Core Experience
The core rotations for the program consist of four three-month rotations. These rotations are three days each week (Monday – Wednesday). Interns are required to participate in a Campus Behavioral Health Service rotation, Neuropsychology rotation, and Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic rotation. Interns indicate preference for the fourth, elective rotation between the Child and Family Behavioral Health or the Clinical Health Psychology rotations. Interns participate in the Evidenced Based Care rotation every Thursday and Friday throughout the year.
Campus Behavioral Health Service Rotation (three months)
The Campus Behavioral Health Service serves young active duty service members who are trainees at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence and the Medical Education Training Campus. Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the home of the MEDCoE and METC, meaning all enlisted soldiers, sailors, and airmen assigned to medical specialties receive their initial job training at this post. The majority of these soldiers arrive at Fort Sam Houston immediately after basic training and many are dealing with issues related to adjusting to the military environment, homesickness, and academic problems.
Neuropsychology Rotation (three months)
The Neuropsychology Clinic provides neuropsychological evaluations for active duty service members and medically-retired service members who are returning for repeat evaluation. This population consists primarily of young adults. Both male and female patients are seen, but there is a predominance of male patients. During this rotation, interns will learn to conduct brief cognitive screenings as well as a more comprehensive battery that includes both cognitive and psychological evaluation.
Adult Outpatient Rotation (three months)
The Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic provides psychological evaluation and treatment services to active duty service members. In contrast to the CBHS, where the patient population consists of young trainees who have come into the Army fairly recently, the Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic provides services to service members who have been working in their field of service in the Army. Interns on this rotation will learn how to work with service members on a variety of issues they face in the military. They will also learn how to conduct targeted care and military-specific assessments, a critical skill to achieve as a military psychologist.
Evidenced Based Care Rotation (one year)
The evidenced-based care rotation provides interns with the opportunity to provide evidenced based therapeutic intervention consistent with the DOD/VA Clinical Practice Guidelines. A focus of this rotation will be treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and other combat or operational stress reactions, such as sleep problems, nightmares, panic, and other anxiety related disorders. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to work with patients with other mood disorders or behavioral health issues, such as major depression, adjustment disorders, family problems, etc. Specific evidence-based treatments to be covered during the internship year include Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, CBT for Nightmares and Treatment for Traumatic Stress Disorders.
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