La Selva Group (LSG) continues to be a thriving and much sought-after practicum site for much-needed Ph.D. and Psy.D. students. The program, which has already received a significant number of applicants for next year, is coordinated by LSG’s clinical director, Brenna Connolly, Psy.D. and lead clinician, Melissa Yant-Hunsinger, LCSW.
Interns and practicum students receive intensive training, supervision and hands-on experience serving individuals with serious mental health challenges in an intensive outpatient setting. LSG supports students to learn a variety of skills including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, suicide prevention, discharge planning, group therapy, individual therapy, and crisis intervention. In addition to individual and group supervision and direct care, LSG interns receive valuable training on the topics central to a psychosocial rehabilitative approach integrated with up-to-date information on some of the newest diagnoses and treatment modalities. Below is a sample of the trainings offered by LSG staff.
As members of LSG’s multidisciplinary team, students gain experience partnering with doctors, nurses, peers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and clinical social workers. Most importantly, students trained at LSG are taught Momentum for Health’s philosophy of client-centered care, learning the importance of decreasing stigma and empowering clients. Students learn the skills and perspectives that are the foundation of La Selva Group’s innovative, highly effective, unique, and compassionate approach.
Whole-person, holistic mental health care is more necessary than ever, and we are thrilled to welcome a new generation of mental health providers to respond to this need.
Brenna Connolly, Psy.D, Clinical DirectorDr. Brenna Connolly has been Clinical Director for the past ten years and is the heart and soul of LSG’s Outpatient program. Her balanced leadership style plays a pivotal role in our ability to constantly innovate. Simultaneously, she provides the kind of structure and consistency that creates a safe and healing environment for clients. Dr. Connolly’s collaborative and creative multi-disciplinary team ensures that the Outpatient program is reliable yet flexible—always growing and changing in response to the needs of clients served. Dr. Connolly and her colleagues have strived to create a client-centered, compassionate and intensive therapeutic program that integrates modern treatment modalities with a psychosocial approach. Brenna is deeply committed to supervising and collaborating with students in the field and feels honored to be part of their professional development. In addition to her role as Clinical Director, Brenna continues to facilitate groups and work with clients individually. She has a passion for working with individuals with personality disorders and has extensive training in DBT and CBT. |
Melissa Yant-Hunsinger, LCSW, Lead Clinician
Melissa Yant-Hunsinger, LCSW has worked in mental health for over 25 years. She places a high value on empowering clients and mentoring students and professionals new to the field on the value of a client-centered, psychosocial approach. As Lead Clinician at LSG, Melissa specializes in working with people experiencing psychosis and is trained in CBT for psychosis. She also has expertise in anxiety reduction, supporting parents and families, sleep hygiene, and codependency recovery.
