Psychological Health & Performance (PHP)

The minor rotation in intercollegiate athletics is offered through the University of Colorado Athletic Department within the Psychological Health & Performance area. The primary objective of this rotation is to teach interns how to recognize, respond to, and treat the needs of intercollegiate student-athletes. At the completion of this rotation, trainees will be able to:

1. Conduct individual psychotherapy recognizing the unique attributes of a specialty population.
2. Consult with a variety of care providers across disciplines including but not limited to medical staff, academic staff, and administrative staff.
3. Implement a care plan for an individual taking into account the variety of factors influencing that individual given their participation in intercollegiate athletics.
4. Document clinical visits and consultations in the Titanium Software system.
5. Function as a member of an intercollegiate athletic department.
6. Partake in a monthly multicultural dialogue and reflect on personal and professional impact of those chosen topics.

Through this rotation trainees will have the opportunity to: 

1. Develop an understanding of and clinically address the unique needs of student-athletes.
2. Attend weekly PHP Clinical Meetings.
   
3. Attend practices and competitions of the individuals and team with whom they work. 
4. Consult with an interdisciplinary team of individuals including academic and medical staff.

Interns carry a caseload of 6-8 individual cases. Client visits are typically 30-60 minutes. Interns will also be requested to join practice and competition attendance when possible and available.

Work in an intercollegiate athletic department requires an outreach-based approach. This means interns will be encouraged to attend practices and some competitions based on the teams with whom they work when possible and of interest. There may be opportunities to conduct outreach presentations to coaches and staff, and co-facilitation of the student-athlete mental health awareness group, “Bolder Buffs,” depending on intern interest.

Interns are expected to complete documentation within 24 hours of client visits. PHP uses Titanium scheduling software – training on this software will be provided. 

The staff of the PHP are integrative therapists who draw on a number of theoretical orientations including ACT, CBT, and Interpersonal Process. Interns will hone their own approach with influences and guidance from the PHP staff.

Clients seen in PHP are all Division I, student-athletes and range in age from 18-25. Generally, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and relationship issues, are most common in this setting. PHP offers unlimited, free, and confidential services to all student-athletes at CU Boulder. Interns will be trained from a brief therapy model and will learn how to make effective disposition decisions. As warranted, interns may be asked to consult with coaches, athletic trainers, dieticians, administrators, and other athletic department staff members around topics of mental health. 

Interns will receive supervision with a Licensed Psychologist for at least one hour every week, and will be provided the opportunity to list preferences for supervision given that there are two Licensed Psychologists working at PHP. Supervision will typically focus on formulating diagnoses, case conceptualizations and treatment plans, discussing next steps for follow-up and ongoing patients, discussing issues of professional development and other relevant issues as needed. The utilization of video in supervision will be essential to this training experience. Additional supervision from a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor will be used as necessary given the presenting concerns of the student-athletes the intern is seeing. Lastly, group supervision will occur through the weekly case conference meeting with all staff and trainees.

Video.