KINGS COUNTY
HOSPITAL CENTER
2016-2017
PSYCHOLOGY
EXTERNSHIP TRAINING ROGRAM
KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
A BUILDING – Suite A1116
451 CLARKSON AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11203
718-245-2579
Kings County Hospital Center was founded more than 175 years ago. The hospital we know today has
its origins in an institution known as the Almshouse that evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries. In
1837, a hospital building was completed; this building, 86 feet long by 36 feet wide, was the beginning
of the present extensive physical plant which has become one of the largest municipal hospitals in the
United States.
The Center has claimed many "firsts" in the field of medicine: it was the site of the first open-heart
surgery performed in New York State; Kings County physicians invented the world's first
hemodialysis machine, conducted the first studies of HIV infection in women and produced the first
human images using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, Kings County was named the
first Level 1 Trauma Center in the U.S.
Throughout the growth and development of Kings County Hospital Center, devoted administrative,
medical, nursing and hospital staff have generously given of their knowledge, time and talents to fulfill
the words of the hospital dedication: "Let all who serve here remember that this institution is dedicated
to the care of all who are helpless and afflicted. This before all else."
Kings County Hospital Center is the largest municipal hospital in New York City and has a rich and
famed history of treatment and care. It encompasses a behavioral health center and a general medical
hospital that provides acute care and rehabilitation services. Kings County Hospital Center provides
the major clinical teaching resources for the State University of New York Health Science Center at
Brooklyn (SUNY Downstate), located directly across the street. The various hospital departments
benefit from the university’s services, teaching, consultative personnel, library facilities, and research.
The hospital is part of the Health and Hospitals Corporation, a health care network of 11 acute and
community hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency services, school-based health centers, home
health care, and primary and preventive services throughout the five boroughs of New York City. The
hospital is located in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn and is easily accessible to all parts of
metropolitan New York City by car or public transportation. Interested trainees will find readily
available lecture programs, scientific meetings, and symposia sponsored by the numerous local
professional and scientific societies in Psychology, Psychiatry, Social Work and related disciplines.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
We are particularly proud of our state-of-the-art Behavioral Health Center known as the “R” Building,
which was completed in January 2009 and is the newest and largest single site behavioral health
facility in the United States. Its design reflects the most advanced research and practice in the
treatment of mental illness in a comfortable, modern and therapeutic setting. It houses the child and
adolescent and adult psychiatric emergency rooms and all inpatient and outpatient treatment units.
Incorporated within is a fully functioning school that follows the NYC Department of Education
Curriculum, a full-service gymnasium, treatment rooms and staff offices.
There are five Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Units whose major function is the diagnostic assessment
and short-term treatment of patients who present with acute psychological dysfunction and psychiatric
disorders, utilizing a Wellness and Recovery Model of treatment. This model of treatment follows a
highly researched and successful Rehabilitation and Recovery Model whose focus is to improve
patients’ coping abilities, to help them integrate into the general society, according to their abilities,
and to decrease the necessity and likelihood of re-hospitalization.
The Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) functions as the emergency receiving
and treatment service for adults in central Brooklyn, a catchment area of roughly 500,000 individuals,
and for children and adolescents throughout the entire borough of Brooklyn. Adult patients are
assessed and recommended for either discharge/referral to outpatient care, admission to an inpatient
unit, or referral to the Extended Observation Unit (EOU) for crisis treatment. Child/adolescent patients
are either admitted to one of the child and adolescent inpatient units, admitted to one of the EOU beds
for crisis treatment, or are referred for outpatient treatment. As part of the CPEP, the Mobile Crisis
Team provides services to patients ages 5 and older whose mental health needs prevent them from
coming to the hospital unassisted.
The Adult Outpatient Psychiatric Department provides a variety of treatment and aftercare
services, including those for individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy and
psychopharmacology. The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides an intensive 6-week
outpatient treatment program for mentally ill patients. The Forensic Psychiatry Evaluation Service
provides court ordered Competency to Stand Trial and Serve Sentence examinations of defendants
from Brooklyn and Queens. Neuropsychological Assessment is provided for inpatients and
outpatients and serves both the mental health and medical units throughout the hospital. Women
suffering from pregnancy-related depression receive treatment through the Women’s Health
Initiative (WHI). The Behavioral Support Team (BST) collaborates with both the adult and
child/adolescent inpatient unit psychologists in the creation of effective Individual Behavior Plans
(IBPs), based on the Positive Behavior Support Plan model that targets maladaptive behaviors of
adults and children/adolescents on the respective units.
Child and Adolescent Inpatient treatment is provided on three inpatient co-ed units: one for
adolescents ages 14-17, one for young adults with first break psychosis, ages 16-23, and one for
children ages 13 years and younger. The Child and Adolescent Outpatient Department offers
diagnostic and treatment services for children and adolescents up to age 18. A wide variety of
treatment modalities are available, including brief and longer-term psychotherapy, group, family,
behavior modification, cognitive-behavioral, psychopharmacological treatment, and crisis
intervention. Parent counseling and school consultation are also offered.
More specialized outpatient services available for children and adolescents include the Developmental
Evaluation Clinic (DEC), which provides assessment and treatment for children with a spectrum of
developmental delays. Preschool and infant assessment and treatment are also offered through an
Early Intervention Program (EI) at the DEC and through the Infant and Child Learning Center
(ICLC) at Downstate Medical Center. Through the Pediatric Consultation Liaison Services,
psychological services are also provided to children and adolescents in the medical and rehabilitative
departments. The Intensive Crisis Stabilization and Treatment Program (ICST), based in the
outpatient department, provides in-home psychiatric services to children and adolescents in crisis.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
The Department of Psychology includes over 40 licensed psychologists who work in both adult and
child/adolescent services. They provide direct patient care and trainee supervision in addition to
administrative services throughout the hospital.
PSYCHOLOGY EXTERNSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM
The externship program is comprised of two independent tracks: The Adult Track and the Child &
Adolescent Track. The externship begins after Labor Day and ends in May and requires a minimum of
two days per week (16 hours) for the Adult Track and two and ½ days per week (20 hours) for the
Child & Adolescent Track. Adult Track externs may opt to add an additional ½ day for a total of 20
hours per week.
All externs receive one hour of individual clinical supervision per week for their individual outpatients
and one hour per week for supervision of each psychotherapy group. Child/Adolescent Externs receive
at least one hour of individual supervision for their inpatient case. Additional supervision for
psychological testing is arranged for each assigned testing case. Externs also meet with the Director of
Externship Training in their respective track for one hour each week. This hour is used for didactics,
extern case presentations and/or discussion of the externship experience. Depending on scheduling,
externs may be invited to attend other didactic and continuing education presentations throughout the
year.
Applicants need not be residents of New York or citizens of the United States. They should be second
or third year doctoral students and must have completed at least one clinical externship during their
doctoral training prior to applying for externship at Kings County. Additionally, all externs must have
completed at least one year-long course in cognitive and projective/personality assessment including
the Rorschach Inkblot Test (Exner Comprehensive System).
Applicants may apply to only one of the two tracks. Should applications be received for both tracks,
neither will be considered. Each track has its own interviewing and admissions process.
The Externship abides by the guidelines set by the Psychology Directors of New York State
(PSYDNYS). Applications will not be accepted prior to agreed upon dates and interview offers will be
made following this date. Externship offers to students will be made in accordance with the date set by
PSYCNYS.
ADULT TRACK
Four externs are selected each year for the Adult Track. The adult track externship program requires
two full days (16 hours) with the option to add ½ day depending on the extern’s schedule. Please note
that Friday is a required day for the Adult Track. Externs in the Adult Track are placed in two
major assignments during the year and they receive an hour of rotation-specific supervision per week.
One placement is on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit where trainees will provide individual and/or
group psychotherapy to patients. As part of this placement, externs participate in inter-disciplinary
team meetings, community meetings, staff meetings, and other relevant unit activities.
The other placement is selected from a variety of outpatient clinics and services in the Departments of
Behavioral Health and Medicine. The assignments are made by the Director of Externship Training,
with decisions based on extern interest, training needs and supervisor availability. In addition to the
two rotations, externs are required to co-lead at least one year-long psychotherapy group, treat at least
two adult patients for the duration of the externship year, and perform psychodiagnostic evaluations.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT CLINICAL TRACK
Two externs are selected each year for the Child & Adolescent Track, which requires two and a half
days and is primarily centered on the inpatient child, adolescent and young adult psychiatric units.
There are three co-ed units: one for adolescents 13-17, one for young adults with first break psychosis,
ages 17 to 23, and a unit for children age 13 and under. Externs rotate on two of the three units.
Externs are responsible for individual psychotherapy of one inpatient child, adolescent, or young adult
at a time. This includes participation on a multidisciplinary team consisting of psychiatrists, nurses,
psychologists, social workers, therapeutic rehabilitation therapists, and pediatricians. Responsibilities
include individual and family therapy and participation in unit meetings and psychodiagnostic
evaluations which include tests of cognitive, academic and personality functioning. Additional
opportunities include co-leading an inpatient group and there may be an opportunity for an extern to
be assigned an outpatient psychotherapy case through the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry
Clinic
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications can be obtained on the FDU Wiki site.
Applications for the Adult Track should be sent, along with a current CV, an integrated adult
psychological testing report (cognitive and personality/projective assessment), an unofficial transcript
and two letters of recommendation, to:
Damaliah Gibson, Ph.D.
Director of Externship Training – Adult Division
st
Department of Psychology – A Building, 1 Floor, Room 1116
Kings County Hospital Center
451 Clarkson Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11203
damaliah.gibson@nychhc.org
Applications for the Child & Adolescent Track should be sent, along with a current CV, a
child/adolescent clinical treatment summary, an integrated child/adolescent psychological testing
report, and two letters of recommendation, to:
Marilyn Feldman, Ph.D.
Director of Child and Adolescent Externship Training
A Building, 1st floor - Department of Psychology
Kings County Hospital Center
451 Clarkson Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11203
marilyn.feldman@nychhc.org
TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS TO KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
The Psychology Department is located in the A Building whose entrance is through the Behavioral
Health Center (R building). Interviewees will be met in the lobby of the Behavioral Health Center (R
building) on Clarkson Avenue (corner of New York Ave).
BY SUBWAY Brooklyn Bound Trains
Take the #2 Train (or the #5 during rush hours) to the Winthrop Street station. Make sure that the train
says “Flatbush Avenue” as its final destination. Trains with other final destinations listed do not go to
Winthrop Street.
The Brooklyn bound train exits at the corner of Nostrand and Parkside Avenues (You will see the
hospital one block away down Parkside Ave). Walk toward the hospital, one block and turn right onto
New York Avenue, then walk one block and make a left onto Clarkson Avenue. You will see the new
Behavioral Health Center(R building) on your left.
The Manhattan/Bronx bound train exits at the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Winthrop Street. Do not
cross Nostrand, but proceed along Winthrop to New York Avenue. Turn right onto New York Avenue
and walk one block and turn left onto Clarkson Avenue. The new Behavioral Health Center (R
building) will be on your left.
The northbound subway entrance/exit at Nostrand and Winthrop is the only entrance for Manhattan
and Bronx bound trains for the return trip.
BY CAR
From Long Island and Queens: via Jackie Robinson Parkway. Exit at Bushwick Avenue and
follow Bushwick two or three traffic lights to Eastern Parkway. Make a left onto Eastern Parkway and
continue to Albany Ave. Turn left and continue to Clarkson Avenue, turn right.
Via Belt Parkway: Exit onto North Conduit Boulevard. Continue on North Conduit Boulevard to
Linden Boulevard. Continue on Linden Boulevard to Albany Avenue. Make a right onto Albany Ave.
and go 2 blocks to Kings County Hospital, left on Clarkson Ave.
From Manhattan: Take the Manhattan Bridge onto Flatbush Avenue. Continue on Flatbush to Grand
Army Plaza and ¾ around the traffic circle and head onto Eastern Parkway (the Brooklyn Public
Library will be on your right). Continue on Eastern Parkway to Brooklyn Avenue and make a right
onto Winthrop Street and a left onto New York Avenue and a left onto Clarkson Ave.
From New Jersey and Staten Island: Take the Verrazano Bridge and exit to Route 278, keeping to
the right and following the sign that says “Thru Traffic”. Continue on Route 278 to the Prospect
Expressway. Take the Expressway to the Ft. Hamilton Parkway exit. Follow the exit ramp to the
second traffic light, which is Caton Avenue. Make a left onto Caton and go several miles, passing
Flatbush Avenue. Just past Flatbush, Caton curves to the right and becomes Linden Boulevard.
Continue on Linden and follow to New York Avenue. Make a left on New York Ave and go 2 blocks
to Clarkson Avenue, and the hospital will be on the right.
PARKING: There is a parking lot on Clarkson Ave at the cross street of E. 39th street. There is a fee
for parking. There is also street parking on most of the streets around the hospital, but it is very
difficult to find a spot during morning hours. Check the signs for parking regulations and restrictions.
You can also park nearby at ESP Parking: 324 Clarkson Avenue.
KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
A BUILDING – Suite A1116
451 CLARKSON AVENUE
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11203
Tel:718-245-2579; Fax:718-245-2412
APPLICATION FOR CLINICAL EXTERNSHIP
Name______________________________ Date_________
Home Address__________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________________
E-mail:__________________________________________
Graduate School/Program______________________________ APA Accredited Y
Current year: 2nd
3rd
N
4th
Are you a matriculated candidate for a doctoral degree in Psychology? __________
Anticipated Degree: Ph.D.____ Psy.D.____ Ed.D.____ Other (specify) ___________
Clinical___ Counseling___ School___ Combined (specify) _________________Other (specify)_________
Name of Director of Clinical Training (DCT):___________________________________________________
E-mail & phone # of DCT:_________________________________________________
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE (Check if Yes)
Outpatient INDIV: Child___ Adolescent___ Adult___; Outpatient GROUPS: Child___ Adolescent___ Adult___
Inpatient INDIV: Child___ Adolescent___ Adult___; Inpatient GROUPS: Child___ Adolescent___ Adult___
ER ___; Community Day Treatment Program/Partial Hospitalization Program: Adult ___ Adolescent .___Child ___
Intake___ Family ___ Couples___ Subst. Abuse ___ Crisis Mgmt.___
CLINIC TYPE: Dept. Clinic ___University. Cnslng Ctr. ___ School ___ Forensic ___Community Mental Health Clinic___
Medical Clinic ___ VA_____ Other ___
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
Indicate how many of the following tests you have administered under supervision ( Do not include
practice assessments done as part of coursework)
COGNITIVE: WAIS IV ___ WISC IV/V ___ WPPSI III ___ SB-5___
ACHIEVEMENT: WIAT-III ___ WJ-III ___ PERSONALITY: MMPI-II ___PAI_____
PROJECTIVE: Drawings____ TAT ___ Rorschach (Exner) ___; ADAPTIVE: Vineland-2 ___ ABAS-II ___
OTHER (i.e., Forensic, ADHD, Connors, Neuro, etc.)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
THEORETICAL ORIENTATION (Check all that applies)
Psychodynamic ___
CBT
___
Integrative
___
Behavioral
___
Interpersonal ___
Biological
___
Eclectic
___
Systems
___
Humanistic/Existential___
Other ____________
Please check the track to which you are applying.
Adult _____
Child & Adolescent _____
Is your application complete? Indicate Yes or No
Application Form: Y N
Cover Letter: Y N
Integrated Test Report: Y N
Letters of Recc (2): Y N
CV: Y N
Transcript: Y N
__________________________________
Signature of Applicant
For Office Use Only
Reviewer_________________________
Date____________
Interviewer______________________
SAMPLE INTEGRATED REPORT:
1
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5
LETTERS OF REFERENCE
WRITER
Clinical Supervisor
Director of Clinical Training
Externship Director
University Professor
Dissertation Chair/Research
Practicum Supervisor
Clinic Director
Other (Type)
______________
COMMENTS:
LETTERS
1
2
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