Stress Center Clinical and Research Track (APPIC #118326)

Two predoctoral interns are selected into the Stress Center Clinical and Research Program each year. This track consists of a single twelve month placement within the Stress Center Clinical and Research settings.

The Setting

The Yale Stress Center is comprised of two components: a clinical research program and outpatient treatment program. The Center conducts cutting edge, interdisciplinary research to examine the mechanisms underlying human response to stress, the role of self-control, and how compulsion drives addictive behavior. Using an interdisciplinary approach to interventions, the clinical services address chronic stress and stress related maladaptive behaviors that adversely affect health outcomes. Our bio-psychosocial approach integrates behavioral and physical healthcare while emphasizing early intervention.

A full spectrum of services is offered by a multi-disciplinary team at a range of intensity levels. Services aim to expand awareness of the effects of stress on the mind, body, and behavior, and teach skills targeting the effects of stress and maladaptive behaviors.

The primary populations served at the Stress Center include:

• Individuals at risk for or experiencing stress related chronic medical conditions and diseases, such as hypertension, heart disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome, Type II diabetes, and some types of cancers.
• Individuals with stress related substance addictions, such as alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine, as well as behavioral addictions.
• Secondary diagnoses may include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and adjustment disorders.

The Stress Center Clinical and Research Track aims to provide interns with a comprehensive experience in evaluating and treating stress related disorders, using a range of therapeutic approaches, as well as a closely mentored experience in developing and testing hypotheses related to stress, health, and/or addictive behaviors. Interns are exposed to intensive training in stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and gentle yoga. As such, interns will be trained in establishing their own meditation skills, as having first hand experience with meditation is critical in guiding clients in meditation. Applicants with experience in mind/body practices are strongly encouraged to apply.

This internship track follows the scientist-practitioner model, training interns for careers with competence in both scientific research and clinical practice. Interns will work closely with a team of psychologists, dietitians, MBSR instructors, psychiatrists, nurses, and others with training in health psychology and mind/body approaches. An individualized division of clinical and research training will be determined for each intern, dependent on strengths and interests and consistent with program training requirements. Research and clinical individual and group supervision will be provided, consistent with the training program.

Core clinical activities (Minimum 50%):

• Biopsychosocial Stress Screening, Evaluation and Diagnostic Interviewing
• Primary clinician for 6-8 patients within the Stress Center's MBSR, addictive behaviors, and health programs
• Co-lead Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction classes
• Individual and group therapy, using the following stress reduction and mind/body approaches:
  • Stress and emotion regulation skills coaching
  • Breath, yoga, and relaxation training
  • Integrative therapies for stress related addictive behaviors
  • Optimizing exercise training for weight loss
• Weekly MBSR supervision group

Interns will receive clinical training within the following three programs:

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program: This program aims to assist clients in developing healthy lifestyle habits and decreasing stress through mindfulness, breath training, and gentle yoga. Within this track, interns will learn to lead MBSR classes, workshops, and individual sessions. Although clients in these programs do not necessarily meet full criteria for medical or psychiatric diagnoses, individuals may present with a wide range of medical conditions, addictions, and mental health symptoms (excluding psychosis and suicidality). The MBSR program is located at 2 Church Street South, New Haven, CT.

Stress Related Addictive Behaviors Program: This program provides training opportunities in individual and group therapy for clients and research participants with stress related substance and behavioral addictions, using an integrative approach. Outpatient clients are seen at 2 Church Street South, New Haven CT. Research participants may be seen either on an inpatient clinical research unit or outpatient at the Substance Abuse Center at 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT or 2 Church Street South.

Stress and Health Program: This program provides training in evaluating individuals for risk of stress related medical conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders and providing preventive treatment interventions, including exercise training, stress relaxation response training, breath training, and individual therapy. Therapy focuses on education on the link between stress and health, the development of an individualized healthy lifestyle program, and coaching on initiation and maintenance of behavior change. This program is located at 2 Church Street South.

Core research activities (Percent effort will be individually determined)

• Develop a research project related to the themes of stress, addictions, health outcomes and behaviors, including testing hypotheses, data analyses, and manuscript development
• Weekly team meetings with biostatisticians, research mentor, and research faculty members

For more information about this placement site, please e-mail keri.tuit@yale.edu