Psychology Internship Training on Interventions for Children With Maltreatment Histories

This current study surveyed predoctoral psychology internships' use of empirically supported treatments (ESTs) for children with a history of child maltreatment and their families. Predoctoral psychology internship directors of training were asked to complete an online survey about training offered in treatments for this population. Of the 373 psychology predoctoral child internships contacted, 137 (37%) responded. Results indicated training in at least one EST was provided by 82% of the internships that responded. Training in treatments that have been rated as not yet having sufficient research evidence to be labeled as supported were more likely to occur in non-APA accredited sites (than APA accredited sites) and nonacademic or nonhospital sites (than academic or hospital sites). Further, training in the treatment rated as meeting the highest standard of evidence, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, was provided at 51% of the sites. Results suggest the need to improve and expand the dissemination of ESTs for children with maltreatment histories through child internship training sites and investigate training of EST in graduate school programs.