Meet the PHS Postdoctoral Fellows

PHS currently has seven postdoctoral fellows. Meet Cesar Gonzalez, Rae Hoesing, Alex Iantaffi, Scott Jacoby, Sara Prescher, Katie Spencer, and Zach White.

Cesar A. Gonzalez, PhD Gonzalez is in his first year of a combined clinical and research fellowship at PHS. He will be working on the All Gender Health Online project for twenty-five percent of his fellowship. He received his BA in psychology from the University of Arizona and his MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Los Angeles. His clinical training has included behavioral medicine, persistent and severe mental illness, child and family therapy, and the assessment of learning differences. His training was with Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Pasadena City College, and the Children’s Collective, Inc. in Los Angeles. Gonzalez is bicultural and fully bilingual in English and Spanish. His research interests include transgenderism, transphobia, HIV/AIDS, gender roles, depression, resilience, and multicultural community psychology. He has worked at Bienestar Human Services, Inc., a non-profit organization serving HIV infected/affected and GLBT individuals, as director of evaluation and research, where he evaluated HIV prevention programs funded by SAMHSA, CDC, and the Los Angeles County Office of Aids and Programs and Policy and conducted community research on HIV/AIDS prevention and cultural factors. He has also worked as staff research associate at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

Rae Hoesing, PhD Hoesing is in her second year of her postdoctoral fellowship. She received her BA in religious studies from Carleton College and her MA and PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Minnesota. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison student counseling center where she established a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender support group. Her current clinical areas of specialization include relationship difficulties, sexual dysfunction, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, compulsive sexual behavior, and sexual offending. Hoesing's research has focused on attachment style in adolescent sex offenders. Her experience and interests also include anxiety and stress, family of origin issues, spiritual issues, group dynamics, multicultural and diversity issues, and training and professional development.

Alessandra (Alex) Iantaffi, PhD joined PHS this fall as a postdoctoral research fellow and the research coordinator for the All Gender Health Online project. Iantaffi received a PhD from the University of Reading (UK) and an MSc in systemic psychotherapy from the University of Bedfordshire (UK). Iantaffi’s research interests have focused on gender, sexuality, disability, polyamory, and BDSM. Some most recent co-authored publications are included in Moon, L. (2007) Feeling Queer or Queer Feelings? Radical Approaches to Counseling Sex, Sexualities, and Genders and Langridge, D. and Barker, M. (2007) Safe, Sane and Consensual. Iantaffi is the editor of the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy, visiting professor for the Institute of Constructivist Psychology in Padua, Italy, a parent, and a knitter.

Scott Jacoby, MA Jacoby is in his second year of training at PHS as he completes his PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Minnesota. He received his MA in counseling and pastoral care in 2000 from the University of San Diego. He began working at PHS in 2002 conducting NIH research in sexual health, STI/HIV prevention, and mental health among high risk populations including ethnic minorities and men who have sex with men. His current clinical areas of specialization and interests include alternative sexual behavior, sexual fetishes, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, relationship and couple counseling, alternative sexual lifestyles, consensual non-monogamy, sexual disorders, paraphilic behavior, multicultural counseling, sex offending, and compulsive sexual behavior.

Sara J. Prescher, PsyD Prescher is in her second year of her postdoctoral fellowship. She received her BA in psychology and women's studies from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received her MA in counseling and psychological services from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and her PsyD in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Minnesota Correctional Facility for women in Shakopee, Minnesota. Prescher has experience working with developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury, psychological assessments, chemical dependency, eating disorders, self-injurious behavior, personality disorders, abuse/trauma, and sex offenders and in the following settings: community mental health center, private practice, inpatient and partial hospitalization, and a correctional facility. Areas of clinical specialization during her post-doctoral fellowship include: relationship concerns, sexual dysfunctions, women's sexual health, compulsive sexual behaviors, and sex offenders.

Katherine (Katie) Spencer, PhD Spencer is in her second year of her postdoctoral fellowship. She received her MA and PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She received her BA in women’s studies and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her internship was completed at the University of Illinois-Chicago Counseling Center. Spencer’s clinical and research interests include (but are not limited to) lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, gender identity and expression, women’s health and sexuality, trauma and recovery, multicultural and social justice issues, sexual dysfunction, and relationship concerns. She has experience in community mental health, women’s centers, private practice, hospital settings, and university counseling centers.

G. Zachariah (Zach) White, MFA, PsyD White is in his first year of his postdoctoral fellowship at PHS. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Twin Cities. His training has included work with Alpha Human Services, the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, the University of Minnesota Duluth student counseling center, and the behavioral health unit of Fairview University Medical Center–Mesabi. His doctoral research focused on the integration of conflicting sexual orientation and religious identities. White’s clinical and research interests include sexual orientation and gender identity development, reconciliation of sexuality with spirituality, effective treatment of sexual offending and compulsive sexual behavior, and the development of healthy and satisfying sexual expression.

PHS Seeks Clinical Postdoctoral Fellows

PHS is accepting applications for clinical postdoctoral fellows. If you are interested in becoming a sex therapist, apply today to this unique training opportunity.

While there are a handful of postdoctoral clinical and research training opportunities around the country, PHS remains one of the largest centers training future sex therapists. We are the only place to offer specialized training in transgender health, compulsive sexual behavior, and sexual offender therapy. We are currently seeking applicants to join our vibrant team of faculty and postdoctoral fellows for a two-year fellowship program. Fellows provide individual, family, couple, and group psychotherapy for a wide range of sexual dysfunctions and problems including: relationship and sexual problems, transgender issues, sexual orientation concerns, compulsive sexual behavior, paraphilias, sexual offending, and HIV counseling.

We serve a diverse group of patients (an average of 1,200 patient visits a month), including children, adolescents, minorities, disabled individuals, and clients with chronic medical or mental health problems. The training will help the fellow develop their skills in addressing sexual issues in any clinical setting and conducting psychosexual evaluations. In addition to sex therapy, treatment addresses a wide variety of Axis I and Axis II disorders. This kind of diversity makes for an exciting and stimulating fellowship.

Fellows complete a research project that is tailored to their own interests. Applicants must have their PhD, PsyD, or MD. The fellowship helps individuals gain licensure. The starting date can be flexible. The fellowship includes a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a professional travel stipend. Please submit your application for requisition #156994 online through University of Minnesota employment.