RELEASE: November 2, 2001

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Internationally renowned psychologist Dr. Albert Ellis, former Department of Human Services Chief Psychologist, was the featured speaker at a Nov.1 luncheon at the Trenton War Memorial to honor the 50th anniversary of the department’s Psychology Internship Program. Dr. Ellis is known for his development of "Rational-Emotive Therapy."

The program was established in 1951 to attract psychologists to work in state institutions. During that period, it was particularly difficult to attract psychologists to work in state facilities and psychologists were recruited from various European countries including Great Britain, Germany and Hungary. DHS operates six psychiatric hospitals, seven developmental centers for people with developmental disabilities and three children’s residential centers. Known as the Department of Institutions and Agencies at the time of the programs' inception, the department also had oversight of the state prison system.

Dr. Emanuel Hammer, one of the first interns to attend the program, developed his technique of using "projective drawings" during his training at three state facilities, which included Trenton State Prison. Dr. Hammer developed the technique to provide insight into the personalities of inmates. Dr. Hammer, who now practices in Manhattan, has published over forty professional papers and twelve books in the field of projective drawings and is an annual presenter at the Internship Programs’ Lecture Series.

Dr. T. Stephen Patterson is the current director of the internship program. During his tenure, the internship programs at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital and Ancora Psychiatric Hospital have received national recognition by gaining full accreditation from the American Psychological Association. At the luncheon, Michael Vail, director of the departments’ office of human resource planning, presented Dr. Patterson with a Certificate of Recognition for 30-Years of Service from DHS Acting Commissioner James W. Smith.

Administrator of the Psychologist's Internship Program. Currently, the program includes fourteen pre-doctoral interns from various universities throughout the country, and fifty-three past interns are department staff members.