Call for Practicum Placement Sites–Primary Care and Medical Settings

Licensed Behavioral Health clinicians co-located with your primary care team

Arizona State University Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) Practicum Program

The new Arizona State University Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program is interested in placing licensed behavioral clinicians in your primary care or similar medical site beginning in September 2009. These clinicians will be enrolled in a brand-new, innovative degree program designed to prepare them for careers providing evidence-based behavioral interventions tailored to meet the needs of patients in medical settings. The DBH program was developed to meet the demand for improved integration of behavioral and medical care.

Practicum students will be master’s-level licensed clinicians such as social workers or counselors prepared for practice in your medical setting. Each student will spend approximately eight hours per week in your site for the duration of our program, 18 months (fall 2009 through fall 2010). Our clinicians will be prepared to address the most common behavioral conditions seen in primary care, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. The DBH program has special treatment protocols for patients with co-morbid medical and behavioral problems; lifestyle problems such as diet, exercise, and smoking; and frequent somatic complaints that seem stress related. Our students are sensitive to and specially prepared to deliver brief interventions and consultation to the physician and medical team consistent with the fast-paced medical model and in contrast to traditional psychotherapy.

The current health-care crisis includes shortages of primary care providers and a lack of time to address the behavioral health needs of patients. At the same time, research shows that up to 70% of all visits by primary care patients have an underlying behavioral disorder and that targeted behavioral interventions lead to both improved health outcomes and a decrease in unnecessary medical procedures and visits.¹ In addition to a lack of time, primary care teams often do not have the expertise in evidence-based behavioral interventions. Our practicum clinicians will be able to provide both direct patient care and effective consultation with a truly integrated approach to patient care.

For more information on the Doctor of Behavioral Health program, visit our web site http://sls.asu.edu/dbh. If you are interested in more information about how your primary care or medical site can become a practicum placement program for our clinicians, please contact Dr. Ron O’Donnell, Director of Behavioral Health, Arizona State University, at (602) 496-1352, or Ronald.odonnell@asu.edu

¹ Cummings, O’Donohue & Ferguson (Eds.) (2003). Behavioral Health as Primary Care: Beyond Efficacy to Effectiveness. Context Press, Nevada.