Psychology Internship: Child and Adolescent Psychology Track at the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD provides high-quality, efficient and cost-effective services so that persons with behavioral health needs may live with dignity as fully functioning, participating and contributing members of our community. Each year, the Harris Center serve tens of thousands of Harris County’s most vulnerable populations with more than a million services in every corner of the County. Its strong community partnerships and support allow it to provide care and contribute to making Harris County a resilient community with a strong safety net. As the largest provider of community based behavioral health and IDD services in the State of Texas, The Harris Center does not deny services based on a patient’s inability to pay for any reason, including race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Clinical Training
The Eligibility Center at The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD provides assessments, treatment plans and referrals for children and adolescents ages 3-17 that live in Harris County. The Eligibility Center strives to educate youth and families on recognizing and managing behavioral health symptoms and supporting an increased awareness of behavioral health through the coordination of agency and community resources.
Primary clinical tasks for the intern on the Child and Adolescent Track at the Harris Center include conducting psychosocial diagnostic interviews with children and families and completing behavioral health assessments to determine best course of treatment for the child or adolescent. Additional services provided by the intern may include psychological assessment, individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (e.g.,TF-CBT), skills training, case management, referrals to inpatient and/or outpatient services, family partner support, crisis management and parent and child skills training.
Telehealth Therapy
As part of the TCHATT program within the Texas Children’s Mental Health Care Consortium, the intern on the Child and Adolescent Psychology Track will also provide short-term evidence-based telehealth therapy for children and adolescents with varied psychological problems. Additionally, they will provide consultation with schools and families on supporting children’s emotional well-being. Finally, opportunities for school-based presentations and engagement will be available.
Trainings and Presentations
In addition to clinical services, the psychology intern will be able to participate in the development and presentation of Continuing Education events on such topics as “Distress Tolerance”, “CBT for Trauma”, “Effective Strategies for Developing Resilience”, Safety Planning for Children, Adolescents and Adults with Histories of Suicide Attempts and/or Ideation”.
Supervision
Michelle Byron, Psy.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in a leadership role in the Mental Health Division at the Harris Center. Dr. Byron is the primary supervisor for this track and will meet weekly with the intern. She provides multiple intensive 3-day CBT trainings for all therapists at the Harris Center who provide psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Byron also provides weekly clinical supervision to clinical staff and provides clinical care to children, adolescents, and adults. She has expertise in the treatment of clients with a history of suicidality, trauma, and depression. Scott Hickey, Ph.D. will provide additional clinical supervision at the Harris Center. Program faculty from the Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine will provide supervision for telehealth therapy patients.
