Department of Psychology
College of Liberal Arts
The Department of Psychology at Jackson State University is a unit of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts
Recent Externship Sites and Clinical Supervisors
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Clinical Supervisors:
1. Dr. Julie A. Schumacher-Coffey – Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Department of Psychology and Human Behavior
2. Dr. Monica Sutton – Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
3. Dr. Scott Coffey – Professor and Vice Chair for Research Director of Division of Psychology
4. Dr. Dustin Sarver – Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
5. Dr. Sarah Cunningham – Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Human Behavior
6. Dr. Cynthia Karlson – Director of Inpatient Pediatric Psychology, Department of Psychiatry Clinical Psychology Internship
7. Dr. Kristen Alston – Clinical Health Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UMMC
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Work with patients whose diagnoses include borderline personality disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, chemical sensitivity, social phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder using several different treatment modalities including: an Emotion Regulation manualized therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT);
2. Co-lead a weekly DBT skills training group and participate in weekly DBT team meetings. UMC recently created a Behavioral Specialty Clinic, where I see patients and collaborate with staff members and residents of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior;
3. Assist with several research projects dealing with the efficacy of Behavioral Activation in asthma and urticaria patients with depression, emotion regulation avoidance strategies of persons with PTSD, the use of self-harm as an emotion regulation strategy and the use of mindfulness and acceptance-based treatments in decreasing the symptoms of asthma and urticaria.
4. Assist with research that focuses on identifying and validating warning signs (e.g., acute substance use and interpersonal life events) for recent suicide attempts among psychiatric inpatients, as well as the interrelations among serotonergic genes, facets of impulsivity (using behavioral tasks), and suicide attempts;
5. Administer, scored, interpreted and provided feedback to parents of children with empirically-supported instruments specialized for this population (e.g., Bayley-III, K-BIT-2, WISC-IV);
6. Utilize empirically supported treatments (cognitive-behavioral therapy and behavioral therapy);
7. Participate in a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates medical, psychological and social components was used to evaluate each child’s medical well-being, cognitive ability, and psychosocial issues;
8. Participate in individual supervision, comprehensive integrative treatment planning tailored to the individual and his or her family, consulting with a multidisciplinary team and participating in weekly individual and group supervision;
9. Co-facilitating two therapy/intervention groups for patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Disorder (4 sessions co-facilitated for each group);
10. Conducted comprehensive psychological tests to assess cognitive functioning, attention and hyperactivity symptoms, and memory deficits among pediatric cancer population;
11. Prepared integrated assessment reports and provided intervention/treatment plans to caregivers;
12. Conduct psychological evaluations in a community-based residential substance abuse treatment program (Harbor House);
13. Provide evidence-based treatments of mood and anxiety disorders;
14. Provide treatment for PTSD using prolonged exposure
15. Utilize motivational interviewing to improve treatment retention and treatment outcomes with substance use disorder and dual disorders;
16. Lead behavioral activation and dialectical behavior therapy skills groups.
UMMC – CAY Clinic (Magnolia Fellowship)
Clinical Supervisor(s):
1. Dr. Dustin Sarver – Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Mission: The Magnolia Scholars program in Integrated Behavioral Healthcare is a clinical training program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce and Education Training program (BHWET).
Externship Responsibilities:
Magnolia provides specialty training in integrated behavioral healthcare to select doctoral-level psychology students at UMMC across four clinics that integrate medical and behavioral care and range from primary to specialty settings (CAY Clinic, UMMC High Risk Follow-up Clinic, Children’s Cancer Clinic, and Batson’s Kids Clinic). Magnolia scholars provide brief consultation and intervention to providers and families seen at the Batson Kids Clinic. Other sites provide integrated care services alongside licensed psychologist faculty in the assessment and intervention of mental health needs in the respective clinics. Some telehealth services are available. Magnolia clinician scholars are competitively selected from PhD programs in clinical, counseling, and educational psychology for this 6-12 month intensive training program dedicated to serving children and families from underserved or rural Mississippi.
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Receive in integrated multi-disciplinary training sites serving underserved and rural children and families.
2. Learn about conducting integrated primary care.
3. Learn infant assessment, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and serving in chronic medical health clinics (oncology, genetics, neonatal follow-up)
4. Participating in the Center for Integrated Health
Genesis Behavioral Health Services
Supervisor:
Dr. Shannon Moore
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Exposure and training in providing different evidence-based treatment modalities (e.g., Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Motivational Interviewing, Five A’s of Integrated Health)
2. Network with multidisciplinary providers to learn the benefits of treating the whole person.
3. Provide individual, couple, and/or group therapy
4. Administer and complete comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations
5. Training and supervision in providing forensic evaluations
6. Receive weekly supervision from a Licensed Clinical Psychologist
7. Exposure to administrative side of operating a private psychological practice
8. Make career connections and strengthen their network
9. Apply skills learned from their studies to responsibilities relevant to psychological practice.
Mississippi State Hospital
Clinical Supervisors:
1. Dr. Jennifer Giambrone – Staff Psychologist
2. Dr. Joseph Griebler – Director of Psychology
3. Dr. Mary Ashley Angelo, Training Director
4. Dr. Amanda Gugliano – Staff Psychologist
5. Dr. Vicki Prosser – Staff Psychologist
6. Dr. Jenise Kohnke – Staff Psychologist
Externship Responsibilities:
Students can participate in any of the following nine rotations where, in general, patient care services are divided into receiving/acute, intermediate care/IDD, and continued care treatment units. Within each of these settings, the specific activities assigned to each practicum student may differ widely across rotations, and in consideration of each student’s prior clinical experiences.
- Acute Adult Psychiatry Rotation: The male and female receiving units meet the acute psychiatric needs of incoming patients 18 years old through adulthood, who have been involuntarily committed to Mississippi State Hospital through the court system. Individuals receiving care through these services are typically evaluated, treated, and stabilized within 30-60 days, and most return to their homes or community placement following discharge.
- Assessment Rotation: Appropriately trained practicum students may have the opportunity to be part of the MSH Assessment Team. Prior to consideration for this rotation, students might require additional time/training, passing assessment-related proficiency exams, conducting a mock interview, and completing a written report to ensure competency. Students have an opportunity to develop their skills in properly addressing referral questions, administering/scoring/interpreting psychological tests, and to develop appropriate recommendations based on assessment findings. Students would also receive training in presenting these findings and recommendations to members of the treatment team and the patient.
- Chemical Dependency Services Rotation: CD services consists of two inpatient treatment buildings which house up to 37 female clients and 43 male clients. All individuals receiving treatment through CD services have primary alcohol and/or substance-related diagnoses, although a significant degree of attention is also given to co-occurring factors and symptoms. As such, treatment is also provided for those clients who meet criteria for secondary psychiatric diagnoses (mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, etc.). The team uses a variety of means to provide individual and group counseling, consultation and additive therapeutic intervention as necessary, although the foundation of the program is grounded in a hybrid DBT-12 step philosophy. Child and Adolescent Services Rotation: Oak Circle Center (OCC) is a 60-bed child and adolescent unit. OCC provides evaluation, stabilization, and treatment for patients who range in age from 4 to 17 years, with an average length of stay of 100 days. Patients present with a variety of symptoms and functional levels. All patients participate in a unit level system which includes point cards and token economy behavior programs. Patients attend the fully-accredited Lakeside School program, located near OCC on MSH grounds.
- Geropsychology: Jaquith Nursing Home (JNH) is a 379-bed long-term care facility consisting of 9 homes which are divided into five separately licensed units with Joint Commission accreditation. The program at JNH serves individuals with chronic medical conditions, moderate to severe TBI and anoxic brain injury, and cognitive impairment due to progressive dementia, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s dementia. Many nursing home residents have Comorbid Axis I diagnoses and severe mental illness. There are two special care units for individuals requiring more intensive supervision and assistance due to decreased cognitive functioning and increased need for positive behavior support.
- Medical Psychiatry Rotation: This unit provides diagnostic evaluation and treatment services to psychiatrically-impaired adults who also experience significant medical and/or cognitive impairment (average age = 62 years). These patients display moderate to severe levels of psychopathology and corresponding functional disabilities that reflect impairment in social functioning, activities of daily living, economic self-sufficiency, and/or the capacity for self-direction. The average length of stay on this unit is 90 days.
- Continued Treatment Service (CTS) Rotation: The CTS units are designed to meet the needs of patients with chronic mental illness. Such patients require a highly structured environment and therapeutic programming, and treatment is generally focused on assisting these individuals as they prepare for a transfer to a community placement or facility.
- Forensic Services Rotation: The Forensic Services Unit is a 35-bed, maximum-security inpatient unit, which provides pre-trial and post-conviction inpatient and outpatient forensic mental health evaluations on adult criminal defendants for Mississippi Circuit Courts in all 82 counties across the state. The Forensic Services also provides long-term treatment for defendants who are acquitted Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, those who are found Not Competent and Not Restorable, and other non-forensic civilly committed patients who are in need of a more secure environment. As the only state-operated inpatient forensic service in Mississippi, the staff conducts a number of different types of criminal forensic evaluations, including competence to stand trial, competence to waive or assert constitutional rights (including competence to waive Miranda rights), criminal responsibility, capital sentencing/mitigation, competence to assist in post-conviction appeals, competence to be executed (rarely), and pre-trial and post-conviction evaluation of individuals with intellectual disabilities who are capital murder defendants.
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Rotation: Practicum students who wish to gain additional experience serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities may do so through a rotation at Hudspeth Regional Center (HRC), which is located adjacent to Mississippi State Hospital. The Center is a licensed Intermediate Care Program for persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Approximately 285 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities reside at HRC. In addition, approximately 1400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive an array of services through the HRC’s Community Services Division. All services and programs are based on the interdisciplinary team approach to program development and implementation.
Killebrew Psychological Services
(https://essentialtouchstones.com/killebrew-psychological-services/)
Supervisor:
Dr. Alyssa Killebrew and Dr. Taban Salem
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Administer, score, and interpret integrated psychological test results, which may include cognitive functioning, memory, personality characteristics, treatment recommendations, and some neuropsychological screenings.
2. Conduct various therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-Informed, Prolonged Exposure, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness, and
3. Conduct suicide assessment.
4. Provide services to Adolescents with a co-occurring mental illness (addiction and mood disorder) may also benefit from these services.
5. Participate in a multidisciplinary treatment team approach to manage and improve mental health diagnoses.
6. Write integrative psychological reports.
7. Co-facilitate weekly DBT group therapy sessions with adults.
Hinds Behavioral Health Services
Supervisor:
Dr. Kathy Crockett
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Provide individual and group psychotherapy in interdisciplinary community health center
2. Engage in behavioral health assessments, diagnosis, case consultations, and CBT-focused treatment planning for LGBTQ and ethnically diverse adults.
3. Teach patients’ skills to improve health behaviors, including care engagement, medication adherence.
4. Integrate interventions to treat patients diagnosed with substance use disorders, PTSD, and anxiety, depression, adjustment, and cognitive disorders
The Counseling Center
Supervisors:
Dr. Criss Lott
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Conduct disability evaluations which include cognitive assessments, achievement, malingering and occasionally mental status assessments.
2. Conduct clinical interviewing of disability evaluations.
3. Conduct individual therapy related to EAPs.
4. Conduct ADHD evaluations (full battery of several assessments).
5. Conduct evaluations of competency to stand trial and sanity at time of offense.
Yazoo Correctional Facility (BOP)
Chief Psychologist:
Dr. Adu Boateng
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Provide individual and group psychotherapy in federal correctional facility
2. Engage in assessments, case consultations, and Evidence based treatment planning for incarcerated adult males.
3. Provide substance abuse assessments and interventions (group and individual) to treat patients diagnosed with substance use and other addictive disorders.
LeFleur Behavioral Health
(https://www.lefleurbehavioralhealth.com/)
Supervisors:
Dr. Ted Bennett
Description:
LeFleur Behavioral Health is a team of doctoral-level clinical psychologists and licensed counselors who offer top-quality mental health care services to the people of Mississippi. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Walter T. Rueff, Ph.D, and Dr. James Broussard, Ph.D, the practice provides a wide range of therapy, assessment, and health psychology services for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
The skilled psychologists and therapists at LeFleur Behavioral Health offer evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, and many other mental health concerns. Treatment approaches draw from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, family systems theory, and other proven modalities.
In addition to therapy services, LeFleur Behavioral Health’s clinicians provide psychological and neuropsychological testing and assessment for ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, memory impairment, and psychological evaluations. The practice’s health psychology services include pre-surgical evaluations and treatment for adjustment to medical conditions, chronic illness, chronic pain, and lifestyle changes.
LeFleur Behavioral Health is committed to training the next generation of mental health professionals. The practice offers externship, practicum, and supervision opportunities for doctoral students in APA-accredited clinical and counseling psychology programs. Under the mentorship of licensed psychologists, trainees gain experience in individual and group therapy, assessments, testing scoring and interpretation, report writing, and professional development.
With a warm, inclusive environment and multiculturally-competent staff, LeFleur Behavioral Health strives to provide high-quality, ethical care tailored to each client’s needs. The practice values building long-term therapeutic relationships and helping clients cultivate insight, resilience, and personal growth.
Externship Responsibilities:
1. Conduct disability evaluations which include cognitive assessments, achievement, malingering and occasionally mental status assessments.
2. Conduct clinical interviewing of disability evaluations.
3. Conduct individual therapy.
4. Conduct Administer, score, and interpret integrated psychological test results, which may include cognitive functioning, memory, personality characteristics, treatment recommendations, neuropsychological assessments (under training/supervision), autism spectrum assessments, and ADHD evaluations.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
More about us
By the time JSU officially gained university status from Mississippi’s state legislature in 1979, the Department of Psychology’s primary focus on research made its move to the School of Liberal Arts a natural transition. Then, Dr. Janet St. Lawrence, a faculty member and clinical psychologist at JSU, began to investigate HIV and STD issues in vulnerable populations during the advent of the AIDS epidemic. Out of this work with those in drug treatment, people contending with incarceration, or people from other at-risk groups, came the genesis of the Community Health Program (CHP). This program became the foremost research division within the Psychology Department and works to provide community service while training students and conducting original studies, which gain national attention. Additionally, during this time period, Dr. Cynthia Ford designed a course to teach psychology from an afro-centric perspective. This type of enhancement to the curriculum highlights JSU’s focus on both cultural and individual diversity and remains a popular elective in the discipline.
LEARN BY DOING
The mission of the Undergraduate Major in the Psychology Department is to expose students to the breadth and depths of the various fields of psychology. Students are encouraged and taught to think critically about psychological issues and to understand the value of empirical investigation. The department seeks to foster each student’s appreciation for the field of psychology and its applications to individual and social problems. The department is dedicated to high standards of original inquiry and personal growth. Students are taught that sound research and scholarship serve to expand knowledge and improve the quality of peoples’ lives. Our program provides students with the education needed to enter a variety of careers or to pursue graduate work in psychology or related fields.
“Challenging Minds, Changing Lives.”
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
After years of preparing undergraduates to pursue advanced research degrees, JSU began to develop its own plan for graduate study. Spearheading this movement was a working group whose goal was to design a program in clinical psychology that would provide multicultural training. The idea behind such multiculturalism is that the most effective clinical psychologists are those who have separated themselves from their personal biases and that this can only occur through in depth understanding of other cultures. In 1995, program was launched with a charter class of five students. APA accreditation then followed in 2001, and the first dissertation defense occurred in 2002. The concept of multicultural training remains a primary mission and requires the program actively to support those from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds while ensuring that even the most traditional of graduate students becomes immersed in as many different environments as possible. This occurs most directly through practica, externships, and field research experience with underserved people; in the area of Jackson, this most often means rural and African-American populations.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Psychology majors have a plethora of career options after studying:
| Psychiatrist | Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | Neuropsychologist | Clinical Psychologist |
| Engineering Psychologist | Counseling Psychologist | Forensic Psychologist | School Psychologist |
| Correctional Psychologist | Sport Psychologist |
PERSONNEL
READY TO JOIN?
For more information, please contact us at (601) 979-2371. We look forward to meeting with you and seeing how our program can help you achieve your goals.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
