Opportunities at FPA

Our Aim

The overarching aims of FPA’s postdoctoral residency program are to prepare the resident to (1) function independently as competent and capable psychologists who engage in evidence-based assessment and treatment and (2) uphold the highest ethical and legal standards in their work and (3) serve as compassionate, culturally-responsive team members, community leaders, and advocates for mental health

Learning Elements

The residency program is designed to provide a planned, programmed sequence of supervised training experiences following APPIC (https://www.appic.org/About-APPIC/APPIC-Policies/Postdoc) guidelines.  Throughout all experiences at FPA training will focus on the development of competency in Ethical and Legal Standards, Integration of Science and Practice, Clinical Skills, Professionalism, Individual and Cultural Diversity

The resident will be part of a multidisciplinary team that provides excellence in behavioral health, psychological consultation, and mental health services to adults, children, adolescents, and families. They will help facilitate the mission of FPA by empowering our clients in hope, health, and healing.  Specific activities include:

Delivering Direct Service:  Residents are encouraged to participate in a variety of direct service provisions (i.e. psychological assessment, intake assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, treatment planning, multidisciplinary team staffing).  Although residents are encouraged to individualize their training to include different types of direct services, all residents are required to provide 15 or more hours of direct service each week.  Typically, direct services involve the completion of at least 1 psychological assessment per week. Assessments are requested for a variety of reasons including diagnostic clarification/treatment planning, risk assessment, disability evaluations, court-ordered evaluations, and psychoeducational evaluations for children and adults.  Residents are encouraged to provide 10 hours of psychotherapy.  This can include individual psychotherapy with adult and child clients with varying diagnoses and levels of severity, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other psychosocial/familial concerns. Group therapy opportunities are also available including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Group Parent training Groups, Veteran/Trauma related groups, and opportunities to develop and lead a variety of other evidence-based groups.  Residents are required to support and work with multidisciplinary staff in resolving client concerns and managing clinical emergencies.

Receiving Supervision: All residents receive a minimum of two hours per week of individualized supervision utilizing a developmental approach.  Clinical supervision may include intensive review of case material, co-therapy, live supervision, observations of taped/recorded sessions, discussion of readings, and discussions of the integration of theory, research, and practice. Residents are invited to share personal reactions and to engage in a process of self-examination. Other supervision experiences include reach-related supervisions focused on contributing to the research team (i.e. research team meetings, discussions of research findings, manuscript preparation, and grant preparation) or community outreach/advocacy experiences (i.e. developing presentations or other materials to engage community providers, leaders, and policymakers, engaging in community advocacy endeavors collaboratively). 

Participating in Structured Learning:  All residents are required to attend a weekly training seminar, open to all levels of trainees working at Florida Psychological.  Seminars cover a variety of topics relevant to clinical work, including specific evidence-based practices (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, trauma-focused CBT) and components of quality psychotherapy (e.g., suicide risk assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, assessing treatment response, assessing and managing low motivation and other obstacles in treatment, ethical and legal considerations, cultural diversity and sensitivity).  This seminar primarily focuses on further developing residents’ competence and capability in the following competency domains: Ethical and Legal Standards, Integration of Science and Practice, Clinical Skills, Professionalism, Individual and Cultural Diversity.

Residents have opportunities to participate in other regularly provided group learning experiences in a weekly held Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training group, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy consultation group, a weekly group-supervision regarding working with children with severe EBD in schools, and a monthly mental health treatment in school training.  Other opportunities for individualized didactics including additional training regarding supervision of others, career development, and more specific utilization of techniques (i.e. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy co-therapy).

Participating in Research: Residents can participate in research, either independently or in collaboration with existing projects.  Because of the focus on learning and providing scientifically based treatment, all residents allotted a minimum of four hours per week for scholarly endeavors.  This may include reviewing scholarly articles related to specific treatment, participating in ongoing research projects, analyzing or writing scientific articles, writing grants.  Research at FPA primarily focuses on the integration of research and practice, community-based research, and screening for mental health treatment needs. 

Providing Supervision: Because many psychologists regularly provide supervision to others, it is crucial postdoctoral residents have opportunities to learn and develop supervisor skills throughout their residency year.  Residents will be able to pair with more junior psychology colleagues (e.g., practicum students, masters level counseling interns) and/or staff (e.g., behavioral technicians, psychometrists) at least one hour per week. All residents who take on this role will have dedicated time in their individual weekly supervision regarding their supervision efforts to ensure they are engaging in best practices.

Career/Professional Development: There are two major aspects of this learning experience. First, all residents are expected to sit for the written part of the national licensure examination (EPPP) during the first six months of the residency year, unless they have already done so. Second, throughout the second half of the year, postdoctoral residents will work with supervisors to develop timelines and planning for applying for jobs.  Activities include exploring career opportunities, revising their CV, and honing interview skills. ​​

Supervisor

Dr. Catherine Hardee, Lead Psychology Supervisor- Catherine Hardee, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist (PY#9101) and Owner/Chief Executive Officer of FPA.  Dr. Hardee currently serves on the Florida Board of Psychology where she is responsible for licensing, monitoring, disciplining, and educating psychologists to assure competency and safety to practice in the State of Florida.

Dr. Hardee specializes in court-ordered assessments including psychosexual, competency, and juvenile justice evaluations. She has performed outpatient-based psychotherapy and assessments with both civil and forensic clients diagnosed with a wide range of severe and persistent psychiatric disorders. She is experienced in crisis evaluations and prediction of risk. Dr. Hardee is also a qualified supervisor for intern and resident therapists.  

Dr. Hardee has received accolades from the Fourth Judicial Circuit regarding her professionalism and ability in the courtroom.  She has conducted comprehensive psychological assessments and provided recommendations regarding the risk of violence, competency to proceed to court, and readiness for conditional release. She has served as a liaison to the legal community and as a consultant to multidisciplinary treatment teams.

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Receiving Supervision: All residents receive a minimum of two hours per week of individualized supervision utilizing a developmental approach.  Clinical supervision may include intensive review of case material, co-therapy, live supervision, observations of taped/recorded sessions, discussion of readings, and discussions of the integration of theory, research, and practice. Residents are invited to share personal reactions and to engage in a process of self-examination. Other supervision experiences include reach-related supervisions focused on contributing to the research team (i.e. research team meetings, discussions of research findings, manuscript preparation, and grant preparation) or community outreach/advocacy experiences (i.e. developing presentations or other materials to engage community providers, leaders, and policymakers, engaging in community advocacy endeavors collaboratively). 

Training Sites & Other Training Support

Fernandina Beach: FPA’s primary location is in Fernandina Beach, Florida.  Here the majority of outpatient mental health treatment occurs, postdoctoral offices, support staff, and supervisors are primarily located.  All postdoctoral residents will be supported in their work through appointment, records, tech support, and billing as well as all other office staff, as well as by having access to a user-friendly and regularly updated HIPPA-compliant Electronic Health records system. 

Telehealth Services:  FPA has a history of providing services via telehealth.  However, in response to the needed physical distancing recommendations related to the COVID-19 outbreak, all services are now able to be provided via telehealth.  FPA has worked to implement the safest, most efficient, and most effective means of providing telehealth via this venue.   

Other opportunities: A priority at FPA is to serve the clients in locations and ways that are most beneficial to them and work to break through barriers to mental health treatment.  As such, many opportunities naturally arise to provide services to clients in community settings.  This often results in the provision of services through jails, in courts, in-home settings, and schools.  Therapists are often creatively providing services wherever the clients need them.   

Multidisciplinary Care: Because the services and training models at FPA include individuals within different disciplines, opportunities are regularly available to learn from providers outside of psychology, including mental health therapists, psychiatrists, social workers, speech/language pathologists, ABA providers, and others we partner with in our community.  To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Dr. Catherine Hardee at info@floridapsy.com.

Florida Psychological Associates is now accepting applications for the masters-level internship program for students beginning clinical work in. This program is open to practicum and internship students in both the clinical mental health and social work fields. ​​

This training program is designed to provide further development for masters students in the following areas: 

• conducting intake assessments​
• conducting individual therapy
• facilitating/co-facilitating group therapy
• measuring progress in therapy
• professional development
• legal and ethical considerations

Student interns receive weekly group and individual supervision as well as numerous opportunities to consult and observe other clinicians on staff. ​​​​Applicants are required to be enrolled in university programs that are accredited through CACREP or CSWE. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Dr. Catherine Hardee at info@floridapsy.com.