Training Program The Saturday Center for Psychotherapy offers advanced psychodynamic training to MFT and Psychological Interns, and to post-graduate psychologists, all of whom provide moderate fee therapeutic services within a private practice model. We are situated in a suite of offices shared jointly by the Saturday Center itself (two offices specifically for interns) and the private offices of the supervisors.

We accept three to five new trainees each year. The focus of our training is on the process occurring between therapist and client with an emphasis on the therapist’s transference and countertransference reactions. It is the therapist’s awareness of, and ability to use, these reactions that enable him or her to do dynamic psychotherapy. This type of training requires a willingness to have one’s character addressed. Such learning is not without discomfort. Interns often experience the program as intense, sometimes difficult, but usually rewarding, and leading to significant professional growth.

The specific goals of the program and its major components are described in the Program Description.

The article by Doctor Judith Davenport, "The Saturday Center: A Trainning Institution in Process", is included in the training program package to give potential applicants an example of the type of the supervision we provide. Of course, each supervisor is different. Each brings to the supervisory encounter an individual character or personality as well as a specific orientation based on his or her own professional development. However, there is also a commonality: each supervisor is aware that change occurs within the therapeutic process (the human interaction between therapist and clients); and that a therapist’s countertransference has a powerful impact on this process.

Internship Application Process

"Adapted with permission from the University of Texas at Austin web site."

From November 2009 Through February 2010, we only accept applications that are submitted electronically via APPIC "AAPI online" service (see www.appic.org). Our application deadline is January 4th 2010, and your application must be complete and electronically submitted by that date. A complete application for our internship program includes the following materials (Please note that all of these materials should be automatically included with the application that you submit via the AAPI Online service):

• A cover letter including the following:

  1. Specific reasons that make this internship program a choice.

  2. An autobiographical account of your experiences leading you to the field of psychology.

  3. At least one paragraph about your reactions to the article by Dr. Judith Davenport,"The Saturday Center: A Trainning Institution in Process", and your willingness and/or concerns about being supervised according to the demonstrated philosophy.

• A complete up to date Curriculum Vitae.
• Copies of all graduate school transcripts.
• Two letters of recommendations from clinicians who are familiar with your work.

Prerequisites And Conditions

The following are the minimum qualificatins expected from the applicants to this program:

• A Master's degree in psychology or related field, and be enrolled in a doctoral program that requires an internship training.
• Pass their comprehensive exam no later than the ranking deadline for the APPIC match.
• Be approved to begin internship by their doctoral program.
• Have at least one year (half-time) of supervised clinical experience preferably in the psychodynamic model.
• Have had at least one year of individual psychotherapy.
• Commit to the center's scheduled meetings currently occuring, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
• Be willing to work on Saturdays if that is the only time the client and the therapist can meet.
• Be willing to do community outreach.

In addition to the criterion above preference would be given to applicants who:

• Demonstrate a strong and genuine commitment to the study and application of psychodynamic and inter-subjective model of psychotherapy demonstrated through coursewok, practicum, clinical experience, and other life experiences.
• Are interested and invested in participating in a training program that promotes a "use of self" training model (refer to the article by Dr. Judy Davenport), as evidenced by characteristics such as self-awareness, openness, willingness to self-disclose, etc.
• Are interested in a training model that emphasizes long-term insight orientd treatment model of individual therapy.

Selection Process

The summary of the selection process is as follows:

• Applications shoud be received by the deadline of January 4, 2009. All application material should be submitted electronically via the APPIC AAPI online service. NO HARD COPIES, OR E-MAIL APPLICATIONS.
• After reviewing the application material, the Director of Admissions will notify the applicant of their interview status via e-mail. Please Contact the Director of Admission if you have not received an e-mail notification by January 15th.
• We call applicants as we receive the applications to set up aninitial on-site interview.
• The applicant is required to present a clinical case at this initial interview, and expect to be supervised by the interviewer. This will give the applicant an idea of the supervision philosophy of this center.
• If the interviewer finds the applicant to be a good match for this center, the applicant will be invited to a second group interview, which will include other invited applicants and several supervisors of the center.
• Other applicants who are not being invited back for the second interview will be notified via e-mail.
• Upon the selection of the matching applicants, their information will be submitted to the APPIC matching system.

APPIC GUIDELINES

Our selection process follows all guidelines of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and participates in the APPIC Match. Our internship site commits to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from intern applicants.

For further information and questions you may contact: the Director of Admissions, Dr. Monica Farassat @ (310) 453-7010 or mfarassat@gmail.com, or the Director of Training, Dr. Bruce Brodie @ info@saturdaycenter.org

All other applicants and post-doctoral students applying between February 28th and September 30th should apply directly to the Saturday Center and will be accepted or rejected within two weeks of their interview(s), based on availability of positions.