1Course description
The Clinical Practical Internship at NIAP provides structured, supervised training in clinical interviewing, mental status examination, psychological assessment, case history taking, case formulation, counselling skills, clinical documentation and ethical mental health practice. Through practical demonstrations, simulated exercises, case-based learning and supervised observation, trainees develop foundational competencies in psychological practice, professional communication and referral procedures. The programme emphasises confidentiality, professional responsibility and evidence-informed approaches to mental health care.
2Modules
Module 1
Introduction to Clinical Practice
Week 1 · 10 hours
- •Scope and applications of clinical psychology
- •Roles of clinical psychologists and allied mental health professionals
- •Overview of clinical and community mental health settings
- •Structure of a clinical internship
- •Professional conduct and supervised practice
Module 2
Clinical Interviewing and Rapport Building
Week 2 · 15 hours
- •Establishing therapeutic rapport
- •Open-ended and closed-ended questions
- •Active listening and observation
- •Presenting complaints and history taking
- •Family, personal, developmental and psychosocial history
- •Interviewing through role-play and simulated cases
Module 3
Mental Status Examination (MSE)
Week 3 · 15 hours
- •Appearance, behaviour and psychomotor activity
- •Speech and language
- •Mood and affect
- •Thought process and thought content
- •Perception and cognitive functioning
- •Insight, judgment and clinical observations
- •Preparation of an MSE report using simulated cases
Module 4
Psychological Assessment and Testing
Weeks 4–5 · 25 hours
- •Principles of psychological assessment
- •Reliability, validity and standardization
- •Clinical observation and behavioural assessment
- •Screening tools and rating scales
- •Introduction to cognitive, personality and symptom measures
- •Test administration, scoring and interpretation principles
- •Report writing and limitations of assessment
- •Consent, test security and appropriate test selection
Module 5
Clinical Case History and Formulation
Week 6 · 15 hours
- •Structure of a clinical case history
- •Identification of presenting and maintaining factors
- •Predisposing, precipitating and protective factors
- •Biopsychosocial case formulation
- •Differential considerations and diagnostic uncertainty
- •Treatment goals and referral planning
- •Preparation of a supervised case formulation
Module 6
Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills
Weeks 7–8 · 25 hours
- •Foundations of counselling and therapeutic communication
- •Empathy, reflection, clarification and summarising
- •Basic principles of cognitive behavioural approaches
- •Psychoeducation and behavioural strategies
- •Stress management and relaxation techniques
- •Motivational interviewing fundamentals
- •Role-play, skills practice and supervisor feedback
- •Treatment planning within professional competence
Module 7
Common Clinical Presentations
Week 9 · 15 hours
- •Anxiety-related presentations
- •Depressive symptoms and mood difficulties
- •Stress-related and adjustment difficulties
- •Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
- •Trauma-related presentations
- •Substance-use concerns
- •Psychosis and severe mental health presentations
- •Childhood, adolescent and older-adult mental health
- •Referral indicators and multidisciplinary care
Module 8
Risk Assessment and Crisis Response
Week 10 · 15 hours
- •Recognising psychological distress and warning signs
- •Introduction to suicide and self-harm risk assessment
- •Responding to disclosures of abuse or immediate danger
- •Crisis communication and de-escalation fundamentals
- •Safety planning under qualified supervision
- •Emergency referral and escalation procedures
- •Documentation and follow-up responsibilities
Module 9
Clinical Documentation and Ethics
Week 11 · 15 hours
- •Informed consent and confidentiality
- •Professional boundaries and dual relationships
- •Privacy, secure recordkeeping and data protection
- •Clinical notes and psychological reports
- •Ethical use of assessment instruments
- •Cultural sensitivity and non-discrimination
- •Limits of competence and referral obligations
- •Ethical case discussions and reflective practice
Module 10
Supervised Clinical Practicum
Weeks 12–14 · 30 hours
- •Structured observation of professional practice
- •Simulated intake interviews and MSE exercises
- •Supervised case-history preparation
- •Assessment-report practice using approved materials
- •Case formulation and intervention planning
- •Case conferences and supervisor feedback
- •Reflective journal and learning portfolio
Module 11
Case Presentation and Final Evaluation
Weeks 15–16 · 20 hours
- •Preparation of a de-identified case report
- •Clinical case presentation
- •Discussion of assessment and formulation
- •Reflection on professional development
- •Viva voce and practical skills assessment
- •Final internship report and supervisor evaluation
3Learning outcomes
On successful completion, trainees should be able to:
- Explain the structure and responsibilities of clinical mental health services.
- Demonstrate foundational interviewing, rapport-building and observation skills.
- Prepare a structured mental status examination using simulated or appropriately supervised cases.
- Explain the basic principles of psychological assessment and test interpretation.
- Develop a preliminary biopsychosocial case formulation under supervision.
- Demonstrate foundational counselling communication skills in role-play exercises.
- Recognise risk indicators and follow appropriate escalation and referral procedures.
- Maintain ethical documentation and protect client confidentiality.
- Present a de-identified case report and reflect on supervisory feedback.
4Internship hours
| Theory and demonstrations | 30 hrs |
| Simulations and skills practice | 40 hrs |
| Supervised observation / practicum | 70 hrs |
| Case reports and documentation | 30 hrs |
| Evaluation and viva | 30 hrs |
| Total (12–16 weeks) | 200 hrs |
5Assessment
| Attendance and professional conduct | 10% |
| Practical skills and role-play | 20% |
| Case history and MSE assignment | 15% |
| Psychological assessment assignment | 15% |
| Case formulation and case presentation | 20% |
| Internship report and viva voce | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Passing requirement: 50% overall. Ethical conduct, confidentiality and supervision compliance are mandatory.
6Records to submit
- Internship attendance log and hours completed
- Supervisor-approved observation log
- Clinical interview and MSE assignments
- Psychological assessment exercise and report
- Case formulation and intervention plan
- De-identified case presentation
- Reflective journal
- Final internship report
- Supervisor feedback and evaluation form
All client-related work must be authorised by the placement site and supervised. Simulated cases are used where direct involvement is not permitted.
7Eligibility and supervision
- Eligibility:
- Students or trainees with foundational education in psychology, per NIAP's admission criteria.
- Supervision:
- A qualified, authorised clinical supervisor oversees all clinical activities.
- Practical limits:
- Trainees do not independently diagnose, administer restricted tests, provide psychotherapy, or manage high-risk cases.
- Certification:
- Based on documented hours, required assignments and supervisor evaluation.