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- May 9, 2014
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I'm a long-time member of this board, but my previous posts provide information that could potentially identify me. So, under this pseudonym (of a pseudonym), I would like some advice on how to handle providing feedback to an externship supervisor.
To provide some context, the externship involves neuropsychological assessment at a psychiatric hospital and I've worked there for approximately 16 hours a week since last July. The externship itself has been a great training experience - I do one to two full test batteries a week and generally write at least one of the reports. The cases have been diverse in both demographics and presenting problems (I've quite literally seen every possible type of psychiatric disorder in varying degrees of severity), and I've had the opportunity to run groups on the inpatient units.
However, the externship operates through a tiered supervisory situation, with my direct supervisor being a fellow, who is then supervised by a licensed psychologist. I rarely see the psychologist (approximately 4 times since last July), but all of my interactions with her have been very positive. The fellow, on the other hand, has been a constant source of distress for me.
I do not come from a neuropsych program and had very little exposure to the area prior to starting the externship. I was given no training in how to administer the assessments (instead I was told to read the manuals and figure it out by myself), and no instruction on how various cognitive deficits indicated the presence specific mental disorders. Yet, the fellow expected me to know this information and, when I expressed my uncertainty, would become dismissive and condescending.
Even in the few areas where I was well-versed, due to my program's area of focus, he would dismiss any suggestions I made as clearly wrong, despite my extensive training on the topic (to the point where he administered an assessment so incorrectly the results were likely invalid). He also will frequently criticize my writing abilities in a way that is borderline cruel, while providing absolutely no positive feedback. His treatment has led to me questioning my own capabilities and wondering if I have suddenly lost the ability to communicate effectively. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to work with other supervisors for specific cases and their positive feedback has reassured me that his beliefs are not universally held.
I now have approximately six weeks left at the placement and I would like to provide him with some feedback as to how his demeanor has affected my experience. As this was his first experience being a supervisor, I feel like I have some responsibility to provide him with this feedback, so he does not continue this pattern unwittingly. However, based on our contentious relationship, I'm not sure how receptive he will be to it. I'm considering approaching our mutual supervisor, the psychologist, and providing the feedback to her to pass along to him as part of her own feedback, but I'm concerned that this will come off as petty or vindictive.
Of the three options I have (speak to him directly, speak to our mutual supervisor, or keep my mouth shut), which do you think would be the most appropriate course of action? It should be noted that while I'm not intending to secure a letter of recommendation from him, I will be trying to do so from the psychologist. I am also unaware of how much the psychologist knows about the difficulties I have been having (or what the fellow might have communicated about my role in the situation). Any advice would be much appreciated!
To provide some context, the externship involves neuropsychological assessment at a psychiatric hospital and I've worked there for approximately 16 hours a week since last July. The externship itself has been a great training experience - I do one to two full test batteries a week and generally write at least one of the reports. The cases have been diverse in both demographics and presenting problems (I've quite literally seen every possible type of psychiatric disorder in varying degrees of severity), and I've had the opportunity to run groups on the inpatient units.
However, the externship operates through a tiered supervisory situation, with my direct supervisor being a fellow, who is then supervised by a licensed psychologist. I rarely see the psychologist (approximately 4 times since last July), but all of my interactions with her have been very positive. The fellow, on the other hand, has been a constant source of distress for me.
I do not come from a neuropsych program and had very little exposure to the area prior to starting the externship. I was given no training in how to administer the assessments (instead I was told to read the manuals and figure it out by myself), and no instruction on how various cognitive deficits indicated the presence specific mental disorders. Yet, the fellow expected me to know this information and, when I expressed my uncertainty, would become dismissive and condescending.
Even in the few areas where I was well-versed, due to my program's area of focus, he would dismiss any suggestions I made as clearly wrong, despite my extensive training on the topic (to the point where he administered an assessment so incorrectly the results were likely invalid). He also will frequently criticize my writing abilities in a way that is borderline cruel, while providing absolutely no positive feedback. His treatment has led to me questioning my own capabilities and wondering if I have suddenly lost the ability to communicate effectively. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to work with other supervisors for specific cases and their positive feedback has reassured me that his beliefs are not universally held.
I now have approximately six weeks left at the placement and I would like to provide him with some feedback as to how his demeanor has affected my experience. As this was his first experience being a supervisor, I feel like I have some responsibility to provide him with this feedback, so he does not continue this pattern unwittingly. However, based on our contentious relationship, I'm not sure how receptive he will be to it. I'm considering approaching our mutual supervisor, the psychologist, and providing the feedback to her to pass along to him as part of her own feedback, but I'm concerned that this will come off as petty or vindictive.
Of the three options I have (speak to him directly, speak to our mutual supervisor, or keep my mouth shut), which do you think would be the most appropriate course of action? It should be noted that while I'm not intending to secure a letter of recommendation from him, I will be trying to do so from the psychologist. I am also unaware of how much the psychologist knows about the difficulties I have been having (or what the fellow might have communicated about my role in the situation). Any advice would be much appreciated!
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