UCSF-SFGH Dept. of Psychiatry - Trauma Recovery Center
Description and contct updated: 01/20/17
Program approved for: MSW 2nd Year [X]
NO LONGER ACCEPTING INTERNS FOR 2017-18
Parent Agency Name: UCSF-SFGH Psychiatry
Agency Phone Number: 415-437-3004
Division of Psychosocial Medicine
website: N/A
Agency Name: SFGH Psychiatry Dept.
Agency/Program Address:
2727 Mariposa Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94110
Program Name: Trauma Recovery Center
Name of Internship Contact Person: Margaret de Lima Hering, LCSW
Contact’s email: margaret.hering@sfdph.org
Contact’s Phone Number: 415-437-3019
Contact’s Mailing Address:
2727 Mariposa Street, Ste 100, San Francisco CA 94110
County Agency is in:_S.F.______.
Program Description: The San Francisco General Hospital Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is an outpatient mental health program in the division of Psychosocial Medicine in the UCSF/ SFGH Psychiatry Department. TRC is located near San Francisco General Hospital and works with adults who have been survivors of interpersonal trauma and/or torture, including sexual assault, domestic violence, physical assault, and assaults using weapons. Our model of care is based on our findings that assertive psychosocial treatment made available in an acute medical setting assists trauma survivors with recovery. TRC provides culturally sensitive mental health services including clinical assessment, individual psychotherapy, assertive outreach, crisis intervention, clinical case management, support groups, and psychiatric medication assessment and management.
The TRC Model: In our model, we provide assertive practical and therapeutic interventions to trauma survivors or victims of torture. In some cases, the sequelae of trauma and other barriers to accessing mental health treatment has resulted in underutilization of services. We begin with office-based or hospital-based therapy and case management and provide home visits and community outreach as needed in order to engage clients into services and establish rapport. We believe this model will increase utilization of mental health services for survivors, will reduce their psychological distress, and will promote more rapid return to prior functioning.
Supervision and Training: This placement provides intensive clinical training, supervision, and support. There is a three-week orientation in September. During the year, social work interns attend a trauma seminar each week focused on trauma assessment and treatment. On a weekly basis, interns will receive one hour of case supervision and one hour of intake supervision, as well as one and a half hours of group supervision in the staff and intern intake team. In addition, interns can attend a weekly self-care support group for staff and interns. Through this placement, interns will obtain an excellent sense of how to conduct a thorough, structured interview assessment and will become very familiar with clinical assessment, DSM V diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic interventions. Collaboration and case consultation is encouraged. Interns are requested to do process recordings of their client sessions.
Clientele: Clients are San Francisco residents, ages 18 and older, who have experienced interpersonal violence and/or torture. Most of the clients are low-income. About 50% are men and 50% women. Over 60% are ethnic minorities (primarily African American and Latino) and many are monolingual Spanish-speaking. Most have suffered from injuries related to trauma and/or or are family members of crime or homicide victims.
Intern Assignments: Social work interns will carry a caseload of 6-8 individual clients and conduct weekly psychosocial intake assessments. The intern will help the client assess and address their mental health needs and their psychosocial needs including financial entitlements, housing, medical needs, employment needs, and legal advocacy. Interns will provide clients with office-based psychotherapy to prevent and/or treat mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. In the early phase of treatment, interns may conduct assertive outreach if needed to engage clients into treatment. Interns will act as the on-call social work advocate for a weekly 4.5-hour shift to respond to recent sexual assault survivors in the emergency department at SFGH, providing support and help with practical matters. Interns may also have the opportunity to do brief mental health check-ins with acute survivors of sexual assault at their clinic-based medical follow-up appointments.
Benefits: Students may be eligible through your school for Prop 63 stipends. Please direct inquiries to the school. Also, interns may apply for a $3,000 multicultural stipend made available by Community Behavioral Health in San Francisco primarily to students committed to working with underserved groups. This award is not guaranteed.
Desired Qualifications: We look for mature, experienced interns who are committed to developing professionally and want to be part of an intensive clinical training program. We prefer students who function well independently and are open to feedback. Successful candidates will have an interest in working with trauma survivors and in learning clinical assessment, psychotherapy theories and techniques, and case management. We especially encourage applications from students who are bilingual/bicultural, particularly Spanish speaking, are familiar in working with African American populations, and/or have proven dedication to cultural humility.
**Application Process and Open House: There will be an Open House offering
further information regarding the internship on Thursday, February 2nd from
5:30-7:00 p.m. at the TRC. If you are interested in applying, please first check with
your school regarding rules of contacting perspective internship sites. In order for you
to be considered for an interview, you must send both a cover letter and resume to
Margaret Hering via email at margaret.hering@sfdph.org by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday,
2/23. We will be selecting candidates for interview after reviewing all resumes/letters.
We expect to accept two to three social work interns for the 2017-2018 school year.
For more information: Please contact Margaret de Lima Hering, LCSW (phone: 415/437-3019 or email: margaret.hering@sfdph.org). We look forward to speaking with you!