Training Programs

Overview

Director of Training – Adam S. Weissman, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Training – Michele Barton, Ph.D.

The Child & Family Institute (CFI) and its partner non-profit, Weissman Children’s Foundation (WCF), believe strongly in the value of helping to shape the next generation of mental health providers through our training programs for early career therapists & psychologists. Our training programs are meticulously designed to nurture the development of future leaders in the field, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to address the ongoing mental health crisis.

Our student training programs are designed to provide hands-on experience in a dynamic and supportive environment, allowing trainees to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. You will engage with a diverse clientele, gaining invaluable insights into the complexities of mental health issues and the nuances of evidence-based interventions.

Our postdoctoral fellowship provides a unique opportunity for clinical, counseling, and school psychology doctoral graduates interested in working with children and families in a dynamic, collaborative, mission-driven practice to obtain specialized training in evidence-based treatments. Click here for more information about our postdoctoral fellowship and application instructions.

Our Continuing Education (CE) program offers a wide range of specialized courses for licensed clinicians to continue the journey of growth and excellence in mental health care.

CFI offers an array of training programs and opportunities, including but not limited to:

  • Predoctoral Psychology Externship
  • Social Work Internship
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship
  • Continuing Education (CE) Courses for Licensed Clinicians

Learn more about each of our training programs below! If you are interested or have questions, please contact us.

Predoctoral Psychology Externship

Senior Supervising Psychologists – Michele Barton, Ph.D., Christina Athineos, Ph.D. Emily Becker-Weidman, Ph.D., Preeti Saigal, Ph.D., and Sarah Hatcher, Ph.D.

CFI offers advanced doctoral students (3rd year and above) a year-long clinical psychology predoctoral externship in evidence-based assessments and treatments, with a particular focus on youth and families. This highly curated and unique externship opportunity will provide in-depth training in a wide range of cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches for emotional, behavior, habit, and attention disorders. Additional opportunities for training in group therapy and neuropsychological assessment may be available upon request, contingent on referrals.

Externs will take part in CFI’s comprehensive didactics and continuing education programming, weekly individual and group supervision, monthly clinical case conferences, and organization-wide annual meetings/trainings focused on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social/health justice (DEIJ). Externs may have opportunities to co-lead groups, join scientific council meetings, assist with research and/or writing projects, and collaborate with our exceptional team of more than 50 behavioral health specialists, consultants, and volunteers. Additionally, externs can volunteer their time toward program development efforts integrating service delivery, clinical research, and social and health justice advocacy through the Weissman Children’s Foundation (WCF). Our nonprofit organization allows psychologists-in-training to have a broad-based impact on issues of national and global mental healthcare by joining WCF task forces focused on DEIJ, communications (including writing for the CFI Blog and social media), and equity, effectiveness, and implementation science research and program evaluation, as we work toward our common goal of evidence-based mental healthcare for all.

Learn more about our predoctoral externship program & application details on our NYAJDOT portal. 

Social Work Internship

Directors of Social Work Training – Dominique Pagano, LCSW and Dalia Sharps, LCSW

Social Work students at the Masters level can complete their required field practicum at a distinguished evidence-based mental health practice dedicated to fostering positive change.

As an intern at CFI, students will have the unique opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals who are at the forefront of innovative, research-driven approaches to improving mental health care for all, with a focus on historically marginalized & underserved populations.

At CFI, we prioritize the growth and development of our interns, offering mentorship and training to enhance your skills and confidence in the field. Join us in making a meaningful impact on individuals’ lives while honing your social work expertise in a setting committed to evidence-based practice.

Supervision & Curriculum

Externs AND Interns will receive one hour of weekly individual supervision provided by an appropriately licensed senior clinician, and one hour of weekly group supervision provided by a licensed Masters level clinician, as well as monthly clinical case conferences and didactic trainings on topics including but not limited to:

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Evidence-Based Treatment

CBT for Anxiety and Mood Disorders

Attachment, Adoption, and Complex Trauma

OCD Exposures

Neuropsychological Assessment

LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Director of Postdoctoral Training – Christina Athineos, Ph.D.

The postdoctoral fellowship provides a unique opportunity for clinical, counseling, and school psychology doctoral graduates interested in working with children and families in a dynamic, collaborative, mission-driven practice to obtain specialized training in neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessments and evidence-based treatments including:

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT)
  • Attachment-Based Family Therapy
  • Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
  • Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
  • CBT for Selective Mutism
  • Acceptance-based behavioral therapy
  • Modular and transdiagnostic therapies

The postdoctoral fellow will also have the opportunity to facilitate CBT, DBT, and/or social skills groups, and take part in comprehensive didactics programming and in-house case conferences.

Continuing Education (CE) Courses

Our comprehensive and meticulously curated courses provide an opportunity for clinicians to stay abreast of the latest advancements in mental health care and evidence-based practices. Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of emerging therapeutic modalities, refine your diagnostic skills, or explore innovative approaches to client care, our CE courses offer a diverse range of topics to meet your specific needs. Led by experts and thought leaders in the mental health field, these courses not only fulfill CE requirements but also empower clinicians to excel in their practice. 

At CFI, we understand the evolving nature of the mental health field, and our commitment to providing cutting-edge, relevant education ensures that you remain at the forefront of your profession. Invest in your ongoing professional development with our CE courses and enhance your ability to make a lasting impact in the lives of those you serve. 

Training Videos

Watch CFI’s Training Videos and Graduate Student Q&A on the following topics

  • Compassion-Focused Parent Training with Adam S. Weissman, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Student Q&A with Adam S. Weissman, Ph.D. on 1) Compassion, Authenticity, and Appropriate Self-Disclosure in Mentorship and Building Organizational Culture and 2) Realizing Your Worth as a Graduate Student
  • Nurturing Cultural Humility, Responsibility and Responsiveness in Evidence-Based Treatments with historically marginalized and underserved communities with Michele Barton, Ph.D. and CFI’s Equity Enhancement Effort.
  • Treating OCD via ERP with Christina Athineos, Ph.D.
  • Adoption, Attachment and Complex Trauma with Emily Becker-Weidman, Ph.D.
  • Neuropsychological Assessment with Preeti Saigal, Ph.D.
  • LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy with Rick Jaime-Bettan, LMSW
  • CBT for Anxiety & Mood Disorders with Dominique Pagano, LCSW
  • Unlocking the Mystery of Selective Mutism with Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D.
  • Introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with Rena Blatt, LCSW
  • CFI Columbia University Practicum Training
    • Parent-Child and Teacher-Child Intervention Therapies with Gina Robinson, LCSW 
    • CBT for Mood Disorders, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders with Michele Barton, Ph.D. 
    • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy – The Passionate and Compassionate Pioneering Cognitive Approach with Debbie Joffe Ellis, Ph.D. and Adam Weissman, Ph.D.
    • Case Conference and Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis with Gina Robinson, LCSW and Michele Barton, Ph.D.
    • Case Conference and Customized CBT for Young Children (ages 5-12) with Lexi Wernick, LCSW and Michele Barton, Ph.D.
    • Comprehensive psychological assessment and differential diagnosis with Emily Becker-Weidman. Ph.D.