Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology student Jocelyn Abrams has received an internship from Yale University. She will primarily be working in the Substance Abuse Services/Substance Abuse Treatment Unit within the Connecticut Mental Health Center. 

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to have matched at Yale University,” said Abrams. “I look forward to receiving an incredible year of training during my internship.”  

Abrams received a B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University and a M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Houston, College of Education (UH COE).  She has worked on research relevant to addiction at both the Yale School of Medicine and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

During her internship at Yale, Abrams will be part of a large outpatient team that provides all aspects of community-based care. Specifically, she will be providing clinical assessment services, individual counseling, and group psychotherapy, as well as performing case management and referral services for clients with substance abuse concerns and trauma backgrounds. She will also be working out of the Connecticut Mental Health Center providing outpatient care to people in the community.

“This internship will be an opportunity to hone my skills and obtain more experience in clinical assessment services and psychotherapy among a substance using, trauma exposed population,” said Abrams.

Abrams has been fortunate to have had professors who have invested in her success during her time in the Counseling Psychology Program.  She mentions Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences (PHLS) visiting professor Susan X Day and Clinical Psychology associate professor Anka Vujanovic as professors who have inspired her the most.  “Of note, Dr. Susan X Day (my advisor) and Dr. Anka Vujanovic have both devoted their time and efforts to mentoring me over the last several years to get me to this point,” said Abrams.  “I am forever grateful for all of their help, guidance and support. I consider myself lucky to call them my mentors.”

“Any professor would be happy to have Jocelyn as an advisee,” said Day.  “She seeks help, takes instruction, and faces the normal adversities of research with a cheerful and optimistic nature.”

Currently, Abrams is the Clinical Research Assessor and Study Therapist on Vujanovic’s randomized controlled clinical trial, comparing two cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders. Abrams is also a Clinical Research Assessor at the Michael A. DeBakey VA Medical Center working on a randomized clinical trial focusing on Neuroimaging Meditation Therapy in Veterans with Co-morbid Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD.

Abrams’ current research and clinical interests revolve around the interplay of trauma and substance use disorders--specifically, factors related to risk for and recovery from factors affecting risk, resilience, and growth after traumatic life events, including addition. She is presently working on her dissertation, which examines the associations of distress tolerance and depressive symptoms with risky sexual behaviors in trauma-exposed, cocaine dependent adults.