Become a Psychologist

It is the philosophy of the NYU-Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship Program that sound clinical knowledge and skills are the basis of competent forensic psychology as it applies to the psychiatrically impaired population. Consequently, this track maintains a dual focus on both general clinical psychology and specialized training in forensic psychology. Through the two main rotation sites of this track (the Inpatient Forensic Psychiatry Unit at Bellevue Hospital and the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center), the interns in the Forensic Psychology Track are exposed to both acute-care and long-term forensic patients who are at various stages of involvement with the legal system. Interns in the Forensic Track will complete two rotations on the Inpatient Forensic Psychiatry Service at Bellevue, one of which will focus on assessment, and a second which will focus on treatment. They will rank their preferences for their third rotation during the orientation period in July. Interns in this track will spend two days each week at the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center throughout the year.

On the Forensic Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, interns work with incarcerated patients who may be pre-arraignment, awaiting trial or post-conviction. Responsibilities include intake interviews, individual and group psychotherapy and psychological assessments. Interns also serve as the primary clinician for one patient at any given time, and have the opportunity to observe evaluations of competency to stand trial. Participation in treatment team meetings and the preparation of discharge summaries are also required components of this rotation.

The Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center is a 164-bed maximum-security hospital located on Wards Island that provides intermediate and long-term evaluation and treatment of forensic patients. Most patients at Kirby have been deemed unfit to proceed with trial or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. While at Kirby, interns conduct individual and group psychotherapy as well as a weekly fitness-to-stand-trial group. Interns are also involved in numerous forms of forensic evaluations, including evaluations of competency to stand trial, violence risk assessments, and evaluations of dangerousness.