Ewing Residential Center (Department of Children & Families)
1610 Stuyvesant Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08618
David Young, Ph.D. - Director of Psychology Training
Internship brochure

Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
59 Koch Street, Morris Plains, New Jersey 07950
Jennifer Romei, Ph.D. - Director of Psychology Training
973-538-1800 x4020
201-538-1053 (Fax)
Internship brochure 

Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital
200 Sanitorium Road, Glen Gardner, New Jersey 08826
Gary Dushkin, Psy.D. - Director of Psychology Training
908-537-2141 x2019
908-537-3149 (Fax)

Hunterdon Developmental Center
P O Box 4003, 40 Pittstown Road, Clinton, New Jersey 08809-4003
Loren Amsell, Ph.D. - Director of Psychology Training
908-730-5719
908-730-1311 (Fax)
Internship brochure 

Trenton Psychiatric Hospital
PO Box 7500, West Trenton, New Jersey 08628
David Buckley, Ph.D. - Director of Psychology Training
609-633-1944
609-633-1526 (Fax)
Internship brochure 

Woodbridge Developmental Center
P.O. Box 189, Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095-0189
Darin Schiffman, Psy.D. - Director of Psychology Training
732-499-5780
732-499-5787 (Fax)
Internship brochure 

As 2007 came to an end, Commissioner Jennifer Velez pointed with pride to then DHS Chief of Psychological Services and Professional Development, Dr. T. Stephen Patterson, who received national recognition that year.

Each year at the American Psychological Association Convention, the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) presents several awards.  At the 2007 convention in San Francisco, the “2007 APPIC Award for Recognition of Contributions to Internship Training” went to T. Stephen Patterson, Ph.D., ABPP, for his “Distinguished Achievements in Training Psychology Interns”.

APPIC is an educational, non-profit organization of over 700 independent agencies that conduct or sponsor internship or postdoctoral training programs in professional psychology.  APPIC is also the national entity that establishes criteria for training for pre-and post-doctoral programs in the United States and Canada, setting standards and procedures for both programs and interns/intern applicants. 

In his letter nominating Dr. Patterson for this prestigious award, his former student Dr. Gene Nebel said:

“It is a pleasure to nominate Dr. Patterson for this prestigious award.  Dr. Patterson has made outstanding contributions to psychology training during his 35 years as Chief of Psychological Services and Professional Development for the NJ Department of Human Services. 

“In this capacity, he administers all the psychology internship programs in various mental health facilities throughout the state of New Jersey… psychiatric hospitals, retardation centers, correctional facilities and community mental health centers. 

“Dr. Patterson also… develops policies and procedures that enhance the delivery of mental health services and augment training opportunities for doctoral students in psychology.  He consistently works directly with the Psychology Training Directors as a means of providing quality assurance for the program and overall supervision of the interns. 

“He regularly visits the various training facilities, meeting with the supervisory staff and interns to discuss training issues and review the interns’ progress.  He has worked to assure APPIC standing for all the state training sites and has brought his expertise to help the various sites secure accreditation by the American Psychological Association.”

In 2004, Dr. Patterson received the “Psychologist of the Year Award” from the NJ Psychological Association, where many of 500-plus psychologists he has trained over the years paid him tribute.  They described him as “an example of professionalism and dedication, and one who has been an inspiration to their own practice of psychology.”

Dr. Nebel also listed some of Dr. Patterson’s innovations, such as the centralized Colloquium Series, which he personally arranges for three full-day programs per month for the interns in the state psychology programs.  These programs feature presentations by notable psychologist leaders such as Albert Ellis, Arnold Lazarus, Stan Messer and Nancy McWilliams. 

“The breadth and scope of these presentations enrich and expand the educational opportunities for the interns.  These programs also provide an opportunity for interns to interact and share insights with their colleagues from other state internship programs,” said Dr. Nebel.

Recognizing a need for the development of supervisors, Dr. Patterson began an innovative program of supervisor training.  Finding no model programs at other internship sites in the country in the late 70’s, he developed a unique training series for supervisors… “Supervisors find it an invaluable tool in guiding the trainees.  This is an example of the innovation and devotion that Dr. Patterson brings to all his endeavors,” continued Dr. Nebel.

Dr. Patterson is a charter member of the National Register, a diplomat of the American Psychological Association, and member of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA). He has held office in the NJPA and served on its Executive Board, the Awards Committee and the Program Committee.  He is Founder of the Mercer County Psychological Association (MCPA), an affiliate of NJPA, and continues to serve as the Chair of its Program Committee.

While directing the DHS Internship Program, he also advised the DHS administration in the formulation of policies and the impact of national policy on psychology services. 

Since 1984, Dr. Patterson has been the government member of the New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners.  He chaired the Board for two years and has headed various Board committees, currently chairing the Regulations Revisions Committee.  In speaking of his role with the Board, Dr. Paterson has said, “It has always been my goal to try to keep a fair balance between the protection of the consumer and fairness to the individual psychologist.  I hope I will be remembered for doing so.”

Dr. Nebel’s nominating letter states that Dr. Patterson exemplifies the finest in professionalism.  “He is a model of service to psychology and the training of students and serves as a human example of dedication and commitment.  In his acceptance of the Psychologist of the Year Award, he showed the tenure of his respect for all.  He takes life personally and touches so many.  He said, ‘YOU, my colleagues and friends from NJPA and from MCPA, the students with whom I have had the privilege to work, my associates at the State and at the Board of Examiners, YOU have touched me.  For it has been our work together that has brought me here and has given meaning to the tasks I have had the privilege to perform in the name of psychology.’

July 17, 2007

Dr. Patterson,

Congratulations on your selection to receive the Excellence in Internship Training award by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers.

This prestigious award, as well as the many other accolades you have already acquired, underscores the immeasurable contributions you have made during your 35-year tenure as Chief of Psychological Services and Professional Development with the Department of Human Services.

Your work has advanced New Jersey’s mental health system by giving us over 500 highly trained, dedicated psychologists. Your skill and devotion are a true inspiration.

I am so grateful for your longevity here with the department; and I look forward to many more years of your dedicated service.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Velez
Commissioner, Department of Human Services