Courses are taught by instructors who are practicing, or have practiced as clinical psychologists on a regular basis. Practice Management and Practica provide psychological trainees with integral hands-on practical experience while preparing them for a career as clinical psychologists. Since Forest Institute is a practitioner model program, hands-on training is emphasized in every aspect of the program. Practice Management experience includes making appointments for patients, working with insurance billing and financial records, maintaining medical charts and required documentation, handling incoming telephone calls, and other administrative and clerical tasks. Practica occur in the second and third year of study.
Psychological trainees begin working with patients under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
Practica include patient intakes of all ages, individual and group therapy, a variety of consultation experiences, and testing with a diverse patient population covering a wide range of clinical diagnosis. Forest Institute offers psychological trainees a number of captive practica opportunities at the Forest Human Services Center , plus a variety of additional off-campus practicum locations.