Residency/Fellowship

Beth Israel Clinical Psychology Internship Program
 

Introduction to the Applicant
The Internship Program
Adult Outpatient Rotation
Adult Inpatient Rotation
Electives
Conferences and Seminars
Application Process
Department of Psychology Faculty


INTRODUCTION TO THE APPLICANT

Thank you for your interest in applying for a position in the 2013-2014 Beth Israel Medical Center Clinical Psychology Internship Program. Please be informed that the internship site will be participating in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Matching Program administered by National Matching Services, Inc. (NMS). In order to apply to our internship site, you must request an Application Agreement package from NMS through the Matching Program web site at http://www.natmatch.com/psychint or by contacting NMS directly at (416) 977-3431. The program match code is: 146411.

The application procedure for Beth Israel Medical Center requires completion of the AAPI application form available on the APPIC website: www.appic.org. If you do not have access and cannot download from the APPIC website, please contact APPIC directly at:

APPIC
10 G Street, NE
Suite 750
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 589-0600

Please complete the online AAPI application, a curriculum vitae, a graduate transcript and three letters of recommendation and direct it to:

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D., Director of Training, Beth Israel Medical Center

Because of the large number of applicants received, only a sub-group can be offered interviews. Should you be among those selected for interview, we will contact you.

Applications must be available no later than November 1st, 2012.

TOP

THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 

The psychology division of the department of psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center offers a year-long, full-time, predoctoral internship in clinical psychology. This program is available to matriculated doctoral students in clinical and counseling psychology programs approved by the American Psychological Association (APA). The internship program at Beth Israel was re-accredited in 2008 for a full seven years by the Accreditation Council of the American Psychological Association through 2015.

 

Office of Program Consultation & Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979

Our psychology internship program is founded on the principles and values of the local clinical scientist model (Stricker and Trierweiler in Volume 50, Number 12, American Psychologist, 1995, 995-1002). Accordingly, the clinical setting is considered analogous to a scientific laboratory in which the scientist-practitioner model is enacted. The model values the scientific skills of intensive observation and problem-solving and their specific application to particular settings and cases. The scientific attitude that is espoused by this model includes the following: there is receptivity to a multiplicity of approaches to a problem, empirical support is tempered by a skepticism about any foreclosed certainty, professional responsibility and knowledge are highly valued, there is an ongoing awareness of personal biases and their impact on observation, there is a need to attune to the ethical implications of interventions, and there is a need for collegial interaction and feedback.

With its emphasis on uniqueness and context, on understanding that is specific to a particular cultural group, the local clinical scientific model captures our training program's focus on the treatment of a culturally diverse patient population from the multicultural community that Beth Israel serves. It also captures our program's inclusion of a multiplicity of treatment modalities and methods, as well as extensive supervision (often involving videotaped material) that serves to cultivate the intern's observational skills, including those which are self-reflective.

The primary goal of our internship program is: To provide an intensive, broad-based training experience that exposes the interns to a variety of clinical settings, populations, and applications of psychological interventions. The specific objectives of this goal include exposing the interns to the following settings and experiences: (a) inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services; (b) multidisciplinary treatment teams (including psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and occupational therapists); (c) child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients; (d) individual, group, and family treatment modalities; (e) psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, and humanistic models of treatment formulation and intervention; (f) short versus long-term, time-limited versus open-ended treatment models; and (g) psychological and neuropsychological testing.

Our aim with regard to this goal is to develop basic competencies in the delivery of a variety of psychological services in a general healthcare system, including basic competencies in the following: (a) theories and methods of psychological assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation; (b) theories and methods of short-and long-term treatment; (c) theories and methods of consultation and evaluation; (d) understanding issues of cultural and individual diversity; (e) understanding ethical and legal issues in psychology; and (f) functioning within a multidisciplinary team in psychiatry.

Our secondary goals include: (1) To develop awareness of & abilities negotiating differences in race & culture, gender & sexuality with specific objectives (a) To increase sensitivity to contextual or situational factors; (b) To increase sensitivity to individual differences; and (c) To increase awareness of & ability to negotiate the impact of these differences on the therapeutic relationship; (2) To develop abilities in negotiating therapeutic alliances with specific objectives (a) To better identify ruptures in the therapeutic alliance, (b) To develop awareness of own internal processes, and (c) To develop abilities to apply various rupture resolution strategies; (3) To develop specialization in one of the following areas: neurobehavior, psychotherapy research, addiction psychiatry, HIV mental health, or pain & palliative care with the specific objective of exposing the interns to a four-month elective training experience in the relevant setting. Our aim is to develop basic competencies with regard to all the specific objectives of these secondary goals.

During the training year, approximately half of an intern’s time is allotted to the adult outpatient service, where he or she is exposed to an intensive experience involving diagnostic interviewing, psychological testing, and a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches (individual, family, and group modalities). The intern participates in a variety of professional activities on the outpatient services including consultation, disposition, clinical research, program evaluation, clinical seminars and case conferences.

The remaining time for the intern is divided equally among three four-month rotations in child and adolescent outpatient psychiatry; adult inpatient psychiatry (general, general-geropsychiatry, or dual-diagnosis); and an elective. The elective experiences are chosen from a variety of ongoing services provided at Beth Israel Medical Center and include: Psychotherapy Research, Neurobehavior, Addiction Psychiatry, and HIV Mental Health.  Pain & Palliative Care will not be offered this year.

Outpatient Rotations 


The Outpatient Rotation represents the core of the intern's experience at Beth Israel since trainees are assigned to this service on a half-time basis for the entire year. The primary focus is on adult therapy but children and families are also seen throughout the year.

Adult Outpatient Program:
At the beginning of the training year, each intern is assigned to several faculty members for one-to-one supervision of individual adult cases and small group supervision of child cases. Theoretical orientations of supervisors vary and include psychodynamic, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, attachment, family systems, integrative and short-term approaches. The insights gained from this diversity of perspectives are constantly integrated in case conferences and seminars. Great care is taken to provide trainees with a range of treatment cases suitable to the application of different therapeutic approaches. Regular consultation regarding pharmacotherapy and other medical issues is available from an attending psychiatrist and psychiatry residents.

The typical weekly outpatient caseload for an intern consists of 6-8 hours of individual or couples treatment (some persons are seen more than once a week), one family case, two or three child cases, intake evaluations and one or two ongoing groups. Interns are expected to perform psychological assessments on outpatients who are not part of their caseload. An intern can expect to complete at least six batteries per year, made up of referrals from adult and child outpatient services and from the Yarmon Neurobehavior Center. These assignments may include cognitive behavioral, projective or neuropsychological assessment.

Interns are scheduled to conduct weekly intake interviews with new clinic patients throughout the year. The intake process is a closely supervised experience, with live supervision during the initial interview. The interns will be responsible for making differential diagnoses, collecting collateral information, designing treatment plans, and presenting their cases to an interdisciplinary disposition team.

Child and Adolescent Outpatient Rotation:
Interns participate in a four month rotation on the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Service, during which they conduct intake evaluations and psychological assessments. As part of their work with children and adolescents, interns regularly collaborate with various members of the child’s school or other community agencies, such as child welfare. The patient population provides exposure to a wide-range of disorders and very complex family and cultural backgrounds. Interns become familiar with a number of therapeutic approaches including play therapy, parenting skills training, family therapy, and cognitive behavior therapy. Interventions are always applied with respect for the individual’s particular family and cultural background and, when available, these approaches are grounded in evidenced-based practices.

Both the Multicultural Family Therapy Training Program and Brief Psychotherapy Research Program serve as integral parts of the outpatient experience and occur throughout the entire year.

Multicultural Family Therapy Training Program:
Interns meet as a group one full afternoon every week for live supervision of their family cases. As one intern works with the family, other interns and the supervisor observe behind a one-way mirror, functioning as part of a treatment team in understanding family process within the cultural context. During supervision, interns learn to apply interventions based on systemic theory and current developments in attachment and object relations treatment approaches.

Brief Psychotherapy Research Project:
Interns are also trained in a manualized, time-limited treatment model developed in the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program. The training model involves an integration of principles from humanistic and relational psychotherapies. Each intern carries one case that is videotaped, participates in weekly case seminars and receives intensive supervision on their case (also on a weekly basis).

Adult Inpatient Rotations 

Interns spend four months, half-time, on adult inpatient services. A supervising psychologist on each unit provides regular supervision for all of the intern's inpatient responsibilities. Assignments are made to either a general adult service, a dual diagnosis substance abuse service or a combination geropsychiatric and general adult service.

The typical caseload for interns assigned to these services is two patients at any one time. On all units, interns organize and coordinate the delivery of services for their assigned patients in the context of the multi-disciplinary treatment team. Ample opportunities for individual and family interventions as well as psychological and neuropsychological evaluations are available for interns on inpatient rotations. Medication and other biological treatments are managed by the intern's medical back-up, generally a senior psychiatric resident. Interns' observations and recommendations about such treatment, however, are integral components of patient care. Additionally, interns co-lead up to two inpatient psychotherapy groups, an important aspect of the unit’s milieu treatment program.

The two general inpatient units treat individuals age 14 years and older, although typically a very limited number of adolescents are admitted. Patient problems include affective disorders, schizophrenia and severe character disorders. Emphasis is on rapid resolution of acute distress and return to functioning. Since many inpatients will be referred for outpatient, individual or family treatment, interns sometimes have the opportunity to provide continuing care for these persons following their discharge.

The psychiatric substance abuse inpatient service treats persons with a dual diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder and substance abuse. On this unit, the psychiatric disorder is complicated by the presence of alcohol and/or drug addiction. Interns on this rotation gain familiarity with psychiatric and neurological disorders specifically associated with substance abuse, e.g. antisocial personality disorder and substance-abuse induced psychosis. Because of the high incidence of HIV in IV drug users, interns gain additional training in AIDS related disorders.

The geropsychiatric inpatient service treats individuals age 65 and older who are diagnosed with a broad range of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and dementia. Special efforts are made to integrate biological, psychological and social dimensions of the patient's illness.

Electives

A four month elective is chosen from a variety of ongoing services provided at the Medical Center. Potential electives which currently include Brief Psychotherapy Research, Neuropsychology, Addictions Psychiatry, and HIV Mental Health.  

Brief Psychotherapy Research Program: All psychology interns participate in the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program through carrying at least one case throughout the year. In addition, the intern may elect to do a four month research elective in brief therapy. In this rotation, the intern will conduct a research project involving data collected under the auspices of the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program. The idea for the project is conceived early in the internship year in collaboration with a supervising psychologist. Since the program is mainly focused on the study of therapeutic relationship in time-limited treatment, projects typically have this focus. They are also usually based on intensive, single case designs. The data base for the Program is rich and extensive, which permits a variety of interesting small-scale projects. The aim of this rotation is to complete a study worthy of presentation and/or publication.

Neuropsychology Training Program: The Yarmon Neurobehavior & Alzheimer's Disease Center is a multi-disciplinary center serving individuals who have neuropsychiatric disorders. All interns participate in a year long weekly didactic seminar focused on neuropsychology topics and are required to complete at least one neuropsychological evaluation during the year. In addition, an intern may elect to participate in a four month neuropsychology rotation that has several core components: neuropsychological assessment, individual/couples/group psychotherapy and case conferences/rounds. The training experience is tailored to each intern’s level of experience in neuropsychology.

The development of neuropsychological assessment skills is the foundation of the rotation. The intern is offered an opportunity to provide psychotherapy to one or two individuals and their families at the Neurobehavior Center. The primary goals of the psychotherapy are to help the individual and his/her family cope with adjustments to a serious illness. There are a wide variety of educational opportunities at the Neurobehavior Center that each intern is welcome to participate in.

AddictionsTraining Program: Interns will have the opportunity to work in several settings focused on treating issues related to substance abuse and dependence. On the Psychiatric Outpatient Service for Adults, interns will conduct substance abuse intakes, attend disposition meetings, co-lead a weekly psychotherapy group, and carry up to three patients with addictions-related issues. There also will be opportunities to participate in evaluations, seminars and rounds on the psychiatric substance abuse (dual diagnosis) inpatient service, where the interns will train alongside psychiatric residents and fellows. Interns also are encouraged to participate in available training opportunities and didactics through Stuyvesant Square Chemical Dependency Service.

HIV Mental Health Program: The HIV Mental Health Program is a psychiatric outpatient clinic located within the Peter Krueger Clinic (PKC) for the Treatment of Immunological Disorders. The clinic provides a variety of on site services to meet the needs of an HIV positive population. The Mental Health Program offers mental health evaluations, ongoing individual, group, and family therapies, and psychopharmacological care.The intern will be part of a treatment team comprised of psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers and will work closely with physicians, nurses, and other clinical staff. Training opportunities involve intake evaluations, ongoing individual psychotherapy, and group therapy.

For further information about the program, inquiries can be directed to:
BGomez@chpnet.org.

TOP
 

CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS 

Beth Israel Division of Psychology
Conferences, Seminars & Procedures for Program Application

Summer Seminar Program
Academic Year Seminars
General Information
Procedures For Applications
Internship Offers & Acceptances


Summer Seminar Program

Interns begin their training year by participating in a series of short seminars that are designed to provide the background and technical competence necessary for functioning as a professional psychologist within a psychiatric/medical setting. Seminars are offered focusing on various topics including psychopharmacology, interviewing and mental status, and general hospital psychiatry. Interns participate in these seminars along with psychiatric residents, beginning a year-long interdisciplinary collaboration.

Academic Year Seminars

The internship program at Beth Israel offers a rich didactic program that provides in-depth study of selected areas, prepares interns to function in a number of new professional capacities and offers the opportunity to discuss, reflect upon and integrate all aspects of the internship program. Some of these seminars meet for the entire year, while others are short courses that meet for 1-6 weeks.

Multicultural Family Therapy: Theories and techniques of family therapy, informed by relational, structural and strategic approaches, attachment theory and the cultural context of couple and family therapy. This seminar meets for the entire training year.

Clinical Neuropsychology: An introduction to brain-behavior relationship from theoretical as well as clinical perspectives with an emphasis on clinical assessment of behavioral changes associated with CNS dysfunction. This seminar meets for 9 months.

Psychology Seminar: This seminar meets for the entire year with a series of short courses for 1-6 weeks. The topics vary but may include

  • Psychological Assessment – Both child and adult testing is discussed in the context of current and relevant testing protocols.
  • Substance Abuse: Overview of diagnostic and treatment issues with dual diagnosis patients
  • Ethical and Professional Issues: Overview of these areas as they pertain to the profession of psychology.
  • Forensic Psychology: Legal issues such as child abuse, custody, duty to warn and prediction of dangerousness and discussed.
  • Gender and Sexuality: Overview of working with Gay, Lesbian, transgendered individuals, examines transference, countertransference and sexual ethics across sexualities.
  • Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychotherapy: Focuses on the role of multi-cultural differences in the psychotherapeutic relationship including working with Latino, Asian, African-American and Orthodox Jewish populations.

Psychotherapy Seminar: In this weekly seminar that meets for the entire year, Interns will have the opportunity to present outpatient psychotherapy cases for discussion and peer supervision.  Particular attention will be given to cases that are challenging with respect to therapy process and counter-transference.

Interdisciplinary Clinical Case Conference: On each inpatient service and on the outpatient child and adult services, a case is presented and pertinent aspects of the diagnosis and treatment are discussed weekly. An interview with the patient by a senior faculty member or a case presentation by a trainee is scheduled. This seminar runs for 10 months.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference: Once a month all regular case conferences are cancelled so that trainees can participate in this meeting designed to find ways to improve individual skills or departmental functioning by an in-depth study of diverse treatment outcomes. This seminar runs for 10 months.

TOP

General Information

Period of Training

The internship requires a full-time commitment for one calendar year. The training year begins on or about July 1, and concludes at the end of June of the following year. Interns receive four weeks paid vacation as well as leave to attend professional conferences.

Requirements for Application

Qualified applicants meet the following criteria:

  • Current enrollment in an APA-approved doctoral program in clinical psychology. Persons who are enrolled in an APA-approved counseling psychology program will be considered.
  • Completion of a minimum of three years of graduate work and all required course work.
  • Demonstrated interest in clinical work with adults and aptitude for working with diverse populations.
  • Sufficient supervised clinical experience delivering psychotherapy and psychological testing services.

MEMBERS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AND MAY VOLUNTARILY INDICATE MINORITY STATUS IN THEIR APPLICATION MATERIALS.

The internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant prior to uniform notification day.

TOP

Procedures For Applications

Applicants should complete the APPIC online application, including a curriculum vitae, a graduate transcript and three letters of recommendation and direct them to:

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D., Director of Training, Beth Israel Medical Center

** Applications must be available no later than November 1, 2012.

TOP

Internship Offers & Acceptances

As a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral Internship Centers (APPIC), the internship program at Beth Israel fully complies with APPIC's policies regarding internship offers and acceptances.

TOP

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Beth Israel offers a comprehensive benefits plan, including:

Health Care Coverage
Hospitalization
Surgical allowance
Major medical
Dental, optical and hearing aid plans
Psychiatric reimbursement

Other Insurance:

Life and accident insurance
Travel accident insurance
New, updated long-term disability plan
Maternity disability plan
Malpractice insurance
Workers compensation

Other Benefits:

Twenty vacation days annually
Sick and condolence leave
Voluntary tax-sheltered annuity
All incoming psychology interns receive a medical examination prior to beginning internship.

Stipend:

Stipends for the internship year, which are reviewed annually, are presently $25,000.

Beth Israel Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer. Federal, State and New York City laws prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, veteran status, religion, color, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual preference or pregnancy-related condition.

For further information about the program, inquiries can be directed to: eochoa@chpnet.org.


 TOP
 

Beth Israel Department of Psychology Faculty



Education Committee:

Lisa Cohen, Ph.D.
Director, Research
Coordinator, Continuing Education
Inpatient Psychiatry Service

  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive-behavioral therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, trichotillomania, sexual abuse
   
Hulya Erhan, Ph.D.
Yarmon Neurobehavior Center
  • Orientation: Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, Clinical Neuropsychological Assessment
  • Population: Child and Adult neuropsychological assessment; Adult psychotherapy.
  • Specialties: Neuropsychological disorders, depression, anxiety, personality disorders
   
Michael Friedmann, Ph.D.
Director, Internship Training
Inpatient Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive-behavioral therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Trauma & loss, relationships, anxiety, depression and identity issues, psychological testing
   

Elizabeth Ochoa, Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist
Director of Training & Education
(Outpatient Psychiatry Service)
Associate Chief, Yarmon Neurobehavior Center

  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic- Psychodynamic and Cognitive behavioral psychotherapies
  • Population: Adolescent, Adult & Couples
  • Specialties: Anxiety, depression, personality disorders, trauma, neuropsychology
   
Stephen Schneider, Ph.D.
Director, Externship Training
Outpatient Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  • Population: Adolescent, Adult Individual & Couples
  • Specialties: Depression, Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Gender and Sexuality Issues, Behavioral Medicine
   


TOP



Training Faculty:

Alba Cabral, Ph.D.
Multicultural Training Program
Child Psychiatry Service

  • Orientation: Psychodynamic/interpersonal//family/ Infant-Parent dyadic psychotherapy and Behavior Management.
  • Population: Infants (0-3), children, adolescent, adults and families.
  • Specialties: Infant-Parent psychotherapy and Early Intervention, multicultural issues, bilingual (Spanish-English) child psychological testing, group & family. Evidenced-Based CBT for PTSD/Anxiety Disorders/Depression in children and adolescents.
   
Clayton Guthrie, Ph.D.
Medicine/Krueger
  • Orientation: Psychoanalytic
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: HIV/AIDS
   
Jacob Ham, Ph.D.
Child Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies
  • Population: Adult, Family, Child
  • Specialties: Trauma, Behavior management, Depression, Anxiety
   
Maria Klara, Psy.D.
Child Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies
  • Population: Adult, Family, Child
  • Specialties: Child and Adoloscent, Psychological Testing, Trauma, Parenting
   
Melanie Mulligan, Psy.D.
Inpatient Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavior Therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties:  Addiction
   

J. Christoper Muran, Ph.D.
Director, Brief Psychotherapy Research Program

  • Orientation: Cognitive-behavioral therapy & psychoanalysis
  • Population: Adult
  • Brief Psychotherapy Research Program Specialties: Depression, anxiety & personality disorders, stress management, adaptation to loss & trauma
   
Carole Sands, Ph.D.
Child Psychiatry Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic & cognitive-behavioral therapies.
  • Population: Child & Adolescent
  • Specialties: Adjustment disorders, parenting, divorce, midlife
   
Jessica Wulf, Ph.D.
Substance Abuse Service
  • Orientation: Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavior Therapies
  • Population: Adult
  • Specialties: Anxiety, Depression, Personality Disorders, Relationships, Addictions
   


TOP


Other Faculty:

Laura Bernay, MD
Director, Psychiatric Outpatient Services

Christopher Christian, Ph.D.
Director, New School-Beth Israel Center for Clinical Training and Research

Lara Dhingra, Ph.D.
Pain and Palliative Care

Vicky Gluhoski, Ph.D.
Cognitive Therapy

Bernard Gorman, Ph.D.
Research and Methods

Chaya Mermerstein, LCSW
Child & Family Psychiatry Service

Jeremy Safran, Ph.D.
Brief Psychotherapy Research Program

William Sanderson, Ph.D.
Cognitive Therapy

Madeline Schwartz, Psy.D.
Pain and Palliative Care

Jason Staal, Psy.D.
Snoezelen Behavior Therapy

David Venarde, Ph.D.
Mindfulness Process Group Leader

TOP


Voluntary Faculty:

Lewis Aron, Ph.D.
Training and Supervision

Deborah Berry, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Elizabeth Bowman, Ph.D.
DBT Psychotherapy Supervisor

Marvin Goldfried, Ph.D.
Training and Supervision

Rachel Lee, Ph.D.
Psychotherapy Supervisor

Suzanne Little, Ph.D.
Mindfulness Training

Gene Lubow, Ph.D.
Long-term Psychotherapy

Jon McCormick, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Neil Newman, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Michael Rothman, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

Heather Silvestri, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

MacWelling Todman, Ph.D.

Cultural Diversity, Adult

Elisa Ventur, Ph.D.
Child Testing

Deborah Waxenberg, Ph.D.
Long-Term Psychotherapy

TOP


Other Contributors:


Arnold Winston, MD.

Chair, Psychiatry

   

TOP