Martin-Wagar, Caitlin

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana Course Syllabi Open Educational Resources (OER) Fall 9-1-2021 PSYX 534.01: Practicum - Applied Clinical Methods Caitlin Martin-Wagar University of Montana, Missoula, caitlin.martin-wagar@umontana.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Martin-Wagar, Caitlin, "PSYX 534.01: Practicum - Applied Clinical Methods" (2021). University of Montana Course Syllabi. 12071. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/12071 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources (OER) at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana Course Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu.                                                                                                                                          Psychology 534Fall 2021Practicum: Applied Clinical MethodsCourse Information Time/Day: Tuesday, 1-2:50pm; individual supervision TBD with individual supervisorsLocation:  CPC Room 115 (Zoom if courses go remote)Instructor Information Instructor:  Caitlin Martin-Wagar, Ph.D.Email: Caitlin.Martin-Wagar@umontana.eduOffice: Skaggs Bldg., Room 366Office hours: TBD & by scheduled appointmentPhone: Office 406-243-4986; My cell number, which is appropriate for urgent communication, will beshared during our first practicum meeting.Required Readings 1. Eells, T. D. (2015). Psychotherapy Case Formulation. Washington DC: American PsychologicalAssociation.2. Additional required readings are listed in the course schedule. These supplemental readings areavailable via Moodle.Course Objectives This course continues your assessment and psychotherapy training and supports continued development of profession-wide competencies in the clinical domain. Core profession-widecompetencies addressed in this course include professional behavior consistent with ethical and legalstandards, professional communication and interpersonal skills, diagnostic and clinical assessment,intervention skills, and consultation and interprofessional skills. Moreover, this course facilitates yourprofessional development of a consistent therapeutic identity (e.g., interpersonal, cognitive) to informcase conceptualizations and intervention. The course will also develop your competency in theintegration of science, theory and practice. Because a sound relationship is the foundation for effectivepsychotherapy delivered from any theoretical orientation, you will be encouraged to understand thecontributions of interpersonal process/issues to therapeutic change. Course objectives will be met through applied clinical experiences, case discussion during our weekly team meetings, directed and general readings, weekly individual supervision, and formal case presentations. Early in the semester wewill identify your individualized training goals for the current semester and beyond. Learning Outcomes:  Students will:1. Demonstrate developmentally appropriate growth in profession-wide competencies regardingcase conceptualization, psychodiagnosis and assessment, intervention, and individual and culturaldiversity.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             2. Demonstrate developmentally appropriate growth in the integration of science and practice andprovide appropriate and effective psychotherapeutic care for a range of clients.3. Demonstrate developmentally appropriate growth in profession-wide competencies related toprofessional communication and interpersonal functioning, peer and interprofessionalconsultation, and performance as a member of a clinical team.Course Requirements 1. Attendance & Participation: You are expected to attend each team meeting and CPC staff meeting, and I anticipate that you’llmake an effort to arrive on time. These meetings will take place in the CPC (or on zoom). Please notify me in advance if circumstances arise (e.g., personal illness, family emergency, familyhealthcare obligations) that make you unable to attend class. Multiple absences from our teammeetings or multiple cancellations of individual supervision meetings may preclude a passing grade. Full and active participation maximizes the utility of group-based peer supervision/consultation.Although our use of time will vary with the nature of the issues experienced by your clients, I expect each of you to be an active group participant. We learn through collaboration, and by accepting andproviding feedback. A degree of anxiety and worry is normal among beginning and experiencedclinicians. I anticipate that anxiety related to sharing our experiences will give way to comfort as webecome increasingly familiar with each other and as our team dynamic develops. Whereas it is appropriate and helpful to offer clinical opinions and impressions to teammates, please keep inmind that it is most helpful when we do so respectfully and with the understanding that there is no ‘one right way’ to conceptualize clients’ circumstances or do psychotherapy. In fact, the availabilityof diverse ideas and multiple perspectives is among the more valuable attributes of our team-based approach.Using case presentations, we will ‘staff’ each new client who is evaluated by one of our teammembers. In 15 minutes or so, the clinician who conducts an intake evaluation of a potential client will present a brief summary of the evaluation’s findings. These case presentations will occur duringthe practicum meeting immediately following the intake interview and should include the following: basic demographic information (e.g., age, gender identity, living situation, relationship andoccupational/educational status), summary of the potential client’s presenting problem and history, mental status exam, complicating contextual factors (social support/lack of, etc.), initial diagnostic impression, and the therapist’s thoughts about disposition/treatment planning. In addition, teammembers will share their initial and ongoing thoughts about case formulation.To stimulate case discussion and facilitate team functioning, ALL practicum team members willpresent weekly updates for each of their clients. In addition, to the degree that the technology willallow, student clinicians will occasionally present video of their sessions to the treatment team.2. Expectations & procedures:  Ethical practice: Our behavior must be consistent with our discipline’s professional and ethicalstandards at all times. Ethical standards relevant to clinical work require attention to issues of confidentiality, timely completion of paperwork, adequate documentation of therapy progress, andmany other issues. Our group practicum meetings will provide opportunities to discuss ethics-related issues as they arise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Clinical guidelines: The CPC Policies and Procedures Manual provides a wealth of very helpfulinformation and guidance. Because it is likely that the P & P Manual holds the answer to just aboutany procedural question you might have, it’s important to read it. We will be talking about procedural issues in our group and individual supervision meetings throughout the year. Pleasedon’t hesitate to ask me or someone else for clarification about procedural issues.Session Recording: Because we are a training clinic, all therapy and intake contacts with clients arerecorded. Though it is possible that you will encounter a potential client who requests that their sessions are NOT recorded, we cannot accommodate this request.Session notes, Documentation, Chart Review, and Intake Reports: Your individual supervisor will readand co-sign all of your session note entries in Titanium. Please know that I may also periodicallyreview your clients’ EHR so that I am fully informed regarding clinical issues/progress and to facilitate supervision. It is difficult to overstate the importance of timely, accurate, andconscientious documentation of clinical activities. Although CPC policy requires notes to be written within 48 hours of treatment provision, my policy urges you to write notes on the same day as theclinical encounter. In addition, CPC policy requires documentation of all collateral contacts and communication to outside persons or agencies, with the necessary signed release of information form. CPC policy requires that written intake reports are submitted to the CPC Clinical Assistant and Dr. Birch within one week of interview completion. I respectfully request that you submit the intakeevaluation within 2 business days. Note that you will have a much easier time with intake write-ups if you begin working on them immediately after your interview. All clinical documentation guidelinesmust be met before the semester’s end. Persistent delays or other problems with clinicaldocumentation, chart audit clearance, and slippage with regard to CPC policies and procedures maypreclude a passing grade. Final grades are submitted when the audit is cleared.Caseload: A typical caseload for most students will be approximately 3-5 clients at a time. Studentswith more clinical experience will build their caseload as early as possible in the semester. Less senior students will establish their caseloads gradually and may carry fewer total clients. Caseload is a student-by-student decision, one that you and your individual supervisor will make collaboratively.Consultation model & Intake assessments: Our clinic operates on a consultation model, which attempts to match clients with the best possible treatment option. On occasion, the best treatment option might mean referral to an outside agency or a decision that the CPC is incapable of meeting a particular client’s needs. It is important to keep this in mind when you meet with a client for the first time. Even when clients clearly need treatment, for example, we might not be able to provide it for them.Intake assessments will be assigned to you during individual supervision meetings. It is not unusual for one practicum student to intake a client who is then seen by another student for psychotherapy. It is imperative that you, your supervisors (me and individual supervisor), and Dr. Birch makecollaborative decisions about new clients’ treatment dispositions. This collaborative consultation happens before you tell a client that the CPC will be an appropriate treatment venue.Individual Supervision: You will have weekly 1:1 supervision meetings (50 minutes) with Dr. Martin-Wagar or a psychologist supervisor from the nearby community. Details for those supervisionmeetings will be shared when you meet for your first supervision with your supervisor.Immediate or Urgent Consultation: Please feel free to consult with me as needed. I do not expect you to handle emergency and/or crisis situations on your own. If a crisis arises, feel free to consultwith me, Dr. Birch, or another faculty supervisor. During business hours, you are welcome to call my cell or office phone number, and I will attempt to respond to you as soon as possible. Please note,                                                                                                                                                                                                    however, that I may not always answer my phone if I am in a meeting, teaching, or working with my own clients. The CPC backup supervision cell phone--and the faculty member attached to it!--isavailable to you Monday through Friday from 8a to 8p. Please remember that the CPC is closed on University holidays. Because this means there is NO available urgent clinical backup, please do not schedule any client meetings on University holidays.3. Assignments: 1. Please identify 3 practicum goals for your semester. You will share your goals with the group onthe second Tuesday of the semester (Sept 7) and are strongly encouraged to share your goals with your individual supervisor as well.2. Brief (about 15 minutes) case presentations for all new cases.3. Formal, written case conceptualization and oral presentation (see Appendix A).4. Grading:  Credit (Cr) / No Credit (NC) / Incomplete (I) / In Progress (N)Determination of your final grade depends upon several factors, including the satisfactory development of clinical skills and competencies, professional and ethical behavior, adherence to CPC policies and procedures, and the degree of engagement in group practicum meetings. Please note that a passing grade (“C”) requires that all clinical paperwork (e.g., treatment plans,treatment summaries, intake reports, progress notes, etc.) are fully- and appropriately-executed bythe end of the semester. Your charts will be audited prior toward the semester’s end, and a passing grade will require that you have satisfied all conditions of the audit.5. Academic Conduct:Academic dishonesty is antithetical to the mission of the University of Montana; all students mustpractice academic honesty. Misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. Academic misconduct –including plagiarism- willresult in a failing grade for the course and might result in dismissal from the university. Please let me know if you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism. Please see the Student Conduct Code. In the context of practicum, misrepresentation of your work or activities with clients would beconsidered academic misconduct.6. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:  I am pleased to make accommodations for any student who has a disability. If you have a disability that necessitates accommodation, please let me know right away so we can make a plan together.Also, I can only make accommodations when your disability is documented by the Office forDisability Equity (ODE: 406-243-2243).7. Classroom and Community Safety: COVID-19 Precautions a. UM Mask Requirement: Please note that the University Administration requires that all students and faculty wear masks covering one’s mouth and nose at all times in classroom and laboratory spaces (https://www.umt.edu/coronavirus/mask-policy.php). This requirement is an important part of us doing our parts to ensure campus wellness and safety. Per guidance from University administration, the mask requirement applies to all us. If any one of you is unable to wear a mask, please contact your academic advisor or the Office for Disability Equity to discuss alternative options.                                                                                                                                                                                           b. If you feel sick and/or are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, please do not come to the CPC and contact the Curry Health Center at (406) 243-4330.c. If you are required to isolate or quarantine, I will support you to ensure continued academic progress.d. Because physical distancing (i.e., 6 feet between individuals) may not be possible in a class like ours, we are required to use specific seating arrangements. In addition, in order to facilitate the potential need for contract tracing through Missoula CountyHealth Department, I will need to take class attendance.e. Drinking liquids and eating food is discouraged within the classroom. I will build in a break so you have time to step out of CPC to drink water or have a snack.f. UM recommends students get the COVID-19 vaccine. Please direct your questions aboutvaccines to Curry Health Center.Tentative Course Schedule & Reading ListWk Dates Topic & Readings1 T Aug 31 Course orientation; Case summaries2 T Sep 7 CPC Staff meeting; Semester goals due; Eells Chapter 1 Defining Formulation: Benefits,Goals, History, and Influences3 T Sep 14 Eells Chapter 2 Sound Decision Making in Case Formulation4 T Sep 21 Eells Chapter 3 Developing a Culturally Responsive Formulation5 T Sep 28 Ridley et al., 20216 T Oct 5 CPC Staff meeting; Eells Chapter 4 Formulation in the Context of PsychotherapyIntegration7 T Oct 12 Eells Chapter 5 Step 1: Create a Problem List8 T Oct 19 Eells Chapter 6 Step 2: Diagnose9 T Oct 26 Eells Chapter 7 Step 3: Develop an Explanatory Hypothesis10 T Nov 2 CPC Staff meeting; Eells Chapter 8 Step 4: Plan Treatment11 T Nov 9 Sanchez et al., 202112 T Nov 16 Magyar-Moe et al., 201513 T Nov 23 No readings14 T Nov 30 Case Conceptualization and Presentations15 T Dec 7 CPC Staff meeting; Case Conceptualization and Presentations (con’t)                                                                                                                                                                                           Appendix A-Case Conceptualization & Presentation ***see pages 180-182 for checklist of evaluating the process of case formulation)Background Information (provide summary paragraph introducing the client and appropriate history) 1. Case description and identifying information 2. Description of presenting problem3. Description of referral source 4. Description of social/educational/occupational hx5. Description of hx of psychological problems and/or tx6. Description of pertinent medical history 7. Description of current and hx of medication and substance use Problem List (See Table 5.1 in text – consider all types of problems, of course each client might not have all types) (this section can be a list or table, or paragraph) 1. Red flags2. Self-functioninga. Behavior b. Cognition c. Affect and mood d. Biologicale. Existential3. Social/interpersonal Functioning 4. Societal Functioning Diagnosis (provide DSM codes when appropriate)Explanatory Hypothesis (state theoretical approach using for hypotheses) (provide a summary followingguide below – can list precipitants, origins, resources, obstacles, and then include a paragraph(s) summary ofhypothesis)1. Identify precipitants2. Identify origins3. Identify resources4. Identify obstacles5. Explanatory Template/Hypothesis Treatment Plan (this section can be a written summary or table or bullet point list – or some combination of these)  Attend to 7 characteristics in text (collaborative, sufficient detail to guide action, realistic time frame,articulate outcomes, prioritize and sequence action steps, test explanatory hypotheses and providecontingencies based on clients’ response to intervention, and efficient and parsimonious.Include Goals (Outcome, Process, SMART) Describe Interventions to Reach GoalsORAL CASE PRESENTATION – should not exceed 30 minutes Summarize written presentation  Additional information to present:  What do you want/need from this case conference? Come prepared with questions you have from the groupWhat are the potential ethical issues involved in this case?What are the potential multicultural sensitivities (e.g. assumptions and/or biases) within this case?

PSYX 534.01: Practicum - Applied Clinical Methods

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13011&context=syllabi

PSYX 534.01: Practicum - Applied Clinical Methods

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Montana