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Iina’ Counseling Services
2 Full-Time Position, APPIC Program Code: 253513
General Information:
Iina’ Counseling Services is located in the west wing of Northern Navajo Medical Center and consists of a multidisciplinary team (2 psychologists, 3 psychiatrists, 5 counselors, and a team of behavioral health coaches) focused on provided evidence-based and culturally appropriate care for American Indian/Native American clients. Iina’ Counseling Services offers a continuum of care using a multidisciplinary team approach to address the medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, and cultural factors that are interwoven in the tapestry presented by individuals, couples, children, youth, families and groups.
Loan Repayment Opportunity:
Psychologists working for Iina’ Counseling Services at Indian Health Services (IHS) are eligible to apply for the IHS Loan Repayment program. Link for more info: https://www.ihs.gov/careeropps/loanrepayment/
The Internship Experience:
The intern participates in year-long concurrent rotations of outpatient mental health and behavioral health integration. For example, the intern may see clients in the outpatient clinic (Iina’ Counseling Services) for 3-4 days per week and will serve as the behavioral health psychology consult for our five outpatient medical clinics one day per week. This rotation structure is advantageous in providing continuity of care for clients as well as an opportunity for the intern to experience a developmentally appropriate professional workload while under supportive supervision. This rotation structure facilitates progressive professional growth throughout the year and provides interns with a myriad of early clinical experiences that they will be able to discuss in preparation for fellowship other training applications.
Rotation Opportunities:
Outpatient Mental Health and Assessment
Iina’ Counseling Services offers a continuum of care using a multidisciplinary team approach to address the medical, psychological, psychiatric, social, and cultural factors that are interwoven in the tapestry presented by individuals, couples, children, youth, families and groups. The psychology intern provides evidence-based psychotherapy to American Indian/Native American adults, children, and families. Patients are seen via scheduled 60-minute appointments or as walk-in if urgent/emergent. Interns build and carry a panel of patients and serve as part of the Triage team. The intern also gains experience in providing integrated psychological assessments for adults and children. The intern is expected to complete at least five assessments over the course of the year. The intern’s office is located in Iina’ counseling services.
Behavioral Health Integration and Triage
Northern Navajo Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Integration program increases access to behavioral health services for Native American patients, reduces stigma associated with seeking these services, and maximizes resources which results in increased positive outcomes for mental health, improved population health, and better care experiences for patients. The program is patient-centered and establishes a partnership among patients and their families with the behavioral health integration team to ensure that patients have the education and support they need to make decisions and participate in their own care. The psychology intern joins the Behavioral Health Integration team comprised of mental health and primary care providers located in the four primary care clinics, the women’s health clinic and the pediatric clinic working with primary care providers. Together, they collaborate to improve on-site care, and refer patients to other specialists when necessary in addressing not only mental health and substance use disorders but also the many behavioral factors affecting all health conditions. The psychology intern works with patients and their providers to address issues such as stress and pain management, mild-to-moderate mental health problems, behavioral issues that impact patient treatment and health (e.g., smoking, sedentary behavior, poor diet), and medication management. The intern can also elect to provide tiered supervision to behavioral health coaches under the supervision of the licensed psychologist. Supervision for this rotation focuses on the integration of behavioral health into medical settings and professional development of a supervision and consultation style.
Mental health emergencies are triaged via on-call service, with follow-up available the next day via the Consultation-Liaison service. Approximately 20% of the intern’s time is allocated to the Consultation-Liaison service providing mental health and psychiatric consultation for mental health emergencies to medical units within Northern Navajo Medical Center. Clinical services provided to medical units include but are not necessarily limited to: assessment of suicidal risk, assessment of danger to others, evaluation for possible hospitalization, whether voluntary, or involuntary through the Navajo Hospital Commitment Act. The intern will evaluate, assess and facilitate arrangements for psychiatric hospitalization for severely ill psychiatric patients.
Contact Information
Site Director: Ciara Hansen, PhD
Email: Ciara.Hansen@ihs.gov
Phone number: (505) 368-7313
Mailing address: Northern Navajo Medical Center, US-491, Shiprock, NM 87420