Training Challenges and Opportunities amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives From Pediatric Psychology Interns

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic presented many personal and professional challenges to pediatric psychology interns as they navigated new policies and provided clinical care via telehealth to patients and families during an unprecedented time. Method: This commentary explores the experiences of 4 pediatric psychology interns and their training director during the height of the pandemic with an emphasis on challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned relevant to internship training. Results: There were numerous challenges in adapting and completing training during the pandemic, such as the rapid transition to telehealth, loss of training opportunities, providing care to inpatient and high-risk patients, and increased personal stress and social isolation. Despite these challenges, there were unique opportunities that arose. Interns were given opportunities to learn a new modality of care (telehealth), expand their breadth of training, practice innovation, receive live supervision in unobtrusive ways, and actively support their medical colleagues. Conclusions: Looking toward the future of health care, interns will significantly benefit from the skills learned during this pandemic, particularly as skills in providing evidence-based care via telehealth will continue to benefit psychologists seeking to increase access to care for patients and families. Institutions providing pediatric psychology internship training may also benefit from incorporating these training opportunities and lessons learned into future internship training in order to best support interns’ professional and personal needs.