Did you know that BZA Behavioral Health is a training site for students?

Clinical training (that is, training for students to become providers) is an important piece for our professional development. Before being eligible to sit for licensure, students need to have supervised hours of experience working with real people. Usually these practicums/internships last for about a year and the student therapist is receiving supervision both at their
practicum/internship site and at their school.

BZA has had student therapists for the past 10 years. In that time, we have trained more 20 new providers! Some of these providers have stayed on as staff (a la Dr. Lyttles) and some have returned for additional training (a la Dr. Shapiro). We also have several providers who receive their required supervision hours here at BZA- before sitting for their terminal licensure exam. Several of our long-time providers currently provide supervision for our students and find it beneficial for their own professional development. Melanie Zamborsky says, “Being a supervisor allows us to stretch and expand our skills and look from a student-perspective so learning is comprehensive and cohesive for the students. It pushes us to not just 'know' the information but rather understand why it's important, how to get info/skills across to the students and for it to be implemented and applied in meaningful ways. It challenges us to look back at 'why we do what we do' and assess ourselves, and to make changes in our own practice or supervisory skills, if needed.” Armanda Keci adds, “Taking on students is a way for me to give back.”

Dr. Kelly Grandt, a newer provider to BZA but not new to the field says, “The opportunity to supervise is something that has been so beneficial to my continued professional development and growth. Students bring such energy to the field, and you can't help but be infected by their excitement to work with clients for the first time. They also are primed to focus on the foundational components of theories and treatment that those of us who have been practicing for a time might lose sight or fail to thoroughly investigate. Supervising students makes me a stronger clinician for my own clients.”

Veteran provider Karen Becker includes, “Being a supervisor has given me the opportunity to really think about why I do what I do.  With many years of experience, much of my therapeutic technique comes "naturally" at this point. I appreciate having to explain what I am doing and why I'm doing it - and am also learning from my intern about new ways to approach clients from her.”  

Besides expanding our own professional development, having students brings an increase in energy, excitement, and passion to our team. Jessica Zaucha (the Z of the BZA) says, “Students have become an invaluable part of BZA's culture and practice. They bring fresh ideas and perspectives and have questions and feedback that help us grow as a practice and also help to keep seasoned providers rooted in the values of our profession. They also allow us to serve clients who might otherwise face financial barriers to treatment.” BZA works to comprehensively train and support our student providers. Besides an hour of weekly individual supervision with one of our providers, students receive:

• One hour of weekly group supercision with Dr. Wood
• One hour of monthly supervision with Jessica Zaucha. During this time, students develop a year-long project that they complete here at BZA
• One hour of monthly supervision with Dr. Wood. During this tine, students are assigned monthly projects to further their education and professionalism (things like reading through and writing on the ethics codes, interviewing staff and providers, and critically reading literature and writing about it) 
• One hour of monthly group consultation with other BZA providers

Additionally, the clinical leadership team discusses the progress of each student during their monthly meeting, as well as a monthly ‘supervision group’- this group is compiled of the clinical supervisors. This is a time to discuss any concerns, areas for needed training or improvement, successes, etc.!

Needless to say, we love having students at BZA! If you happen to be working with one of our student providers, consider yourself well cared for- you have not only your therapist working with you, but also the support of our whole clinical training team!