Washington School of Psychiatry Student Handbook
Student Handbook Policies and Procedures Contents Accreditation and Continuing Education 2 Admissions 2 Enrollment and Registration 4 Paying for your training 11 Attendance Requirements 13 Supervision Requirements 13 Responsibilities of the Class Representative 13 Graduation Requirements 15 Transcripts 15 Probation/Expulsion 15 Grievance Procedures 15 Administration 17 Mission and History 17 Organizational Chart 18 After Hours Building Entry 20 Use of the Facilities 20 Security 21 Inclement Weather Closings 22
Accreditation and Continuing Education The Washington School of Psychiatry (WSP) is licensed as an independent non-degree granting institution by the District of Columbia. The Washington School of Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to provide continuing education for psychologists. The Washington School of Psychiatry maintains responsibility for its programs and content. The School is approved by the Social Work Board of the State of Maryland as a provider of continuing education for social workers in DC, MD, VA and WVA. The School is recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors to offer continuing education for National Certified Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. We adhere to the NBCC Continuing Education Guidelines Provider #6388. The School is accredited by MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Admissions The Washington School of Psychiatry does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, disability, nationality or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions or educational policies. Admission criteria are developed by each program and usually include an interview. Specific prerequisite training and experience are indicated where required for admission. Refer to the individual program s brochure or web page for more information. Substitution of experience for formal training requirements may sometimes be made with the approval of the Program Chair and the individual programs. 2
Washington School of Psychiatry Application Form Training Programs Name Degree Major Profession Mailing Address City State Zip Code Work Phone Home Phone Cell Phone Fax Email Address Please indicate the training program(s) for which you are applying: Personal Information: Years of Experience in Profession: yrs Personal and or Group therapy: Personal : yrs Group: yrs Experience: Attach a curriculum vitae and a brief description of your work and/or mental health related experience and its duration, indicating any relationship it may have to this application. Additional information, including professional references, may be required after review of your application. After your application has been received, you will be contacted by a program representative. O My $50 nonrefundable application fee (for each program) is enclosed. I understand that, unless specifically stated, tuition does not include supervision, personal therapy, required readings and other miscellaneous charges. Total application fee(s) enclosed (Checks payable to Washington School of Psychiatry.) O Please bill my credit card for the total amount indicated above. O Master Card O VISA Number Expir. Signature (must be provided to charge) Send to: Registrar, Washington School of Psychiatry 5028 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20016-4118 3
Enrollment and Registration Early application is encouraged. Applications for training programs are due by August 1. After this date, admissions will be considered on a space-available basis. Refer to the program s web page for more information. Student Enrollment Agreement Student Information Sheet I Student Licensing Status Information Sheet II Student Information Sheet III Samples follow 4
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRY STUDENT ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT ACADEMIC YEAR This will constitute an enrollment agreement between the student and the Washington School of Psychiatry. Please complete, sign, and date this letter and return it to the Administrative Office of the Washington School of Psychiatry, 5028 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016-4118, by the first day of class. TUITION AND FEES The current tuition schedule for certificate training programs is as follows: Certificate Training Programs Annual Tuition Child and Adolescent (2-year program). $2,300* Supervision fee $75 per session Clinical Program on Psychotherapy Practice (2-year program). Advanced Psychotherapy Program (3-year program) Fundamental Concepts and Techniques of Dynamic Psychotherapy (1-year program) Developmental Psychotherapy Seminar (1-year seminar) $2,300* Supervision fee $75 per session $2,350* Supervision fee $75 to $150 per session $1,200* Supervision fee $55 per session $810 Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy Training Program (3-year program) $1,200 year one $1,900 year two $1,900 year three Supervision Infant and Young Child Observation Training Program (2-year program) $2,350 Supervision fee is included in tuition Supervision Training Program $720 supervision Psychotherapy with Older Adults and the $2300* Study of Aging (1-year program) Supervision fee $75/individual session, $50 per group session * Indicates that the program includes requirement for supervision 5
Auditors and students repeating a course or training program are charged the full fee. APPLICATION FEE Applications to certificate training programs must be accompanied by a non-refundable $50 application fee. DEPOSIT The deposit for certificate training programs is $300, to be paid upon acceptance. This payment is applied to the first semester s tuition. The School reserves the right to adjust tuition and fees annually. TUITION PAYMENT Students in training programs may pay tuition using one of the following methods: 1. Full tuition paid by the first class 2. First semester tuition paid by the first day of class, second semester paid by the first week of January. 3. Alternate arrangement made in consultation with the School s Administrative Director prior to the first class of the academic year. If an institution is responsible for tuition payment, an official voucher must be provided upon registration. MATERIALS FEES Programs normally make use of books, articles and other materials. The fee for duplication and/or purchasing such materials will be paid by the individual student. Fees are decided by the program. ENROLLMENT Enrollment is official only when an applicant has been formally accepted by the program, the deposit has been paid, and this enrollment agreement has been received by the Administrative Office of the School. Payment of tuition and fees is a requirement for continued enrollment; all fees must be paid for the entire program before a student will receive a certificate of completion. Students are subject to suspension for nonpayment of fees. REFUND POLICY Intent to withdraw from a training program must be communicated in writing to the Administrative Office of the School; request for a refund must also be made in writing to administrative office of the School. Under such circumstances the following policy will apply: 1. $50 of the deposit is considered non-refundable and will be retained by the School to cover administrative costs if the student withdraws and requests a refund more than 72 hours after signing this enrollment agreement. 2. The remaining $250 of the deposit shall be refunded upon receipt of a student s written request to cancel in the School s administrative office before the training program or class begins. 3. If a student enters training and withdraws or is discontinued from a program prior to completion of seventyfive percent (75%) of the academic year s scheduled program, the School will refund to the student a sum which does not vary more than ten percent (10%) from the exact pro rata portion of refundable tuition. This prorated amount is to be determined by the ratio of the number of weeks or lessons in the series completed by 6
the student to the total number of weeks of instruction offered. Any portion of a week s attendance by a student shall be considered a full week s attendance. 4. After seventy-five percent (75%) of the academic year s training program has been completed, no refund will be made. EVALUATION Student progress and conduct are evaluated by a committee of the faculty. The student s classroom teachers and clinical supervisors prepare evaluations of each student s work. These evaluations and other relevant information are shared with the committee and, when considered appropriate, with other faculty members. The evaluation committee will provide the student with information concerning his/her status. A student may be dismissed from a program should his or her performance be judged unsatisfactory or unethical. A certificate of program completion may be withheld for the same reasons. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND RECORDS Students are required to attend at least 80% of class sessions to successfully complete the program. At the discretion of the program faculty a higher attendance rate and/or additional work (e.g. a written paper) may be required to make up for missed classes. Students who require a record of attendance are responsible for checking with the instructor at each class meeting. TRANSCRIPTS AND CERTIFICATES Formal certificates are awarded upon successful completion of a certificate training program. There is a $25 charge for duplicate certificates. A transcript of the student s record is available upon written request. Transcripts are available at a cost of $20. STUDENT S RIGHT TO RESCIND THIS ENROLLMENT AGREEMENT Each student is granted a seventy-two (72) hour period after the date on which he or she has signed the agreement to rescind it. This period does not include or end on any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. If the School s Administrative Office receives notice of the student s intent to rescind the agreement within the seventy-two hour period, the student will receive a full refund of any deposit and tuition monies advanced to the School. I accept the terms set out in this agreement for enrolling in the Washington School of Psychiatry Training Program indicated below: Signed Training program Date Received in the WSP Administrative Office on (date) (by) 7
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRY STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET I Please provide the information indicated below. If any item changes during the time you re enrolled in a training program, please complete a new form and give it to an office staff member immediately. This information will be used for your class list (items marked with *), by the office staff to contact you, and for compiling student data. *Name *Degree(s) *Nickname Training Program *Home address *City *State *Zip *Phone: Work *Home * Cell Fax *E-mail address Note: We will send all WSP correspondence to your home address unless you indicate otherwise. Work Information Do you work at an agency? Yes No Average hours per week: Do you see patients in private practice? Yes No Average hours per week: Agency name (if applicable) Work address City State Zip How should we contact you during the day regarding class cancellations or schedule changes? (Please indicate one telephone number OR an email address. The staff is generally rushed in the case of last minute closings or cancellations.) You are responsible for checking this number/address prior to class. Signature Date NOTE: It is important that you contact the WSP office if your name, address, phone numbers, or email address change during the time you are a student. Otherwise, we may not be able to reach you in an emergency. 8
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRY STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET II STUDENT LICENSING STATUS Psychiatrist: (MD) Licensed in: MD DC VA Lic. # Exp. date Psychologist: (PhD) Licensed in: MD DC VA Lic # Exp. date Social Worker: (MSW) Licensed in: MD DC VA Lic # Exp. date License: ACSW LGSW LICSW LCSW LCSW-C Exp. date Social Security Number or Tax ID Number * Please attach a copy of your license. If it expires while you are a student, please bring a copy of your new license as soon as possible. 9
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PSYCHIATRY STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET III The Information below will be used for licensing reports and government statistical reports required of educational institutions. While it will be used by administrative staff to compile information about our student body, it will not be available to faculty or other students except in aggregate and will not be kept in your student file. Date of birth Sex Country of Origin Race Ethnicity Name Date Program 10
Paying for your training Specific information about tuition and fees is available on each program s web page. Tuition payments for each semester of training programs are due the first week in September and the first week in January. Late payments will incur penalties and interest. Failure to meet payment deadlines may result in suspension from classes. Notice of rescission of enrollment or notice of withdrawal from a training program must be given in writing to the Administrative Office of the Washington School of Psychiatry. A student will be considered enrolled in the program and will be charged tuition until s/he has spoken personally with the program Chair and written notice of withdrawal has been received in the office. Tuition and all money paid in excess of the nonrefundable portion of the enrollment fee shall be refunded upon receipt at the Administrative Office of the School of a student s written request to cancel before the first session of the seminar, course or program. If a student enters training and withdraws or is discontinued from training prior to completion of seventy-five percent (75%) of the scheduled program, the School shall refund to the student a sum which does not vary more than ten percent (10%) from the exact pro rata portion of refundable tuition unexpended by the student. This prorated amount shall be determined by the ratio of the number of weeks or lessons in the series completed by the student to the total number of weeks of instruction offered. Any portion of a week s attendance by a student shall be considered a full week s attendance. After seventy-five percent (75%) of the scheduled program has been completed no refund will be made. 11
This policy is subject to change. Students enrolled in training programs will be notified in writing of all financial policies and procedures at the beginning of the academic year. Any change in policy instituted during the academic year will be distributed in writing to currently enrolled training program students. The Washington School of Psychiatry reserves the right to cancel any course, seminar or workshop that does not reach minimum enrollment. In such cases registrants will be notified and all fees submitted, including application fees, will be refunded in full. Scholarships are available for those students who meet the criteria for financial assistance. Complete the application form and mail it to The Administrative Director, The Washington School of Psychiatry, 5028 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016. 12
Attendance Requirements Classes meet weekly, monthly or quarterly and involve lectures, discussions, and case presentations. It is important for each student to arrive on time and attend class on a regular basis. If it is not possible to attend a particular class, the student is required to contact the faculty member scheduled to teach, in advance of the class and notify him/her of the pending absence. A student who misses a class session is responsible for completing all material covered and, in some programs, is asked to write a paper about the readings. Attendance is taken at each class meeting. The attendance record is used as part of the student evaluation process, as well as in determining continuing education credits that may be awarded. At least 80% attendance is required to graduate from a program, as well as to earn any continuing education credits. Supervision Requirements An integral part of some of the training programs is ongoing supervision at which time clinical work is presented as an adjunct to the didactic learning of the classroom. For Programs where supervision is required, this is provided by a faculty member. These programs have a certain number of required hours of supervision per semester and these hours must be completed in order to graduate from the program. Finding patients to present in supervision is the responsibility of the student; however, if this is not possible an effort will be made to find patients at the Treatment Centers. Faculty provides supervision at a subsidized rate, which varies from program to program. Responsibilities of the Class Representative The Class Representative is responsible for regular communication with the WSP office staff and for serving as a liaison between the staff and the students in the class. Attendance: The Class Representative will receive an attendance sheet at the beginning of each semester and is responsible for completing it at each class and returning it to the class mailbox in the front office each evening. 13
Readings: The office staff tries to ensure that students are given as clean a copy of required readings as possible. Please help by letting Lisa Head know if there is a problem with any of the copies which you receive from the WSP office. Certain programs provide CDs which contain all the assigned articles and some post the readings on the School s website. Students may, in addition, be asked to purchase text books. The Class Representative is responsible for handing out the readings in either paper or CD form. For the programs whose readings are on the School s website, instructions and a password will be handed out to students prior to the start of each semester. Evaluations: At the conclusion of each unit (sequence of classes taught by a particular faculty member), evaluation forms will be left in the class s mailbox. The Class Representative should ensure they are all completed and returned to the office in a single batch within one week of the end of the unit. It is generally best to collect them all at the end of the last class of the unit. The office staff will send copies of the completed evaluations to the faculty member(s) and program chair. Mailbox: The class mailbox should be checked before each class. The office staff will leave a variety of communications there, including evaluation forms, notice of upcoming events, and students bills. Key: The Class Representative is issued a key and a fob at the beginning of the year. This is used to make sure students can get in and out of the suite during breaks after 8 pm, as well as to lock the suite when the class leaves for the evening. A deposit, which will be returned to the Class Representative when the key and fob are returned, is required. Classroom: The Class Representative should work with the class to ensure that the classroom is left in the condition in which it was found. 14
Graduation Requirements All program requirements including regular class participation, supervision, reaction papers and (in some cases) conference attendance must be completed before graduation in order to receive a certificate. Students who anticipate not being able to complete the requirements should talk to their program chair as early as possible. The Washington School of Psychiatry holds its graduation ceremony in June. Family and friends of the graduates are invited to attend and celebrate the conclusion of the training programs. Certificates are awarded at graduation for students who have completed all the requirements stated above. Sample Program Completion Form on next page. Transcripts Transcripts are available at a cost of $20 each. Requests must be submitted in writing to The Registrar and signed by the student. Please allow at least ten days for processing. Probation/Expulsion Any violation of the ethical standards set by the profession, including but not restricted to boundary violations, dual relationships with clients and the endangering of clients mental health and well being are grounds for probation/expulsion. Grievance Procedures The Washington School of Psychiatry is committed to implementing effective grievance procedures that, where possible, are managed quickly at the local level and with a minimum number of people involved. The resolution process focuses on a rapid re-establishment of good working relationships and positive outcomes. 15
Washington School of Psychiatry Program Completion Record Name and Degree of Student Program Academic Years Completion of required supervision (indicate number of sessions and supervisor) individual sessions with individual sessions with other sessions as described (second modality, joint supervision etc.): Completion of all required written work (papers, essays) This student has completed the program, with satisfactory attendance and performance. Cleared for graduation by Chair or Dean s Printed Name and Signature Date OR This student will not complete the following requirements prior to normally scheduled graduation date and should not receive graduation certificate until these items are completed: List name on graduation invitation (circle one): YES NO llow participation in graduation ceremony: YES NO Chair or Dean s Printed Name and signature Date Office use: Paid all tuition and fees to WSP Library clearance Notes: Cleared by Executive Director Printed Name Signature Date Certificate awarded on 16
Administration Mission and History The Washington School of Psychiatry is dedicated to the promotion of human welfare through the advancement of mental health. The School offers postgraduate professional education and training, fosters the spirit of inquiry, and offers a wide range of mental health services in the Washington metropolitan area. The School also is an active center that provides education and advocacy for the best in mental health scholarship, training and treatment. It invites individuals and organizations from the mental health professions and from the community at large to join in this task. Building on a foundation of psychodynamic psychotherapy, the Washington School draws in other theoretical and treatment orientations. It encourages dialogue and research that integrate emerging developments from psychological, biological and socio-cultural research while preserving the valuable body of knowledge that has been gathered in the 20th and 21st centuries. In pursuit of its task, the School continues a tradition of open inquiry and inclusiveness which promotes respect for the uniqueness of every individual. The School fosters an environment in which the range of significant differences among individuals (e.g. race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability and disability, religion, social class) can be better understood, valued, and worked with in our teaching and therapeutic practice. We challenge stereotypes and develop cultural competence and sensitivity to racism and discrimination through self-reflection, ongoing self-evaluation, and open dialogue. By honoring these commitments, the Washington School of Psychiatry shapes an environment that will carry forward the vision of Harry Stack Sullivan and his colleagues. 17
Organizational Chart 18
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After Hours Building Entry The building is locked after 6:00pm. To enter after this time, use the dial pad to the right of the front door. You can either: Enter one of the following codes: Washington School of Psychiatry- 026 Meyer Treatment Center- 028 A WSP staff member will answer the phone and activate the buzzer so you can open the door. Or: Push the A button on the panel to the right of the door until you see Lebowitz on the display, or the Z button until you see Meyer or Washington School. Then either push the call button to reach the office, or enter the numerical code. A WSP staff member will answer the phone and activate the buzzer so you can open the door. Use of the Facilities The Washington School of Psychiatry suite of offices is used for many different purposes. Most rooms are occupied every evening for therapy, classes or meetings. This means that it is extremely important that everyone follow guidelines mindfully. Therapy sessions take place in the suite from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Friday and from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays. Emergency sessions may be scheduled at other times. Please be considerate in the hallways and ALWAYS KEEP YOUR VOICES DOWN. 20
You are welcome to place food items in the refrigerator during your class. There is also a microwave available. Please do not eat anything that you did not bring, or leave anything after the end of your class. We will dispose of any items left in the refrigerator. No dirty dishes should be left in the sink. Please place discarded food in our kitchen trash can only. Please do not leave food items in treatment room trash cans. Students are responsible for leaving the classroom as they found it when they arrived. If furniture was rearranged, please return it to its original place. Tables should be wiped clean. No food or other items should be left in classrooms. The next person or group of people may arrive early the next morning and expect the room to be tidy and ready to see a patient or have a meeting. Security When your class takes a break, please do not leave valuables unattended in the classroom. We have had thefts by outsiders in the past, particularly around the holiday season. Our evening receptionist is on duty Monday - Thursday until 8:45 p.m. After that time, the suite door is locked. If anyone leaves the suite, be sure that arrangements are made with classmates to re-enter. For security reasons, please do not unlock the door to the suite. Once students have returned to their classrooms, they are not able to hear if anyone is entering the suite. Each Class Representative will be issued a key. 21
Inclement Weather Closings In the event of inclement weather, the Washington School of Psychiatry will follow the action taken by the federal government. If the federal government closes its offices, the School will also close its offices. In some cases, the School may cancel classes even though the federal government has not closed its offices. This decision will be made by the Executive Director, if possible in consultation with the Chair(s) of the program(s) that will be affected. A decision about closing will be made as early in the day as possible, given road and weather conditions. The office will contact the following as soon as a decision is made: Program Chair(s) - at the office number Students - At the emergency number (or the email address) indicated on their student information sheets Faculty scheduled to teach on the day in question Students should check their emergency contact number (or email) just prior to coming to class in case there has been a last-minute change regarding class cancellation. 22