School-Based Mental Health
Introduction
The Psychology Externship program at Talbot Child Psychology (TCP) is a 12-month on-site placement that provides therapy-focused practicum training experiences in school-based mental health while offering ample opportunities to gain additional specialized training exposure designed to lay the foundation for future advanced practicum in either school-based mental health or feeding therapy.
Program Components
The TCP externship program is a 12-month practicum that comprises the following:
-
16 hours of training per week at one of TCP’s main practicum rotation sites under Talbot County Public Schools.
-
Providing direct services to clients in the form of individual, family, or group therapy.
-
Minimum Annual total of 640 hours.
-
Minimum 320 hours spent providing direct services to clients.
-
Two hours of individual face-to-face supervision by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist per week.
-
At least once per semester, direct observation by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist, as defined by the Commission on Accreditation*.
Training Goals
TCP offers a unique case mix and caseload that will allow all trainees to develop and hone their therapeutic skills as child and adolescent therapists. Through participation in diagnostic interviews, delivery of in-school therapy, and participation in Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 meetings, externs gain core skills that arguably represent the cornerstone of school-based mental health. Externs will also have the opportunity to participate in individual, family, and group-based feeding therapy.
Program Requirements
Externs must be actively enrolled in a qualified accredited educational program. Prospective externs must submit an application form and supporting documents to Talbot Child Psychology. Interviews are offered on a rolling basis. Successful applicants are notified by email. Upon accepting our externship offer, applicants are invited for onboarding and orientation. All new TCP externs are separately onboarded by a representative(s) of Talbot County Public Schools (TCPS). TCP’s externship offer is contingent upon successfully completing the TCPS onboarding process.
_____________________________________
*Direct Observation by the immediate supervisor responsible for the activity or experience being evaluated. Direct observation is defined as the act in which supervisors will either view a testing or therapy intervention in progress either in-person, via video or audio recording, live stream, during co-therapy, or through live observation (2-way mirror).