Recreation Therapy InternshipAt — Department of State Hospitals-Atascadero
DSH-Atascadero is a maximum-security forensic mental health facility. The all-male population ranges in age from 20 years and older. Most of our patients have committed some type of felony, suffer from a major mental illness, some type of personality disorder, and often have substance abuse problems. Security is a top priority, and all interns receive security and safety related training before working with the patients. Some type of correctional mental health experience is strongly encouraged, yet not required. Our goal is to prepare a recreational therapy intern for employment as a Recreation Therapist in this type of clinical facility.
1. The Rehabilitation Therapy Internship Program at Atascadero State Hospital will consist of 40 hour work week for a period dependent upon each discipline’s requirement for total minimal clinical internship hours. Official state holidays will be recognized, and schedules adjusted to ensure meeting the minimal hourly requirements of the internship experience. 2. The first four weeks of the internship will allow the intern time to adjust to the hospital and participate in hospital orientation. Orientation will include but not be limited to; the physical layout, the operative structure, Recovery Mall Services areas, the various programs, and most extensively, the intern’s affiliating program. The intern will complete New Employee Orientation. 3. Interns will be encouraged to participate in hospital-wide training programs, seminars, and colloquia. 4. The intern will be encouraged to make field trips to other institutions, workshops, and conferences off grounds, which will be coordinated by the internship committee. 5. The intern will be expected to attend Rehabilitation Therapy service meetings. 6. Each intern will present a case study for the rehabilitation therapy service at the end of the internship. 7. Each intern will be given the opportunity to experience the “mock interview” process. 8. A monthly meeting will be scheduled with the Internship Committee and all the interns to discuss any areas of concern and to share ideas. This committee will assume a supportive role and the committee chair/designee will be available whenever a supervisor and intern request to meet. 9. Interns shall have the opportunity to receive a certificate of completion for the internship program signed by the Rehabilitation Therapy Internship Program Chairperson and the assigned Program Director.
Interns receive a 2 1/2 week orientation to the facility and then will work directly under a CTRS/RTC in order to observe first the skills and tasks they will do and then be observed and then work more independently. All documentation is reviewed and co-signed by the supervisor and all groups are processed after for maximum learning opportunities.
Interns receive training in Therapeutic Strategies and Interventions, as well as training in Trauma Informed Care. Interns wear a personal duress alarm that can be pulled should there be any issues.
| Type | Frequency | Amount | Explanation | Show to students? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Pay | monthly | varies | Dependent on # of Credits student has | No |
Email ASHRecreationTherapyInternship@dsh.ca.gov to receive application instructions and deadline for applying.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 900 | hours per placement |