Women's Health
Project Treatment and Research Center
Training Opportunities in the Treatment of Trauma and Addiction
Adult Psychology Externship Program
The Women's Health Project (WHP) is an outpatient clinical service at St. Luke's-Roosevelt
Hospital Center (SLRHC), serving the mental health needs of women survivors
of trauma or abuse many of whom are also in recovery from substance use. The
WHP treatment program is located at the St. Luke's site at 114th St. between
Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive.
Agency Mission
WHP provides a supportive, multi-modal outpatient treatment environment for women in recovery from trauma or abuse, including an integrated treatment approach for women also recovering from addiction. Our clinical work is informed by our research, which has sought to enhance our understanding of the impact of violence and drug and alcohol abuse on women's lives and to develop and support effective interventions for these issues.
Treatment Program
Treatment at WHP is designed to address the issues involved in recovering from trauma and, for women also grappling with substance use, to address addiction in the context of symptoms often related to trauma. The program includes individual and group psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and case management. Clients may present with a range of mental health issues, including posttraumatic stress disorder, other significant anxiety or mood disorders, or dissociative disorders.
Description of Externship Experience
This externship provides extensive experience in the treatment of women with histories of trauma and co-morbid substance use, through the use of traditional as well as structured treatment modalities. Externs are exposed to empirically supported treatments for PTSD and traumatic stress, substance use disorders, other anxiety disorders and depression.
The externship involves a two day/week commitment, from September to August 15. Monday is a required day. The externship is most appropriate for doctoral level clinical psychology students with prior clinical experience. Students with prior externship experience are preferred.
Outpatient Psychotherapy
Each extern sees up to six to eight individual psychotherapy clients per week (once- to twice-weekly sessions).
Additional Clinical Experience
Externs may co-facilitate a psychotherapy group or may be involved in initial clinical consultation of WHP clients depending on clinic needs.
Seminars and Conferences
The WHP externship program offers
a weekly psychotherapy seminar, providing training and ongoing supervision
in empirically supported treatments in trauma and addictions. This seminar meets
for one hour per week, and may incorporate a case conference format in which
students and staff present case material.
Supervision
Externs meet for one hour of individual psychotherapy supervision per week with a psychologist affiliated with St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, and meet for an additional small group supervision hour each week. Additional supervision is available during clinical seminars and case conferences. There is also weekly group supervision or assessment supervision.
Research Opportunities
The WHP is affiliated with the Center for Trauma and Addiction at the City College of New York, a research center pursuing epidemiological, assessment and treatment studies related to women exposed to violence and aggression and substance use. Externs are invited to become involved in current research as time and interest permit for an additional commitment.
Application Procedures
Please email a letter of interest and CV to Dr. Lisa Litt as early as your school permits. Interviews are offered on a rolling basis and will begin in January. Please send two letters of reference, including at least one letter from a clinical supervisor. Letters of reference may follow your letter and CV.
Contact Information
Lisa Litt, Ph.D.
Clinical Director
Women's Health Project Treatment and Research Center
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
411 W. 114th St., 6C
New York, NY 10025
LLITT@CHPNET.ORG
WWW.WHPNYC.ORG
212-523-2140 (fax)