Post-Doctoral Residencies
The Training Philosophy of the Vanderbilt Psychological and Counseling Center
The Psychological and Counseling Center is a multi-faceted facility serving Vanderbilt students, staff, faculty, and their dependents. The post-doctoral residencies at the Center are designed to provide intensive, individualized, professional training experiences in the varied activities carried out by psychologists in an innovative, service-oriented university counseling center. The ideal resident is a professional who is eager to contribute to our Center while implementing innovative ideas for growth and change.
Supervision
Special emphasis is placed on supervision during the residency. All post-doctoral residents are assigned to two psychologists with experience in direct client service as well as training and supervision. Residents meet with each individual supervisor for an hour a week for a minimum total of two hours per week of individual supervision. In addition to the individual supervision, group supervision is offered for group therapy, family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, diversity issues, and eating/body image issues. Another important part of supervision is found in peer consultation. Residents are also encouraged to begin training groups in their area of expertise.
Residents are given the chance to experience being supervisors by providing individual ancillary supervision to a Master’s level practicum student. They are also actively involved in planning and implementing weekly training seminars for ten to fifteen pre-doctoral practicum students who train with us through the academic year. Supervision of supervision is provided in a group format. This experience is helpful in developing supervision skills and is another key part of the intern experience.
Diversity Issues
The staff of the Counseling Center is committed to the affirmation of diversity. Our internship program includes issues of diversity in the didactic training experiences offered as well as in clinical practice. Interns are provided with exposure to clients of differing ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious backgrounds, ages, genders, and abilities.