Post-Graduate Training

CHP Post-Graduate Training

Child HELP Partnership is thrilled to offer a one-year post-graduate training program for mental health professionals in trauma-specific therapy for preschoolers, children, and adolescents, and their families. The post-graduate program offers training in two settings:

PARTNERS (Preventing Adverse Reactions To Negative Events and Related Stress) is an outpatient mental health clinic located at the St. John’s University Center for Psychological Services. The program is a specialized program for preschoolers, children, and adolescents who have been traumatized, mostly through interpersonal violence, and their caregivers. We provide outreach, assessment, psychotherapy, and case management services in an outpatient setting. Therapies used are empirically-supported, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT; for youth exposed to sexual abuse, domestic violence, and bereavement due to traumatic circumstances, and their non-offending caregivers) and Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT; for physical abuse and other forms of family violence).

As part of a grant funded by the Department of Justice, Project CONNECT (Community Networks Negotiating Evaluations and Counseling for Trauma) aims to adapt, provide, and evaluate AF-CBT for Latino, African American, and Caribbean victims of abuse and domestic, dating, and community violence. CONNECT outreach, assessment, and therapy is being conducted at the Queens Library, Catholic Charities, and other community settings.

Potential responsibilities for the post-graduate trainee include: recruitment and engagement of families of culturally-diverse communities, trauma-informed psychosocial assessment, case management, consultation with community leaders, TF-CBT and AF-CBT, and participation in ongoing research projects.

Training and Supervision:
All trainees will participate in a rigorous training and supervision procedure that results in their being qualified for certification in TF-CBT and/or AF-CBT. This process involves face-to-face learning sessions, web-based courses, and review of literature. Supervision is conducted in groups on a weekly basis with a licensed psychologist. Supervisors are required to review trainees’ session recordings.

Training Requirements:
The Child HELP Partnership post-graduate program is a one-year commitment with rolling admission. We expect trainees to carry 4-6 families over the year. This typically translates to a commitment of 10-15 hours per week, including two evenings. Services are provided primarily during after-school hours (e.g., 3:30-9:00pm).

Application Requirements:

Graduates of social work, mental health counseling, and clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs are welcome to apply. Social workers who are interested in this training must be NYS licensed. Hours toward licensure can be given to those who qualify. Students with multi-cultural backgrounds and fluency in a second language are encouraged to apply.

There is no fee for the post-graduate training, nor is there a stipend for trainees.

Interested candidates should send:

• Letter of interest that summarizes previous experience and goals for training
• Curriculum vita
• Two letters of recommendation
• If an interview is granted, a writing sample will be requested

Send applications to:

Dr. Elissa Brown, Child HELP Partnership at St. John’s University, 152-11 Union Turnpike, Flushing, NY, 11367 or e-mail at browne@stjohns.edu