Additionally, a seminar series provides didactic training on a wide range of relevant topics throughout the year. Although not offered as a formal rotation, there are forensic opportunities to learn about court-ordered evaluations through seminar presentations and direct observation. Of particular interest to interns is the research team, which includes many of the members of the internship training committee.  FSH has numerous extensive databases that are used to inform clinical decision-making processes throughout the hospital.  Interns who are interested in the research team, would receive real-world experiences working with licensed psychologist to facilitate ongoing program improvement processes and enhance client service delivery. Many of these investigations, which interns have participated in, have been presented at professional conferences (link to conference presentations) and published in refereed journals (link to publications).  Lastly, FSH takes very seriously its commitment to diversity.  Effort is made to recruit interns from diverse ethnic, racial, and personal backgrounds.  As part of the internship year, interns participate and are valued members of the hospital’s Cultural Competence Council.

Graduates of FSH’s Psychology Internship Program have advanced professionally in a wide-range of clinical and academic settings. Depending on position availability and interest, several interns have completed their post-doctoral residency at FSH, and some of these individuals have remained as staff psychologists. Included among the positions that past interns have held are:

A strong relationship exists between FSH and the University of Missouri departments of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, and Counseling Psychology. Not only do students from these programs receive training at FSH, including participation in collaborative research projects, but several staff psychologists have adjunct appointments in those departments. As part of its educational mission, FSH also serves as a clinical training site for students of other professions including psychiatry residents and fellows, music, occupational, and recreational therapists, pharmacy students, and social work interns.

Fulton State Hospital (FSH) is a 376-bed accredited state psychiatric hospital that consists of several treatment programs and four levels of security. The hospital employs roughly 1100 staff, which represents a vast majority of mental health disciplines in addition to peer support specialists and Spanish and American Sign Language interpreter services. The campus includes the only maximum and intermediate security inpatient psychiatric units operated by the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Clients come to FSH under various admission statuses: not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, voluntary by guardian, and civil commitment. In some cases, individuals are committed by the courts for pretrial evaluation, and if subsequently found incompetent to stand trial, services are provided and directed toward competency restoration.

FSH is located in Callaway County, which was previously recognized in USA Today as one of the top five rural counties for quality of life. It is roughly equidistant from the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. Approximately 25 miles away is Columbia, Missouri, which is the home of the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system. Many FSH staff elect to live in the City of Columbia, which is located approximately 30 minutes driving time from Fulton.  In this central Missouri area, housing is remarkably affordable and cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities abound. Columbia (population 100,000) has been described by Money Magazine (1999) as a “small town with a big university, a place that’s Midwestern in its sensibilities but carries a southern flavor too.  The city is safe, smart and bustling, with lots to do both indoors (theater, galleries and music) and out (hiking, biking and plenty of parks)”.  It is located halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City and provides a unique blend of urban and rural living.  It was also named “Best Town To Live In” within the state by Rural Missouri Magazine. In addition, the Columbia Public School System is strong, with 90% of its graduates going on to post high school education.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the current handbook, please e-mail lee.morrison@dmh.mo.gov.

 

For additional information, please contact: Lee Ann Morrison, Psy.D., Director of Training lee.morrison@dmh.mo.gov