Program Goals and Competencies

The 12-month full-time Womack Army Medical Center Clinical Psychology Residency Program (CPRP) is designed to train residents to become independent, competent, and responsible providers of clinical psychology services.  Training focuses primarily on adult mental health services in a military setting.  Residents receive a breadth of experience to prepare them to function competently in a variety of clinical, military, and consultative settings, both within and outside of the military.

Areas of evaluation across all training and supervision activities include the following identified Level 1 advanced, and Level 2 and program-specific competencies:

Level 1—Advanced Competency Areas  

Integration of Science and Practice 

As evidenced by the residents’ understanding of research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, and development across the lifespan. Residents are expected to demonstrate respect for scientifically derived knowledge and to integrate this knowledge into all aspects of their clinical work to include selection of assessment tools and intervention techniques.

Individual and Cultural Diversity 

As evidenced by the residents’ awareness, sensitivity, and skills in working professionally with diverse individuals, groups and communities who represent various cultural and personal backgrounds and characteristics defined broadly and consistent with American Psychological Association (APA) policy. Residents are expected to demonstrate an awareness of and understanding of their own and others individual and cultural diversity (e.g., ethnicity, race, gender, age, etc.) and the impact of such on the professional relationship be that psychotherapeutic, consultative, evaluative, or supervisory.

Ethical and Legal

As evidenced by demonstrated compliance with the current ethical principles and practice standards of the APA and the military, in addition to the current statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to professional practice as a military psychologist. Residents are expected to apply ethical concepts and demonstrate an awareness of legal issues regarding professional activities with individual, groups, and organizations.

Level 2—Program Specific Competencies

Assessment

As demonstrated by the residents’ ability to use a scientific base to thoroughly evaluate the person and/or military organization’s collective strengths and weaknesses in an ongoing and dynamic process that at times involves formal psychometrics. Assessment also includes the ability to accurately utilize the information obtained to formulate treatment/intervention plans, and the ability to communicate the relevant findings in an understandable and useful manner.

Intervention

As demonstrated by the residents’ ability to use empirically supported modalities to effect change in individuals and/or organizations after a thorough and informed assessment has occurred.

Supervision

As demonstrated by the residents’ ability to communicate their own knowledge in an instructive or didactic manner in order to shape the practice of junior officers or enlisted paraprofessionals within the military training environment.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

As demonstrated through the residents’ ability to relate to colleagues, patients, clients, subordinates, and others in a sensitive, professionally effective and self-aware manner.

Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills

As demonstrated by the residents’ ability to communicate professional opinions in a manner that engenders decision making and the implementation of those decisions across a broad range of consultees to include health professionals, commanders, and military units.

Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors

As demonstrated through the residents’ awareness of relevant existing concerns within the field, their own interpersonal and intrapersonal skills in establishing their identity both as a professional psychologist and as an Army officer, their awareness of their own need to seek supervision, and their maturation as a military psychologist through training in military unique aspects of psychological service delivery and consultation.