Supervision

All residents receive a minimum of 3 hours of supervision each week. Residents have the option of increasing the amount of supervision time depending upon their specific rotations, number of psychotherapy patients, and other individual needs. Supervision in Spokane is both available and easily accessible. One advantage of the smaller program size is that each resident has the opportunity to meet individually with the Program Director and with the faculty liaison from the University of Washington on a regular basis.

While rotating on inpatient services, residents are supervised by attending physicians to a degree appropriate for each resident's level of experience and competence, working toward a goal of independent functioning by the end of the training program. On-site supervision is provided also for both child and adult medication management clinics; supervision time is built into the schedule for the convenience of the residents. An attending physician is always available for "curbside consultations" and back-up, as well.

Residents are encouraged to have individual supervisors for each of their psychotherapy patients. Supervisors can be chosen from among the Spokane clinical faculty or from the community to gain exposure to a wide variety of perspectives. Audiovisual equipment in the program is available to facilitate supervision, in-depth discussions of various treatment approaches, and continuing education.

Group supervision is also a scheduled weekly activity. On Tuesdays, portions of the designed and protected didactic time are used to discuss a variety of psychotherapeutic modalities. Later on Tuesdays, a therapeutic interactions group and an interview technique group are scheduled.