Psychiatry Residents' Elective At Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS):

The Residents’ Elective at CAPS provides experience in brief psychotherapy and other interventions with a university student population.

THE PROGRAM

Duke University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a University-supported agency that serves Duke's undergraduate, graduate and professional student body by providing psychological and psychiatric services, career counseling, and outreach programs for students, as well as consultation services for the entire University community. CAPS uses an integrated multidisciplinary model in the delivery of a comprehensive range of services to a primarily late adolescent, early adult population. In addition to depression, anxiety disorders, and normal developmental issues, CAPS clients frequently present for eating disorders or body image concerns, issues around coming out as LGBT, and the intersection of clinical and cross-cultural concerns, reflecting an increasingly diverse and international Duke community. CAPS provides a unique opportunity for residents to gain experience working with some of these problems. The senior staff includes psychiatrists, clinical and counseling psychologists, and clinical social workers, most of whom have faculty appointments in the Department of Psychiatry. Trainees in all three disciplines rotate annually on the service.

RESIDENTS' ROTATION

Three positions for PGY-4 residents are available at ten (10) hours per week minimum for the period August 1 through May 31. PGY-3 residents may also be assigned to one or more of these positions. Availability permitting, supervision is by any member of the senior staff, and supervisors may be changed at mid-year to provide a variety of expertise, if desired. One hour of individual supervision per week is provided. Ad hoc consultation/supervision is readily available and encouraged.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CAPS ROTATION

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING EXPERIENCE IS PROVIDED?

• Initial assessment: The resident gains experience in rapid yet thorough comprehensive evaluation.
• Medication evaluation and management: Residents evaluate and follow students needing psychopharmacologic treatment. 
• Brief psychotherapy/crisis intervention: The majority of students who use CAPS' clinical services are seen for eight or fewer sessions. In this setting, staff members have developed a high degree of expertise in the use of brief psychotherapies.
• "Long-term" psychotherapy. A small percentage of cases are seen in individual psychotherapy for the full academic year. The resident can follow one or two cases for this time period.
• Group psychotherapy: Residents may arrange to work in this modality or even start a group if interested.
• Couples psychotherapy: CAPS receives requests for couples therapy and the interested resident may work in this modality as well.
• Consultation and education: Deans, faculty, religious life staff, student health providers, and other Student Affairs personnel frequently utilize CAPS consultation services as do resident advisors and peer counselors.

WHAT ARE THE THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS OF THE CAPS STAFF?

Staff members rely on psychodynamic theory, cognitive-behavioral, and systems approaches in case conceptualization.

WHAT OTHER TRAINING EXPERIENCES ARE OFFERED?

• Team case conferences: Residents are required to participate in one of three weekly multidisciplinary team conferences.  Teams meet Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, 8:30-10:00. The team, consisting of psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers, meets for one and a half hours to discuss new intakes, disposition of cases, ongoing cases, and psychotherapeutic problems unique to this population. The format provides mutual supervision in areas of assessment, disposition, and psychotherapy planning.

• Friday colloquia. Approximately eight to ten one and one-half hour colloquia per year provide ongoing in-service training for CAPS staff and trainees. Speakers are invited from the professional community. Topics cover a full range of issues related to university student development and mental health services. The colloquia are optional for residents.

TO APPLY, PLEASE CALL: Doris Iarovici, M.D. (919) 660-1000.