Albany Psychology Consortium Internship

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