Albany Psychology Consortium Internship

Albany Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Inpatient Psychiatry Service – E2 On the Albany Med inpatient psychiatry unit, interns work closely with senior faculty in a multidisciplinary setting providing assessment and consultation services, and brief psychotherapeutic interventions (including group therapy). Patients may present with a broad spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses including schizophrenia, severe mood disorders, personality disorders, and or substance dependence. The average length of stay is approximately 7 to 10 days; however, some patients will receive treatment for a number of weeks.

CDPC Unit L (CDPC) Interns work on an inpatient psychiatric unit populated by individuals manifesting a broad range of psychiatric difficulties including psychotic disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and cognitive disorders who are exhibiting behavioral dyscontrol. Presenting problems include adaptive functioning deficits, suicidal behaviors, and forensic patients who have been found not responsible for a crime by way of mental disease or defect. Some individuals have a history of engaging in sexual offending behaviors. Patients on this unit are considered to be actively working towards discharge. Interns function as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team and more specifically provide individual therapy and co-lead therapy groups. They also conduct psychological assessments that include intellectual, personality, and neuropsychological evaluations.

CDPC Unit K (CDPC) Interns will function as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team made up of a range of disciplines including social work, nursing, psychiatry, dietary, occupational/recreational therapy, and peer supports. Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight from all these specialties in working with a chronic, severely persistently mentally ill population. The team work on the unit is extremely collaborative with a priority given to engaging in daily thorough shift report and treatment planning meetings. Interns will work intensively with individuals during both longer term and more brief hospitalizations, with the opportunity to provide individual/family/group therapy, and perform assessments aimed at supporting effective treatment planning. Interns will be involved in developing person centered, appropriate discharge plans, with a focus on supporting successful community reintegration and reducing rapid hospital recidivism. Interns are also encouraged and supported in creatively developing group programming that engages our population while supporting clinical goals. As with any other units on CDPC, interns are also allowed to pursue any additional interests available within the facility.

Albany Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic (AMC) In the AMC outpatient clinic, the training clinic of the AMC Department of Psychiatry, interns work closely with psychiatry residents, psychology/psychiatry faculty and staff. The primary focus of this rotation is psychotherapy (6-8 cases), psychological testing and assessment (2-4 batteries), clinical consultation and intake evaluation. Psychotherapy supervision focuses primarily on brief psychodynamically informed treatment models. Opportunities may exist for group therapy, and couples and/or family therapy. Patients present with a range of psychiatric issues including trauma, anxiety and mood disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and co-morbid health related issues. Interns may elect to participate in ongoing department treatment outcome research/quality assurance initiatives while on rotation.

Albany Community Support Center (CDPC) The ACSC is a New York State OMH operated outpatient mental health clinic, located within the same facility (the CDPC main building) that houses multiple inpatient units. The ACSC provides services to individuals 18 and older with serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). Interns serve as primary clinicians providing individual psychotherapy and coordinating care with other mental health providers. As a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, interns will participate in staff meetings, case presentations, and various trainings. Interns will also serve as co-leaders in various treatment groups and have the opportunity to provide psychological assessment. The ACSC rotation provides interns with a unique opportunity to work in a public mental health system providing multidisciplinary outpatient treatment.

Stratton VA Medical Center Behavioral Health Clinic (VA) Interns serve as staff clinicians working in an active VA outpatient Mental Health Clinic and as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team. With an average caseload of between 6-10 patients, interns provide psychotherapy and psychological assessment services. Interns conduct primarily individual therapy while on rotation and have the opportunity to participate in therapy groups and also to provide couples therapy. The population served by the BHC is relatively severe in terms of psychopathology for an outpatient setting and predominant diagnoses include PTSD, depressive spectrum, personality disorders, and schizophrenic spectrum disorders Supervision takes place both individually (and uses audio taping of therapy sessions) and through a weekly group supervision that also includes psychology practicum students.

Child and Adolescent Clinic (CDPC) Interns are primary therapists for children, adolescents and their families in a multi-disciplinary ,state operated, outpatient clinic. They receive experience in individual therapy, play therapy, and possibly family therapy. Interns provide various assessments, as well as consultation to schools and other agencies. interns also conduct initial screening appointments with potential patients and participate in our clinical team meetings/case presentations.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Program (VA) The PTSD program is an outpatient specialty clinic which provides trauma-focused treatment to veterans with combat-related PTSD or Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The training experiences is designed to provide interns with a wide range of clinical skills including diagnosis and assessment of PTSD, treatment plan development, individual and group therapies. Interns will carry a caseload of 6-10 individual patients, co-facilitate skills-based or process groups, and participate in weekly team meetings. Students will have exposure to a range of evidence-based approaches to treating PTSD including Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Written Exposure Therapy. Supervision takes place both individually (and uses audio taping of therapy sessions) and through weekly group supervision that also includes psychology practicum students.

Chemical Dependency Rehabilitation Program (VA) The Stratton VAMC provides a broad array of substance use disorder services as part of the NY/NJ Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN). A full continuum of care is available for Veterans with substance use disorders, who meet the eligibility requirements. At this facility we offer three programs and trainees are able to get exposure and experience in each of these areas:

1. Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). SARRTP is the residential component of CDRP. This program provides temporary housing while Veterans are enrolled in intensive treatment. Veterans with unstable living arrangements, who live too far away, who need a residential level of care, or are homeless are eligible. Veterans attend programming daily for six weeks. Weekdays include programming from 8:00am to 4:30pm, followed by self-help meetings each evening. On Saturdays, SARRTP participants attend programming from 8:00am to 12:00pm and on Sundays they participate in a Sober Leisure Activity with the SARRTP RN.

2. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). This is a half-day program, running three to five days a week, for approximately six weeks, depending on the Veteran’s needs. It involves individual and group counseling, educational classes, skill building, physical and holistic wellbeing, and adventure-based learning. This program is for Veterans assessed as needing an intensive program but for whom residential or inpatient programming is not necessary at time of referral.

3. Outpatient Program. The Outpatient Program offers a variety of psychoeducation groups, process groups, and individual counseling. Veterans learn about relapse prevention, holistic approaches to recovery such as music therapy and yoga, and develop individualized relapse prevention plans with their counselors. Veterans participating in the outpatient program include those who are attending treatment as part of aftercare from residential and intensive outpatient programming, as well as individuals who are new to substance use disorder treatment.

Health Psychology (VAMC) This rotation may include individual and group psychotherapy, family interventions, psychological and cognitive assessment, behavioral interventions, education to staff on inpatient medical units (i.e., sub-acute rehabilitation, inpatient Hospice & extended care medical units). Interns work in concert with medical providers, physical and recreation therapists, nursing staff, administration, behavioral health providers and all members of the multidisciplinary team. A subcomponent of the rotation includes an opportunity for experience with the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program, providing exposure to interdisciplinary and innovative care practices, enabling a view into the homes of patients who may typically be seen only in office settings. Additional areas of intervention are likely to include grief and loss, life transitions, pain and health behavior management, and capacity/competency and memory assessment. Interns may also rotate within the VAMC pain management team, consulting and working within a multidisciplinary setting managing chronic pain issues for veterans of all ages. In many years, interns have worked with the Director, Assistant Director, and supervising faculty in order to customize the rotation to fit specific intern interests.

Clinical Neuropsychology (VA) This is a full-time elective rotation that provides the intern an opportunity to develop introductory to intermediate understanding of Clinical Neuropsychology in a medical setting. Interns work closely with neuropsychology trained psychologists in responding to requests for consultation from various areas of the hospital, but most commonly from Neurology, Geriatrics and Behavioral Health. A diverse patient population presents a variety of important issues, including neurodegenerative disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions and traumatic brain injury. Interns on this rotation function as members of multidisciplinary team and assume responsibility for the delivery of psychological services. In addition to direct patient care and report writing, interns also interact with referral sources and provide education and/or brief counseling to patients and their families

Psychiatric Emergency Room and Crisis Intervention Unit (CDPC) Interns serve as crisis team members, evaluating acutely ill psychiatric patients who present in the emergency room for treatment. In conjunction with psychiatric staff, interns coordinate patient disposition and referral. This is a part-time (up to 15 clock hours) elective rotation.

Seminars/Case Conferences The core seminar experience is provided by psychology and psychiatry faculty from consortium institutions and the community. Each week, interns are given up to four hours of didactic training in such areas as personality assessment, psychotherapy technique, psychopharmacology, neuropsychological assessment, family therapy, and group therapy. Along with seminars, case conferences are opportunities to discuss cases of educational interest. Case conference presentations are made by senior faculty, psychiatry residents, and psychology interns.

Grand Rounds Grand Rounds presentations are sponsored by the Department of Psychiatry, Albany Medical College. Interns are asked to attend weekly Grand Rounds as part of their educational experience. Lectures on a variety of topics in psychiatry and psychology are presented by Consortium faculty, as well as researchers and professionals from around the country. Interns have also been invited to present at Grand Rounds.

Teaching Days There are workshops and teaching days throughout the year. In the past, these teaching days have covered such topics as advanced psychopharmacology, anorexia nervosa, cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis, neuropsychology, and treatment of borderline personality disorders. In addition to the educational experiences listed above, interns may attend classes offered in the residency training program such as advanced psychoanalytic techniques, Freudian theory, brief therapy, psychopharmacology, family therapy, and hypnosis.

Experiential Process Group Another feature of the internship program is membership in a 15 week experiential process group. Training in group psychotherapy is strongly emphasized within the internship in a variety of settings and utilizing diverse group modalities. The intern process group acknowledges the longstanding tradition of experiential learning as a critical aspect of quality training in group psychotherapy. We have also found that participation in the intern experiential group contributes to a more cohesive and enriching cohort experience. The group is led by one or two of the psychologists here on faculty who have a strong interest and clinical background in group psychotherapy. The group leaders have no other role within the internship in order to prevent the occurrence of dual relationships. Group meetings are held weekly for approximately the duration of the second rotation of the internship year.

Long-Term Psychotherapy While time-limited forms of psychotherapy play a major role in contemporary clinical practice, we feel that the best way to prepare for shortening treatment is by obtaining an in-depth understanding of patients, acquired via intensive (“long-term”) psychotherapy. Once interns internalize the process of intensive psychotherapy, they can then become more efficient in therapy and subsequently work towards shortening treatment length. In the long-term psychotherapy program, interns, upon arrival, are assigned two or three psychotherapy patients to see during the entire year. For these cases, interns have a dedicated supervisor who provides a weekly supervision throughout the year. These cases are seen in addition to brief psychotherapy cases associated with their outpatient rotation(s).

Supervision On each rotational assignment, the intern is assigned a principal supervisor, usually the most senior psychologist. This principal supervisor provides the bulk of the supervision and oversees the rotational experience. The supervision is close, intensive, and follows an apprenticeship model. On each rotation, interns may receive additional supervision from other psychologists as well as from other mental health professionals.

Evaluation
Interns are formally evaluated three times during the course of the year (at the end of each rotation). Detailed feedback is solicited from all supervisors, and the Director collates the data for a supervisory feedback meeting with the intern. When problem areas arise, plans of correction and remediation are implemented in a timely manner. Twice a year, the interns' home training programs are given written evaluations of the student's progress. The interns are also asked to provide program feedback about their training experiences twice during the year, and evaluate their supervisor at the end of each rotation. When problems arise, plans of remediation are quickly implemented to insure a responsive and supportive training experience for the intern.

The Work Week
We are a full time internship, which runs from September through August. As a full-time intern, a forty-plus hour work week is expected. It is not expected that interns will ever have to work more than 45 hours (at most), and there are no weekend commitments. We are a training institute, which believes the interns earn a stipend for being trained. They are not here to see large numbers of patients, or to produce volumes of reports. The only time we are concerned about numbers is when attempting to determine an optimal workload for training. Training needs come first. Service needs come second. This has always been a core value of the internship.

Fringe Benefits
CDPC funded interns receive 40 hours of personal time and accrue 4 hours of vacation time and sick time every pay period (every two weeks) as well as paid state holidays. Interns are entitled to 11 federal holidays and earn sick leave and vacation days at a rate of 4 hours of each per two-week pay period. Interns are encouraged to use all of their annual leave before completion of the training year. Unused sick leave may be applied to future federal employment. Pay periods are once every two weeks, with a total of 26 pay periods per year. Stipend for 2024-25 is $ 37,965. All interns have health insurance benefits.

Albany Medical College has a full medical library with ample resources for the intern research and scholarship needs. Interns have electronic database (PsycINFO, MEDLINE) and electronic journal access, inter-library loan services, and research/reference support.

Angela Antonikowski, PhD
University at Albany, SUNY
Associate Dean, Division of Community Outreach & Medical Education, Albany medical College, AMC Department of Psychiatry

William Breen, PhD
Chief Psychologist, VAMC

Nicole Bromley, PsyD
Antioch University New England
Assistant Director, AMC Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Department of Psychiatry

Thomas D’Agostino, PhD
VAMC

Dhru Desai, PhD
Palo Alto University
Assistant Dean for Wellness, Albany Medical College; AMC Department of Psychiatry

Ronald Gerrol, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, St. Louis
Chief Psychologist, CDPC

Matthew Golley, PhD
VAMC

Megan Golley, PhD
CDPC

Chris Hamilton, Ph.D.
Boston College
AMC Department of Psychiatry

Shannon Harper, PhD
Texas A & M University
AMC Department of Psychiatry

Richard Higgins, PsyD
CDPC

Robert O. Hubbell, PsyD
Antioch University New England
Director of Training, Albany Psychology Internship Consortium; Director, Post-Doctoral Psychology Fellowship, AMC; Student Psychological Services

Caitlin Holley, Ph.D.
University of Louisville
PTSD/CDRP Programs, VAMC

Mark Lukowitsky, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University
Director, AMC Psychiatry Clinic

Adam Morris, PhD
Kent State University
AMC, Department of Psychiatry

Benjamin Mueller, Psy.D.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
AMC, Department of Psychiatry

Steven R. Nozik, Ph.D.
University at Buffalo, SUNY
Mental Health Clinic, VAMC

Annette Payne, Ph.D.
University at Albany, SUNY
VAMC

Kevin Pertchik, PsyD
VAMC, PTSD Clinic

Portia Pieterse, PhD
City University of N

ew York
AMC, Department of Psychiatry

Wyatt Rosa, PhD
Long Island University
VAMC

Steven Sandler, MD
Hahnemann Medical College
Private Practice, Teaching Faculty, AMC

Jamie Savoie, PsyD
University at Albany, SUNY
CDPC Child and Adolescent Clinic

Thomas Schwartz, PhD
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Neuropsychology, VAMC

Connor Smith, PhD
University of Tennessee
AMC Department of Psychiatry

Andea Sopko, PhD
University at Albany, SUNY
CDPC

Maggie Stoutenburg, PhD
University at Buffalo, SUNY
PTSD Clinic, VAMC; Director of Psychology Training, Stratton VA Medical Center, PTSD Program Director

Chin Teoh, PsyD
CDPC

Warren Wallis, PsyD
University of Denver
AMC, Department of Psychiatry

Jeffrey Winseman, MD
SUNY Buffalo
Chair, Department of Psychiatry, AMC

Joanna Young, PhD (CUNY)
VAMC