Interested applicants may attend any Program training session with pre-approval of the Program Director.

FAMILY THERAPY IN A CLINICAL SETTING

The Family Therapy Program is a specialized training program for beginning therapists. Trainees in this program see a varied clientele for individual, couple and family therapy. Although the program emphasizes a family systems perspective in clinical practice, students receive extensive training in psychosocial assessment, DSM diagnoses, and the clinical application of Bowen and other supportive interventions, systems, and theories. Trainees in this program will work as co-therapists when seeing clients at the Counseling Center.  Clients are seen at our counseling center, residential treatment centers, outpatient facilities, schools, and in other settings as arranged by the Counseling Center.  All sessions are videotaped to maximize training, supervision and client care. Students receive group and peer supervision and one hour of training each week. Phillips Graduate Institute School Counseling students (MFT/PPS) are able to acquire fieldwork supervision hours for both academic programs.

Students meet on Friday mornings (9AM-1PM) for training and group supervision. The first few meetings are all-day training sessions (8:30AM-4:30PM). Trainees are required to see clients on Friday afternoons or other day or evening times during the week.

Openings available: 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor: Judy Davis, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 
(818) 386-5687, or email jdavis@pgi.edu

To download a Traineeship application, click here.

LATINO FAMILY THERAPY

The Latino Family Therapy Program is an integral part of the Spanish-speaking services provided by the Phillips Counseling Center to the predominately Latino communities in the San Fernando Valley. Trainees need to know conversational Spanish since the therapy and supervision are conducted in Spanish. Trainees participating in this program are able to raise their proficiency in Spanish and learn clinical use of the language. Clients of the program are seen through a collaborative approach that includes co-therapy care, direct observation of treatment sessions and the use of reflecting teams. Clients are seen at our counseling center, residential treatment centers, outpatient facilities, schools, and in other settings that may be arranged by the Counseling Center.  There are two major emphases in the program; first, the clinical application of family systems theories with Latino clients and families, and second, the cultural integration of family dynamics and personal behavior in clinical assessment and practice. 

Trainees meet Wednesday evenings (5:15PM-9:30PM) for training, clinical in vivo observation, and group supervision. Additional daytime, evening or Saturday hours are required to see clients, 6 hours minimum. Trainees must attend the Latino Behavioral Health Institute's annual conference at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown on September 24, 2012, from 8am-5pm and pay the registration fee; last year it was $75.

Openings available: up to 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor: Jose Luis Flores, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 
(818) 386-5651, or email jlflores@pgi.edu

To download a Traineeship application, click here.

SCHOOL-BASED CHILD THERAPY

SCHOOL-BASED CHILD THERAPY
The School-Based Child Therapy Program has been an ongoing program at the Counseling Center for over 35 years and provides school-based counseling services to local schools.  The program specializes in child therapy from different theoretical perspectives such as Behavioral, Cognitive Behavioral, Postmodern, and Humanistic/Existential, within a systemic perspective of the child's school and family.  This program focuses on a collaboration of ideas, lessons and activities which help trainees work with children and adolescents, both individually and in groups, through issues that include divorce, grief and loss, anger management, bullying and self-esteem. One component of this program is The Social Skills/Violence Prevention Program, through which therapists provide social skills training to groups of children as well as individual counseling to children and their families. Throughout the year, therapists will be trained in assessment, DSM diagnosis, treatment planning, session note writing, and legal and ethical issues. 

Students meet in the summer on Tuesdays for training (10AM-2PM).  In the fall and spring, students meet on Mondays (2PM-5PM) or (4PM-7PM) for training and group supervision, as well as one six hour day during the week at their assigned school.

This program provides children and family hours for MFT as well as MFT/PPS and MFT/Art Therapy students.

Openings available: 16-24

Program Director: Fereshteh Mazdyasni, M.A., LMFT (818) 386-5676, or email fmazdyasni@pgi.edu

   
To download a Traineeship application, click here.

POSTMODERN THERAPY IN A CLINICAL SETTING

The Postmodern Therapy in a Clinical Setting Program is a specialized training that engages collaborative, client-centered therapy in a variety of clinical settings. Postmodern therapy leads with a resource-oriented lens, viewing clients as full of possibility, identifying client strengths and working collaboratively toward solutions in the client's life. Trainees will learn to develop specialized ways of listening and questioning that generate preferred client change and transformation.Supervision will focus on the practical application of narrative and solution-focused practices in working with individuals, couples and families in the clinical setting. Throughout the year, trainees will learn to effectively communicate with peers from different theoretical orientations when discussing assessments, DSM diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation and legal and ethical issues. Trainees will work with clients as co-therapists with other trainees and interns, and as reflecting team members. Clients are seen at our counseling center, in residential treatment centers, outpatient facilities, schools, and in other settings throughout the Los Angeles area, arranged in collaboration with the Counseling Center.

Trainees will simultaneously enroll in the Phillips Postmodern intensive training course (#650A, B & C).This three-semester course will focus on exploring the philosophy, ideas, practices and applications of Postmodern Therapies through experiential exercises, readings, reflecting teamwork and videotapes.

Registration for the class is through the Continuing Education/Extension Division of Phillips or for academic credit through the Registrars Office. Supervision and training will be Monday (11AM-2PM).The training course (650 series) taught by Frank Baird will be on Monday (3PM-6PM).

Openings available: 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor: Debra Brunsten, M.A., LMFT (310)478-0253, or email debshrink@hotmail.com

To download a Traineeship application, click ;here.

CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS: Chemical Dependency and Addiction in Clients with Mental Health Diagnoses

Trainees are given the opportunity to gain skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism, chemical dependency and other addictions with special emphasis on the treatment needs of those with one or more addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders. Training focuses on building assessment and treatment skills through structured case presentation in supervision group, where trainees are encouraged to work collaboratively with other trainees in designing treatment and relapse prevention plans. Trainees have an opportunity to work with substance abusers, their partners and families. Trainees are encouraged to work in treatment dyads with other trainees and interns in the program to help build skills.

Estimates are that three out of ten persons diagnosed with a mental health disorder also have a substance use disorder some time in their lives and about 64% of drug abusers in treatment also meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis. Mental health practitioners can no longer afford to dismiss the needs of such a large treatment population without severely limiting their skills set. Students will learn to treat mental health and addiction issues concurrently to provide competent and appropriate client care. Clients are seen at our counseling center, residential treatment centers, outpatient facilities, schools, and in other settings as arranged by the Counseling Center. 

Supervision group is scheduled for Mondays from 4PM-6:30PM, immediately followed by a mandatory class from the 600 series from 7PM-10PM.  These courses provide a comprehensive substance abuse education designed to prepare mental health professionals to provide effective treatment to clients and families with co-occurring disorders. Registration for the class is through the Continuing Education/Extension Division of Phillips or for academic credit through the Registrars Office. As a WASC accredited institution, these courses meet or exceed the educational requirements for most chemical dependency certification programs (such as CAADAC).

Trainees are required to complete an introductory course, such as Phillips PSY521 as a prerequisite or concurrent course with this traineeship. 

A minimum of one year’s sobriety is required of those who identify as recovering from alcohol and/or drug dependency.

Openings available: up to 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor:Susan L. Musetti, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  
(323) 972-3628, or email susanmusetti@att.net

To download a Traineeship application, click here.

EARLY CHILDHOOD THERAPY PROGRAM IN A PRESCHOOL SETTING

The Early Childhood Therapy Program in a Preschool Setting is a specialized training for therapists who want to learn to work with young children and their families. This program serves infants and children ages 3-5 and their families in the San Fernando Valley. Families with infants under the age of three receive services in a home based program; children ages 3-5 and their families receive services at local Head Start schools or other preschool sites. Most therapists will be providing counseling in a school setting. Many of the schools are located in the Latino/Hispanic community of the SFV. Therapy with the children and consultation with staff and faculty is in English, while many of the parents are monolingual. Therefore, our services are offered in both English and Spanish.

The therapists in this system-based child and family therapy program will be trained in basic assessment and interventions for families with children from infancy to five. The training introduces the therapist to child therapy in the preschool classroom, using Play Therapy and Social Skills in assessment and intervention. As a part of providing services to the child, the therapist may also provide individual and couples therapy for the parents. Attention to developmental milestones from birth to five, cultural awareness, family strengths and parenting skills are emphasized. Therapists will also have the opportunity of providing parenting classes.

Participants will receive weekly trainings in various modalities including family systems, postmodern and cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as psychosocial assessment and DSM diagnosis. There will be special emphasis on attachment and early child development, along with individual and couples therapy. Group supervision will be provided, with ongoing on-site consultation. This program provides children and family hours for MFT interns. 

Students meet on Mondays (3PM-6PM) for training and supervision. Therapists see children and families at local Head Start or other preschool locations during the week.

Openings available: up to 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor: Robin Graham, M.A., LMFT (323) 339-4343, or email robingraham@sbcglobal.net

              *Please call Program Director if you are planning to attend.

              ** Dinner will be provided


Important Dates For You To Remember:

February 15, 16, 18, 2012:  Trainee info /lunch sessions for PGI students (check board upstairs for times and rooms)  We Supply Lunch! 

February 21, 2012:  Trainee interview sign-up sheets posted across from room 139   (You must turn in your application before signing up for  an interview)

March 3, 2012:   Deadline for turning in applications and signing up for interviews 

March 12 - March 23, 2012:  Trainee interviews

April 6, 2012:  Trainee decision letters go out via email

April 14, 2012:  Last day for students to accept/decline traineeships 

April 20, 2012:  Contract signing for all trainees

May 17, 2012: Mandatory orientation