ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM OFFERS:

Visit to major public hospitals, including the Mental Health Care and Neuroscience Units:

1. Hospital México
2. Hospital Calderón Guardia

Visit to an indigenous community where the Shaman will explain their health philosophy.

Visit to Blue Valley School which is a private school in Escazú, San José.

Visit to Equipos Básicos de Atención Integral en Salud (EBAIS) which are government medical clinics created to attend and improve primary health careservices and related issues.

Attend lectures by distinguished faculty members of the Program (see section Faculty).

Spanish is taught by experiential learning activities, such as going to the museum, a farm, a bank, a supermarket, or just by preparing a typical dish with the Spanish instructor.

 

PRACTICUM SITES

Clinical sites:

Clinic at Universidad of Iberoamérica

The Clinic is located right next to the main building of the Universidad de Iberomérica, in Tibás, a suburb of San José, a 15 minute bus ride from downtown.
 
The Clinic provides psychological services for children, adolescents and adults in the form of psychological assessment and intervention, mainly crisis intervention, brief therapy and rational-behavioral interventions. Assessment is done through clinical interviews and the use of psychological tests (e.g., Wechsler Scales, Woodcock-Munoz Battery, Bender, family drawings and other projective tests like Rorschach’s, and behavioral rating scales. Presenting problems often include ADHD, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.  Adults are generally treated for depression, and some female adults are seen as consequence of domestic violence. Health Psychology is a developing area, and the two-way mirror proved to be an excellent teaching tool for clinical demonstrations by supervisors.
 
Escuela Neuropsiquiátrica Infantil (Neuropsychiatric School for Children)

This facility is also located in the Tibás area, two blocks from the University.
The Escuela Neuropsiquiátrica Infantil is a public school that provides services to 170 students who exhibit chronic emotional or behavioral disorders. More than 50% are autistic. Others have been diagnosed as Asperger, Rett syndrome, or with psychotic disorders. Children are under the care of a psychologist and several special education teachers who are directly responsible for their basic learning skills. Clinical methods include behavior modification to teach them life, social, language, and learning skills. The children were previously diagnosed and referred by private professionals or from the Children Hospital. Parents and teachers are supported and guided through group interventions, support groups and workshops.
 
Coopesain Clinic
Coopesain Clinic was established in 1989 by Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servidores para la Salud Integral -Coopesain R.L.  The clinic was opened to provide ambulatory care services to the surrounding communities (Tibás and Moravia in San José, Santo Domingo in Heredia). Moreover the clinic focuses on promoting health and disease prevention.

School Sites:

Escuela Miguel Obregón
This is a public K-6 grade school with a student population of about 600 students. Special education services are provided by specialists and ESL program is offered. Individual psychological assessment and counseling is provided by the University’s students and as well by American visiting students working with the special education teachers of the school.

Escuela La Florida
This is a public K-12 grade school with more than 700 students enrolled each year. It is located one block north from our campus. Students from this school are provided psychological services by the UNIBE Psychology Clinic. Also, ESL program is offered. Visiting American psychology students usually work with teachers and parents providing training on classroom behavior management and parenting issues.

Community of La Carpio: Clinic, Day Care and School
La Carpio is an immigrant underserved community located five miles from downtown San José.  It has a small medical clinic, a daycare center and a school. All these were founded in order to improve the life of children in poverty through education and positive parenting.