Curriculum Vitae Dr. Caterina Ambrosi Zaiontz

Internships

October 1995 – October 1999

• Psychodiagnostician and Psychotherapist in training at an NHS Community Mental Health Out-Patient Centre in Milan (USSL 48).
• Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Training in Psycho-educational Counselling (individuals and families)
• Responsibilities include: conducting all first clinical interviews of the patients assigned, administration of projective and cognitive tests (ORT, Rorschach, WAIS etc), structuring and administration of short/medium/ long term psychotherapeutic modules, write-up of clinical files and follow-ups.
• Patient population: male and female adults (18-65).
• Psychopathological pictures: Psychoses, Mood Disorders (esp. Anxiety Depressive Disorders), Personality Disorders (Clusters A and B) Eating Disorders.
• Supervisors: Dr. A. Verdecchia PhD (Clinical Psychologist, Psychotherapist) and Dr. C. Pagani MD (Psychiatrist).

April 1993 – March 1996

• Postgraduate placement at the Female Ward of the Psychiatry Dept. of the University Hospital of Milan (Policlinico).
• Responsibilities include: administration of projective and cognitive tests (ORT, Rorschach, WAIS etc.) to in-patients, participation in clinical team’s daily discussion groups of in-patient cases, assignment of in-patients and structuring and administration of short term psychotherapeutic modules, write-up of clinical files and follow-ups.
• Patient population: adult females (18-65).
• Psychopathological pictures: Psychoses, Borderline Personality Disorders, Bipolar Disorders, Severe Mood Disorders with Incongruous Ideations and Suicidal Tendencies
• Director and Supervisor: Prof. Marco Sostero, MD (Psychiatrist)

October 1993 – June 1994

• One year of specialisation at the Unit for Family Therapy at the Research Centre of Schizophrenia (Milan, Italy).
• Responsibilities include: participation in team-oriented clinical case discussions and analysis of clinical material (Systemic Approach)
• Patient population: adults and minors
• Psychopathological pictures: Schizophrenia and other Psychoses
• Supervisor: Dr. Paolo Bertrando, MD (Psychiatrist, Systemic Psychotherapist)
• Director: Prof. Carlo Cazzullo, MD (Psychiatrist)

March 1993 – March 1994

• One year Postgraduate internship at the University Hospital of Milan at the Unit of Psychosomatic Medicine, the Centre for the Treatment of Migraine and the Unit for “Liaison Psychiatry”.
• Responsibilities include: Co-conducting, with in-house psychiatrist, all clinical interviews of new patients, write-up of clinical files
• Patient population: adult females
• Psychopathological pictures: Mood Disorders, Conversion Disorders, Personality Disorders
• Director and Supervisor: Prof. Costanzo Gala, MD (Psychiatrist)

July 1992 – August 1992

• Study/research activity in preparation for the University thesis for the Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology at Chestnut Lodge Hospital, Rockville, MD (US).
• Supervisor: Prof. David Feinsilver MD, PhD (Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Member of the American Psychoanalytic Association).

Employment History

Psychology Area – Academic

October 1996 to present

Founder and Senior Lecturer of a course in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology at IES (Institute for the International Education of Students, Chicago/USA) c/o Cattolica University, Milan

• Course title: “The Bio-Psycho-Social Model”
• Semesters: Spring and Fall
• Total number of teaching hours: 88 per year
• Language of tuition: English
• All students are American and the teaching approach strictly adheres to MAPS guidelines (ref. DereK BoK Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University, USA)
• Typology of students: Psychology and Sociology Majors and Minors (undergraduate level)
• Responsibilities include: organization of the course structure, bibliography, detailed syllabus, field studies, guest speakers, home assignments, mid term and final exams.

February 2008 to present

• Founder and Senior Lecturer of an advanced course in Transcultural Psychology at IES.
• Course Title: “Transcultural Psychology: clinical challenges in diagnosis and treatment of culturally diverse patients. An international perspective”
• Semesters: Spring
• Total number of teaching hours: 14 per year
• Language of tuition: English
• Typology of students: Psychology Majors, Psychology Minors, Pre-Meds (undergraduate level)
• Responsibilities include: organisation of course structure, bibliography, detailed syllabus, coordination and training of assistant teachers, field studies, home assignments, guest speakers, mid term and final exams

March 2006 to present

• Professor of Transcultural Psychotherapy (theory and praxis) at the Postgraduate School of Specialisation of Transcultural Psychotherapy, Milan.
• The School is the only fully certified Postgraduate School of Specialization in Transcultural Psychotherapy officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of University and Research in Italy.
• Semesters: Spring, Fall, Early Summer
• Total number of teaching hours: 86 per year
• Language of tuition: Italian
• Typology of students: Medical Doctors, Psychology Graduates, Psychiatrists
• Responsibilities include: development of course programme, organization of course structure, bibliography, detailed syllabus, guest speakers, final exams, dissertations

September 2008 to present

Member of the Board of Directors of the above School.

Responsibilities include:

• Development of course programmes, academic syllabi, seminars, school ‘open days’ and research projects
• Development of specialised training courses offered to Mental Health Professionals from NHS Trusts in Milan on integrative treatment modules, diagnosis and clinical management of culturally diverse patients
• Development of new clinical tools
• Development of monographic seminars
• Member of the Graduation Committee
• Clinical support and mentoring to students throughout the whole 4 year Post Graduate programme.

2001 to present

• Coordinator of the Project for the Early Detection and Prevention of Psychological Disorders at the International School of Milan (kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school).
• The project includes: parenting workshops, child observation modules, teachers workshops etc.

Psychology Area – Clinical Practice

October 1998 to present

• Founder and Managing Director, with Dr Anna Arduini, MD Psychiatrist, of the “Venosta International Centre of Mental Health ^®“, Milan.
• Coordinating a team of professionals from the mental health sector offering integrated treatment in the following areas: clinical psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, child psychology, psychodiagnostics, family and marital therapy, forensic psychiatry/psychology for the Civil Court and the Court for the Protection of Minors of Milan’s Court of Justice.
• The Venosta International Centre of Mental Health ^®, in collaboration with the International School of Milan (ISM) and The International Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), began a series of clinical, educational and research projects aimed at the study, early detection and prevention of Adjustment Disorder in the ex-pat population. The Centre represents a unique example of a multicultural private practice in the field of mental health care in Milan and has been pioneering the study and research of Adjustment Disorder in Milan’s Anglophone population. It has also introduced new clinical models of assessment and clinical practice to promote transcultural sensitivity and awareness in its clinicians. The Clinic, through some of its clinicians, collaborates with and provides expert opinions to the Milan Civil Court, and the Court for the Protection of Minors of Milan’s Court of Justice.
• Patient population: adults, children, couples, individuals and families
• Main psychopathological pictures treated:
  • Adults (Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Eating Disorders, Adjustment Disorder and Psychoses)
  • Children (Learning Disabilities, ADDH, Asperger Syndrome, Adjustment Disorder)
  • Adolescents (Eating Disorders, Mood Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders, Adjustment Disorder)
  • Couples (Marital Conflicts, Adjustment Disorder, Intercultural Conflicts)
• Families and children for Court appointed cases (child custody in judicial divorce cases, suspicion of child molestation)
• Individual Assessment for Civil Court cases (evaluation of psycho-biological damage, PTSD, claimant’s compensation)

January 1996 – October 1998

Private practice in collaboration with American, British and Italian physicians from different medical specialities, treating almost exclusively English speaking patients from the ex-pat community in Milan.

Language Area

October 1990 – June 1992

Teacher of Italian at the Language Centre of the University College London.

September 1990 – June 1992

Appointed Lecturer of Compared Linguistics (Italian- English) at the Italian Department of European Studies of the University College London (UK).
Courses taught: Prose and Translation, Business Italian, Italian for Law, Intermediate Italian, Advanced Italian and Italian Conversation.

September 1987 – June 1988

Teacher of English at the Berlitz School of Milan.

September 1986 – June 1987

Teacher of English at the Circolo Filologico Milanese.

Main Seminars and Congress Participations

• Psycho-pharmacological treatment of OCD (Training Seminar, S. Raffaele University Hospital, Milan Italy 1994)
• Cognitive Behavioural Treatment of Anxiety Disorders (Training Seminar, University of Milan, Milan Italy 1994)
• ISPS International Congress (Chestnut Lodge Hospital Washington, USA 1994)
• Psychoanalysis and Visual Arts (Seminar, SPI, Mantua Italy 1995)
• The Split-Self: Gaetano Benedetti’s Perspective (Seminar by Prof. Gaetano Benedetti, School of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Milan Italy 1995)
• ISPS International Congress (London UK 1997)
• ISPS International Congress (Stavanger Norway 2000)
• How to Deal with Hallucinations and Delusions: a Cognitive-Behavioural Approach (Training Seminar by Prof. Kingdon, Volcanic Mind Congress University of Catania, Italy 2004)
• The Psychoeducational Model (Training Seminar by Prof. J. Leff, ISPS Congress Madrid 2006)
• The Transcultural Clinical Setting (Training Seminar by Prof. Laurence Kirmeyer, Schizophrenia Days International Congress, Stavanger Norway 2006)

Seminars

• Caterina Zaiontz, Natascia Giovacchini: “Sexual Abuse”, “Psycho-sexual Development in Children”, “Separation and Divorce”, “Psychopathology in the Developing Age”, “A journey through Childhood” etc. (Seminars) International School of Milan and Monza 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Caterina Zaiontz: “Multicultural Milan: a Perspective on the Medical Sector” (Seminar) IES c/o Universita’ Cattolica Milan, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
• Caterina Zaiontz, Laura Bartocetti, Sonia de Cristofaro: “A Journey through Pre-Adolescence”, “A Journey through Adolescence”, “Substance Abuse in the Developing Age; Psychobiological Implications” (Seminars) International School of Milan, 2002, 2003, 2004
• Caterina Zaiontz: “Mood Disorder: Diagnostic Criteria and Therapeutic Implications”, “Eating Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria and Therapeutic Implications” (Seminars) Studio Guerra, Rapallo-Italy 2002, 2003
• Caterina Zaiontz, Rosanna Sposato: “Impulse Control Disorders; Diagnosis and Treatment” (Seminar) Studio Guerra, Rapallo-Italy 2003
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Elba Knauer: “Change” (Workshop) W.I.N. Conference, Milan 2000
• Caterina Zaiontz: “Behavioural Patterns of Juvenile Delinquency in the United States” (Seminar) S. Maria del Carmine in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate, Milano 1999

Research and Congress Presentations

• C. Zaiontz, A. Arduini, A. Bova, D. Buren, G.Fungi “Rafforzamento dell’Io del Paziente Attraverso la Somministrazione di un Protocollo Clinico Transculturale” (Oral Communication). IV Giornata Nazionale di Psicologia Positiva, Universita’ degli Studi di Bologna (Novembre 2010)
• Caterina Zaiontz: Chairman and Speaker at theTranscultural Psychotherapy Symposium of the 20th World Congress of the International Federation of Psychotherapy, Lucern, June 2010:
  1. C.Zaiontz, A.Arduini, A.Bova, D.Buren, G.Fungi “Enhancing Patients’ Empowerment Through theAadministration of a Transcultural Clinical Protocol”
  2. C. Zaiontz, A.Arduini, D.Buren “Culture and Psychopathology: Clinical Considerations of the Adjustment Disorder in a Foreign Patient Population from Highly Industrialized Countries”
  3. C. Zaiontz, A.Arduini, D.Buren, G.Fungi “Construction of the Transcultural Therapeutic Setting: How to Foster Patient-Treater Cultural Competence and Mutual Relatedness”
  4. G.Fungi, C.Zaiontz “Therapeutic Management of a Chinese Schizophrenic Patient in an Italian NHS Outpatient Centre: a Transcultural Perspective”
• Rosalba Terranova – Cecchini, Caterina Zaiontz: “Clinical Considerations of the Adjustment Process in a Foreign Patients Population” (Research: Symposium), World Congress of Cultural Psychiatry, Norcia, September 2009
• Anna Arduini, Denise Buren, Rosalba Terranova-Cecchini, Caterina Zaiontz: “Setting the stage of a Transcultural Clinical Setting: Preliminary Results of a Protocol Design based on the DSM IV TR Cultural Formulation” (Research: Symposium), World Congress of Cultural Psychiatry, Norcia, September 2009
  Chairman: Prof. Rosalba Terranova MD
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Denise Buren, Davide Cavagna: “Transcultural Response Patterns through the Administration of an Initial Protocol Design: Preliminary Results of a Pilot Study” (Research: Oral Communication) WPA Congress (XIV World Congress of Psychiatry), Prague, September 2008
• Caterina Zaiontz, Kristin Calmes, Anna Arduini, Martina Ferrari: “Clinical Challenges of Multiculturalism in the Treatment of Psychotic Patients in a Private Practice” (Research: Workshop) ISPS International Congress, Madrid June 2006
• Caterina Zaiontz, Kristin Calmes, Anna Arduini, Martina Ferrari: “Therapeutic management of a Severe Bicultural Borderline patient: an integrated approach” ( Poster) ISPS International Congress, Madrid June 2006
• Caterina Zaiontz, Terry Haywood: “Primary and Secondary Prevention Programmes for the Early Detection of Psychological Disorders within a Multicultural School Setting” (Oral Communication) International Congress of Psychiatry, Stavanger: “Schizophrenia Days”, November 2006
• Caterina Zaiontz, Davide Cavagna, Sonia de Cristofaro, Natascia Giovacchini, Rosanna Sposato, Laura Bartocetti: “Clinical Trends of the Anglophone Population in Milan Pre and Post September 11, 2001? (Research: Oral Communication) International Congress Volcanic Mind, Catania 2004
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Natascia Giovacchini, Sonia de Cristofaro: “How to Work with a Multi-cultural Population: Psychiatric/Psychotherapeutic/Psycho educational Implications” (Workshop) International Congress Volcanic Mind, Catania 2004
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Natascia Giovacchini: “Criteria of Relational Patterns in the Therapeutic Process with Anglophone Patients” (Oral Communication) 3rd European Congress on Psychotherapy, Heidelberg 2003
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Natascia Giovacchini, Rosanna Sposato: “Psichiatria e Multiculturalita’: Disturbo di Adattamento nella Popolazione Anglofona” (Oral Communication) International Congress Volcanic Mind, Catania 2003
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Giordano Invernizzi, Sonia de Cristofaro: “Psicopatologia dell’evento Migratorio nella Popolazione Anglofona” (Poster) Congresso Societa’ Italiana di Psicopatologia, Rome 2002
• Caterina Zaiontz, Natascia Giovacchini, Laura Bartocetti “Prevention and Management of Emergencies: study in progress with a multi-ethnic student population and their families” (Oral Communication) World Congress of the International Association for Emergency Psychiatry, Barcelona 2002
• Anna Arduini, Caterina Zaiontz, Giordano Invernizzi: “Psychiatry and Intercultural Globalization” (Oral Communication), International Congress of the World Psychiatric Association, Madrid 2001
• Caterina Zaiontz, Anna Arduini, Giordano Invernizzi: “Adjustment Disorder: a Three Year Study with US Students” (Oral Communication) International Congress of the World Psychiatric Association, Madrid 2001

Supervisions

Supervisor and Clinical trainer in Clinical Psychology, Psychopathology Psychotherapy for the following trainees:

1. Katherine Dahm (IES, Psychology Major USA) February – June 2001 (Clinical Psychology)
2. Dr. Rosanna Sposato (Sportello della Regione Lombardia, Psychology Graduate USA) January – June 2003 (Clinical Psychology)
3. Nicole Marchetto (University of New York, Psychology Major USA) February- June 2003 (Clinical Psychology)
4. Dr. Martina Ferrari (Italy, Psychology Graduate) September 2003 June 2004 (Psychopathology, Psychotherapy)
5. Rebecca Philips (IES, Biology Major USA) February-June 2004 (Clinical Psychology)
6. Keith Anousike (IES, Sociology Major USA) September-December 2004 (Transcultural Psychology)
7. Dr. Kristin Calmes (Psychology Graduate USA) September 2004-June 2005 (Psychopathology, Psychotherapy)
8. Talia Sinisi (IES Psychology Major USA) February-June 2006 (Psychopathology)
9. Dr Denise Buren PhD (Doctor in Clinical Psychology USA) September 2006-June 2007 (Psychopathology, Transcultural Psychotherapy, University tuition)
10. Dr Giovanna Fungi (post-Graduate Student at the School of specialization in Transcultural Psychotherapy) Fondazione Cecchini Pace, Milan January 2007-January 2009 (Psychopathology, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, University tuition)

Memberships

• Italian Psychological Society (Clinical Psychologist)
• Italian Psychological Society (Psychotherapist)
• Chartered Psychologist (British Psychological Society, UK)
• Full Member in the Teachers and Reserachers Division (British Psychological Society, UK)
• Italian Association of Journalists
• World Association of Cultural Psychiatry
• International Symposium of the Psychological Therapies of Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses

AWARDS

In 2010 she received the prestigious international award “Faculty Innovation Award” by the Academic Committee of Board and Consortium University members of IES Abroad at the Annual Conference in Chicago for IES University Lecturers worldwide.