Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

A Collaborative Effort Between

Regional Campuses: Chillicothe, Eastern, Lancaster, Southern and Zanesville

  Program Description

I.   Mission Statement

Overview. The Postdoctoral Fellowship program is a collaborative and cooperative effort between the Office of the Ohio University Regional Campuses & Centers (OURCC) and the Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS), and is administered and supervised jointly by the two departments.  While the provision of mental-health services is supervised by staff at CPS, the Fellow also works under the direction of designated supervisors from regional campuses to coordinate referrals and consultations that are directed at meeting the specific emotional and mental health needs of the regional campus community.

Objective. The objective of the Fellowship program is to support the academic and personal growth of students through the provision of on-site and easily accessed consultation and mental-health support services.  The Fellowship position serves to extend the services currently offered by regional campus’ office of student services.  Provision of these services will remain confidential, except under the agreement between the Fellow and the appropriate staff or faculty member. Notably, the Fellow will maintain no disciplinary responsibilities.

Direct Service Provision. The Postdoctoral Fellowship program places post doctoral-level and professionally supervised counselors/therapists directly on regional campuses to address the mental-health concerns of students and faculty concerned about their students.  The Fellow is in a unique position to maintain a close connection to the campus community, and as a result, address student concerns and mental-health issues and crisis situations in a timely and effective manner.

Preventative Approach.  The Fellow serves to increase appropriate referral for mental-health services. As such, the Postdoctoral Fellow takes a proactive and preventative approach toward the provision of mental health services.  By providing resources to the campus community and assisting in the timely referral of students to longer-term mental health services available locally, the mission of the Fellowship program is to assist students, faculty and administrators in the prevention and effective recovery from socio-emotional and psychological distress.

Consultation. The Fellowship program will support existing student services by providing consultation and programming relating to mental-health issues, as well as assistance in addressing crisis situations and emergencies (e.g. sexual assault).  Concerns may include sexual assault and domestic violence, alcohol/drug abuse, suicide and homicidal ideations, eating/body image concerns, and depression/anxiety.   The Fellow is also available to consult with staff regarding their concerns regarding behavior within the community, specific student-related issues, or personal concerns.

II.   Job Description

The Postdoctoral Fellowship program is a collaborative and cooperative effort between the Office of the Ohio University Regional Campuses (OURCC) and Centers and the Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS). The Postdoctoral Fellowship position will be for a Ph.D./PsyD graduate from a Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology or a Counselor Education program.  The fellowship will allow the candidate to obtain hours towards licensure as a psychologist.  This position is a one year (12 month) contract and entails 2,000 hours of supervised professional psychological activities.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be supervised by the staff of CPS and will be on main (Athens) campus 2 days per week.  The Fellow will assist CPS staff with individual, group, crisis management and outreach services two days per week.

On the remaining three days each week the Fellow will be based on regional campuses to provide services in the following three areas:

(1) Consultation and brief therapy with students and Referral to local mental health service providers

(2) Consultation with faculty and staff regarding mental health needs of students

(3) Mental Health and psycho-educational programming (such as Depression screening, Alcohol screening, Eating Disorders Information, Stress Reduction workshops, academic workshops such as test anxiety, time management, study strategies, etc.)

Regional campus faculty and staff will be encouraged to consult with the Postdoctoral Fellow regarding mental-health concerns, as well as utilize the fellow to develop or facilitate mental-health programming and awareness campaigns.  

Specifically, the Fellow will provide the following services at the regional campuses:

• Brief counseling and referral of student concerns on three regional campuses
• Obtain and facilitate cooperation with local mental health services on each regional campus
• Assist in referral to Local Mental Health Services on each regional campus
• Provide mental-health based programming to students and staff
• Consultation regarding mental health issues and student concerns
• Develop and facilitate mental health programming for Regional Campus

The Fellowship position is a joint program with CPS and OURCC. The Fellow works as a mental-health specialist in a team effort between the regional campus personnel and the staff of CPS in order to meet the mental health needs of regional campuses.  The Fellow seeks to promote wellness within the regional campuses, and facilitate provision of mental-health services.

III.   Qualifications

Candidates for the Fellowship position should demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Doctoral degree from a Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology or a Counselor Education program
• Prior counseling experience in college or university setting
• Established ability to function independently and under supervision
• Interest in counseling university students and providing consultation on mental-health issues relevant to college-age students
• Interest in crisis and brief interventions and referral
• Outreach and presentation skill essential
• A desire to develop and facilitate mental-health based programming

Other desirable qualifications include:

• Pre-doctoral internship in a university counseling center
• Experience collaborating with student services
• Training in crisis interventions (e.g. sexual assault, suicide assessment, alcohol and drug use)
• Previous experience in developing and facilitating mental-health based programming

IV.   Duties

The Fellow will work 40 hours per week which will include direct mental health services to university students, outreach programming, training, supervision, and professional development.  An essential part of the program is outreach activities on the regional campuses which include preventive and educational program development, assisting in referral to mental health services, consultation with faculty and staff of regional campuses, and administrative duties.

The fellow will spend two days per week at CPS providing direct service to students as well as participate in clinical and staff meetings, supervision, training, and program development.   Three days per week will be spent on three regional campuses, providing direct mental health services for appointments/drop-in services, and consultation and programming.  This time-commitment may vary pending necessary responses to the unique needs of the regional campuses. 

The following outline provides a review of the responsibilities of the Fellow:

Training

• The Fellow is to participate in CPS training, supervisory and staff meetings as assigned.
• The Fellow is responsible in conjunction with CPS supervisor to outline a plan for on-going professional development
• The Fellow will receive two hours of individual supervision.

Program Development 

• The Fellow is expected to attend relevant meetings and opportunities (i.e., in-services) in order to maintain a presence in each regional campus community.

• Develop and facilitate training programs for regional staff on a quarterly basis. Topics of programming may include self-care, crisis intervention, and mental health issues. Topics specifically relevant to college students and regional staff may include, but are not limited to:

• Transitions to college (e.g. homesickness, depression, loneliness)
• Personal identity development (e.g. body image, eating concerns, relationship concerns, couples concerns, sexual orientation, personal growth and development)
• Academic concerns (e.g. focused anxiety, time management, study skills, stress management, career options)
• Family concerns (e.g. family stress, communication)
• Grief (e.g. loss, grief management)
• Trauma (e.g. recovery from sexual assault and domestic violence)
• Assist in the provision of a minimum of 3 workshops per quarter to students/staff on each regional campus assigned. Topics can reflect mental health issues (e.g. relaxation training), academic issues (e.g. time management) or meet the requests of the regional campus staff.
• Assist the regional campus staff in developing workshops that are presented to students and staff.
• Consult with various staff members to plan and develop staff training opportunities  

Crisis Intervention

• Provide consultation and support to regional campus staff during emergency and crisis situations (e.g. sexual assault, violence, suicide, substance abuse, student death).
• Provide follow-up services to students and staff following crisis situations.

Consultation

• Establish and maintain high visibility and accessibility on each assigned regional campus (e.g. attend New Staff orientation, special events) to facilitate referrals, consultation regarding mental health needs, and the provision of brief counseling services.
• Attend regional campus staff meetings on a rotating basis to facilitate referrals and provide consultation on mental-health issues and programming.
• Consult with regional campus staff and students regarding student needs to develop preventive and educational programming.

      Counseling

            At regional campuses:

• Provide brief counseling services to students.
• Counseling services should be limited to:

Weekly “drop-in” hours, with adequate follow-up of student concerns  
1. Appointments with self-referred students, with adequate follow-up and   assistance in possible referral to local mental health service providers
2. Appointments with students referred to the Fellow by Regional Campus Student Services Staff
3. Meeting with students following referral from the Dean of Students, concerned faculty or administrators
4. Group or individual follow-up sessions following crisis and emergency situations within the regional campus community
5. Group or individual discussion or follow-up sessions following other forms of disturbances on the regional community

• Facilitate the referral of students and for ongoing counseling. Brief counseling is provided with the expectation that, if necessary, the Fellow will assist the student in referral for longer-term mental health support.

At Main Campus:

• Carry a case load of 8 to 10 clients (may include intake, emergency walk-in and individual counseling)

Administrative Duties

• Meet with regional campus staff groups to establish and maintain effective working relationships at the beginning of each quarter.
• Maitain regular/weekly contact with the regional campus supervisor
• Meet with each regional campus Dean at least once each quarter.
• Understand the roles of the Regional campus staff and communicate support of their existing roles to the staff and residents.
• Maintain records of the number and type of interaction with the students and regional campus staff.
• Maintain records of responses to crisis situations.
• Submit quarterly reports of utilization of services to the supervisor of the fellowship program at CPS.   
• Write a report at the end of the academic year summarizing the Fellowship duties, experiences, challenges, and suggestions for future program development to be submitted to the senior regional campus staff director (designated supervisor at the regional campuses) and the coordinator of the Fellowship program at CPS.

V.   Supervision and Training

The regional campus staff and the coordinator of the Fellowship program at CPS will provide the orientation and training of the Fellowship jointly.  

Specific supervision will be provided as follows:

• The Fellow will meet weekly for at least 2 hours of individual supervision with the coordinator of the Fellowship program and for at least 1 hour of clinical supervision with another senior staff at CPS. In addition, the Fellow will seek supervision and consultation with appropriate staff from the regional community.    
• The Fellow will meet once a month, or as requested, with members of the regional campus staff.
• The fellow will collaborate with Counselors-in-Residence for program development.
• The Fellow is to participate in CPS training and staff meetings as assigned.
• The Fellow is responsible in conjunction with Postdoctoral Coordinator to outline a plan for on-going professional development

VI.   Postdoctoral Supervisory Staff: 2007-2008

Paul Castelino, Ph.D.

Coordinator of Postdoctoral Fellowship and

Counselors-in-Residence Programs

Counseling and Psychological Services

740-593-1616; castelin@ohio.edu

Jeanne A. Heaton, Ph.D.

Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

740-593-1616; heaton@ohio.edu

La Tanya Webb

Program Supervisor – Chillicothe campus

Interim Coordinator Student Services

740-774-7717; webbl@ohio.edu

Kevin Chenoweth

Program Supervisor - Eastern campus

Student Services Manager

740-699-2335; chenowet@ohio.edu

Patricia A. Fox

Program Supervisor – Lancaster campus

Manager - Student Services

740-654-6711; fox@ohio.edu

Robert Pleasant

Program Supervisor - Southern campus

Professional Advisor

740-533-4544; pleasanr@ohio.edu

Monica Jones

Program Supervisor – Zanesville campus

Director - Student Services

740-588-1446; jonesm4@ohio.edu

VII.   Current and Past Fellows

2008-2009:

Chad Corbley, Ph.D.

Psychology Fellow

Ohio State University

Regional Campuses: Chillicothe, Southern & Zanesville

Brooke Wright, Psy.D.

Psychology Fellow

Wright State University

Regional Campuses: Eastern & Lancaster

2007-2008:

Candice Pennella, Psy.D.

Psychology Fellow

Spalding University, Louisville, KY

Regional Campuses: Chillicothe, Lancaster & Southern

Cindy Linn, M.A.

Counseling Fellow

Ohio University, Athens, OH

Regional Campuses: Eastern & Zanesville

2006-2007:

Andrea Johnson, Psy.D.

Psychology Fellow

Xavior University, Cincinatti, OH

Regional Campuses: Chillicothe, Lancaster & Zanesville