The Neuropsychology Track:

The Clinical Neuropsychology Internship is a one-year program designed to provide extensive clinical training and lay the foundation for careers in neuropsychology.  The program follows APA/Division 40 guidelines for internship training in clinical Neuropsychology. 

Assessment/Evaluation:
The core of clinical training in neuropsychology takes place in the MGH Psychology Assessment Center (PAC).  This is an outpatient setting in which interns gain experience with a variety of neurological and non-neurological patient populations including memory disorders, movement disorders, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor/oncology, developmental/learning disorders, psychiatric disorders, toxic/metabolic conditions, and infections.  The track is developmentally oriented:  interns have supervised experience with pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, and are supervised by neuropsychologists with specialties in these different areas.  Interns also have opportunities to evaluate patients with acute and subacute presentations on the inpatient units. 

Consultation:
Interns in the neuropsychology will serve as consultants in a variety of settings, providing diagnostic and treatment planning information through report writing; feedback sessions with patients, families, and referral sources; participation in multidisciplinary treatment team settings; and presentation at educational planning meetings.   

Treatment:
Another goal of the neuropsychology track to further the interns’ general training in clinical psychology, especially in relation to the ability to diagnose mental disorders and make referrals for appropriate treatment through a rotation in the MGH Acute Psychiatry Service (APS).  Interns further their intervention skills through supervised psychotherapy cases in the Behavioral Medicine, CBT, or Adult Psychiatry Departments. 

Research:
The track is modeled in the scientist-practitioner model.  Interns will integrate research into their practice through literature review on a case-by-case basis.  They additionally have the opportunity to become involved in original or ongoing research at the PAC or in the larger MGH community. 

Didactics:

Neuropsychology Seminar:  A 10-month, weekly seminar focusing on professional issues related to neuropsychology practice, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, development and neurodevelopmental syndromes, clinical neurology, acquired CNS syndromes, and dementia.  (1 hour weekly)

Neuropsychology Case Conference:  This is a 10-month, bi-weekly seminar that allows participants to hone their skills in neuropsychological fact-finding and case formulation.

Additional Didactic Experiences: Behavioral Neurology Rounds, Neurology Grand Rounds, Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar; Epilepsy Case Conference/Neurosurgical Rounds, Movement Disorders Surgical Rounds, Joint Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry Rounds, Brain Cutting, Neuroradiology Rounds

• Individual psychotherapy supervision- 1 hour weekly
  
• Assessment/Testing- 2 hours weekly plus “real time” supervision with each case assigned
  
• Group Supervision – 1 hour weekly

Links:

Psychology Assessment Center

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