The psychotherapy curriculum includes longitudinal training through weekly didactic seminars, psychotherapy supervision, and clinic experiences.

During the PGY-1 year, residents will have weekly didactics seminars on the topics of supportive therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness.

In the PGY-2 year, training expands to include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Group Therapy, and Family Therapy. Second-year residents begin getting exposure to CBT and DBT group therapy sessions while on selected clinical rotations. As early as the PGY-2 year, residents can begin seeing psychotherapy patients in the adult psychiatry clinic.

For PGY-3 residents, psychotherapy seminars are lengthened to include the theoretical basis and practical aspects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (an advanced seminar series), Psychodynamic Therapy, Mentalization-Based Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

During the PGY-3 and -4 years, residents see patients for individual therapy on a weekly basis, and they meet weekly with their assigned psychotherapy supervisor. Residents have one half-day per week starting in their third year dedicated to seeing psychotherapy patients.

Another opportunity for psychotherapy training includes co-leading one of the department’s STEPPS groups, designed to support patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The program, originally developed by clinicians at the University of Iowa, is utilized on an international scale as an evidence-based treatment for BPD.

Residents may also choose from a variety of psychotherapy-specific electives during their PGY-4 year. Learn more about elective opportunities. Residents can also elect to use their CME funds to attend a conference for more in-depth training into a specific psychotherapy.