Competencies and Aims

The Colorado Psychology Internship  Consortium’s (CO-PIC) aim is to prepare and retain psychologists to provide high quality behavioral health care for Coloradans of all ages. CO-PIC is composed of five sites: Bright Future Foundation, Your Hope Center, STRIDE Community Health Center, Code-4 Counseling, and Vail Health Behavioral Health (formerly Eagle Valley Behavioral Health)- to share resources and faculty for the purpose of providing a diversified educational program for psychology interns. 

Our training is based on the Practitioner-Scholar model. CO-PIC trains interns to practice as psychologists who are effective consumers of research and who utilize scholarly inquiry to inform their practice. CO-PIC offers generalist training, with the opportunity for specialized elective training that varies across training sites. 

CO-PIC Aims and Objectives

Overarching Aims

The aim of CO-PIC is to train and retain psychologists to increase access to mental health care for under-resourced Coloradans. Our program offers a one year, full time internship. It is expected that by the conclusion of the internship year, interns will have accomplished the following objectives:

Competency 1: Behavioral Health Intervention

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Case conceptualization and treatment planning 
    • Crisis intervention 
    • Therapeutic skills 
    • Group therapy provision

Competency 2: Evidence Based Practice in Assessment

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Diagnostic skill
    • Instrument selection, administration, and scoring
    • Test interpretation
    • Clinical formulation
    • Report writing
    • Communicating results

Competency 3: Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Multidisciplinary collaboration
    • Theories and methods of consultation

Competency 4: Supervision

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Theories and methods of supervision
    • Effective provision of supervision

Competency 5: Cultural and Individual Diversity

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Cultural awareness
    • Effects of cultural considerations on clinical activities
    • Evidence-informed approach to cultural considerations

Competency 6: Research

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Application of scientific knowledge to practice
    • Program Evaluation
    • Scholarly Activities 

Competency 7: Ethical and Legal Standards

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Knowledge of ethical, legal, and professional standards
    • Adherence to ethical principles and guidelines

Competency 8: Professional Values and Attitudes

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Professional awareness
    • Interpersonal relationships
    • Self awareness
    • Clinical documentation
    • Case Management
    • Effective Use of Supervision

Competency 9: Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Objectives related to this goal include the achievement of competence in the following:

    • Provide clear effective written communication
    • Exemplify respectful and professional interpersonal skills