Acute Trauma Psychology

Number of positions: 1 practicum student
Average time commitment (16-20 hrs/week): 2 full days (typically 9am-5pm). Travel to Henry Ford Health hospital sites is expected (e.g., HF Main Hospital, Columbus Center). Telemedicine with remote
supervision by licensed psychologist may be necessary. This is a 1-year placement.
Primary Supervisors: Anthony N. Reffi, PhD, Shibany P. Taormina, PhD, David A. Moore, PsyD

The Acute Trauma Psychology Practicum offers a diverse range of clinical and research opportunities within two programs at Henry Ford Hospital: (1) the Center for Sleep and Trauma Recovery and (2) the Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Psychology Service. These two programs are subsumed within a single training track, and students’ time in each is described below.

The practicum student will be working mostly within the Center for Sleep and Trauma Recovery, a unique program that conducts innovative clinical research among acutely traumatized populations exposed to interpersonal violence. The practicum student will integrate into ongoing clinical trials and gain knowledge in behavioral sleep medicine and trauma psychology. Primary responsibilities include (1) conducting pretreatment clinical interviews to assess study eligibility (e.g., trauma history, psychosocial functioning) and (2) delivering cognitive-behavioral interventions focused on managing sleep disturbances early after trauma exposure. Practicum students will receive training in novel evidence-based treatments in addition to one hour of scheduled weekly individual supervision (Dr. Reffi). Additionally, if interested, the practicum student may have the opportunity to participate in research and program development. Clinical interactions for this experience will take place exclusively in an outpatient setting at Henry Ford Hospital (either main campus in Detroit, Columbus Center in Novi, or both) and potentially via telehealth.

Under circumstances when the Center for Sleep and Trauma Recovery yields fewer patients than expected (e.g., due to recruitment challenges), students will then integrate into our Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Psychology Service, which provides comprehensive psychological assessment, intervention, and liaison services to hospitalized medical patients receiving care from the Acute Care Surgery teams. Specifically, students will participate in rounding with surgical teams, psychological consultation including brief neurocognitive assessment, medical decision-making capacity evaluations, senior fall safety evaluations, and multidisciplinary care discussions. Students will also assist with the provision of direct interventions for the management of psychological distress, nonadherence, and pain, in addition to one hour of scheduled weekly individual supervision (Dr. Taormina and/or Dr. Moore). Clinical interactions for this experience will take place exclusively in an inpatient acute care medical setting spanning the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and General Practice Units.