Our Electives

• Clinical Research

  Interns are strongly encouraged to participate in research activities. Clinical psychology interns may choose to independently investigate a research question under faculty supervision. This can involve secondary analysis of existing/archival data or, with their supervisor’s consent, adding a component to an existing project. Interns are also able to work as part of a faculty member’s research team.

  Areas of faculty research include the following:

  • Behavioral Cardiology – Cheryl Carmin, PhD, Todd Barrett, MD
  • Clinical Neuroscience and Psychotherapeutics Research Unit – Emil F. Coccaro, MD
  • Clinical Neuroscience Research Lab – Stephanie Gorka, PhD
  • Emotion Dysregulation/Mindfulness – Sophie Lazarus, PhD
  • EPICENTER – Nick Breitborde, PhD
  • First Episode Psychosis: Clinical and Translational Science – Aubrey Moe, PhD
  • Neuropsychology – Darrin Aase, PhD, Laura Boxley, PhD, Erica Dawson, PhD Chris Nguyen, PhD
  • Phan Lab – K. Luan Phan, MD
  • Women’s Behavioral Health – Kristen Carpenter, PhD

• ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis – Justin Barterian, PhD

  The ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis elective will allow interns to enhance their skills regarding ruling out/in ADHD as a possible cause for impairing symptoms/behaviors.  Interns will participate in monthly ADHD diagnosis meetings, where Dr. Barterian, an attending psychiatrist, and psychiatry residents will review comprehensive data for each patient. For patients presenting with too many complicating factors to be diagnosed via this meeting, interns will get the opportunity to complete a full psychological assessment, complete an integrated report, and provide patient feedback regarding treatment and academic accommodations (if applicable).

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia - Helena Rempala, PhD

  The intern interested in this elective will have an opportunity to learn and practice Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Brief Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (BBT-I) with individuals referred by physicians from the Division of Sleep Medicine in the Department of Pulmonology. 
  

   

• Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry - David Kasick, MD; Eleonora Sikic-Klisovic, MD

  The consultation-liaison psychiatry service is a inter-professional team staffed by faculty psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, a social worker, and medical students. Interns will have the opportunity to provide consultations to hospitalized individuals who have been referred to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health based on the referring physician’s assessment that there is a need for a mental health intervention. Interns will learn to differentiate between delirium and other cognitive deficits that may be causing treatment interfering behaviors. They will play a major role in assessing if there is a need for pharmacological and/or psychological intervention and learn to prioritize those treatments that are available during a patient’s hospital stay.
   
  Depending upon logistics, interns may have the opportunity to follow patients who were seen during their hospitalization as outpatients. Each patient who is seen on the service is staffed the same day by the team, providing the opportunity for inter-professional group supervision. Interns will also receive individual supervision from a faculty psychologist for those patients for whom they are the assigned mental health professional. This experience can be structured for up to six months or for a shorter period of time.
  

  
  

  
  

• Early Psychosis Clinic - Nick Breitborde, PhD and Aubrey Moe, PhD

  EPICENTER provides individuals early in the course of a psychotic illness with access to several evidence-based psychosocial interventions for psychosis: (i) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; (ii) Family Psychoeducation; and (iii) Metacognitive Remediation Therapy.  As an elective rotation, interns will be able to participate in the delivery of clinical services at EPICENTER or contribute to various research activities in progress.  When possible, interns may also be able to complete assessment training at EPICENTER with regard to outcomes relevant to psychotic disorders, including measures of symptomatology, functioning, and quality of life.

• Healthy Sleep Service - Helena A. Rempala, PhD and Travis Westbrook, PhD

  Interns interested in this elective will have an opportunity to learn and practice individual and group Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Brief Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (BBT-I) with individuals referred by physicians from the Department of Internal Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. If interested the intern will be invited to participate in the regularly scheduled sleep case presentations.

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) - Sophie Lazarus, PhD

  Interns will have the opportunity to participate in MBCT groups as part of an elective experience. MBCT is an empirically supported intervention developed by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale, based on Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. It was developed to facilitate recovery from depression and prevent future relapse, and is based on cognitive-behavioral principles and practices and eastern mindfulness practices.  Interns must commit to at least two 8-week group cycles in order to participate. The experience consists of guided readings and supervision on the theoretical background of the treatment, one round of group participation as a “participant-observer,” followed by the opportunity to co-lead the group.

• Neuropsychology - Laura Boxley, PhD; Erica Dawson, PhD; Darrin Aase, PhD; and Chris Nguyen, PhD

  The purpose of this elective is to educate interns regarding the utility of outpatient neuropsychological assessment in an academic medical center. Interns will specifically learn how to administer and interpret standard neuropsychological tests, conduct diagnostic interviews with psychologically/medically complex adults, and write informative clinical reports with tailored recommendations. Common referrals include the assessment of cognitive concerns secondary to neurodegenerative diseases, major medical illnesses, or developmental disorders. We also commonly assess transplant and deep brain stimulation patients. This elective will be most useful for future psychologists who plan to work with medically ill and/or older adults.

• OSU Nisonger Center Evaluation Clinics, University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities - Andrea Witwer, PhD

  The Nisonger Center provides diagnostic and evaluation services for individuals with suspected developmental disabilities (including autism) aged 12 months through 22 years of age. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in an interdisciplinary diagnostic interview and observe standardized assessments and feedback sessions. The nature of the observation can be flexible based on the interest and experience of the intern. In this elective, interns will have the opportunity to observe interdisciplinary evaluations in one of three clinics. The Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Clinic, which evaluates children 12months through 5 years of age meets in Wednesday mornings (2nd. 3rd, 4th Wed) and afternoons (1st Wed). The School Age Autism and Developmental Clinic, which provides interdisciplinary evaluations for individuals 5 up to 12 years of age meets on Thursday afternoons. The Transition-Age Clinic, serves individuals aged 13-22 years of age meets on Tuesday mornings.

• Pain and Mental Health - Jose Moreno, PhD

  This elective will provide interns with an opportunity to increase knowledge and skills related to the epidemiology, assessment, diagnosis, conceptualization and treatment of chronic pain and related psychiatric and substance use comorbidities. Interns will work to integrate brief psychotherapy, relaxation and behavior modification into patients’ pain management. The assessment and treatment goals aim to restore function in physical and social areas. Additionally, if desired, interns would have opportunity to conduct pre-surgical psychosocial evaluations prior to implantable therapy procedures. Depending upon logistics of this opportunity, interns will be involved in the initial intake and treatment planning, and possibly providing treatment through individual psychotherapy.

• Palliative Care (Cardiology) - Todd Barrett, MD

  Palliative Medicine at OSUWMC is one of a handful of programs nationally that offers outpatient as well as inpatient palliative care to patients with cardiac conditions. During this elective, interns will work with an outpatient interdisciplinary team including physicians, advance practice nurses, social work, and chaplaincy to screen patients and provide psychological interventions. The intern will have the opportunity to work with patients experiencing a significant symptom burden as well as patients at the end of life. The intern will learn to complete a comprehensive palliative care assessment, perform risk assessment, diagnose psychological disorders in the context of advanced disease, assist patients and families with anticipatory grief and advance care planning. There is also ample opportunity for research in this area.

• Smoking Cessation - Jose Moreno, PhD

  Interns will have the opportunity to assess, diagnose, conceptualize and treat tobacco use disorders and any related psychiatric conditions. Interns will learn to adapt interventions based on related physical health comorbidities and will increase knowledge of the latest tobacco products as well as nicotine replacement therapies. Treatment modalities are based in CBT and MI principles and may include coaching patients’ use of web and mobile-based interventions. 

• Sport Psychology - Jen Carter, PhD; Jamey Houle, PhD; and Chelsi Day, PhD

  The Sport Psychologists devote their time to either outpatient treatment in Sports Medicine (Dr. Carter) or in OSU Varsity Athletics (Drs. Houle and Day) where activities include mental health counseling and teaching mental skills for peak performance to teams and other groups. In this elective, interns observe and deliver mental skills presentations. Depending on the interns’ interest and experience in the athletic culture, interns may have the opportunity to provide ADHD assessment as needed.

• Treatment of Adult ADHD - Helena Rempala, PhD

  The intern interested in this elective will have the opportunity to co-lead an evening group therapy for adults with executive function deficits with the primary diagnosis of ADHD. The group runs for 12 sessions, typically on Wednesdays from 6:00pm until 7:30pm usually in the spring. The group follows the evidence-based CBT program developed by Mary Solanto, Ph.D. Interns will become proficient at coaching effective time management and organizational skills which are essential for those individuals diagnosed with ADHD and are applicable beyond the ADHD diagnosis.