Health Psychology

This rotation will focus on the integration of physical and mental health treatments and the utilization of psychological approaches to, for example, assist patients with management of chronic pain and with emotional adjustment to acute as well as chronic medical conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis, cancer diagnoses, fibromyalgia syndrome).  Interns will learn to communicate with other health care providers, to utilize a computerized medical record system, and to read and understand medical records. Most importantly, interns will gain an appreciation both for how medical illnesses can impact psychological functioning and how psychological problems can impact patients' ability to optimally participate in improving and maintaining their physical well-being.  Furthermore, interns will be directly involved in providing treatment to help patients cope more effectively with physical health problems, promote healthy behavior change, facilitate treatment compliance, and assist patients in adjusting to functional personal and interpersonal changes associated with medical conditions and/or disabilities. Interns will have the opportunity to assist in transplant recipient and organ donor mental health evaluations, to co-facilitate chronic pain and weight loss psychoeducational and support groups, and to learn basic applications of biofeedback for managing a variety of medical and mental health conditions.