Mendota Mental Health Institute
PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
ACCREDITATION STATUS
The Psychology Internship Program at Mendota
Mental Health Institute is fully accredited by the American Psychological
Association.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be enrolled and in good standing
in an APA approved graduate program leading to the doctoral degree in
professional psychology (clinical, counseling, or school psychology).
Preference will be given to applicants with all graduate requirements
(except dissertation) completed by the beginning of the internship.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND DEADLINE
Mendota Mental Health Institute is a member of
the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).
Mendota participates in the APPIC Internship Matching Program and follows
the match policies in its recruitment and selection of interns. Applicants
are directed to the APPIC web site for a copy of these policies and relevant
application forms.
A complete application consists of a
completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship (AAPI), current
vita, clinical writing samples, graduate and undergraduate transcripts, and
three letters of recommendation. These materials should be submitted and
received by November 14. All materials should be sent to:
Director of Psychology and
Training
Mendota Mental Health Institute
301 Troy Drive
Madison, WI 53704
Mendota Mental Health Institute is an equal
opportunity employer and follows all affirmative action guidelines.
THE INSTITUTE
Mendota Mental Health Institute is a state
operated facility that serves as a resource for and provides specialized
treatment services to the state's community based mental health system. In
1973, when Wisconsin's counties were made responsible for developing
comprehensive local psychiatric services, the Institute was mandated to
develop only the specialized treatment services that could not be
efficiently provided locally and to invest significantly in professional
training, consultation, and applied research. These goals remain as the
primary mission of the Institute.
To meet these objectives, Mendota began a
process of decentralization that still continues and is ever evolving. A
unit system was developed which fostered the growth of a large number of
relatively small and semi-independent clinical programs, each focused on the
treatment needs of a specialized patient population. Treatment is thoroughly
individualized and provided through the work of truly multidisciplinary
teams whose joint efforts combine to yield optimally integrated
interventions.
Our Treatment teams take care to understand and embrace our clients'
diverse cultural, religious and lifestyle orientations.
Currently, there are 14 separate inpatient
units totaling over 250 beds and an outpatient unit that operates in
primarily a preventive and community based treatment mode. As part of the
continuing evolution of services, this total includes beds recently added to
meet an increasing need for services for disturbed adolescents.
For the psychology intern, this means that a
large variety of experiences are available. Client populations range from
children to geriatric, diagnostic categories range from adjustment reactions
to severe psychoses, and both short term evaluations and long term treatment
services are provided. Treatment approaches include individual, group, and
family modalities, and a wide variety of theoretical orientations are
represented. Working within the multidisciplinary team, interns have the
opportunity to work with staff from a variety of other disciplines and to be
involved in a broad array of assessment and treatment activities.
Supervisors are available who have
administrative and research responsibilities as well as clinical
responsibilities, and interns have the opportunity to be exposed to both
roles. The end result is a breadth of experience which allows interns to get
maximum exposure to the role of a psychologist in a complex mental health
system.
THE INTERNSHIP
Psychology constitutes one of the larger
professional departments at Mendota. With a complement of over 20
psychologists, psychology is well represented throughout the Institute in
both a clinical and administrative capacity. Psychology plays an integral
role in the overall treatment planning and implementation for patients who
come to Mendota. The internship exists in the context of Mendota's strong
training orientation and is one of many ongoing professional programs. At
any given point in time, large numbers of students from all mental health
and allied disciplines can be found at the Institute. Psychology interns are
treated as emerging professionals in the final phase of formal training. The
end result is an intensively supervised, hands-on involvement in the
clinical process at all levels.
TRAINING ROTATIONS
Mendota Mental Health Institute accepts three
paid interns per year. Interns apply for one general training program with a
choice of emphases or interest areas, including: general, child/adolescent,
and forensic. The interest area for which an intern is selected determines
the specific rotations and experiences during the course of the training
year. The units available for rotations are described in detail later in
this brochure.
During the course of the year, interns will
chose three units or combinations of units for rotations each of four months
duration. Given Mendota's broad based or generalist model of training,
explained in more detail later, each intern is expected to work with a range
of clientele during the year. Each intern is therefore expected to choose
rotations that provide experiences with adults and with children or
adolescents during the course of the internship. The proportion of time
spent working with the different populations is dependent on the specific
interests of the intern.
Overall, the internship program strives for
flexibility and attempts to meet interns' interests and preferences as to
experiences. Given the broad array of choices, it is generally easy to
satisfy both the philosophy of broad based training and the interns'
interests. During the training year, interns will be able to get both
general exposure to clinical treatment and specific experience with more
specialized populations.
During all rotations and affiliations, the
intern functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team under the
supervision of the psychologist and senior staff of the unit. In general,
interns have the opportunity to participate in various endeavors, including
psychological assessment; individual, group, and family therapy; treatment
planning and implementation; individualized programming; general clinical
decision making; periodic consultation activities; and possibly research
activities.
OUTPATIENT EXPERIENCE
All interns also spend one day per week for the
entire year at a designated outpatient setting. As the Institute is
primarily an inpatient setting, this arrangement has been made in order to
provide ongoing community based outpatient experiences during the course of
the year. This once again provides the breadth and variety of experiences
that are a part of the training philosophy. The outpatient experience occurs
at local, community based mental health agencies/clinics or can occur in
either of Mendota’s two outpatient services. The agencies used are
independent, freestanding facilities that have had a long-standing training
arrangement with Mendota's internship program. Clientele represent a
"typical" outpatient population with a variety of presenting problems. The
outpatient services are described later in this brochure.
At the outpatient site/setting, interns have
the opportunity to participate in individual, couples, family, and,
occasionally, group therapy. The interns conduct therapy independently and
as co-therapists with other members of the agency staff or the unit staff.
Regular supervision is provided by a psychologist affiliated with the
particular agency or unit. Interns also have the opportunity to participate
in staff meetings, peer supervision, case discussions, and other activities
at the outpatient site/setting. Interns with an established ongoing
outpatient affiliation may also use that affiliation as their outpatient
experience.
SEMINARS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
Part of the internship includes regularly
scheduled seminars arranged especially for the interns and aimed at
providing an array of educational experiences. Mendota, Wisconsin
Corrections and the Ethan Allen School jointly arrange and share the intern
seminar offerings. Interns from both settings, and from other internship
sites, attend the seminars. Professionals from the staff of Mendota, the
University and Wisconsin Corrections Administration, as well as other
Madison area professionals, serve as the presenters.
The seminars include a wide variety of topics
that focus on professional and applied issues that pertain to the practice
of psychology. Recent offerings have included various health care psychology
topics, ethical issues, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, antisocial
personality disorder, dealing with violent and aggressive patients, and
varied assessment topics, to name a few.
In addition to the intern seminars, Mendota
has a very active training department which arranges a number of workshops
and training sessions during the course of the year. These sessions are open
to the professional community at large for a fee, but all Institute staff
and affiliates can attend for free. Presenters are experts in the particular
area, often with a national reputation. A variety of other educational
resources are also available for MMHI staff and students including
Psychology Department colloquia and Psychiatry Department Grand Rounds at
the University and an array of in-service and other training activities at
MMHI.
EVALUATIVE FEEDBACK
Throughout the year, interns receive regular
evaluative feedback. Evaluations are completed every two months
(mid-rotation and at the end of each rotation) and discussed with each
intern. Interns are also asked to evaluate their experiences and complete
evaluations at the end of each rotation and at the end of the training year.
Interns and rotation supervisors develop rotation training agreements which
specify the available experiences, expectations, and objectives for each
rotation. Every attempt is made to both meet training needs and to provide
interns with an opportunity to expand and develop specific areas of
interest.
The internship program is administered by a
training committee, made up of psychology staff, many of whom frequently
supervise interns, under the leadership and direction of the Director of
Psychology and Training. The training committee and Director provide the
interns with guidance and direction in planning their internship in order to
achieve the goal of a balanced experience consistent with both educational
and professional needs and specific interests and career directions.
STIPEND
The stipend for the 2,000 hour, one year full
time internship is anticipated to be between $22,000 and $23,000 for each of the paid internship
positions.
ADJUNCTIVE EXPERIENCES
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY
The Psychophysiology Lab has computer-based
technology for measuring deviant sexual arousal as well as a number of
biofeedback parameters. The lab is equipped with a CAT600A Plethysmograph
which can provide penile tumescence measures as well as respiration and skin
conductance. In addition, there is an I-330 DSP Physiological Monitoring
System which can provide biofeedback in EEG, EMG, GSR, respiration, heart
rate, and skin temperature (an indirect measure of vasoconstriction). The
lab has historically been used for the assessment of deviant sexual interest
with sex offenders. With the addition of new, state-of-the-art equipment in
1997, there exists a plan to expand the use of the lab to include the
treatment of anxiety disorders and the provision of behavioral medicine
services (e.g. tension headaches, essential hypertension).
RESEARCH
While Mendota does not have a central research
department, it does have a research psychologist who has responsibilities in
research. There are also frequently a variety of research projects underway
at any given point in time. Mendota both encourages and supports applied
research activities. Interns may have the opportunity to join a research
project or to develop a project of their own, either singly or in
collaboration with others. Research activities are seen as important
professional endeavors and as a legitimate part of the internship
experience.
INTERNSHIP PHILOSOPHY
The Mendota Internship Program's overriding goal
is the final preparation of the pre-doctoral intern for entry into the
professional community. The internship year is seen as a time for
integrating knowledge and experiences gained during previous training, for
further refining clinical skills, and for generally developing the broad
capacity to function as an independent practitioner.
Although many areas of specialization exist
within the professional psychology community and at Mendota, the Psychology
Department subscribes to a generalist model of clinical training. This model
views experience in a wide range of clinical areas as crucial in preparing
the intern for his or her future professional career, regardless of the
eventual area of practice. We believe that broad knowledge of assessment and
intervention strategies with varied populations is essential for the proper
preparation of the clinician. Consequently, we require interns to sample
extensively from the diverse learning opportunities available at the
Institute. Thus, upon completion of the internship year, the intern has
worked with patients of a variety of ages and diagnostic categories via
several treatment modalities. We also recognize, however, that individuals
often have interests in developing specific skills or working in specific
realms and we therefore attempt, within reasonable limits, to accommodate
these interests.
With its variety of units and populations,
Mendota is able to provide intensive experiences in several specific areas.
For example, interns have the opportunity for substantial involvement in
such areas as child treatment, adolescent treatment, forensic psychology,
and treatment of aggressive and personality disordered clients to name a
few. The end result is a training experience that both provides a broad,
general preparation but also allows the intern to focus in on particular
areas of interest or future career directions.
The program strives for flexibility in
meeting training goals and attempts to meet the interests and needs of each
intern. Given the diversity and decentralized organization of the Institute,
it is generally the case that interns are easily able to structure an
individual program that is highly interesting, challenging, and well suited
to their unique professional training needs.
Finally, we adhere strongly to a
practitioner-scholar model and thus support and encourage the development
or enhancement of good research skills, awareness of the scientific
literature, and direct involvement in applied research when feasible.
Whereas Mendota is a clinical setting and the first priority is service to
patients, attempts are made to encourage and support applied research.
Through the years, a number of investigations have been conducted at Mendota
pertaining to one aspect or another of the assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of mental illness. Even if not actively involved in conducting
research, Mendota staff are expected to be current on new thinking,
developments, and empirical findings reported in the scientific literature.
Additionally, a number of the department staff and other staff are actively
involved in ongoing research endeavors and make regular contributions to the
literature.
Following are more specific statements as to
the expectations and goals supervisory staff have for each intern and the
opportunities that are available to meet these goals.
ASSESSMENT
Interns are expected to have proficiency in a
broad range of psychological assessment procedures by the end of the
internship year. These include instruments to assess personality functioning
via both projective and objective means; instruments to assess cognitive,
intellectual, and adaptive functioning; and instruments and procedures to
assess behavioral excesses and deficits. Interns are also expected to be
able to provide a comprehensive assessment of individual functioning (i.e.,
an assessment battery) and to communicate findings in a written report. To
this end interns perform a specified number of formal assessments during the
course of the year with a varied population both from the standpoint of age
and diagnostic issues. In addition, interns have the opportunity to learn
how to do assessments of competency to stand trial and other assessments
related to legal issues and questions.
TREATMENT
Interns are expected to have proficiency in a
variety of treatment approaches. To this end, supervised training will be
provided in a number of specific areas. Interns can expect to work with a
spectrum of diagnostic categories ranging from severe disturbances to less
severe problems in living or adjustment. Interns will also sample broadly
from the age ranges represented with opportunities to work with children,
adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients.
Individual, group, couple, and family therapy
formats will be utilized in both inpatient and outpatient settings. It is
also expected that experience will be gained with a variety of theoretical
approaches including behavioral, cognitive and cognitive-behavioral,
humanistic, gestalt, and psychodynamically oriented therapies.
Mendota works with a diverse patient
population in regard to culture, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation,
physical and mental abilities, and other aspects of life-style and personal
choice. Mendota strives to recognize diversity and to provide services
sensitive to and cognizant of the effects of diversity. To this end, staff
receive ongoing training to maintain their awareness of diversity and to
ensure their ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Interns
have the opportunity to learn about, gain experiences, and in general have
their awareness increased in regard to working with diversity.
SERVING AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Mendota extensively uses a multidisciplinary
team concept of treatment which means that interns will have the opportunity
to work and interact with a variety of other professional staff. Interns
will have the chance to learn how to function effectively as part of a
larger system of care and to learn how to utilize the expertise of others.
An additional part of the experience is the opportunity to serve as a
consultant with expertise in human behavior to other members of the team and
to the larger system.
As Mendota has a number of psychologists in
administrative and key management positions, there are also opportunities to
get exposure to this area of role functioning. Interns have the chance to
observe and participate in various aspects of administration, decision
making, supervision, and general systems issues.
By the end of the internship year, it is the
goal that the intern will be able to enter the professional work force.
Former interns have gone to both academic and applied settings, but the
majority seek employment in one type or another of an applied setting.
Regardless of setting, however, it is expected that interns will: have broad
skills in assessment and treatment, have a keen sense of ethical practice,
strive for high standards of professionalism, be able to work with diverse
populations, and be able to work successfully with members of other
professional groups.
CLINICAL PROGRAMS
MMHI is organized into three broad program
areas: the Civil Program, the Forensic Program, and the Mendota Juvenile
Treatment Center. Each clinical unit comes under one of the relevant program
areas and reports through this channel to the central administration. Each
unit is a distinct entity with its own physical location and its own
multidisciplinary staff. This staff (the team) is generally responsible for
the day to day operation and decision making regarding the functioning and
programming of the unit. The units available for training experiences are
described below.
THE CIVIL PROGRAM
The Children's Assessment and
Treatment Unit (CATU) provides comprehensive multidisciplinary
inpatient assessment for school age children. Behavioral stabilization is
provided for children who are in acute distress so that community
reintegration can be accomplished. Assessments may include: nursing,
nutrition, neurology, occupational therapy, psychiatry, psychology, social
work and speech and language services. Family and community social service
agency involvement are an inherent part of the assessment and treatment
planning process. Unit based behavioral programming and short term
individual, group and family therapy are provided. Educational services are
provided on the unit and speech and occupational therapy services are
available as necessary.
CATU also treats severely emotionally
disturbed children, ages 5-12 and of generally average intellectual ability,
who have experienced severe behavioral difficulties in their homes and
schools, and for whom outpatient and short term inpatient treatment efforts
have been unsuccessful or not feasible. Typical diagnoses include
oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,
reactive attachment disorder, an assortment of learning and language
disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder,
and Asperger’s disorder. In addition, complex family and systems
issues/problems are common. Inpatient interventions include special
educational services; individual, play, group, and family therapy;
multi-disciplinary assessment; occupational therapy; individualized
programming; medication therapy; structured therapeutic milieu; and
comprehensive case management / discharge transitioning.
The Adolescent Male Treatment Unit (AMTU)
is an inpatient unit established to provide mental health services to
seriously emotionally disturbed adolescent and pre-adolescent boys (ages 10
to 17) who are in need of mental health treatment in a secure environment.
By definition, the population served has a history of multiple problems and
is disturbed to the extent that previous placements have failed and
alternative treatment facilities are unwilling or unable to accept these
patients. All of the patients referred have failed to make a satisfactory
adjustment to the community. Characteristically, these youth are referred
for treatment because of a history of self-abuse, depression, suicidal
ideation and gestures, thought disorders, unpredictability, neglect, sexual
and/or physical abuse, poor problem solving skills and/or problems
associated with poor anger control. All of the adolescents on AMTU have
failed to respond positively to other community-based treatment as well as
to other residential treatment. The primary objectives of the unit are to
provide intensive inpatient psychotherapy for behavioral and psychological
disturbances such that the presenting problems and symptoms are alleviated
and/or reduced and the individual no longer presents a significant threat to
self or others and is able to live safely in the community in a less
restrictive setting.
The Adult Assessment and Treatment
Unit (AATU) serves moderately to severely psychiatrically ill
patients 18 to 60 years old, who require more specialized services than are
available in their home community or who have failed to respond to the
services that are available. AATU provides assessment and short-term
treatment for restabilization of acute cases, including patients who may be
a danger to themselves or others. The unit also provides longer term
treatment for patients with either chronic conditions or conditions which
have not readily remitted after standard treatment interventions. Presenting
problems may include aggression, suicide, self harm behaviors, thought and
mood disorders, anxiety disorders, developmental disabilities, organic brain
injuries, AODA problems, sexually inappropriate behaviors, personality
disorders, and crisis situations. Treatment includes directive and
supportive group therapy, individual, couple, and family therapy (the latter
two are rare). Assessments may include behavioral, cognitive, personality,
psychosocial, and neuropsychological domains.
Civil Secure Treatment Unit (CSTU) is a 20 bed all male treatment unit for
civil patients who are admitted voluntarily or involuntarily. Services on
CSTU include assessment, treatment for stabilization of psychiatric
disturbance and individualized behavioral treatment services in a secure
environment.
The Geropsychiatric Treatment Unit (GTU)
provides evaluation and treatment for older men and women who are
experiencing problems in later life related to mental illness and/or
dementing disorders and who require more specialized services than are
available in their home community. The emphasis of the program is to develop
a plan for the solution or management of the problem and to arrange
placement of the individual in the most appropriate setting. Quality of life
is a major concern. Interventions include group activities, behavioral
programs, environmental modification, pharmacological treatment, and
individual/group therapy. Neuropsychological screening is provided. GTU
clinical staff work as a multidisciplinary team consisting of psychiatry,
nursing, social work, occupational therapy and physical therapy. GTU also
provides follow-up after discharge and consultation and training to
community agencies.
The Program of Assertive Community
Treatment (PACT) is a certified community support program. PACT
provides comprehensive clinical and case management services for young
persons with severe and persistent mental illness. PACT pioneered the
development of the "continuous treatment team approach" and publishes under
the Training in Community Living Model. PACT utilizes a multidisciplinary
treatment team approach. The treatment team provides a full range of
individualized clinical and rehabilitative services. These include symptom
monitoring and supportive psychotherapy, vocational rehabilitation services,
alcohol and other drug abuse services, independent living skills teaching
and support, family education/therapy and the utilization of a variety of
cognitive and behavioral approaches focused on illness management. Research,
training, and model dissemination are critical program elements and the unit
staff provide technical assistance to a variety of visitors each year.
THE MENDOTA JUVENILE TREATMENT CENTER
The Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center
(MJTC) consists of two units representing three levels of security
and totaling 30 beds. The program provides intensive treatment for male
adolescents who have been adjudicated delinquent and are considered to have
mental health problems that have affected their adjustment in juvenile
corrections institutions. Presenting problems may include anger problems,
disruptive or aggressive behavior, depression, social skills deficits, AODA
problems, sexually aggressive behavior, and primary mental illnesses.
Treatment includes multidisciplinary evaluation, educational services,
treatment and psychoeducational groups, individual and family therapy, and
therapeutic activities.
THE FORENSIC PROGRAM
Forensic patients are referred through the
criminal court system. MMHI's forensic program serves only male patients who
are sent for one of three services: 1) assessment of competency to stand
trial, 2) treatment to competency to stand trial or 3) treatment upon a
finding of not guilty of a crime due to mental illness. The units described
below are designated maximum, medium, or minimum security. The major
difference between these security designations is the degree of
supervision/monitoring of the patients, the degree of access off the unit,
and the items the patients are allowed to have in their possession. Movement
through the security levels is determined by the degree to which a patient
poses a risk to self or others, the level of involvement and participation
in treatment, and the degree to which the patient has established a level of
trust on the part of the treating staff. The following units serve a
primarily forensic population but may have non-forensic patients who need
either the level of security or the specialized treatment afforded by the
unit.
The Secure Assessment and Treatment
Unit (SATU) is a maximum security unit which acts as the admissions
unit for the forensic program. Its primary function is to provide assessment
and treatment services for competency to stand trial for criminal offenses.
Additionally, the unit provides treatment for patients found not guilty of a
criminal offense by reason of mental disease or defect and prisoners from
Wisconsin penitentiaries who manifest psychiatric difficulties and who
cannot be treated in a correctional environment. The unit's assessment of
and treatment to competency mission results in a significantly high patient
turnover, with a minimum length of stay of 15 days to a possible maximum
stay of 12 months. Competency evaluation, intellectual assessment, and the
determination of the possibility of malingering are the major assessment
activities occurring on the unit. Individual and group therapy are the
primary treatment modalities, and psychopharmacological treatment,
behavioral skills training, social skills training and legal issues training
are also offered.
The Management and Treatment Unit (MTU)
is a maximum security unit that specializes in management and treatment of
aggressive male patients. MTU's mission is to provide service to other
inpatient units within Mendota and the state when patients' behavior is
sufficient to disrupt or interfere with treatment of other individuals.
While MTU specializes in working with physically aggressive patients, it
also treats patients who have complicated problems related to mental health
which are so severe that they cannot be managed in a less secure setting.
MTU also provides consultation to other MMHI units regarding treatment of
physically aggressive patients, it provides competency evaluations, and is
an active admission unit directly admitting the more aggressive/acting out
patient.
The Patient Transition Unit (PTU)
is a 20 be maximum security unit specializing in the treatment to and
evaluation of competency to stand trial. The patients residing on the unit
can be there for up to a year. PTU's multidisciplinary team works together
to stabilize the patient on medication, and as this is occurring, teach him
the information necessary to be determined competent. Mental illness,
cognitive limitations, neurological impairments and malingering can all be
factors in the final assessment of competency. Formal assessments utilizing
standardized instruments and clinical interviews are done on each patients.
Other patients on PTU are individuals committed to MMHI after being found
Not Guilty for Reason of Mental Disease or Defect, and due to their behavior
in medium security, are believed to need the structure of a maximum security
unit. With this group of patients, PTU's goal is to stabilize their behavior
through medication and individually based psychological interventions. These
interventions can include behavioral programming and group and individual
therapy.
The Treatment, Rehabilitation,
Assessment, and Care (TRAC) units are three separate forensic units
which emphasize continuity of care/treatment throughout the course of a
forensic patient's hospitalization at MMHI. TRAC 1 is a maximum security
unit where the primary issue is often that of controlling either symptoms
and/or behavior. TRAC 2 is a medium security unit where patients are ready
for a deeper and broader treatment approach. TRAC 3 is a minimum security
unit where the primary focus is upon patient preparation to re-enter the
home community. Each unit has a mixed population of patients encompassing a
diversity of diagnostic categories and varying levels of symptom remission.
The Case Management Team (CMT) is comprised of multidisciplinary treatment
professionals who float among the three units and along with other unit
staff help coordinate and provide individualized clinical services within
the continuity of care treatment model.
The Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU)
is a medium security unit treating male patients who have been found not
guilty of criminal charges due to mental illness (i.e., insanity acquittal).
ITU also accepts civilly committed and protectively placed patients. The
majority of patients carry a diagnosis of schizophrenia, which may be at an
active stage of psychosis or may be at various stages of remission. The
field of psychology has a significant role in ITU's multidisciplinary
orientation emphasizing the development of self-esteem and social skills
along with the maximizing of individual competencies and relationship
building. Treatment is based on individual needs and may include individual
and group therapy.
The Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit (TRU) is a medium security unit which serves 22 adult males. The
primary criterion for inclusion in the program is that the patient has
achieved stability in behavior while on another more restrictive unit. It is
also expected that the patient has fairly well developed coping skills. The
treatment modalities consist of individual therapy, group therapies,
recreational therapy, primary support network, and milieu therapy. The focus
on TRU is directed towards the treatment of sex offenders and patients with
personality disorders although the unit also treats patients with psychoses
and mood disorders. TRU employs a multidisciplinary team approach toward
achieving goals and objectives. The team is comprised of the Nurse Manager,
Psychologist, Social Worker, Recreational Therapist, Psychiatrist,
Psychiatric Nurses, and Resident Care Technicians. All treatment efforts are
directed towards preparing the patients to advance to a less restrictive
unit and be recommended for return to the community.
Note: Due to unanticipated vacancies or
changes, MMHI cannot guarantee that each of the above units will be
available for rotations throughout the internship year. It is, however, the
case that all of the above described populations and services will be
available for experiences in one capacity/setting or another.
THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Ahl, Valerie, Ph.D.
University of California |
Psychologist, CATU/Civil
Program.
As a developmental
psychologist who added clinical training as a post-doc, I find that I
have a very different approach to working with children and families
compared to the more traditional training, which initially focuses on
adults and "downsizes" for children. My Ph.D. advisor at UC-Berkeley
worked with Jean Piaget, and I have continued my academic
"grandfather's" method of focusing on the phenomenology of the child.
Recently I have gained extensive training in Interpersonal
Reconstructive Therapy (IRT), which is an attachment based approach for
cases that have not responded to traditional treatment. At CATU I use
IRT to develop a case formulation, and then draw upon interventions from
IRT, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems approaches. My
research interests focus on the role of attachment and trauma in
personality development, and the inter-generational transmission of
psychopathology. I have been a lecturer at UW-Madison since 1993,
teaching courses on developmental and general psychology, and behavioral
teratology. Training opportunities on CATU include assessment; child and
family focused IRT; play, group, and family therapy; and therapy
response evaluation. |
Ahrens, Christine,
Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin, Madison |
Psychological Associate, PACT Program.
Professional Counselor. Specialty in Rehabilitation Psychology. |
Allen, Janelle, Psy.D.
Baylor University, Texas |
Psychologist, MJTC.
Individual therapy, assessments, treatment planning and
recommendations to the courts. Specialty in children with autism,
developmental psychology and Yalom's model for group therapy. |

Bernstein, Michael, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts &
Georgia State University |
Psychologist, ITU.
Forensic psychology, treatment of schizophrenia, individual and group psychotherapy,
psychological assessment, sex offender treatment and sex offender risk
assessment. |
Caldwell, Michael, Psy.D.
University of Denver |
Psychologist, MJTC.
Treatment outcomes evaluation, management and treatment of aggressive patients, risk
analysis, forensic psychology. |
Frey, Jana, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Unit Chief, PACT.
Individual supportive psychotherapy, the development of symptom management strategies,
vocational rehabilitation, dual diagnosis treatment, and CTT team management. |
Hammer, Michael, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Psychologist, SATU.
Psychotherapy, assessment, management and treatment of aggressive patients, treatment of
sex offenders, competency assessment. |
Hughes, Deb,
Psy. D.
Chicago School of Professional Psychology |
Psychologist, TRAC 1
Interests include psychological and neuropsychological assessment, and
individual, group and family therapy for more challenging adults and
juveniles. Special interests in working with those with personality
disorders and sexual offenders. Enjoys working with children and
adolescents in particular. |
Lane, Paul, Ph.D.
Indiana State University |
Civil Program Director.
Clinical supervision; individual, group, and family therapy; psychological
assessments, cognitive/behavioral and systems orientations. |
Laurent, Dawn, Psy. D.
Adler School of Professional Psychology |
Psychologist, AMTU / Civil Program.
B.A. in the "Great Books Program" at St. John's College in Santa Fe,
N.M.. Received Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL.. Studied under
Mosak, Shulman, Powers and Griffith. Certified in Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy under Arthur Freeman and certified in addictions. Worked with
incarcerated adolescents and adult women for 7 years, and with
individuals, couples and families at outpatient clinics in Crystal Lake
and Chicago, IL.. Continue to work in Gero-psychology in nursing home
settings. |

Lee, David,
Ph.D., J.D.
University of Wisconsin, University of California |
Director of
Psychology and Research.
Psychological assessments; individual and group therapy. Forensic
psychology and multicultural competency. Clinical supervision and
training. Violence and Coercion Free Treatment Initiative Chair, Chair
of Research, Restrictive Measures, Psychology training, Risk Assessment
Committees and Behavioral Treatment Committee member. |

LeClair, James, Ph.D.
United States International University |
Psychologist, TRAC Units.
Individual and group therapy, forensic psychology, use of symbols and rituals in
therapy, cognitive/behavioral approaches to treatment. |
McCormick, David, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Psychologist, MJTC.
Contingency management programming, individual therapy with adolescent males,
cognitive/behavioral approaches to treatment, family therapy, MMPI-A. |

Musholt, Ed,
Ph.D.
Marquette University |
Psychologist, MJTC.
Forensic competency evaluations, individual and group therapy.
Behavioral modification and assessment. Artist, painter and sculptor. |

Munizza, Janice, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology |
Psychologist, PTU.
Psychological, neuropsychological and competency evaluations, risk assessments,
and treatment and management of aggressive patients with mental illness and/or
personality disorders. |

Murguia,
Maria, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Psychologist, MTU.
Forensic assessment; individual and group therapy, and behavioral
programming. |
| |
Psychologist,
CSTU / Civil
Program. |

Schultz, Lynda, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba |
Psychologist, Civil and Forensic Programs.
My current interests are in neuropsychological screening, evaluation
and consultation, geriatric psychology, behavioral treatment and
management, and forensic evaluations. I have had past interests in sex
therapy and psychotherapy. For fun, I have traveled all over the world. |

Splitek, Steve, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Psychologist, AATU / Civil
Program.
Individual, group, and family psychotherapy; psychological assessment of adolescents
and adults. Interests include Lorna Benjamin's Structural Analysis of
Social Behavior (SASB) and meditation. Treatment styles include Rogerian,
cognitive, behavioral, and SASB-informed treatment. Hobbies include
drawing. Training philosophy involves giving the intern as much freedom
as they can handle, and functioning as a safety net for them to develop
and stretch professionally. |

Stava, Lawrence, Ph.D.
University of Kentucky |
Director, Psychophysiology
Lab.
Applied psychophysiology, psychotherapy, personality, applied research. |

Tomony, James, Ph.D.
University of Toledo |
Psychologist, TRAC Units.
Treatment of persons with chronic mental illness, including acceptance or rejection of
prescribed anti-psychotic medications. Assessment and group treatment of male perpetrators
of domestic violence, assessment of violence risk, and intervention to decrease violent
recidivism. |
Van Rybroek, Gregory J. Ph.D.,
J.D.
University of Wisconsin |
Director, MMHI.
Management and treatment of aggressive patients, forensic evaluations, interrelationship
of psychology/psychiatry and law, antisocial personalities, treatment of juveniles,
clinical supervision/administration. |
Vitacco,
Michael, Ph.D.
University of North Texas |
Psychological Associate, TRU/Associate Research Director.
Psychopathy, forensic assessment, malingering, validation of
assessment instruments, treatment of Axis II disorders, forensic
research. |
Accrediting
Body
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979
Mendota Mental Health Institute
301 Troy Drive, Madison, WI 53704
Phone: (608) 301-1000 Fax: (608) 301-1358
Last Revised:
July 12, 2010 |