The Clinical Mentor (formerly Clinical Contact Person)
Purpose and Role
Each student in the Clinical Program is encouraged to select one of the adjunct clinical faculty members to serve as their clinical mentor. In view of the Program's strong commitment to the clinical science model of clinical psychology, the general purpose of the clinical mentor is to facilitate the integration of the scientific and clinical aspects of students' training. Adjunct clinical faculty who serve as clinical mentors are committed to the clinical science model of training, and are supportive of the aims and direction of the program. While the faculty adviser retains responsibility for supervising students' progress through the Program and remains their primary adviser, the clinical mentor plays an important role as an informal adviser and role model in a clinical setting. Examples of ways in which the clinical mentor might become involved with the student include:
• review and discuss the student's progress in clinical training, aiding in decisions regarding clinical practica and internship settings.
• offer guidance for filling in perceived gaps and ensuring diversity in clinical experience.
• discuss current developments in clinical practice, and the role of clinical psychologists in various settings.
• provide information about interesting conferences, readings, etc.
• discuss clinical implications and applications of the student's thesis and dissertation research.
• explore opportunities for the student to become involved in research projects in clinical settings.
• act as a resource person to help the student gain access to clinical populations for research.
• provide encouragement and support to the student, seeking to promote the integration of research and clinical aspects of training in developing the student's professional identity.
Procedures and Guidelines
1.Each new incoming clinical student will be matched with a clinical mentor during their first year in the program. In subsequent years, the student may then stay with the same clinical mentor or may select a different mentor, if more appropriate. All such arrangements between students and clinical mentors are made on a yearly basis.
2.In order to maximize the involvement of as many adjunct clinical faculty as possible, each adjunct clinical faculty member will normally serve as clinical mentor to only one student at a time.
