The inside scoop, intern to intern.

o   “I had the flexibility to figure out what kinds of activities would allow me to meet my training goals and deliver effective care. I typically attended or led therapy groups in the morning, saw individual patients and did assessments in the afternoons. One day out of the week was my day of protected research time.” (LIBR)

o   “Typical days included supervised clinical practice embedded within interdisciplinary treatment teams.” (LIBR)

o   “Adhering closely to the 8-hour workday and fostering work life balance. Throughout the year, faculty worked with me to maintain a sustainable schedule which balanced clinical (direct and indirect), training/internship, and research responsibilities.” (LIBR)

o   “One of the most rewarding aspects was the variety in my daily experience—no two days looked exactly the same. Each morning began with check-ins with my direct supervisor and fellow interns, which helped establish a collaborative and supportive environment. My day typically included providing therapy and conducting psychological testing with clients, along with dedicated time for documentation. I also had regular opportunities to consult and connect with other clinicians within the department. Most days concluded with a closing check-in with my supervisor, allowing for reflection, feedback, and continued professional growth” (IHCRC)

o   “My experience in the inpatient Laureate Eating Disorder Program. I learned about all aspects of patient care from world-class experts in eating disorder treatment.” (LIBR)

o   “The ability to gain individual and group therapy experiences across outpatient, intensive outpatient, and inpatient contexts.” (LIBR)

o   “The testing experiences remain a great memory for me. I really enjoyed "full staff" days as well and the ability to work with other professionals at IHCRC. I feel like IHCRC really protects time for this.” (IHCRC)

o   “One of the most meaningful opportunities was collaborating with clinicians from other departments to better support my patients. This allowed me to gain exposure to a variety of specialties, including pediatrics, adult medicine, nutrition, dental, etc., which enhanced my ability to understand and address my patients’ needs more holistically. Through consultation with professionals across these areas, I developed a deeper, more well-rounded perspective on patient care. This level of interdisciplinary collaboration is something I believe is unique and not easily found in other agency settings.” (IHCRC)

o   “I love assessment so I was glad for any and every training opportunity. I also got to lead a smoking cessation group and although VERY different from what I do now, it was so amazing to see the real tangible change in the patient’s lives when the were about to stop smoking (or at least significantly reduce their smoking).” (IHCRC)

o   “One of the most striking things about my internship experience was the way research and clinical work were consistently intertwined. Clinical supervision often involved discussions of how research could directly improve patient care. Similarly, patient care experiences directly informed study design and interpretation of results. My internship at LIBR embodied the ideals of mutually-informed research and clinical work, which made me stronger both as a researcher and as a clinician.” (LIBR)

o   “LIBR supervisors worked with me on an ongoing basis to be sure that I was meeting appropriate milestones, getting the full amount of protected research time promised, and keeping up with the necessary clinical hours. The best example of integration would be working as a research therapist as part of ongoing randomized clinical trials, where I was able to attend weekly research meetings and weekly clinical supervision with treatment experts.” (LIBR)

o   “We were not overwhelmed with patient contact to the point that it crowded other things out. I was able to have time to utilize research in my practice. My supervisors brought resources into supervision that helped keep me current in my practice. IHCRC was exceptional with keeping EBT and EBP at the forefront.” (IHCRC)

o   “My supervisors did a great job helping us learn how to balance the different aspects of training, particularly the integration of research-based and evidence-based interventions into clinical practice. Throughout supervision, we consistently incorporated research when navigating challenges related to the services we provided. They also encouraged us to take time during the day to engage in research and deepen our understanding of the most appropriate and effective treatments for our patients, which strengthened our clinical decision-making.” (IHCRC)

o   “One of the most striking things about my internship experience was the way research and clinical work were consistently intertwined. Clinical supervision often involved discussions of how research could directly improve patient care. Similarly, patient care experiences directly informed study design and interpretation of results. My internship at LIBR embodied the ideals of mutually-informed research and clinical work, which made me stronger both as a researcher and as a clinician.” (LIBR)

o   “LIBR supervisors worked with me on an ongoing basis to be sure that I was meeting appropriate milestones, getting the full amount of protected research time promised, and keeping up with the necessary clinical hours. The best example of integration would be working as a research therapist as part of ongoing randomized clinical trials, where I was able to attend weekly research meetings and weekly clinical supervision with treatment experts.” (LIBR)

o   “We were not overwhelmed with patient contact to the point that it crowded other things out. I was able to have time to utilize research in my practice. My supervisors brought resources into supervision that helped keep me current in my practice. IHCRC was exceptional with keeping EBT and EBP at the forefront.” (IHCRC)

o   “My supervisors did a great job helping us learn how to balance the different aspects of training, particularly the integration of research-based and evidence-based interventions into clinical practice. Throughout supervision, we consistently incorporated research when navigating challenges related to the services we provided. They also encouraged us to take time during the day to engage in research and deepen our understanding of the most appropriate and effective treatments for our patients, which strengthened our clinical decision-making.” (IHCRC)

o   “Tulsa is a great place to move to - it's extremely easy to meet people and make friends, and there is a warm and welcoming community. I was most surprised by how many different kind of events there are - between concerts, hikes, art gallery openings, and more, there is always something to do in Tulsa. I was also wowed by the Gathering Place, our award-winning public park.”

o   “Tulsa was very affordable in comparison to other sites I considered, and struck a good balance between bigger cities and smaller communities (i.e., plenty to do, acceptable traffic, etc).”

o   “I will always love Tulsa. I loved the coffee shops and food. My favorite part of Tulsa has been the trail down by the river. I felt right at home.”

o   “I loved it! Had just moved from California, I appreciated the restaurant and art scene! I was surprised how trendy it was compared to what I assumed.”

o   “Tulsa was fantastic. We interns enjoyed spending time with each other and I made lifelong friends. We enjoyed going to free music and arts events and appreciated time spent with each other during the holidays.”

o   “I enjoyed having creativity and flexibility around my clinical and research experiences, working with incredible faculty and trainees, and learning to work with new patient populations.” (LIBR)

o   “Quality of supervision, diversity and depth of training experiences, and sense of community.” (LIBR)

o   “It was a privilege to learn from and collaborate with such a great group of clinicians and scientists.” (LIBR)

o   “I feel like my site and the consortium truly saw me as a student. Both places were very supportive while also very challenging. I appreciated how organized things were. The manual was followed and I knew what to expect in terms of the policies and rules. Lastly, I would say working with interns at other varied sites makes for a just unrivaled experience! I would pick NOPIP again in a heart beat. I learned so much.” (IHCRC)

o   “NOPIP did a great job in terms of keeping the interns connected at the various sites. We had opportunities to meet and learn from each other. I was able to gain experiences and understanding of the other agencies through my peers.” (IHCRC)

o   “Professionalism and the opportunity to have a cohort comprised of interns from other sites.” (IHCRC)

o   “NOPIP provided didactic trainings and time during group supervision to discuss career development, while LIBR provided ongoing mentorship and support from faculty as I navigated applying for postdoctoral clinical research positions.” (LIBR)

o   “I felt ready to pursue a research and clinical career after my training at LIBR. My internship helped me think about and apply exposure based treatments in a way that directly influenced my clinical work on postdoc. I also learned how to better frame my own research in accessible and tangible ways and that continues to make me a better grant and paper writer today.” (LIBR)

o   “One of the most valuable aspects of the NOPIP program was the experience and skill set it helped me develop to work across a variety of environments. My internship, in particular, was pivotal in preparing me for diverse settings. Since completing the program, I have worked in corrections, school settings, and community mental health, and I felt well-prepared to navigate the unique challenges within each of these environments.” (IHCRC)

o   “Solidifying my foundation intervention and assessment skills, helping me be more aware of some of my growth areas and push myself on those areas, working through biases to feel more comfortable working with a wide variety of clients.” (IHCRC)