Psychology Practicum Extern – Lathrop Neuropsychology

We are committed to nurturing and integrating diversity training into every aspect of the CVA Neuropsychology Practicum Program by:

• Providing Externs with opportunities to work with patients who represent a wide range of diverse backgrounds, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, socioeconomic status and abilities.
• Placing a high value on encouraging and supporting Externs’ willingness and ability to engage in self-reflection and learning about their assumptions, privileges and habits that could have a negative impact on clinical interactions with patients who are different in significant ways from them.
• Maintaining a consistent focus in clinical supervision on expanding Externs’ multicultural awareness and competence in the provision of psychotherapeutic and assessment services and by providing guidance and resources on topics related to diversity.
• Providing scheduled presentations from a local EID consultant
• Encouraging Externs to participate in the Regional Mental Health Training Program EID Forums, which provide advanced training on topics related to cultural humility and competence and a safe space in which to reflect upon and discuss their varied experiences.

• Two hours of weekly training that includes a case review and a topic in advanced neuropsychology. The neuropsychology lecture series has included presentations on sports concussion, CNS infections, disconnection syndromes, atypical parkinsonism, white matter disorders, executive function, vascular disease, language evaluation, forensic practice, motor neuron disease, neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, disability issues in neuropsychological assessment, neuropsychological ethics, cross cultural neuropsychology, and other topics relevant to the field.
• Access to professional training courses sponsored by our Regional Mental Health Training Program. These courses and presentations are offered at select times during the year for all KP mental health trainees and staff at Kaiser Northern California Medical Centers. We bring in national experts and keynote speakers on a variety of cutting-edge topics in mental health treatment and research. Externs are offered the opportunity to attend these monthly regional trainings, in addition to the weekly didactic seminars. Many of these lectures are recorded and available under the continuing education lecture library.
• Externs also participate in a monthly dementia case review. This seminar provides a collaborative forum for clinicians to discuss real cases, refine diagnostic skills, and enhance management strategies for various dementia syndromes. Through shared insights and evidence-based learning, we aim to improve clinical decision-making and deliver better care for patients living with cognitive disorders.

• Externs participate in 1 hour of weekly case conference with fellow students, mental health staff, and psychiatrists.
• Externs are invited to participate in a monthly staff meeting.

The basic training philosophy is a scientist-practitioner model of clinical neuropsychology. The approach to supervision is an apprentice/developmental model with a commitment to helping Externs develop basic, fundamental skills in neuropsychological evaluations across the lifespan. To that end, Externs observe the supervising neuropsychologist performing evaluations initially and then are observed interviewing, testing, and providing feedback by the supervisor before transitioning to increased independence.

Externs are provided with a minimum of 2 hours of supervision per week. Direct observation is an integral part of this training model and often results in several additional hours of supervision weekly.

Conducting neuropsychological assessments is the primary focus of this program. Testing typically includes assessment of memory, IQ, attention, motor functioning, language, visual spatial abilities, and executive functioning using a variety of neuropsychological test instruments. Training is provided in assessment of valid responding and mood/personality as well. The number of batteries and comprehensive reports completed will be based on Externs’ past experience, ability, and interest. A common goal is for Externs to complete one full neuropsychological evaluation each week.

Practicum students will be placed at the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health and Wellness Center in Lathrop, California.

The patient population consists of Kaiser Health Plan members (including those with Medicare and Medi-Cal) and covers a broad diagnostic spectrum. Externs will have the opportunity to provide evaluations for patients across the age spectrum, from about age 7 to 90+. Patients referred to the department are being assessed for brain injury, stroke, dementia, neoplasms, infectious diseases, movement disorders, and other general neurologic conditions. Most pediatric assessments are from the Departments of Oncology and the Spina Bifida Specialty Clinic.

Externs will co-facilitate a weekly class for survivors of traumatic brain injury and stroke with their supervisor. They have the opportunity to independently facilitate a 4-week, curriculum-based class for patients with a diagnosis of ADHD that focuses on executive functioning skills.

By the end of the training program, students will be well-versed in conducting clinical interviews and performing neuropsychological assessments, including the administration, scoring, and interpretation of widely-used neuropsychological instruments. Supervision and training in report writing will also be provided.

Individual therapy is optional depending on Externs’ interests, school requirements, and patient availability. If available, individual therapy will be brief and with specialty populations.