Lone Star Psychology Internship Consortium

The LSPIC adheres to the nine Profession-Wide Competencies set out by the American Psychological Association’s Standards of Accreditation for Health Services Psychologists. These standards are essential for performing all services in the field of psychology. These competencies include:

Research

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate the substantially independent ability to critically evaluate and disseminate research or other scholarly activities (e.g., case conferences, presentations, publications) at the local, regional, or national level.

Ethical and Legal Standards

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the current APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, relevant professional standards and guidelines, and relevant laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing health service psychology at the organizational, local, state, regional, and federal levels.
• Recognize ethical dilemmas as they arise, apply ethical decision-making processes in order to resolve the dilemmas, and seek consultation around complex ethical and legal dilemmas.
• Conduct oneself in an ethical manner in all professional activities.

Individual and Cultural Diversity

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how one’s own personal/cultural history, attitudes, and biases may affect how one understands and interacts with people different from oneself.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the current theoretical and empirical knowledge base as it relates to addressing diversity in all professional activities including research, training, supervision/consultation, and service. 
•  Demonstrate the ability to integrate awareness and knowledge of individual and cultural differences in the conduct of professional roles (e.g., research, services, and other professional activities).
• Demonstrate the ability to independently apply one’s knowledge and approach in working effectively with the range of diverse individuals and groups encountered during internship and respond professionally in increasingly complex situations.

Professional Values and Attitudes

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Behave in ways that reflect the values and attitudes of psychology, including integrity, deportment, professional identity, accountability, lifelong learning, and concern for the welfare of others.
• Engage in self-reflection regarding one’s personal and professional functioning; engage in activities to maintain and improve performance, well-being, and professional effectiveness.
• Actively seek and demonstrate openness and responsiveness to feedback and supervision.
• Respond professionally in increasingly complex situations with a greater degree of independence as one progresses across levels of training

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals, including colleagues, communities, organizations, supervisors, supervisees, and those receiving professional services.
• Produce and comprehend oral, nonverbal, and written communications that are informative and well-integrated; demonstrate a thorough grasp of professional language and concepts.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to manage difficult communication well.

Assessment

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrates a current knowledge of diagnostic classifications systems, functional and dysfunctional behaviors; including both consideration of client strengths and psychopathology, as well as considering the behavior within its context (e.g., family, social, societal and cultural).
• Select and apply assessment methods that draw from the best available empirical literature and that reflect the science of measurement and psychometrics.
• Collect relevant data using multiple sources and methods appropriate to the identified goals and questions of the assessment as well as relevant diversity characteristics of the service recipient.
• Interpret assessment results, following current research and professional standards and guidelines, to inform case conceptualization, classification, and recommendations, while guarding against decision-making biases and distinguishing the aspects of assessment that are subjective from those that are objective.
• Communicate orally and in written documents the findings and implications of the assessment.

Intervention

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with the recipients of psychological services.
• Develop evidence-based intervention plans specific to the service delivery goals.
• Implement interventions informed by the current scientific literature, assessment findings, diversity characteristics, and contextual variables.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply the relevant research literature to clinical decision making.
• Modify and adapt evidence-based approaches effectively when a clear evidence-base is lacking.
• Evaluate intervention effectiveness, and adapt intervention goals and methods consistent with ongoing evaluation

Supervision

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of supervision models and practices.
• Apply this knowledge in direct or simulated practice with psychology trainees, or other health professionals.

Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will:

• Demonstrate knowledge and respect for the roles and perspectives of other professions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of consultation models and practices and apply this knowledge in direct or simulated consultation with individuals and their families, other health care professionals, interprofessional groups, or systems related to health and behavior.