Psychology Externships

Announcement: New York Presbyterian Externship Programs 2023-2024

Thank you for your interest in our externship programs. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to pause the externship for the 2023-2024 training year. You will find the externship programs that will be affected by the pause listed below. This time will be utilized to make improvements to the on-boarding process for externs to New York Presbyterian Hospital. It is our first priority to ensure smooth on-boarding and eliminate obstacles for selected externs to begin their placements with us. We look forward to re-opening externship recruitment for the 2024-2025 training year. Any questions that you may have about training should be directed to Dr. Thomas: yot9010@nyp.org.

Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center - General Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychology Externship Program

The School-Based Mental Health Program Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian Externship Program

Columbia University Irving Medical Center / New York-Presbyterian Hospital Clinical Psychology Externship in Mother and Child Integrated Mental Health Externship Program 

Family Peace Trauma Treatment Center Externship Program
Farrell CFCM Externship Program

School-Based Health Center Program – Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Externship Program

Sincerely,

Yolanda Thomas, Ph.D.
Director of Psychology Education and Training
Manager of Psychology Programs Education and Training
New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry)

Lisa Saraydarian, Ph.D.
Director of Psychology Outpatient Behavioral Health
New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia University Medical Center
Assistant Professor in Medical Psychology, CUMC

Child and Adolescent Psychology Externships

The Children's Day Unit (CDU) at the Youth Treatment and Evaluation of Anxiety and Mood (Y-TEAM) Program

The Children's Day Unit (CDU) at the Youth Treatment and Evaluation of Anxiety and Mood (Y-TEAM) Program is a specialty research clinic dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents suffering from mood and anxiety disorders. The CDU is part of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and is directed by Dr. Laura Mufson and includes a day treatment program with academic services for adolescents requiring intensive support. At the Y-TEAM program and CDU, we provide comprehensive evaluations, treatment with evidence-based psychotherapy (e.g., Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and medications. Externs work within a multidisciplinary team in order to provide excellent and comprehensive care to both the patients and their families.

In addition to our focus on cutting-edge treatment and research, the CDU functions as a training clinic and we are passionate about providing exceptional training and support to our trainees. Externs are responsible for carrying a caseload of both daypatient and outpatient cases, gaining exposure to a variety of clinical presentations and levels of symptom severity. They are also diligently trained in diagnostic and assessment skills, completing twice monthly diagnostic evaluations and administering comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Acting as an integral member within our multidisciplinary team, externs collaborate with staff to provide services and receive supervision from the director of the externship, Dr. Paula Yanes-Lukin, and consultation from other team members. Finally, taking advantage of the resources at both Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, externs attend institute Grand Rounds and twice-monthly inservice didactics led by experts in the field.

Contact: Paula Yanes-Lukin

Phone: (646) 774-5855

Email: Paula.Yanes-Lukin@nyspi.columbia.edu

Learn More

Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD)

The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) is a clinic specializing in evidence-based outpatient treatment for individuals of all ages struggling with anxiety, mood, and related disorders. CUCARD is overseen by Clinic Founder Dr. Anne Marie Albano and Clinical Director Dr. E. Blake Zakarin, and is staffed by senior clinical psychologists who are highly skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy. Central to CUCARD's mission is the training and dissemination of evidence-based treatments; our clinicians are also committed to providing a positive and high-quality learning experience for all its trainees.

Externs learn about the implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy in both individual and group formats, as well as through other specialized experiences including co-leading therapy groups with senior staff, engaging in didactic training and role plays, participating in in-vivo exposures, and assisting with Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Externs consult directly with other providers (e.g., psychiatrists, pediatricians) to learn effective models of collaborative, team-based care. In addition to these observation and direct contact clinical experiences, externs participate in weekly group and individual supervision. This allows externs the opportunity for intensive training on their own cases as well as exposure to the types of problems and solutions that senior clinicians run into when implementing and adapting evidence-based practice to meet the needs of their patients.

Contact: Sarah Frankel, Ph.D.

Phone: (212) 342-0203

Email: sf2828@cumc.columbia.edu

Learn More

Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) Westchester

Located in Tarrytown, NY, CUCARD Westchester is an outpatient treatment clinic in the Child and Adolescent Division of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center Department of Psychiatry. CUCARD Westchester specializes in the diagnostic assessment and evidence-based treatment of anxiety, OCD and related disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. CUCARD Westchester's staff is comprised of Columbia University faculty members and postdoctoral fellows, all of whom have expertise in cognitive behavioral treatment for anxiety and related disorders. We offer individual and group treatment as well as accelerated treatment programs for youth exhibiting school refusal behavior, severe OCD symptoms or marked interference caused by anxiety. In these accelerated treatment programs, individuals receive treatment intensively, up to five times per week, depending on clinical need. Additional opportunities exist for externs to participate in the CUCARD Anxiety Day Program which is an intensive day program designed for children age 13-18 whose anxiety is preventing them from attending school or severely impacting their functioning.

Contact: Nicholas Crimarco, Ph.D.

Phone: (646) 317-3601

Email: nc2716@cumc.columbia.edu

Learn More

Pediatric Psychology Externship - Hematology, Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation

The Pediatric Psycho-oncology Externship is located in the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation outpatient clinic and inpatient medical service at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. The extern will address co-morbid psychological conditions in patients with a range of malignant and non-malignant hematological and oncological conditions, from birth to young adulthood. Common referrals include adjustment, internalizing and externalizing conditions, concerns during survivorship, end-of-life, and academic difficulties. The externship provides training in initial psychological diagnosis and interviewing, short-term therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing) and consultation liaison services. This is a one-year externship across two days. Externs receive individual supervision including live supervision. They will participate in didactics in Psychiatry and Hematology/Oncology/SCT, as well as multidisciplinary rounds in Hematology/Oncology/SCT. The breakdown of inpatient vs. outpatient and in-person vs. telemedicine services will be dependent on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may shift during the course of the externship. Second years and higher are welcome to apply.

Contact: Dara Steinberg, Ph.D.

Email: dms2207@cumc.columbia.edu

To apply: Please submit a CV, cover letter, 2 letters of recommendations, and a letter of readiness.

Learn More

Promise Program

The Promise Clinic at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (CUIMC/NYPH) provides comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and advocacy to children and adolescents (ages 4-21) from marginalized and vulnerable communities in New York City. The clinic primarily evaluates individuals presenting with neurodevelopmental conditions, including LD, ADHD, ASD, and behavioral/psychiatric difficulties. There are also opportunities to work with patients who present with various complex medical conditions such as pediatric cancers, sickle cell disease, seizure disorders, genetic disorders, and neonatal complications. During externship training, an emphasis is placed on inclusive and nondiscriminatory neuropsychological assessment, including consideration of appropriate neuropsychological tests/norms for specific populations, careful diagnostic differentials, and expanding the trainee’s case conceptualization to include cultural, linguistic and social factors. Externs regularly collaborate with multidisciplinary treatment teams, receive training in educational/legal advocacy, conduct school observations and attend IEP meetings. The extern will receive one hour per week of individual supervision with their primary clinical supervisor regarding evaluation cases and participate in one-hour weekly clinical team meetings. Externs will attend a weekly didactic seminar and are expected to periodically attend Child Psychiatry Grounds.

Contact: Sonel Rowley, PhD - Externship Coordinator 

Phone: 212-342-1480

Email: ssr2142@cumc.columbia.edu

Learn More

Adult Psychology Externships

Columbia Center for Eating Disorders at the NY State Psychiatric Institute Externship Program

The Columbia Center for Eating Disorders, directed by Evelyn Attia, MD, is a specialty research clinic at New York State Psychiatric Institute committed to furthering understanding of these complex disorders and their treatment. Our program provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient clinical services to patients based on best practices. We are a multidisciplinary team, staffed with highly skilled, experienced clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and dietitians. Our clinician researchers are committed to providing a collaborative, varied, and high-quality learning experience for trainees at all levels of experience, including post-doctoral fellows, externs, research assistants, and volunteers. This externship focuses on the delivery of evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy for adolescents and adults with eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Treatment approaches include Family-Based Treatment (FBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). Externs will gain experience in diagnostic assessment, and treatment modalities including group, individual and family-based psychotherapy. Supervision will be provided by licensed clinical psychologists working in the clinical research program. Externs will participate in team meetings as well as have the opportunity to attend a range of didactics (within and beyond the eating disorders program) and case conferences, observe clinical research assessments and procedures, and, if desired, participate in ongoing academic and/or lay-public writing projects. Our program is unique in its ability to offer treatment at no cost in exchange for participation in research.

General information about externship site:

Director of the Program: Evelyn Attia, MD

Training Director: Deborah R. Glasofer, PhD

Email: deborah.glasofer@nyspi.columbia.edu

Learn More

Columbia Day Program

The Columbia Day Program is an intensive outpatient mental health service located in the Faculty Practice Organization at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in Midtown Manhattan. The primary mission of the Columbia Day Program is to provide structured, evidence-based group therapy for people struggling with mental health issues that are seriously affecting their ability to go to school or work. The externship provides clinical training in diagnostic assessment, individual psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy utilizing empirically supported treatments for anxiety and depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Psychology externs will participate in weekly individual and group supervision, weekly interdisciplinary clinical team meetings, and monthly didactic seminars.

Contact: Connie Abruzzese, PhD & Lizzy Ellman, PsyD

Phone: 212-326-8441

Email: ced2152@cumc.columbia.edu & ee2471@cumc.columbia.edu

Learn More

Lieber Recovery Clinic Externship

The Lieber Recovery Clinic is an outpatient mental health service located at Columbia Doctors Midtown, near Columbus Circle. The primary mission of the Lieber Recovery Clinic is to provide state of the art, personalized recovery services to adults with severe mental illnesses. The externship provides students with training in evidence –based behavioral treatments to help people with serious mental illnesses lead productive lives. The extern’s clinical work will involve providing social skills training, CBT, ACT, DBT and cognitive remediation therapy groups, individual therapy, and assessment to people with psychotic disorders, high functioning autism, and executive functioning problems. Externs will receive weekly individual and group supervision, and participate in didactic seminars and team meetings. There will be opportunities to attend trainings on topics related to treatments for people with severe mental illnesses.

Contact: Alice Medalia, PhD

Phone: 212-305-3747

Email: am2938@columbia.edu