ihi therapy institute

Graduate School Internships and Externships
ihi offers a fully rounded program of internships and externships for second year social work students (MSW) and second, third or fourth year psychology and counseling students (PhD, PsyD).

Our university affiliations include Columbia, Fordham, Hunter, John Jay College- CUNY, Long Island University, NYU, Yeshiva, among other graduate social work, psychology and counseling programs.

The internship/externship program includes experience in providing psychotherapy, individual and group supervision, a seminar program with guest lecturers, and experience in counseling and community outreach. If interested please consult your school and call Russell Needham, LCSW, our Student Program Coordinator.

Conferences
ihi periodically conducts conferences on mental health issues that include workshops, forums, and plenary sessions. Previous conferences have addressed such issues as Confronting Religious Beliefs, Attitudes to Sexual Practices, Bisexuality Issues for Psychotherapy, Treatment of Self-Injurious Behaviors, Perspectives on Gay Male Development and other topics.

Among conference co-sponsors have been the International School for Mental Health Practitioners, John Jay College - CUNY, GMHC, and other organizations. CE credits are usually available for conference attendees.

Call or email us to be placed on our mailing list for announcements of upcoming programs and calls for papers.

Clinical Seminars
Clinical seminars for mental health professionals are offered on special topics including sexual orientation, gender issues, new therapy techniques among others. Past series have included:

Psychotherapy perspectives on Gender, Transgender and Beyond
Therapeutic Modalities working with LGBT Persons
The LGBT Family: Issues and Psychotherapy
Dynamic Issues in Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Development

Sunday Brunch Seminars
Every spring ihi offers a series of free brunch seminars for staff and professional friends/associates of ihi on topics related to mental health. This year’s seminars included a Reiki Healing Circle, Motivational Interviewing, and Life Coaching. We welcome both those who wish to attend and to present.

Postgraduate Training Programs
ihi, in cooperation with the International School for Mental Health Professionals (ISMHP) provides advanced postgraduate training for mental health professionals leading to certification in selected specialties. Completion of training leads to certificates from ISMHP and ihi. Courses carry credit towards the doctorate in Mental Health Studies offered by the joint program of Ignatius University and Sofia University for matriculated students.

Certificate Program in Psychotherapy
The psychotherapy training program consists of three tracks, each of one year’s duration. This program is designed to provide professionals with a broad background in the variety of approaches and techniques available today, rather than narrowly specializing in one theoretical approach. Graduating students who complete the program will have an understanding of the various modalities that have proven track records in dealing with specific problems and competency in applying them in their practice. Matriculated students can obtain a certificate in each specialized track, as well as a special certificate in psychotherapy upon completion of all three tracks. Some courses carry CE credits, and can be applied towards the PhD program in Mental Health studies offered conjointly by Ignatius University and Sofia University.

Track I: Fundamentals of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
This track consists of four courses, as follows:
- Psychoanalytic Theories- Freud through Ego Psychology
- Object Relations, Self Psychology and Interpersonal Psychology
- Application of Psychoanalytic Techniques
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Theory and Practice

Track II: Clinical Internship
This track has two components:
- Weekly two hour seminars on clinical topics, both theoretical and applied
- Assignment of therapy clients with ongoing supervision
Prerequisites for Track II are successful completion of Track I, or its equivalent.

Track III: Advanced Clinical Specialities
Students must complete 4 of the following seminars:
- Advanced seminar in psychoanalytic techniques (transference,
countertransference, resistance, dreams, etc.)
- Advanced seminar in CBT techniques
- Special issues working with LGBTQ clients (internalized homophobia, diagnostic issues related to gender and sexual orientation, etc.)
- Queer Theory: Implications for Psychoanalytic Theory and Practice
- Psychopharmacology in Psychotherapy
- Addiction and substance abuse
- International trends in psychotherapy
- Psychodynamics in supervision
- Couple, group and family therapy

Becoming a Supervisor
The psychotherapy supervision training program extends psychotherapists’ expertise to supervision by providing candidates with didactic seminars on the process of supervision that are integrated with concurrent supervisory practice and supervision of their supervisory work. The seminars and supervision are eclectic in orientation with an emphasis on psychodynamic and relational approaches. Candidates who complete the one year didactic program and the two year practicum program will be eligible for consideration as ihi staff supervisor.

Training Program Elements:

Seminars on the Supervisory Process, including Psychodynamics in the
Supervisory Relationship.
Transference and Countertransference Paradigms in the Theory and Practice of Supervision
Supervision, Administrative, Ethical and Legal Aspects of Supervision.
Candidate’s weekly supervision of a therapist’s caseload
Group supervision of the candidate’s supervisory practice
Case presentation at the end of the training year.

Eight didactic seminars are conducted during the first year. The candidate’s supervisory practice is continuous for one year, and group supervision is conducted on a weekly basis for 40 weeks. Candidates make their own arrangements for the supervisory practice, or are assigned a supervisee from the ihi staff. The practicum, supervising a therapist’s caseload, is extended into the second year, during which time supervision of the candidate’s work can be arranged as needed.

Eligibility Requirements
Graduation from a postgraduate training program in psychotherapy or its equivalent with two years of supervised psychotherapy experience and two years of personal psychotherapy.

Supervision for Licensure
This individualized program is intended for therapists who require additional hours of supervised psychotherapy experience to qualify for licensing. The program is tailored to individual needs, and can include individual supervision, group supervision, and supervision with supervisors of varying orientations.

Postgraduate Faculty

Beverly Decker, CSW
Miriam Colbert Ehrenberg, PhD
Amy A. Hecht, PhD
Suzanne Iasenza, PhD
Katherine Rachlin, PhD
Florence Rosiello, PhD
Albert Sbordone, PhD, CSW
Charles Silverstein, PhD
Lee Zevy, CSW

Administration
Otto Ehrenberg, PhD, Director of Training, the institute for human identity
Anthony J. DeLuca, PhD, Dean, International School for Mental Health Practitioners.

For further information call Dr. Otto Ehrenberg at 212/243-2830.