Fellowship Structure

A man in a yellow shirt talks to a woman in a white blouse, seated on a blue therapy table in a rehabilitation center. In the background, another woman in a wheelchair and a person on therapy equipment can be seen.

Rehabilitation psychology education goals and program structure

This 24-month fellowship prepares future rehabilitation psychologists to deliver culturally responsive, specialized care across diverse rehabilitation settings. Fellows gain experience with both inpatient and outpatient populations, including individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries, spinal cord disorders, and complex dual diagnoses, such as combined spinal cord and brain injuries. Additional rotations provide opportunities to work with patients experiencing brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, complex concussions, and military veterans through our SHARE Military Initiative.

Exit criteria for program completion

To successfully complete the fellowship, fellows are expected to meet the following accomplishments, based on the Baltimore Conference Guidelines:

  1. Clinical proficiency: Provide evidence-based assessment and interventions with individuals and families experiencing problems related to physical and cognitive impairment, ability, limitation, and participation restriction that focus on individual and family functioning, including affective, cognitive, personality, and behavior functioning as well as social, educational, vocational, and recreational participation.
  2. Interprofessional collaboration: Actively participate in collaborative consultation across clinical, program, and community levels to deliver comprehensive care for individuals with disabilities, enhancing the effectiveness of the rehabilitation team and program.
  3. Scholarly contributions: Demonstrate scholarly activity through submission of a study or literature review for publication, presentations, grant proposals, or outcome assessments.
  4. Competency evaluation: Undergo formal evaluations to assess competencies in clinical, collaborative, and scholarly activities throughout the fellowship.
  5. Licensure eligibility: Meet the requirements for state licensure in the state or province in which the fellow intends to practice.
  6. Board certification preparation: Fulfill eligibility for board certification in rehabilitation psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology.

Program-specific requirement: Fellows are expected to complete Part 1 of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) by December of the second year of fellowship. Completion of Part 1 is mandatory for program graduation.

Clinical experience

As a fellow, clinical duties vary based on rotation specifics and supervisor expectations. Generally, the fellow maintains a clinical caseload aligned with Baltimore Guidelines and Georgia state requirements for postdoctoral training towards licensure and board certification.

Annually, fellows dedicate at least 60% of their time to clinical activities, including assessment, intervention, and consultation. Rotations are designed to consider the fellow’s interests and training goals, covering both inpatient and outpatient settings with responsibilities tailored to each rotation.

There may also be opportunities for fellows to supervise graduate students in rehabilitation psychology practicum rotations, guiding them through assessment and intervention under the guidance and direction of program faculty.

First-year rotation schedule

The initial rotation focuses on the inpatient Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) unit, with responsibilities including leading two adjustment groups per week: one for patients and one for family members.

First-year rotation schedule by timeframe and rotation area.
Timeframe Rotation
September to February (6 months) Onboarding and introduction to fellowship
4th floor inpatient SCI unit
March to May (3 months) 5th floor inpatient SCI unit
June to August (3 months) Comprehensive rehabilitation unit
September to August (12 months) Research integration

Second-year rotation schedule

In the second year of the fellowship, the fellow is expected to take on more independent clinical responsibilities. A key responsibility will be leading the patient adjustment group, “Roll With It.” Alongside their primary rotations in the SCI Day Program, the fellow will begin a minor rotation once a week. This could be a single six-month rotation or two separate three-month rotations, depending on the fellow’s interests and training goals. Additionally, the fellow will be expected to present both internally and externally throughout the duration of the fellowship.

Second-year rotation schedule by timeframe and rotation area.
Timeframe Rotation
September to November (3 months) 4th floor SCI Day Program
December to February (3 months) 5th floor SCI Day Program
March to May (3 months) Comprehensive rehabilitation unit
June to August (3 months) 4th Floor SCI
September to August (12 months) Research integration

Minor rotations

Below is a list of possible available supplementary and minor rotations. Of note, additional opportunities for minor rotations may be available/developed based on individual interests as well as current staffing. Some minor rotations may not be available every year, and some may require state licensure for participation. If the fellow is in satisfactory standing, they are expected to complete either two minor rotations (equivalent of one day per week for a three-month duration at rotation site) or one major rotation (equivalent of one day per week for a six-month duration at rotation site) during the second year.

  • Assessment and intervention: The fellow is exposed to chronic neuropsychological disorders and syndromes with the primary objective of developing a comprehensive understanding of the long-term sequelae of cognitive and emotional function following ABI. During the rotation, the fellow acquires competencies in cognitive assessment, intervention, and consultation. Assessment competencies are similar to those skills addressed during the dual rotation, focusing on capacity determination, considerations for family education, and community re-entry. Intervention competencies addressed during this rotation include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, provision of psychoeducation related to ABI and substance use, as well as design, execution, and monitoring of neurobehavioral plans. The fellow’s role may include leading educational and process groups, carrying a small therapy caseload, completing cognitive evaluations, and creating behavior plans.
  • Interdisciplinary systems: The fellow will consult with rehabilitation team members and physicians and provide education regarding the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional consequences of ABI.

  • Assessment and intervention: The fellow will learn about comprehensive assessment and treatment for individuals with persisting symptoms following concussion, focusing on return to play, return to learn, and return to work. Through this rotation, the fellow will gain a better understanding of concussion and contributing factors to persisting symptoms in military and civilian populations. The fellow will provide individual and group treatment and education to clients and family members, provide education for the treatment team and implement behavioral interventions as necessary. Opportunities for cognitive assessment may also be available.
  • Interdisciplinary systems: The fellow will consult with rehabilitation team members and physicians and provide education regarding cognitive, behavioral, and emotional consequences of mild traumatic brain injury.

Research opportunities

As a scientist-practitioner model and evidence-based practice, research plays an integral role across all programs at Shepherd Center. The fellow will be expected to contribute to existing research throughout their two years of training and to identify individual research interests. Ample support is available for training and mentorship in research methodologies, statistical approaches, and guidance with writing and submitting publications, posters, or talks.

The fellow will have access to several research resources including the Noble Learning Resource Center (NLRC); SPSS and REDCap systems; as well as consultations with researchers in the Shepherd Center Research Department. Regular meetings will involve project development, research article reviews/critiques, and ongoing patient and database updates.

In 2022, Shepherd Center was awarded a $500,000 three-year grant. Keeping Adolescents and Young Adults Connected, (KAYAC) from Andee’s Army to research, plan, develop, and implement a peer support training program and app specifically for adolescents with neurological injury or disease. Part of this grant was to foster clinical research and implementation opportunities for our Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows. The fellow will be an integral part of the successful design, implementation, and dissemination of the feasibility and continuity of this unique program. Progress has been made to date with forming focus groups with teenage patients and their families to identify target areas for intervention after community re-entry.

We have also partnered in training with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and Kessler Rehabilitation Center to encourage simultaneous growth and collaboration. This is a pioneering study, as there are currently no publications to date regarding how to effectively and responsibly train adolescent peer supporters for adolescent patients with neurological injury. The fellow will be expected to contribute to all aspects of this program throughout their two years of training, and submit to at least one peer- reviewed presentation/poster/publication under the guidance and approval of their primary supervisor.

Additional research opportunities are abundant and will be supported based on the fellow’s progress and interests in training.

Didactic opportunities

This is a collaborative, joint training seminar for the clinical neuropsychology fellows, rehabilitation psychology fellow, student trainees, and faculty. Fellows and faculty regularly present on foundational neurorehabilitation topics, present relevant cases, and discuss and critique neurorehabilitation psychology literature. Board certification preparation activities are also completed during this time. Fellows will present several times per training year.

Fellows will meet with faculty to discuss issues pertaining to career development, job search and experience, and other matters of relevance to development as an independent clinician. Fellows will also meet with the training directors monthly to review professional development scenarios, discuss adjustment to fellowship, review any concerns, and provide feedback.

The diversity seminar meets monthly and is open only to trainees. The objective of the seminar is to provide trainees with the sensitivity, awareness, knowledge, and skills for multi-culturally competent clinical care.

In the summer following the first year of training, the fellows have the opportunity to attend an intensive neuroanatomy course (“Neuroanatomical Dissection: Human Brain and Spinal Cord”) at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All associated travel and course fees are covered by Shepherd Center. In the event that this course is not offered, other resources will be identified.

Supervision

Supervision is provided in all aspects of the fellow’s clinical, research, and teaching activities. All supervising faculty are licensed in Georgia. All fellows are assigned a primary supervisor or supervisors for each clinical rotation. Each week, the fellow will receive one to two hours of individual supervision, in addition to approximately two hours of group supervision obtained through clinical and didactic activities. Additional informal supervision regularly occurs as the fellow manages the demands of clinical services. Styles and modes of supervision vary according to setting. The fellow receives supervision on case presentations, performance in team meetings and seminars, consultative/supervisory work, writing skills, and overall professional conduct. Professional development, career planning, and interviewing skills are also addressed during supervisory sessions. By the completion of the fellowship, all fellows will have more than the requisite 1,500 hours of supervised work experience needed for licensure in Georgia and all other jurisdictions of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Diversity

Shepherd Center is deeply committed to training future rehabilitation psychologists from a culturally competent framework and fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. We believe that increased self-awareness and appreciation for other viewpoints and cultures make psychologists more effective practitioners, scientists, supervisors, and teachers. For this reason, sensitivity to individual differences and cultural humility are integral aspects of our training philosophy. Our overall objective is to provide residents with the awareness, knowledge, and skills to provide clinical services across cultures and diverse settings. Training is focused on the integration of diversity-related knowledge into clinical services. A specific emphasis is placed on incorporating diversity-related concepts and knowledge into evidence-based assessment and intervention practices.