AWARDS

Clinical Service Award Recommendation

Department of Applied Psychology

Program in Mental Health and Wellness

David Kadosh was a student in my clinical internship class at NYU during the Fall 2012 semester. During that period, David interned at the Mount Sinai Medical Center Day Treatment Program where he engaged in supervised treatment of extremely challenging patients – the serious mentally ill – and immersed himself in a broad range of rich clinical experiences.  David persistently sought challenges – even those outside of his emotional and psychological comfort zone – in an effort to develop his skills as a clinician.

David was unusually committed to the well-being of his patients and worked persistently to acquire an effective and comprehensive understanding of their problems and skills to help them with their difficulties.  He demonstrated a level of caring, patience and acceptance that enabled him to foster strong therapeutic connections with even the most resistant individuals.  A strong part of this capacity was his openness and receptivity to the broad range of client communications and his strong empathy for the wide variety of circumstances in his patients’ lives.  In addition, he was especially tuned into diversity of experiences and backgrounds – and drew from his own personal challenges with this issue to foster greater clinical understanding. He also worked hard to integrate himself into the life of the clinical community. Even when challenges and differences arose in interactions with others, as is inevitable during an intensive internship year, he faced these things with determination, sensitivity, honesty, self-awareness and the resolve to work things out effectively.

David was a strong and valuable participant in the supervisory experience.  He was open to feedback and suggestion – in fact, sought it out – and was generous with his communications to others.  He was persistently inquisitive, curious and adept at raising thoughtful questions to challenge what was presented at “face value” and follow through with alternative, often creative, ideas. He worked hard to fulfill his work responsibilities not only because he was “required” to do so but he viewed these obligations as opportunities to learn his craft.

It was a true pleasure having him in the class and watching his growth and development over the semester. I think David is a worthy candidate to receive this award.

June Feder, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Department of Applied Psychology