Clinical Child Track
The Clinical-Child track extends and deepens the intern’s base of professional development and promotes a rich understanding of the intrapsychic, familial, school, social and community/systems aspects of child psychopathology and psychotherapy. Toward these goals, the track provides intensive clinical and didactic experience in the range of activities that comprise the role of the clinical-child psychologist. Training is built around a core of experiences in treatment, assessment, and consultation with children, adolescents, parents, families, school and agencies. This training is integrated with a broad range of clinical conferences. Emphasis is on the development of those clinical skills and theoretical concepts that are essential for psychologists entering a variety of career activities in the child mental health area.
The track’s theoretical orientation reflects an integration of intrapsychic, developmental, family interactional, and cognitive-behavioral points of view.
Activities
Experience in outpatient assessment covers the full range of referral sources, problems, ages, diagnostic roles and procedures. Interns participate as members of an interdisciplinary diagnostic team conducting comprehensive evaluations of children and their families, often including psychodiagnostic testing. Each intern’s outpatient psychotherapy caseload is monitored to provide experience with different ages, types of childhood disorders, and treatment techniques. In addition to individual therapy with children and adolescents, interns also conduct family therapy, conjoint treatment with parents, parent training groups, and short-term interventions.
Throughout the training year, interns may participate in the following subspecialty clinics and programs:
The Child Abuse Project
provides interns with a comprehensive and well-supervised experience in consultative, evaluative, and treatment services to children who have been sexually abused. The interns have the opportunity to observe and conduct interviews with children and parents or caretakers, and then consult with the hospital’s child abuse team.The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Program
is a nationally recognized center for the assessment and treatment of ADHD. Children, adolescents, and adults referred to this clinic for evaluation undergo a comprehensive protocol of rating scales, interviews, and psychological testing. Interns work intensely in all phases of this process and learn the skills required to handle ADHD referrals.Adolescent DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) Program
is intended to treat teenagers who have suicidal thoughts and/or self-harming behavior. Comprehensive DBT has three main components: Individual DBT which reinforces learning that takes place in skills group and provides additional coaching and psychotherapy for the adolescent. Family involvement is often necessary and will be incorporated into treatment based on the needs of the adolescent. Multi-Family Skills Group is a two-hour, 20-week group in which both the adolescent and parent(s) participate. Telephone Coaching is provided to help the adolescent and parent(s) use their DBT skills in times of distress.
ENHANCE (Excellence in Health Care for Abused and Neglected Children)
is a nationally recognized multidisciplinary (pediatrics, child psychiatry, developmental pediatrics, social work) clinic which provides comprehensive health care to children in foster care. An intern involved with the ENHANCE Clinic will gain experience in diagnostic interviewing, developmental evaluations, multidisciplinary consultation, and systemic issues.The Anxiety Disorders Clinic
is a speciality clinic designed to assess and treat children and adolescents with anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, school refusal, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Following a comprehensive evaluation those referred for treatment are provided with state-of-the-art treatment based on current research in the area of childhood anxiety. Interns have the opportunity to observe and actively participate in both the assessment and treatment process.The Pediatric Psychopharmacology Clinic
offers interns the opportunity to explore how biological approaches can be integrated into a child's treatment planning. Working with a child psychiatrist, interns evaluate patients and learn appropriate decision-making regarding the use of psychotropic medications.Upstate Medical University’s Juvenile Trauma Center
serves children and families who have experienced trauma stemming from abuse, violence, accidents, natural disasters, or death of a family member. The center offers a 12 to 15 session protocol for symptom reduction thatfocuses on the development of coping strategies and an understanding of common reactions to trauma. Services are also offered for children who may require longer-term treatment. Interns have the opportunity to observe an ongoing psychotherapy case, actively participate in their own clinical cases, and receive training in trauma-oriented cognitive behavioral therapy.We offer three consultation experiences in the child area:
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Intake/Consultation Service
The gateway to the overall array of services in our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic. Whenever parents call the clinic for an appointment, a consultation is scheduled with a clinical child psychologist. The goal of the consultation is to provide the family with some direction and to determine the need for further services. Psychology interns have the opportunity to be involved in this process by observing and/or actively participating in the consultations.
The Family Oriented Pediatric Consultation
Involves implementation of a systems approach to managing cases in family medicine.
Pediatric Consultation Service
A joint venture between the Departments of Child Psychiatry and Pediatrics, affords pediatric attending physicians and residents the opportunity for psychology consultation for their patients who present with emotional and behavioral problems. Child psychology interns and pediatric residents work closely with each other in this interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
To extend and enhance the clinical experience, Child track interns spend at least four months, part time, as participants in the Adult track seminars. Child track interns can carry one or more adult psychotherapy cases.
Group Therapy Programs
The Incredible Years Parent Classes
The Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry offers state-of-the-art parenting classes based on the Incredible Years program, a highly acclaimed series based on 20 years of research involving over 1000 families with challenging children. More >
Social Skill development Group for School-aged Children on the Autistic Spectrum
Many youngsters with psychiatric and learning problems, especially those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are impaired in their ability to manage normal social interactions. At the heart of their problems getting along with others are deficits in underlying social skills, such as those involved in making conversation, engaging other children in play and friendship activities, processing emotions, and learning how to employ social problem-solving strategies. More >
Social and Emotional Skills Group for Young Children on the Autistic Spectrum
The child therapy group uses a play-based model to foster social relationships and emotional skill building. The group activities are designed to increase shared attention and engagement with others in order to build the child's interest and pleasure in relating to others. Activities foster communication of both emotions and ideas. Structured problem solving activities and role play offer children the opportunity to practice negotiating and expand their repertoire of interaction skills. Children are also taught relaxation skills in order increase emotional regulation. More >
Seminars
The Child Psychotherapy Seminar (1 hour weekly)
Devoted to a systematic examination of the theory and technique of the treatment of children and adolescents. The review of literature, discussions and presentations of case material are concerned with the structure, nature and course of treatment. Generic issues in child psychotherapy are covered and include: the beginning phase of treatment, the meaning and use of play in psychotherapy, the interpretive process, and work with parents. Throughout, clinical material is interwoven with readings and lecture material. Interns also present material from their ongoing psychotherapy with children.
The Child and Adult Diagnostic Testing Seminar (1.5 hours weekly)
Provides interns with a weekly opportunity to refine their skills in the administration and interpretation of psychological tests. The goal of the seminar is to provide a method of integrating and communicating test results effectively. Particular attention is paid to the role of testing in generating treatment recommendations. The flexible format of the seminar encourages interns to present cases and explore special testing topics.
The Observed Family Therapy Seminar (1.5 hours weekly)
Incorporates live and videotaped demonstration interviews, as well as readings and discussion. Topics include the use of the family in diagnostic assessment, consultation interviewing, and psychotherapy for families with a variety of syndromes, including eating disorders, psychosis, behavior problems, and physical illness.
The Incredible Years Parent Classes
The Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry offers state-of the-art parenting classes based on the Incredible Years program, a highly acclaimed series based on 20 years of research involving over 1000 families with challenging children. More >
Social Skills Development Group for School-aged Children on the Autistic Spectrum
Many youngsters with psychiatric and learning problems, especially those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are impaired in their ability to manage normal social interactions. At the heart of their problems getting along with others are deficits in underlying social skills, such as those involved in making conversation, engaging other children in play and friendship activities, processing emotions, and learning how to employ social problem-solving strategies. More >
Social and Emotional Skills Group for Young Children on the Autistic Spectrum
The child therapy group uses a play-based model to foster social relationships and emotional skill building. The group activities are designed to increase shared attention and engagement with others in order to build the child's interest and pleasure in relating to others. Activities foster communication of both emotions and ideas. Structured problem solving activities and role play offer children the opportunity to practice negotiating and expand their repertoire of interaction skills. Children are also taught relaxation skills in order increase emotional regulation. More >