Interning at an Addiction Rehab Facility

Interning at a drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation facility offers a tremendous opportunity to learn about psychological treatment methods, theories, and interventions. The experience also allows the intern to learn about healthcare management and administration, which entail their own research methods. One of the key things that an intern will learn in the rehabilitation center relates to research methods and methods of data collection. For example, we learn about the ethics of conducting research such as receiving informed consent. There are ample opportunities to conduct correlational and experimental studies in the clinical setting because of the fact that the patient population will in many cases already have been thoroughly assessed and diagnosed by psychologists. The patient status renders them a particular status in an any given research design, allowing for robust investigations of cause and effect. For example, if I wanted to find out what the treatment outcomes are between two anti-depressants, I could study this within the context of a specific patient population such as females in their 20s who have an addiction to crack cocaine.

However, one of the most unique opportunities for research in the rehabilitation center setting is the single-subject research design. Conducted by an intern with the help of a research team, a single subject research design offers the opportunity for descriptive and qualitative research. Focusing on a single subject yields a case study report that can be very helpful in learning in depth issues related to addiction.

Methods of data collection vary considerably within the rehabilitation center setting. For example, gathering observations will be very easy in a rehabilitation center. I can observe the behavior of the individual patient or make general observations about the group of patients and their interactions with one another. Observations are only one type of data collection method that can be used within the single subject research design method.

The rehabilitation center offers the intern the opportunity to collect measurable, quantifiable data. Within the framework of a single subject research design, quantitative data could include the subject's weight fluctuations over a given time. Some observations are also measurable, and can be an integral part of the data collection phase of the research.

Interviews are another way that the single subject research method can yield fruitful data. The intern has the opportunity to sit one on one with a subject: a scenario that presents itself rarely to the researcher. Such an intimate and controlled setting as a rehabilitation center means that the subject is not as distracted by work, school, family, and external influences when answering questions. The interview also helps the intern practice data collection skills within the framework of a single or multiple subject research design. Interview skills will be essential as the intern becomes a professional clinical psychologist. The intern can learn what questions to ask, how to ask them, and how to analyze the data results.

At the rehabilitation center, the intern will also have the opportunity to observe the ways social dynamics influence patient reactions and patient behavior. How the patient performs in group sessions, formal and informal, is valuable data. Also, the rehabilitation center offers regular formal group therapy sessions including Twelve-Step meetings. Any research design that uses the Twelve Step model as a variable or intervention method can be performed well in the controlled setting of the rehabilitation center.

One of the most valuable methods of data collection for the intern will be the family therapy sessions. Observing the subject in one-on-one, group, and family settings as well as interview yields a plethora of information that can be used to enhance the qualitative research. Interactions with family members may become new variables in future research.

Research methods and data that were collected outside of the rehabilitation center can also be applied to the rehab setting, or to individual patients. For example, the intern can perform a literature review on a topic of interest such as the impact of twelve step programs on recovery. The intern can also observe the ways the patient deals with the experience of being in a rehab, and ask for data related to relapse rates. Data collection can be easier if the intern has access to such information. Issues with authority will come up, especially with new patients in the rehabilitation center. This information can be very helpful to analyze.