Elective Training

The Ferkauf Older Adult Program (FOAP) offers didactic coursework and clinical training experiences in the newly emerging field of clinical gero-psychology. The FOAP is a member of the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs (www.copgtp.org) and was the recipient of the CoPGTP "Innovative Training Award" in 2014. The Ferkauf Older Adult Program's externship was also filmed as part of an APA video series promoting psychologists' roles in delivering behavioral health interventions in primary care. Ferkauf's program, which incorporates specialized training in the treatment of older adults within a primary care setting, was one of six programs included in the series and was the sole program focused on primary care geropsychology. The video highlights the collaboration of the Ferkauf Older Adult Program and Jacobi Medical Center. 

The development of the Ferkauf Older Adult Program was spearheaded by one-year (2002-2003) and three-year (2003-2006) Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) grant awards from the Bureau of Health Professions (US-DHHS) for training in clinical gero-psychology. The training grant established Ferkauf as one of seven sites in the United States, and the only site in the New York metropolitan area to provide programmatic doctoral-level training to psychology graduate students in clinical work with the elderly. The training program is a collaborative effort of the faculty of the Ferkauf Graduate School, Montefiore Hospital, and Jacobi Hospital Medical Center.

Ferkauf doctoral students who seek preliminary training in the assessment and psychological treatment of older adults have varied options regarding specialty coursework and/or supervised clinical training with older adults.  For example, students may elect to take one gero-psychology course or treat one older adult patient through the onsite Parnes Clinic (PDF) with supervision from an experienced gero-psychology supervisor, or immerse themselves more fully into the gero-psychology training program through pursuing a Gero-psychology Concentration or Minor.

The Gero-psychology Minor and the Gero-psychology Concentration both require coursework and practicum training focused on aging, but differ in that the Concentration requires research training dedicated to the field of aging. Students who seek a Gero-psychology Minor must take Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults, which provides an overview of issues critical to the diagnosis and psychological treatment of psychological problems in older adults. Students must also take two other courses in gero-psychology from the list under 'Coursework" below for a total of at least nine credits, and receive advanced clinical training through a one-year clinical gero-psychology externship, either through the Ferkauf Older Adult Program (FOAP) or an outside program approved by the FOAP director. The Gero-psychology Concentration follows the guidelines of the APA Council of Specialties' definition of a "Major Area of Study". The concentration thus requires completion of two research seminar courses (total 15 credits of coursework; see list below) and a clinical aging empirical research project, in addition to fulfilling the requirements for the gero-psychology minor. 

Several courses are available to students seeking exposure to gero-psychology training.  These courses are listed below and open to all students unless exceptions are noted. 

Gero-psychology Minor (9 credits)

All students interested in the Gero-psychology Minor must take the one-semester course titled Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults, (PSC 6448, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits) as well as two other courses in gero-psychology (6 credits) from the following list: 

1. Neuroscience of Human Behavior, Cognition, and Affect  (PSH 6014, 3 credits)
2. Gero-psychology Practicum I and II (PSC 6449 & 6550, Dr. Richard Zweig, 1.5 credits each - 3 credits total)
3. Research in Depression & Personality Disorders in Older Adults I (PSC 6529, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits)
4. Research in Depression & Personality Disorder in Older Adults II (PSC 6530, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits)  (pre-requisite is item 3)
5. Geriatric Neuropsych Lab (PSC 6449L & 6450L, Dr. Erica Weiss, 1.5 credits)*
6. Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology I (PSH 6011, 3 credits)**
7. Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology II (PSH 6012, 3 credits)**

*Please note that Geriatric Neuropsych Lab is open to participants in the FOAP gero-psychology externship ONLY

**Please note that 6 and 7 are only open to students pursuing the Neuropsychology minor (PDF)

Gero-Psychology Concentration (15 credits)

• Introductory:
  1. Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults, (PSC 6448, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits)
  2. Neuroscience of Human Behavior, Cognition, and Affect (PSH 6014, 3 credits)
  3. Gero-psychology Practicum I and II (PSC 6449 & 6550, Dr. Richard Zweig, 1.5 credits each - 3 credits total)
• Research:
  1. Research in Depression & Personality Disorders in Older Adults I (PSC 6529, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits)
  2. Research in Depression & Personality Disorder in Older Adults II (PSC 6530, Dr. Richard Zweig, 3 credits)  (pre-requisite is Research in Depression & Personality Disorder in Older Adults I)
• Advanced:
  1. Geriatric Neuropsych Lab (PSC 6449L & 6450L, 1.5 credits each - 3 credits total)*
  2. Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology I (PSH 6011, 3 credits)**
  3. Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology II (PSH 6012, 3 credits)**

*Please note that Geriatric Neuropsych Lab is open to participants in the FOAP gero-psychology externship ONLY

**Please note that Intro to Clinical Neuropsych I, II  are only open to students pursuing the Neuropsychology minor (PDF)

Ferkauf students interested in Gero-psychology training have varied options for practicum experience through the Ferkauf Older Adult Program. Students can apply to the Ferkauf Older Adult Program externship which provides didactic training as well as clinical training at three sites: Jacobi Medical Center, the University-based Parnes Clinic, and the Montefiore Neuropsychology-Bainbridge. Alternatively, students seeking a trial gero-psychology training experience have to option to treat one to two older patients in the Parnes Clinic. All students treating older adult patients are supervised by faculty with expertise in clinical gero-psychology, which may be obtained by participating in the gero-psychology practicum I and II (lab- group supervision). Students interested in the Gero-psychology Concentration or Minor may fulfill the advanced one-year clinical training requirement through participation in the FOAP externship or an externship outside of Ferkauf that emphasizes clinical work with the older adult population (pending final approval by the FOAP director, Dr. Zweig).

The FOAP externship is open only to Ferkauf doctoral students in the Clinical-Adult or Clinical- Health Emphasis programs. Clinical training in primary care psychology, outpatient psychotherapy, and neuropsychology is provided at three sites: Jacobi Medical Center, the University-based Parnes Clinic, and Montefiore Neuropsychology-Bainbridge.

Primary Care Psychology Training at Jacobi Medical Center: In an innovative effort to provide the most disadvantaged elderly with comprehensive mental health care, the program emphasizes pairing psychology trainees with medical residents to optimize integrated mental health service delivery to older adults in a primary care setting. The externship also highlights training in evidence-based techniques for psychological problems of older adults, including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and family-systems psychotherapy.

The overall goals of the one-year clinical gero-psychology externship practicum include:

• Didactic training in mental health and aging
• Interdisciplinary training in the principles and practice of gero-psychological assessment, psychotherapeutic intervention and consultation
• Training in the provision of culturally sensitive interventions to ethnically diverse and disadvantaged older adults

The FOAP externship program includes the following sites and training activities:

• Ferkauf Graduate School, Yeshiva University coursework: Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults, Gero-psychology Practicum, and Geriatric NeuroPsych Lab
• Jacobi Medical Center, Adult Primary Care Clinic: training in diagnostic interviewing and brief psychotherapy with culturally diverse and disadvantaged elderly, as well as consultation to primary care staff (Thursday afternoons)
• Montefiore Neuropsychology-Bainbridge: training in assessment of functional disability and its relationship to cognition in older adults (one half day per week)
• Parnes Clinic (University Clinic), Ferkauf Graduate School: Training in diagnostic interviewing, psychological assessment and individual psychotherapy.  Externs will typically treat a caseload of two to four older adult patients in the Parnes Clinic. This caseload is separate from the psychodynamic or CBT caseload.
• Clinical Supervision: Individual and/or group supervision is provided for all clinical training experiences by faculty with advanced training and/or experience in clinical gero-psychology. Additionally, as a collaborative training endeavor, the Ferkauf Older Adult Program features interdisciplinary instruction from faculty representing the Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry of Jacobi Medical Center and the Montefiore Health System.  
• Services are provided in person for most training responsibilities. Supervision is at times in person and other times virtual.

According to the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs, "Geropsychologists" are psychologists with knowledge, skill, training, and experience related to the aging process who specialize in assessment and intervention with older persons.  Gero-psychologist(s) affiliated with a professional gero-psychology training program should themselves have been trained in a program that is recognized as providing training in core elements of gero-psychology at one or more of the following levels of training: graduate school, internship, and/or post-doctoral level.  At the training director's discretion a combination of independent learning experiences and 5 years practice in an applied gero-psychology setting(s) may substitute for this requirement.

FOAP Externs must enroll in the following during externship year if not already taken:

• Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults for one semester (3 credits)
• Gero-psychology Practicum I and II for two semesters (1.5 credits each)
• Geriatric NeuroPsych Lab I and II for two semesters (1.5 credits each)

Sample FOAP extern schedule (schedule varies)

• Mondays 10:00 am - 2:30 pm  Neuropsychological Assessment at Montefiore Neuropsychology-Bainbridge
• Monday 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm Geriatric NeuroPsych Lab (Group Supervision)
• Tuesday 8:30 am - 10:00 am Gero-psychology Practicum (Group Supervision)
• Thursday 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Jacobi Medical Center, Adult Primary Care Clinic
• Parnes patient schedule (4 hrs) is flexible and based on student and patient availability
• Weekly individual supervision time based on student and supervisor availability

Externship Application Procedures:
Prior gero-psychology-related course work is strongly recommended. Eligible students are entering third or fourth year. Runs September-August, 16 hours/week. Application deadline follows APPIC guidelines. Send letter of interest, CV, transcript, two reference letters and work sample (test report, intake, etc.) to Richard Zweig, Director, Ferkauf Older Adult Program, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Rousso Building, 1165 Morris Park Avenue, Room 125, Bronx, NY 10461. E-mail: richard.zweig@yu.edu; telephone: 646.592.4349.

Third- or fourth-year doctoral students seeking a trial gero-psychology training experience may elect to treat an older patient in the Ferkauf Parnes Clinic (PDF).  Such students should make this preference known to the Parnes Clinic Director, Dr. Bill Salton, and Dr. Zweig early in the training year. All students treating older adult patients will be supervised by faculty with expertise in clinical gero-psychology, which may be obtained by participating in the Gero-psychology Practicum (group supervision).  Should clinical gero-psychology faculty not be available, students are advised to consult with Dr. Zweig and the Director of the Parnes Clinic before choosing an alternate supervisor.

Dr. Zweig's current research is focused on relationships between personality pathology, depression, and social functioning in older adults.  Recent research interests have also included risk and protective factors related to psychopathology and functional decline in older adults, and doctoral level training in mental health and aging.  Students interested in clinical research in aging must enroll in the two-semester research seminar, Research in Depression and Personality Disorders in Older Adults (PSC 6529 & 6530) with Dr. Zweig.  This enrollment eventually leads to Doctoral Research Projects I and II.

• Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults
  PSC 6448 (Dr. Richard Zweig)
  This course provides a didactic overview of issues critical to the diagnosis and psychotherapeutic treatment of psychological problems in older adults, as well as a forum for case discussion of psychotherapy with the older patient. Theoretical and empirical research in gero-psychology will be reviewed, including topics such as: The psychology of normal aging & diversity in the aging process; Foundations of gero-psychological assessment; Psychopathology in older adulthood; Consultation with families and in interdisciplinary settings; Psychotherapeutic treatment models, modalities, and approaches for older adults in varied treatment settings. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of the conceptual and empirical underpinnings of the practice of Clinical Gero-psychology.
• Neuroscience of Human Behavior, Cognition, and Affect (PSA 6014, 3 credits) 
  The course will provide overview of cognitive and affective function in humans by reviewing the structure and function of the central nervous system.  Integrating different disciplines including cognitive psychology, neuropsychology and the cognitive neurosciences to examine classic and current literature pertaining to normal and abnormal cognitive and affective function.  The course will cover complex cognitive functions including but not limited to attention, memory, language, and executive control as well as the neuroanatomical substrate underlying these functions.  In addition, mechanisms involved in regulation of emotions and affect in normal and diseased populations will be covered.
• Research in Depression and Personality Disorders in Older Adults I and II
  PSC 6529 & 6530 (Dr. Richard Zweig)
  The first half of this year-long research seminar reviews theoretical models and empirical research on the transaction between depression and personality disorder in the elderly. Students learn to identify core issues in the diagnostic assessment of depression and personality disorder in older adults, describe the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors in contributing to psychopathology in older adulthood, and to develop enhanced critical thinking skills in the evaluation of clinical research.  The second half of the course focuses on broadening understanding of personality in later life as viewed from developmental and social-cognitive perspectives, as well as research methods used to examine personality traits, processes and disorders. Students continue to hone skills in the critical analysis of empirical research, and develop a comprehensive review of research in the areas of depression, personality disorder, or social/interpersonal functioning in older adulthood.
• Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology I and II
  PSH 6011 & 6012

This two-semester didactic sequence constitutes an integral component of the Minor in Clinical Neuropsychology. Concurrent with the course work students are required to complete a formal year-long externship in Clinical Neuropsychology.  Specifically, this course is designed to introduce the student to the field of Adult Clinical Neuropsychology.  Emphasis will be placed on both theoretical and practical aspects of neuropsychological assessment. With respect to theory, the course will cover historical aspects, basic concepts and principles, and methodological issues inherent in neuropsychological assessment.  Additionally, students will learn how to administer neuropsychological tests, score, conceptualize and write neuropsychological reports.  Some of the class time will be devoted to supervision and case presentations of clinical cases.

Practicum Courses

• Gero-psychology Practicum I and II
  PSC 6449 & 6550 (Dr. Richard Zweig)
  Year-long advanced seminar & group supervision lab for gero-psychology practicum trainees and students seeing older adults in the University clinic, covering topics which may include: (a) Biological, cognitive, developmental, and social psychological aspects of aging; (b) Prevalence, course, and outcome of psychopathology in later life; (c) Special issues bearing on the diagnostic and psychological assessment of older adults; (d) Special issues regarding the application of psychotherapeutic interventions to older adults of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds; (e) Gero-psychology consultation liaison within a primary care setting. This course (lab) is intended to have an applied focus, and has as its premise is that what makes working with older adults distinct is not the techniques you would employ, but the knowledge that informs your choices regarding assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Geriatric Neuropsych Lab I and II
  PSC 6449L & 6450L (Dr. Erica Weiss)
  The Seminar hour will serve a variety of purposes as the year unfolds.  In the beginning we will focus on training and didactic issues.  As the year progresses, we will focus more on supervision of the assessment experiences.  The weekly four hour NP Assessment period will allow you to gain practical experience with NP assessment.  In the beginning of the year, this time will be spent observing the current Geriatric Neuropsychology Research Assistants.  You will transition to an independent NP Tester as the year progresses.

A highlight of our program is the degree and quality of supervision students receive in the Gero-psychology Practicum. Core and adjunct clinical supervisors with extensive training in gero-psychology and related fields provide intensive clinical supervision to students.

Each student participating in FOAP practicum training receives at least four hours of weekly supervision: one hour in an individual format and three hours in a group format. Individual supervision is provided off-site by a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized experience in gero-psychology. Group supervision is provided onsite in two weekly, hour and a half "labs": the Gero-Psychology Practicum and the Geriatric Neuropsych Lab. The labs consist of approximately 3-6 students and are led by the site coordinator or the FOAP Director, Dr. Zweig.  Students in the Adult Clinical PsyD program are simultaneously enrolled in the Psychodynamic or CBT Individual Psychotherapy Practicum depending on their elected practicum tracks.

Director, Ferkauf Older Adult Program: Richard Zweig, Ph.D., ABPP

Core Gero-Psychology Faculty for Parnes Clinic

• Angel Mak, PsyD
• Patricia Marino, PhD
• Karen Somary, PhD

Gero-Psychology Affiliated Faculty

• Steven R. Hahn, MD
• Varsha Narasimhan, MD
• Erica Weiss, PhD

    Parnes FOAP Adjunct Supervisors

• Ayden Ferstenberg, PsyD
• David Freedman, PsyD
• Sandy Krohn, PsyD
• Jessica Lubitz, PsyD
• Amanda Parker, PhD
• Ilana Pomerantz, PsyD
• Bruna Rieder, PsyD
• Stephanie Dorensen, PsyD
• Karen Somary, PhD

For more information about the Ferkauf Older Adult Program or if you are a professional who is interested in joining our supervisory team, please call 646.592.4345 or e-mail us at Richard.Zweig@yu.edu.

To make a patient referral or schedule an intake evaluation to the Gero-psychology Program of the Parnes Clinic, please contact the Parnes Clinic main office at 646.592.4399

The Clinical PsyD Program at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology offers specialty training in Couples and Family therapy, which involves didactic coursework and clinical training via externship opportunities. Students may take an intensive seminar that provides training on systemic theory and technique. Students also learn several systemic approaches in the treatment of families and couples.

• Concepts in Couples and Family Therapy

Students in the doctoral programs have the option of completing the requirements for a minor in Clinical Neuropsychology. The training in Clinical Neuropsychology is consistent with the educational and training guidelines recommended by Division 40 of the APA and the Houston Conference. Core courses in assessment, interviewing, psychopathology, therapy, statistics, and biological basis of behavior must be completed before students begin their training in the Clinical Neuropsychology Concentration. Successful completion of the courses “Science of Cognitive and Affective Function” and Physiological Psychology” also serves as a pre-requisite for admissions to the minor.  Then, concurrent with the two-semester didactic sequence (Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology I and II) students are required to complete a formal year-long externship in Clinical Neuropsychology.  The course in Psychopharmacology may be taken in parallel or subsequent to completion of the above year-long didactic sequence.   

As discussed above, the following courses are required for the minor:

• PSA 6930 Physiological Psychology
• PSH 6014 Science of Cognitive and Affective Function
• PSH 6011 Clinical Neuropsychology I
• PSH 6012 Clinical Neuropsychology II
• PSA 6071 Psychopharmacology

Students with a particular interest in trauma may pursue concentrated and intensive study in this area. The Clinical PsyD Program at Ferkauf offers specialty training in trauma. This program focuses on furthering knowledge and research in trauma, training students in theoretical models, research and treatment. The program provides training in both individual and cultural trauma (e.g., genocide), understanding factors that increase vulnerability and risk for developing and maintaining post-traumatic conditions, the impact of violence against women, and on evidence-based treatment for traumatized population. Students may choose to conduct research and/or receive clinical training in trauma.

Students have the opportunity to learn how to comprehensively assess trauma using a combination of measures. They also learn how to conceptualize cases and formulate treatment plans, and implement and conduct strategies through the use of simulated exercises, role-plays, illustrative case examples and videotapes. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to treat individuals suffering from trauma through the CBT program.

Students have the opportunity to conduct clinical research in trauma through several two-semester research seminars that eventually lead to Doctoral Research Projects I and II.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression I and II
(6470 and 6471) Lata K. McGinn, PhD

• Theory and Research in Anxiety and Depression I and II
  (PSC 6474 and 6475) Lata K. McGinn, PhD

• Dr. Carl Auerbach
• Dr. Lata K. McGinn

Students in the doctoral programs have the option to complete requirements for minors in the following areas:

• Clinical Neuropsychology
• Clinical Health Psychology
• Gero-Psychology
• Research Methodology and Statistics
• Addictions

Students are eligible to declare a minor once they have completed all courses required for the minor and any required externships and/or research projects.  A Minor Declaration Form should be signed by the minor’s coordinator and returned to the Office of the Registrar.  A grade of B+ or higher is required in all minor related courses in order to satisfy the requirements of the minor.

Overview: Students in the Psy.D doctoral programs are eligible to take a minor in Clinical Health Psychology. This requires taking three courses: PSH 6371 Research Methods in Clinical Health Psychology; PSH 6421 Health and Addictions; and PSH 6935 Social Dimensions of Public Health. A health psychology externship (minimum experience of 9 months of applied supervised training for at least 10 hours per week) or a research project completes the requirements. 

The objectives of study in the minor are to:

• Introduce the student to the field of Clinical Health Psychology;
• Cover the basic principles, concepts, and methodological issues in research and practice in Clinical Health Psychology;
• Introduce the student to the major conditions in which Clinical Health Psychologists have been active; and
• Earn some experience in research or clinical practice in Health Psychology.

Advisor: Dr. Roee Holtzer

The Ferkauf Older Adult Program (FOAP) offers a minor in the newly emerging field of Clinical Geropsychology comprised of didactic coursework and clinical training experiences. Students who seek a minor in Clinical Geropsychology must complete 6 credits (see below) to meet the didactic coursework requirement; one of these must include PSC6448 Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults, an overview of issues critical to the diagnosis and psychological treatment of psychological problems in older adults. The advanced clinical training requirements may be satisfied through participation in an externship that emphasizes supervised clinical work with older adults (minimum experience of nine (9) months of applied supervised training for at least ten (10) hours per week). 

Required Coursework:

• PSC6448 Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults

One of the following courses:

• PSH6014 Science of Cognitive and Affective Function
• PSC6449, 6450 Gero-psychology Lab I&II
• PSC6529 Research in Depression & Personality Disorders in Older Adults I
• PSC6530 Research in Depression & Personality Disorders in Older Adults II
• PSH 6011, 6012 Clinical Neuropsychology I & II**
• PSC 6449L/6450L Geriatric Neuropsychology Practicum I & II* (0 credits)

*Please note that PSC6449L/6450L is open to participants in the FOAP gero-psychology externship ONLY

**Please note that PSH6011/6012 are only open to students pursuing the Neuropsychology concentration

Advisor: Dr. Richard Zweig

The Research Methodology and Statistics Minor will give students an opportunity to gain advanced didactic and applied training in research methodology and statistics in the behavioral sciences. Students must take PSA6280 Statistics I and PSH6283 Statistics II as prerequisites to the concentration.  Students will then take coursework in advanced statistics, building upon their background in statistics (PSH6284), epidemiology (PSH6935), qualitative research (PSA6289), and test construction (PSH6321).  Students will also practice advanced research methodology and statistics skills through an applied project consisting of either an academic research project, an abstract submitted to a conference, or a peer-reviewed publication, and a paper describing the methodology used in the study.

Advisor: Dr. Elizabeth Seng

Students in the doctoral programs have the option of completing a minor in Addictions.  The Addictions Minor requires the completion of the three courses (listed below) which will provide the students with training related to clinical work in addictions (e.g., assessment, treatment), research (statistical analysis of addiction-related data), and the association of addictions to health. To fulfill the requirements of the minor, students must also complete one of the following: (1) a clinical externship with an emphasis on clinical work in addictions or (2) a research project focused on addictions.  The externship and research project must be approved by the minor advisors.

The following courses are required to complete the Addictions Minor:

• Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (PSYC6484) – Students in this course will learn about the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) and comorbid conditions in population-representative, community, and clinical samples. Students also will learn about biopsychosocial correlates of SUDS as well as a wide variety of evidence-based treatment approaches for SUDs including harm reduction approaches, motivational interviewing approaches, and community-based approaches. 
• Health and Addictions (PSH6421) – Students in this course will learn about the relationship between a range of addictive substances and physical health (e.g., health consequences of substance use; the association of use to the development, course, and outcomes of health conditions).
• Applied Statistics in Health (PSH6284) – This course is designed to review basic concepts of quantitative methods in psychology, as well as introduce advanced topics in biostatistics and epidemiology, with a focus on applying these quantitative methods to scenarios commonly encountered in health care settings projects for this class must have an emphasis on addictions research and should be approved by one of the minor advisors.