LISD Psychology Internship Mentor Program
Purpose:
The LISD Psychology Internship Mentor Program is a formal benefit offered to our current interns. It provides an option for informal yet meaningful mentorship by previous interns to current interns that will potentially increase satisfaction and broaden networking opportunities both during the internship year and beyond.
Guidelines for the Mentor / Mentee Relationship:
Benefits may include:
>> support in a non-evaluative relationship
>> increase in self-perception/self-efficacy
>> increased sense of identity as a psychologist
>> investment in self-care
>> increased self-confidence
>> ability to speak up and be heard
>> ability to accept feedback in communication skills, technical abilities, and leadership skills
>> improved interpersonal relationship skills
>> opportunity to brainstorm and problem solve
>> improved goal setting
>> increased career planning/ knowledge
>> increased motivation to engage in varied professional development opportunities
>> increased professional networking including identified areas of diverse background/
interests
What kinds of information might be shared by a mentor?
>> Personal & professional identity development
>> General positive solution-focused /emotional support
>> Self-care strategies
>> Types of experiences mentor had as an intern at LISD
>> Helpful information about life after internship
>> Suggestions about when/ how to start a postdoc search
>> Career knowledge about life after postdoc
This is NOT a form of clinical supervision
This is NOT a form of counseling/therapy
Logistics for the Mentor/Mentee Pair:
Optional for any intern
For those interns who are interested in having a mentor, a list of possible mentors will be provided during the first quarter of internship; the intern(s) can choose from the available options
Mentor / Mentee commit for one year of internship
Each mentor / mentee pair determines the frequency of communication with one another; however, once a month is the expected minimum
Meetings do not have to be in the same geographical location; phone, email, text, Skype are all acceptable forms of communication (whatever works best for each mentor/mentee).