Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) Clinical Training Manual (St. Louis Campus)

Clinical Training Model

• Interpersonal skills: ability to listen and be empathic with others; respect for/interest in others’ cultures, experiences, values, points of view, goals and desires, fears, etc. These skills include verbal as well as non-verbal domains. An interpersonal skill of special relevance is the ability to be open to feedback.
• Cognitive skills: problem-solving ability, critical thinking, organized reasoning, intellectual curiosity
• Affective skills: affect tolerance; tolerance/understanding of interpersonal conflict; tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty
• Personality/Attitudes: desire to help others; openness to new ideas; honesty/integrity/valuing of ethical behavior; personal courage
• Expressive skills: ability to communicate one’s ideas, feelings and information in verbal, non- verbal, and written forms
• Reflective skills: ability to examine and consider one’s own motives, attitudes, behaviors, and one’s effect on others
• Personal skills: personal organization, personal hygiene, appropriate dress

These competencies are only developed through practical experiences in supervised contexts. Therefore, the clinical practicum component of the Clinical Psychology program of PHSU pays special attention to the processes through which students develop the competencies of the profession. Specifically, our model stipulates that graduates will be able to utilize their relationship skills to perform evaluations of patients’ circumstances and of their psychological functioning. Our students will develop competencies in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests. Likewise, students will acquire intervention competencies in a range of approaches and modalities which are a significant component of the clinical skills available to professional Clinical Psychologists.

To achieve the goal of providing its students the clinical skills of the profession, the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) offers its students the following experiential components:

1. Practicum seminars emphasizing clinical skills.
2. Clinical practice in designated practicum sites.

The practicum component of the program is structured in a sequential manner in order to foster the progressive acquisition of clinical skills. The sequence is as follows:

During each of the required practicum courses students will attend an associated practicum seminar which will assist with the development of clinical skills, in addition to the time spent at the practicum site.

Clinical Psychology students have the option to take advantage of the program’s sequence of Advanced Clinical Practice to increase their competencies in general clinical practice, in specific settings, or with populations of their interest.  (See Appendix G for more information)

Students will complete a minimum of 1,100 hours of practica before entering the doctoral internship. For each practicum experience, students should complete a minimum of 100 face-to-face contact hours for a minimum of 500 face-to-face hours for all practicum experiences. These face-to-face hours include clinical intake, crisis intervention, psychotherapy (individual, group, couples, and family), and testing. Record keeping, case management, training, administrative services, staff meetings, shadowing, and supervision hours will be recorded as supplemental hours.  Given the importance of direct hours for internship application, students are encouraged to complete a greater number of direct hours if possible. If the student cannot complete the expected hours for the semester, an agreement will be developed, stating the amount of hours owed for the semester, and the specific plan to complete them. The plan may include a summer rotation or a practicum placement during the fourth year.

Evaluation of Progress

Students receive two performance evaluations from their site supervisor during each semester. The first evaluation is conducted at mid-semester (beginning of October/March) and the second at the end (December/May). The evaluation form is included in Appendix B.

Evaluation of Students Professional Competencies

The supervisor should also complete and submit the Evaluation of Students Professional Competencies Form (Appendix C) for each supervisee at least once during the semester. Any concerns in this area will receive immediate attention by the DCT and the program administration.

The student will evaluate the practicum site, and the clinical supervision received at the end of the practicum experience. The practicum site evaluation by students is found in Appendix D.

Students enrolled in clinical practica are responsible for obtaining and submitting the evaluations and other requirements of the practicum to the DCT in a timely manner. No grades will be posted in a student’s transcript until all evaluation forms are turned in. In addition to the evaluations from the student’s clinical supervisor, the student’s class participation and case presentations during the practicum course impact the student’s grade in the course.

The practicum hours are credited by the office of the DCT, based upon the practicum log in Time2Track. The student’s clinical supervisor signs this log, and the student must submit it to the Time2Track system each month. By the end of the semester, the DCT informs the professor of the practicum seminar about the student’s performance in their practicum site and the number of hours completed.  If the student’s performance is evaluated as satisfactory by the practicum supervisor and the number of hours logged for the semester is acceptable, the DCT will certify the student’s approval of the practice and of the seminar by using the designation “Pass” (P). A satisfactory evaluation is at least an average score of 3 in each section. The description of the score is as follows: 1= Very Poor: Performance well below expectations; 2= Below Average Performance: Below expectations for a trainee at this level; 3=Adequate performance: Comparable to others at this level of training, trainees’ demonstration of skills is solid/adequate; 4=Above Average performance: Above expectations for trainee at this level; 5=Outstanding performance: Exceeding expectations for a trainee at this level and Not Applicable (N): This specific item was not observed in this practicum site. If a student’s performance is evaluated as unsatisfactory by the practicum supervisor and the number of hours logged for the semester is unacceptable, the student will receive a “No Pass” (NP) for practicum.

Remediation of Clinical Skills Deficiencies

A grade of No Pass will require a remediation of clinical skills. Deficits detected through clinical practicum are required when ratings on the Student/Trainee Evaluation Form, and Evaluation of Students Professional Competencies indicate unsatisfactory performance (Mean score less than 3 in each section). This procedure is also activated when unsatisfactory performance is detected through any other written evaluation method in use at any practicum site, in addition to the Student/Trainee Evaluation Form. Based on the information collected, a remedial plan is developed by the DCT in consultation with the student’s practicum supervisor and academic advisor. The student receives a letter from the DCT stating the steps to follow to benefit from the plan, the expected amount of time required to complete, and the possible consequences of non-compliance, including a referral to the Students Promotions Committee for consideration of other actions that may include dismissal from the program.

Procedure to follow when students present health problems during clinical practices

The whole health of each student is vital to obtaining adequate supervised practicum experience. We strive to ensure the well-being of students, supervisees, and the people who receive our services. For such purposes, we adopt the following procedures when health problems arise during practicum experiences:

If a student experiences a head injury, they must contact the DCT within one week to plan accordingly.

When the student, administrator of the site, or supervisor identifies that any practicum student is experiencing a health problem of a physical or emotional nature, they must ensure that such student receives the necessary medical/psychological care and keep the recommended rest. If the condition requires more than two weeks of rest, it is recommended that the student applies for a Leave of Absence (LOA). To be able to return to their site, the physician or psychologist who provides the health services must certify that the student is ready to retake their practicum responsibilities. The academic advisor must be aware of and collaborate in the necessary coordination to support the student in the required process. The supervisor and the student (to the extent possible) will be responsible for ensuring the transfer of patients, as necessary.

The DCT must be notified of each case and will meet with the parties to clarify any doubts. She/he will inform the program director and recommend a referral to the counseling department as deems necessary.

Students have the responsibility to notify the supervisor of any physical or emotional health issues limiting their practicum experience. Practicum students must also abide by supervisors’ recommendations at the site or in the academic program about remaining or not in the practicum site during the corresponding semester. As far as possible, the student must collaborate to transfer the cases they are assisting. Under no circumstances will the safety or the well-being of patients be put at risk.

If a practicum student refuses to follow this policy and procedure or the recommendations offered, it will be treated as a professional behavior fault. The program director or the SBBS dean could refer the student to the professional conduct committee (PCC) for evaluation and recommendations. Based on the advice of the PCC, the dean will decide the action to be taken, which may include a referral to the Promotions Committee with a recommendation of dismissal from the academic program.

Steps to follow in case of ethical breaches or perception of discrimination in the practice center:

1. Familiarize yourself with the policies, regulations, or protocols of the practice center. This is to understand the steps to follow. If they don’t exist, you can proceed to step two.
2. If the situation is related to the practicum site itself (and does not involve supervision), notify the person responsible for your supervision verbally and in writing. If a satisfactory solution is not reached, you can proceed to step three.
3. If the situation involves supervision, notify it in writing by sending an email to request a meeting with the DCT, and your academic advisor.

Clinical Practicum Sites

Affiliation

Each practicum site has an affiliation contract with PHSU. The Director of Clinical Training (DCT) is responsible for coordinating contracts, handling issues related to students’ malpractice insurance, assigning students to their practicum sites, and securing all pertinent documentation related to students’ practica. Any situation related to students in practicum or to their practicum sites will be reported to and handled by the DCT.

Criteria for Certification of Practicum Sites

To assure the availability of adequate training sites, PHSU engages in multilateral affiliations and agreements with local and national agencies and organizations. The primary focus of these organizations is the delivery of health, mental health, and psycho-educational services to their constituents. These organizations provide the resources needed by our students to develop their clinical and intervention skills and to forge their identity as professional psychologists. To achieve this goal, practicum sites must satisfy the basic requirements set forth by our program. These requirements are:

• The site must be engaged in the delivery of health-related, educational, or social/community services to individuals, couples, or families.
• Administration and staff supervision must be conducted by licensed health professionals.
• The training site must abide by the appropriate standards of safety that protect students, employees and the persons served from potentially dangerous or risky situations.
• An individual within the organization is designated to supervise and facilitate the student’s training program. This person should be a licensed psychologist with a doctoral degree.

In order to provide diverse experiences, students are usually not allowed to remain in the same practicum site for more than one year. Nonetheless, under special circumstances, this requirement may be waived. The training experiences will typically last the length of the academic year. However, at times, sites and students may negotiate a different training period, with permission of the DCT. Training sites do not necessarily follow PHSU holidays, and students may be expected to work over academic breaks.

(Please see list of Practicum Sites for the 2025-2026 Academic year).

Students cannot practice at any site without previous authorization from the DCT and/or the Program Director.

Primary Responsibilities of Practicum Supervisors

• Provide guidance and advice to students throughout their training and serve as professional mentors.
• Enable students to become thoroughly familiar with the policies and procedures of the practicum site.
• Develop graded, sequential experiences for students that will prepare them to assume entry- level responsibilities within the field of health service psychology.
• Complete, with the student, the Practicum Learning Contract (Appendix A) and provide the expected amount of weekly individual supervision of at least 1 hour. Sites may provide additional supervision to the student as desired.
• Screen and assign to students’ cases of adequate levels of complexity.
• Review the cases assigned to students on a regular basis.
• Verify that the student completes all forms and required paperwork.
• Address in supervision sessions the scientific basis of clinical psychological practice, professional ethics, and topics related to managed care and its effects on health care systems.
• Provide guidance and encouragement for students to progressively acquire independence in their clinical functioning.
• Keep the student, as well as the DCT, informed as to the student’s progress through both formal evaluation forms and through informal verbal feedback.

Guidelines for Clinical Practice

Ethical Standards

Students will abide by the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association with regards to professional behavior and to delivery of clinical services. Students will follow all rules and regulations of Ponce Health Sciences University and will conduct themselves according to applicable legal standards. Any concern about the student’s professional behavior in the clinical setting will be addressed according to PHSU policies and due process.

The safety of clients and issues related to dual relationships are considered to be among the most important aspects of ethical behavior to be observed by all students. It is the responsibility of the students to evaluate the presence of dangerousness to self or others in the clients served. Likewise, situations of child or elder abuse need to be reported according to the applicable law. Issues of domestic violence and of abuse to women and children in any form will be handled with utmost care. It is the student’s responsibility to promptly inform the supervisor when crisis situations occur.

Dress Code

The way in which a student dresses to attend their clinical sites has particular significance at different levels.  Adequate clothing transmits a sense of professionalism and respect for patients and for the professional staff of the training site.  Attire should be consonant with the setting of practice, with the weather and the time of the day.  Shorts, blue jeans, pants that are skin-tight, or clothes that excessively expose portions of the body (except arms and legs from the knee down) are not acceptable clothes to be wear on a practicum site.  However, sites that serve children predominantly usually tolerate (and at times require) less formal attire and running shoes.  

Documentation of Time in Clinical Training

Students will enter their clinical practice hours through their Time to Track accounts. This service is included in all students’ fees and except for extraordinary circumstances, no paper logs are accepted. Students receive a thorough orientation to the use of this system prior to beginning their first practicum. The DCT and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs serve as system administrators for students’ accounts and provide guidance and assistance in the use of the system.

Documentation of Clinical Activities

The student will document each intervention performed with a patient, with his/her collaterals or with any other person involved in the case. The SOAP model is recommended to orient progress notes.  The DAP model is likewise acceptable.  However, the student will utilize whichever system is utilized or required by their Practicum site.  When the Practicum site does not promote a particular system, the student is expected to utilize SOAP (preferably) or DAP.  The student needs to remember that failure to document sessions or crucial information about patients being served constitutes a serious infraction of the ethics of clinical practice.

Supervision

Each student will have at least one hour of individual supervision each week. All supervisory session will be documented and countersigned by the supervisor. Students must receive at least one direct observation by their supervisor per semester.

Evaluation Forms

Besides the monthly log, students in practica have the responsibility of obtaining and submitting on time to the office of the DCT:

• Practicum Learning Contract: at the beginning of every year (Appendix A 1)
• Letter of Understanding: at the beginning of every new practicum experience (Appendix A 2)
• Site and Supervision Evaluation by Student: at the end of each practicum experience (Appendix D)

All practicum students will be evaluated by their supervisors as described above. The DCT will make a request for evaluation to students’ supervisors via the Time2Track system. The DCT will receive the completed evaluations, already reviewed, and discussed with the student, via Time2Track. The following documents are submitted via the Time2Track system

• Student Evaluation by Supervisor: mid semester and end of semester (Appendix B)
• Evaluation of Students Professional Competencies by Supervisor: at least once per

Evaluation of Students Professional Competencies by Supervisor: at least once per semester (Appendix C)

Handling of Clinical Emergencies

Students will identify the site supervisor designated to assist students in handling crises and emergency situations and will request a copy of the procedures utilized in the site to address such situations. Any case that may present as potentially dangerous or may pose a risk will be consulted immediately with the corresponding supervisor.

If the site supervisor is not available at the time when the emergency occurs, the students should follow site policies regarding back-up supervision.  It is expected that sites will have supervisors available and accessible in the case of emergencies.  If a student is unable to reach a site supervisor and the situation is urgent, then the student should contact the DCT (Dr. Glover-Orr at 314-359-1332). If Dr. Glover-Orr is unavailable, the student should reach out to Dr. Elwood at 479-283-9115.