Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the ABC Early Childhood Program (Columbia University Medical Center)

06 Nov 2023    

Site Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 3 Columbus Circle, NY, NY 10019

Clinical Director: Steve Mazza, PhD.

sjm2187@cumc.columbia.edu

Description of agency mission: Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry is a world-renowned center of excellence in patient care across three partner institutions. Our mission is to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive care to help our patients achieve their goals. The primary aim of this fellowship to provide excellence in evidence-based early childhood treatment within the ABC Early Childhood Program. Fellows receive the clinical supervision needed for licensure.

Description of setting: The fellow will have the opportunity to work at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in our site at 3 Columbus Circle in Midtown Manhattan. The ABC Early Childhood Program provides evidence-based treatments to families of children ages 2-8. We have a PCIT playroom, observation room, and time-out room, as well as several offices available for individual and group therapy. We share our office space and team meetings with the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety & Related Disorders (CUCARD), directed by Drs. Anne Marie Albano and Anthony Puliafico. We utilize a hybrid model that includes both virtual and in-person days.

Length of program & time commitment: This is a one-year clinical fellowship; start date flexible, July 1st to September 1st, 2024 – June to August 2025.

Salary: The fellowship has a salary of $65,000 per year in addition to benefits.

Application Due Date: 12/15/2023

Description of fellowship experience:

• A minimum of two supervisors will provide weekly supervision.
• Fellows will conduct diagnostic evaluations.
• Fellows will conduct evidence-based treatments including: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PCIT Adaptations, Parent Management Training (PMT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
• Fellows will co-lead group psychotherapy, including the transdiagnostic ABC Parenting Group
• Fellows will participate in weekly ABC Team Meetings, Group Supervision, Didactics, and Full Staff Meetings that include both ABC and CUCARD staff.
• Supervision will be provided for psychotherapy, group therapy and diagnostic intakes.
• Fellows will work with and learn from an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and trainees.

Opportunities for specialization include

• Early Childhood Treatment (ages 2-8)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Disruptive Behavior Disorders
• PCIT, PCIT Adaptations, PMT, & CBT
• Transdiagnostic Parenting Groups
• Parenting-Focused Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Outpatient experience: Post-doctoral fellows will have the opportunity to engage in evidence-based, parenting-focused treatment to address a variety of common early childhood disorders including separation anxiety, social anxiety, selective mutism, generalized anxiety, specific phobias, ADHD, ODD, emotion dysregulation, toileting issues, picky eating, sleep training, and more. While the majority of patients are between 2-8 years of age, post-doctoral fellows will also have the opportunity to work with children ages 9-12 with oppositional and comorbid anxious behaviors. Post-doctoral fellows can also participate in group supervision and staff meetings with members of CUCARD and, depending on interest and availability, may treat older children, adolescents, and adults from the CUCARD program.

Supervision arrangements/ratio: The postdoctoral fellow will be provided with a minimum of two hours of supervision for psychotherapy cases and evaluations, including opportunities for co-therapy and live supervision, as well as group supervision and consultation. The fellowship will provide postdoctoral clinical hours and supervision necessary for licensure.

Qualifications: Applicants must have demonstrated interest, experience, and training in evidence-based methods of assessing development and psychopathology in early childhood, and in utilizing empiricallysupported parent training paradigms. Strong preference will be given to individuals with experience or certification in PCIT. Candidates with additional experience in PMT, exposure therapy, parenting groups, and PCIT adaptations are desired. Opportunities to become certified in PCIT and trained in PCIT adaptations are available. The ABC Early Childhood Program currently has three PCIT Within Agency Trainers on staff. Applicants should have strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work well across disciplines, and function effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Qualified applicants should hold a PhD or PsyD from an APA-approved clinical psychology program, with completion of an APA approved internship.

Diversity: As a department, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive faculty and clinical service. We recognize that different backgrounds and experiences help to strengthen our department and provide better care. As part of your cover letter, if you choose, we welcome you to share how your personal and professional backgrounds would contribute to our department and mission.

To apply: Please send a cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation to Steve Mazza, PhD (sjm2187@cumc.columbia.edu). See our website for more information about the ABC Program: columbiadoctors.org/abc-early-childhood-program