“I went to graduate school and learned about therapy; I went to Womencare and became a therapist.”
– Mary Clarke, PhD, Fellowship Alum
For more than 25 years, Womencare has fostered the development of emerging therapists through the Natalie Haimowitz Postgraduate Fellowship Program, focused on the relational treatment of trauma.
This 2-year professional commitment is intended for licensed clinicians with post-masters psychotherapy experience and is open to any mental health professionals who desire to augment their knowledge base and deepen their skills in working with trauma survivors.
Our staff of experienced clinicians is committed to nurturing the development of our fellows. Fellows can expect to sharpen their understanding of trauma-informed relational therapy, integrate an anti-oppression lens, tend to vicarious trauma, deepen capacities of self-reflection, build confidence, and hone their professional sense of self.
This Program:
- Provides 2-years of experiential training focused on working with trauma survivors within a feminist-relational, anti-oppression model.
- Supports fellows in maintaining a caseload of 4-6 clients through weekly individual mentoring and small group supervision.
- Offers fellows $10/client hour completed during the two year program. Allocated at graduation.
- Includes attendance at all professional workshops, including the 12-hour Institute on the Relational Treatment of Trauma.
- Includes monthly 2-hour participation in the Trauma Consultation Program during the second year of the fellowship.
- Contributes to Womencare’s equity mission by offering quality, affordable therapy to the community.
- Accepts 2-3 fellows per year. Group supervision is comprised of first and second year fellows.
Fellows average 10 hours per week at Womencare seeing clients and attending individual and group mentoring. During certain months, additional time is encouraged to attend professional workshops and community trainings.
Program Tuition: $2000 for the two year program.
Restorative Justice Tuition for BIPOC Fellows: $1700 for for the two year program.
Partial scholarships are available based on need and for therapists serving marginalized populations.
Who We Are Looking For
As a community, we think deeply about our clients in the emotional, interpersonal, and societal contexts in which their distress emerges. We are invested in becoming a more diverse practice and building supports for the identities that our clients, colleagues and fellows hold. We encourage therapists who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ to apply.
Ideal candidates:
- have 1-5 years of post-masters psychotherapy experience and are licensed clinicians (LSW, LPC, AMFT, LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, and PsyD).
- are committed to working with traumatized and marginalized populations.
- are eager to learn, build confidence, and hone trauma-informed capacities.
- are passionate about anti-racism and social justice.
- value community and connection.
Application
Applications open on January 1st and are due by March 15th. We will respond to all applicants by May 15th, though we will only be able to offer interviews to a limited number of candidates. Two to three applicants are accepted per year.
Download Fellowship Application (Document is enabled so that you can type your responses directly on the form.)
Information Night
We will hold two information nights for the Natalie Haimowitz Postgraduate Fellowship Program. The first will be held virtually and is scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 6:30p CT, and the second will be in person at the Womencare Counseling and Training Center office on Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30p CT. To RSVP, please email our Program Coordinator, Jessica Switzer at jswitzer@womencarecounseling.com
Third Year
Fellows who complete the full 2 years of the postgraduate program are invited to apply for a Third Year fellowship, intended to further hone a particular area of focus within trauma treatment. Third Years continue providing therapy to 4-6 clients, attending individual and fellowship group mentoring, and, in addition, attend weekly Womencare staff consultations and monthly staff meetings.
Our Graduates
Our graduates go on to make a significant difference in people’s lives and to address the social, systemic, and political issues that impact the health and dignity of all people. Graduates of our program have successfully become skilled trauma therapists; leaders, supervisors, and directors within their agencies, schools and practices; as well as professors, trainers and consultants.
Fellows who complete the full 2 years of the postgraduate program are invited to participate in our alumni fellowship directory. The directory can be accessed by qualified alumni and is a source for providing referrals.
Internships
Womencare does not offer internship opportunities. However, we encourage graduate students to sign up for email communication and consider our Fellowship Program after a few years of postgraduate clinical experience.
Questions
For further information, please contact our Fellowship Coordinator, Amy Derringer Chandler, LCSW, at 847-475-7003, x 30 or achandler@womencarecounseling.com.
“The fellowship was a deeply fulfilling experience, both professionally and personally. The supportive learning environment at Womencare mirrors some of the most healing conditions that we strive for with our clients — compassion, trust, safety, and connection. The experience allowed me to do my best work and become my best self in the process.” – Heather Pierce, LCPC, Fellowship Alum
“Going through the Womencare Fellowship was a professional and personal life changer for me. Womencare gave me an opportunity to learn in a community. Learning this way, surrounded by real and caring women, gave me a chance to internalize what I was learning on a deep level. I am forever changed by this experience and have remained connected to the Womencare community.” – Tovah Means, LMFT, Fellowship Alum