Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship In Psychology

Pediatric Psychology

Interns matched for the Pediatrics area of specialization spend a portion of their internship and postdoctoral time involved in the clinical and/or research activities of that section. Psychology training in Pediatrics includes clinical and research opportunities in multiple settings. During the predoctoral year, the pediatric intern participates in the Child Study Center Family Support Service (FSS) which deliver home-based treatment services to children and families with a broad range of psychological, physical and concrete needs. Many of the children served by the population-specific FSS programs have been affected by abuse, neglect, and severe psychiatric and physical disorders, as well as by chronic or acute physical and mental illness and/or substance abuse of their parents. FSS programs offer a continuum of care including evaluation, assessment, individual psychotherapy, family treatment, parental guidance, medication management and case management and coordination. Program goals are to maintain the child’s relationship with his or her primary caregiver whenever possible, reduce the need for out-of-home placements, and assist the family to provide a safe, stable, and “good enough” environment for each child. The predoctoral Pediatrics Fellow is assigned to the FSS program as for their first year work within the area of specialization.

During the post-doctoral year, the Pediatrics Fellow will become a member of the Child Study Center’s Pediatric Consultation-Liaison Service. The Child Study Center provides all mental health consultations to Yale-New Haven Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. Under the direction child psychiatry and psychology faculty, the Pediatric psychology fellow, child psychiatry fellows, and developmental pediatricians consult to the inpatient wards, Primary Care Clinic, and Pediatric Specialty Clinics. Patients seen by this service are severely disturbed by virtue of their combined medical and psychological disorders. Services provided include staff consultation, diagnostic evaluations, and behavioral and psychotherapeutic interventions. Laurie Cardona, Psy.D. is the Chief Psychologist of this service. Additionally, the post-doctoral fellow may elect to participate in several outpatient pediatric clinics (e.g. craniofacial clinic, oncology). The post-doctoral fellow will take an active role in a pediatric area of research. Key aspects of training will involve the design and implementation of pediatric research, potential grant and manuscript preparation, and academic career preparation.