Research Intern

Duties: Develop an 8-week focused Group Therapy Program:

Research and formulate an individual focus therapy group expressed in behavioral terms. This focus is then worked with in the here-and-now of the group therapy. Find common factors in group therapy to improve the clinical work of research projects. Experience of being a part of a developing group, building on similarities instead of differences, effective communication and the implicit knowledge developed in new ways. Research is also shedding light on how, exactly, groups help people heal. Here are resources an evidence-based group practitioner accesses when developing and delivering evidence-based group therapy services:

- Empirically supported treatments
- Best available empirical research
- Client preferences, values, and/or expectations regarding treatment
- Gathering practice-based evidence that your group processes are helping its members
- Clinical practice guidelines and other sources for working with diverse populations

Furthermore, an evidence-based group practitioner pays attention to the ingredients of change that appear to be present in successful therapy groups across problems, populations, treatment approaches, and settings. These include:

- Knowledge of group dynamics and basic social processes
- Imposed structure (e.g., member selection, pre-group preparation, etc.)
- Emergent structure (e.g., group development, group norms, etc.)
- Emergent processes (e.g., therapeutic factors, the group’s climate or cohesion, leader interventions, etc.)
- Individual characteristics of the group member and the group practitioner.
- Knowledge, skills, and awareness related to working with culturally diverse clients in groups.

Examining specific treatment questions regarding the efficacy or effectiveness of a particular group treatment approach in particular settings, with a group practitioner who engages in a particular set of behaviors or demonstrates a specific set of competencies.

At present, it is not uncommon for group practitioners to encounter a lack of research about group treatments. This underscores the need for continued research to better understand how to develop, implement, and/or modify existing treatments to be maximally beneficial groups. We encourage groups to gather practice-based evidence about how clients are responding to the group intervention. Additionally, every group can be considered “multicultural” and therefore effective group practice requires multicultural competence.
Teaching Objectives (What do you expect to teach the student during their time as an intern?) *
Include any hard skills they may develop during their time with your organization.
Knowing how to fulfill tasks that are relevant to your desired career path and sharpening the skills that you already possess.

Visual communication
Group Projects
Slideshows
Research
Data analysis
Reporting
Persuasion
Graphic design
Creativity
Theorizing
Critical Thinking

(Other research opportunities are available based on the students' interests). Requirements: Highly Motivated, Organized, Communication, Resourcefulness, Productivity that often exceeds expectations, Dependability.