Psychology Internship Rotations

CHCW offers a variety of experiences for interns related to behavioral health integration. Throughout the year, interns will complete three 16 week rotations.

Rotations:
What and Where

Below you will find tours of our rotation locations, as well as an overview of the rotations and experiences.

Note that 1 clinic = ½ day for a total of 10 clinics per week.

Take a Virtual Tour

Tour around our Central Washington Family Medicine Residency Clinic (CWFMR) with our very own Behavioral Health Fellow Hilary Richardson, M.A., and one of our current CWFMR resident’s Onel Martinez, D.O.

PCBH Service Delivery: Pediatric Rotation

Locations: Central Washington Family Medicine, Yakima Pediatrics; 5-6 clinics per week, CL & YP:

Interns will provide brief (i.e., 15-30 minutes) behavioral consultation services to patients in our outpatient family medicine residency clinic (CWFM) and our outpatient pediatric clinic (Yakima Pediatrics [YP]). Interns will be available for immediate, same day referrals (i.e., warm-handoffs) from primary care providers. They will also consult with the primary care team regarding behavioral health concerns. By the end of the year, interns are expected to function as independent BHCs and see on average 4-5 patients per clinic and 1.5 patients per hour.

Tour of Yakima Pediatrics

Tour around Yakima Pediatrics with our Behavioral Health alumni Alyssa Gonzalez, M.Ed., and learn about the unique experiences on this particular rotation!

PCBH Service Delivery: Rural

Locations: CWFM, Naches Medical Clinic; 4-5 clinics per week, CL & NMC):

Interns will provide PCBH services, as described above, in our outpatient family medicine residency clinic (CWFM) and our outpatient rural clinic (Naches Medical Clinic [NMC]).

Tour of Naches Medical Clinic

Tour around our Naches Medical Clinic with our Behavioral Health alumni Carly Gysler, M.A. to learn about the unique experiences on this particular rotation!

PCBH Service Delivery: Mixed

Locations: CWFM, Yakima Peds, Naches Medical Clinic; 4-5 clinics per week, CL & NMC):

Interns will provide PCBH services, as described above, in our outpatient family medicine residency clinic (CWFM), our pediatric clinic (YP) and our outpatient rural clinic (Naches Medical Clinic [NMC]).

Other Experiences:

Group (1 – 2 clinics per month: GRP):

Interns will assist in multiple groups offered at our clinics (e.g. chronic pain, teen health, and wellness group). They may also have the opportunity to identify unmet needs within the clinics and implement new group curriculums that address these needs. 

Pairing with a medical provider (2-3 clinics per month: PAIR):

In order to provide interns the experience of a primary care provider, interns will pair with an advanced practice clinician (APC; physician assistant, nurse practitioner), resident or attending in their respective clinics. The experience will evolve over the year from solely shadowing the provider to providing population based health/pathway initiatives (e.g., completing co-visits). 

Experiential Learning and Group Supervision (1 clinic per week: EL):

One afternoon per week (except the week of consortium didactics) will be used to provide interns with an in-depth, interactive learning experience in which they will practice skills and discuss topics relevant to PCBH and the practice of psychology. When topics are relevant, they will join the medical residents for their didactics during this time. Lastly, this time will also be used for group supervision in the form of case presentations and consultation. This will take place at CWFM. 

Live Supervision:

At least one clinic per month, interns will be observed by one of the primary supervisors. The purpose of these observations is to provide real-time feedback on the intern development, provide an opportunity for the supervisor to model skills, and to gather data to be used for the quarterly evaluations. The supervisor will use the observation tools provided at the forms section. 

Projects and Paperwork Time (.5-1.5 clinics per week: PPW):

Interns will have protected time each week to complete paperwork and work on projects. Projects include the Critical Analysis (see NPTC manual), the self-directed journal review, and the Quality Improvement project (described below). A minimum of 2hrs, with most weeks having 4-6 hours, will be allotted for this. Provided that paperwork is complete and adequate progress is being made on projects, this time may also be used for dissertation or other scholarly activities of the interns choosing. 

Quality Improvement Project:

Interns will design and implement a quality improvement project at a CHCW clinic. Quality improvement consists of systematic and continuous actions that lead to measurable improvement in healthcare settings and the health status of targeted patient groups. Interns will choose from a wide variety of topics/project needs and are encouraged to focus on a quality improvement area that interests them. Interns will meet monthly with the supervisor designated as the project adviser, for assistance in development and implementation of the project. The project will culminate in a presentation, forum TBA. Projects will not be penalized based on whether or not improvements are made but rather the thought, planning, and critical analysis that is put into the project.

Projects will be evaluated based on:

  • Addressing an identified need
  • Sustainability
  • Consideration of all members of the team
  • Research methodology
  • Use of the Plan, Do, Study, Act Model
  • Presentation