The Iona College Counseling Center provides ongoing individual, group and couples counseling to undergraduate and graduate students of Iona College. Externs gain experience in working with individuals with a wide range of presenting concerns and clinical diagnoses. Because the Iona College Counseling Center does not impose session limits, externs have the opportunity to engage in both short-term and long-term treatment. The externship is designed to provide training in conducting clinical interviews, providing psychotherapy and making case presentations. In addition, externs gain experience in the assessment of alcohol and other drug problems as they relate to college students. Externs rotate to a different supervisor midway through the externship in order to gain expertise in using a variety of theoretical approaches in psychotherapy. Our externship program provides weekly didactic seminars on topics of clinical interest, including emerging issues relevant to the treatment of a college student population. Externs participate in weekly individual and group supervision, and they have the opportunity to gain experience in designing and presenting psychoeducational workshops. In sum, our externship program offers intensive clinical training and experience within a supportive, collegial environment.

Who We Are

Most of the clients seen at the Counseling Center are self-referred and therefore, very motivated to engage in psychotherapy. In addition, because the Counseling Center has earned an excellent reputation within the Iona College community, many of its constituents refer students to us. The Center is highly regarded for its professionalism, strict adherence to confidentiality and its warm and welcoming environment. Clients of the Center often seek help for the following concerns:

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Self-injurious behavior
• Grief and loss trauma
• Unhealthy relationships
• Interpersonal difficulties
• Autism spectrum disorders

Supervision

Supervision is provided by doctoral level senior staff members. Externs receive one hour of individual supervision weekly as well as one hour of group supervision weekly. The senior staff have expertise in a variety of theoretical orientations including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal psychology, and trauma theory. Externs are encouraged to adopt their own personal style for conducting psychotherapy during their externship year. The opportunity to audio and videotape sessions is available on site in order to enhance training.

Training and Professional Development

Training and professional development will be provided each week via in-house case conferences and in-service training with professional speakers representing a variety of specializations. All externs receive training in clinical interviewing, suicide assessment and crisis management, conducting mental status examinations and assessment for alcohol and other drug abuse. Externs are invited to make suggestions for clinical topics that they are particularly interested in learning more about.

Externship Requirements

Activity	Hours
Direct clinical service	8
Individual Supervision	1
Group Supervision	1
In service Training/Case conference	2
Administration	1
Approximately	13 hours per week

Externs will be expected to provide individual and group counseling services to Iona students, participate in individual and group supervision, be present for all in-service training and case conferences, and participate in psychoeducational outreach development and programming.

Applying to the Externship

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, a CV and two letters of reference from professionals familiar with their work. Candidates should consult their Directors of Clinical Training regarding the start date for submitting applications, or go to psychpracticum.fdu.edu and search Iona College for additional information. Applications should be mailed or emailed to:

Ismini Georgiades, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Training
Iona College Counseling Center
715 North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10801
(914) 633-2038/2039
Fax: (914) 637-7787
E-Mail:igeorgiades@iona.edu

Additional information about the Counseling Center and the Externship can be obtained through our website or by calling our office at 914-633-2038.