Experienced manager leads Mid Sweden University's Psychology Practice
In September, Richard Stenmark moved up to the county and began his part-time position as head of the psychology practice. In the other half of the time, he works in psychiatry within Region Jämtland Härjedalen.
"It feels absolutely right to move here, Mid Sweden University and the department are progressive and are at the forefront," says Richard, head of Mid Sweden University's Psychology Practice.
Richard has extensive experience in psychiatry where he has treated patients with complex needs such as psychosis, schizophrenia, suicidal patients with trauma and self-harm. He has been a manager and worked with business development, been involved in privatizing clinics and in parallel with this, he has done research and been a supervisor for students.
Already when the first cohort of students at Mid Sweden University's psychology programme was to receive supervision in 2012, Richard was hired together with his colleague Håkan Wisung.
"The psychology programme here has an evidence-based perspective and was early to move towards where the data is without tying itself to one or the other theory formation," says Richard.
"We also have a good dialogue with the rest of the department and we are now working towards being able to conduct clinical research at the psychology practice over time.
The practice is open to everyone
Mid Sweden University's psychology practice accepts patients from the age of 10 with simple mental health problems such as anxiety and anxiety disorders, depression, sleep problems or various forms of stress or lifestyle-related health problems.
At the end of October, about 60 patients were in contact with the clinic, during the spring there were about a hundred. Since the practice also has Internet treatment, they can receive patients from all over Sweden.
"The practice is of great benefit to society because we provide free treatment to patients, treatment that they might not have received or at least had to wait a very long time to receive.
"The pracitce is very representative with a varied age range among the patients. We can face various difficulties and diagnoses such as sleeping disorders, depression and PTSD. We have also started using virtual reality (VR) to treat specific phobias such as fear of heights and spider phobia.
Students are sought after
The practice is staffed by students in the last three semesters of the psychology programme. They do the treatment under the supervision of a supervisor and the goal is for them to complete at least one treatment digitally (online treatment).
"The clinic provides good treatments, it is an excellent educational and learning environment for the students. We have built a business with functioning routines that allow students to become independent in their work.
"Our students get jobs soon after they graduate, they are very sought after. They also get good grades from their internships because they are well prepared for their job.
"When I work in the region, I meet many competent colleagues who have studied here at Mid Sweden University," Richard concludes.
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