Education > Advanced Training > Psychology Externs

The NYU Child Study Center Psychology Externship Program for 2010-2011

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (consisting of the NYU Child Study Center and the Bellevue Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) will be offering psychology externship positions for September 2010. The externship is designed for advanced graduate students (3rd year and above) in clinical, school-clinical, and clinical health psychology programs.  The training focuses on clinical behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches with children, adolescents, and their families who present primarily externalizing disorders in an out-patient setting.  The NYU Child Study Center will have extern positions available in the ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Institute, the Institute for Learning, Advancement, and Achievement (New York City and Long Island campuses), and also at our office in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Applicants interested in these externship positions are encouraged to learn more by reading below or contacting Lori Evans, Ph.D., Director of Psychology Training, at (212) 263-3661 or by email at lori.evans@nyumc.org.  Please see information below regarding application requirements for each position.  Applications are typically received in January and February, with interviews by invitation held on a rolling admission basis.

ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Disorder’s Service Externship 2010-2011

Externs are sought for this busy clinical service which emphasizes clinically-sensitive integration of evidence-based, empirically-supported approaches. Many of patients present with robust comorbidity and our ADHD training faculty have interest in broad areas. Our externs also get significant exposure to children with Anxiety Disorders, Asperger’s and other developmental spectrum disorders.  Some faculty have special interest in such areas such as Selective Mutism and OCD.  Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP is the ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Disorders Externship coordinator and co-leads the Selective Mutism program.

Clinical Responsibilities: 

  • Individual psychotherapy:  The extern will be the primary therapist for a number of individual therapy cases, with a maximum case load of six patients at any time.
  • Group therapy:  The extern will have a maximum of one group at a time. Prior groups have included ADHD social skills, Asperger’s/PDD social skills, parent training, and family education workshops.
  • Empirically-supported treatments:  Externs will be trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Negotiating Parent-Adolescent Conflict, and Defiant Children. There is exposure to other protocols as well, including the organizational skills interventions we are researching and some of the standard CBT-oriented anxiety interventions, such as exposure-based treatments.
  • Structured school observations:  The extern will conduct school observations using a manualized functional behavioral analysis protocol to assist in assessment, treatment, planning, and implementation.
  • Vertical team and co-therapy:  Externs often participate as co-therapists and observing therapists with more seasoned clinicians in assessment and treatment sessions.
  • Coding videotaped clinical vignettes:  Externs may participate in sessions that are rendered as DVDs for training of other therapists.
  • Medication observation:  Externs will track patients’ medication responses using state-of-the-art protocols.
  • Miscellaneous clinical tasks:  While building the externs’ clinical caseloads is our highest priority, we supplement with a variety of clinically-relevant activities as needed. 

 Non-Clinical Responsibilities: 

  • ADHD Training Seminar (Thursday 1:30PM-2:30PM)
  • Supervision two to one with Dr. Steven Kurtz; supplemented individually as needed (Thursdays 12:00PM-1:00PM)
  • Weekly Case Conference (Friday 9:00AM-11:00AM)
  • Weekly Grand Rounds (Friday 11:00AM-12:15PM)
  • PCIT Seminar (Friday 8:00AM-9:00AM)
  • PCIT Family Teams (Tuesday 5:00PM-6:30PM)

Presentations:

The externs assist in presentations within the NYU academic community and external professional and community groups.  The role will depend on the extern’s level of experience and comfort in the subject area.

Research:

While this is primarily a clinical externship, the CSC is committed to the scientist-practitioner model and we are engaged in clinical translation research, as we work from efficacy trials to real-world implementation.  You will have opportunities to participate in these endeavors.  Among the projects prior externs have worked on was our Stimulant Medication Trial Tracking Protocol, where we are tracking our implementation of the MTA medication algorithm as we modified it for real-world clinical practice.  Externs are also involved in our studies on the Children’s Organizational Skills Scale (COSS), an empirically-supported parent, teacher, and self-report measure authored by two of our faculty - Howard Abikoff, Ph.D. and Richard Gallagher, Ph.D.  You will have an opportunity to prepare a presentation for submission to AABT/ABCT, NYSPA, or other professional organization as part of your externship.

Time Requirement: 

  • 16-20 hours per week, usually spread over three workdays
  • Two evenings per week; one for families/groups and one for other sessions
  • September 2010-June 2011, but preference is given to those students that can start in July 2010

Those interested in applying should submit a letter of interest, writing sample (intake report preferred), attestation letter from your graduate program stating your eligibility for externship, two to three letters of recommendation (from professors or clinical supervisors) and CV to Lori Evans, Ph.D., Director of Psychology Training, NYU Child Study Center, 577 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or via email to lori.evans@nyumc.org. Please contact Lori Evans, Ph.D. at lori.evans@nyumc.org or Steven Kurtz, Director of ADHD Institute, at steven.kurtz@nyumc.org with questions.

The Institute for Learning Advancement and Achievement Externships (NYC and Long Island Campus) 2010-2011

The NYU Child Study Center seeks graduate students to complete a year long externship in neuropsychology.  There will be extern positions available in the Institute for Learning, Achievement and Advancement (ILAA) at both our Long Island campus, located in Lake Success on the Queens Nassau County border and also at our New York City campus, located near the main campus of the NYU Medical Center. Dominick Auciello, Psy.D, dominick.auciello@nyumc.org is the primary supervisor at the Long Island campus, while Susan Schwartz, M.A. Ed., susan.schwartz@nyumc.org is the primary supervisor at the New York City campus.

Clinical Responsibilities:

  • Testing: The position will primarily involve performing neuropsychological, psychodiagnostic, developmental and psychoeducational evaluations. Patient populations include children with various learning disabilities, ADHD with comorbid learning problems, and various neurological conditions affecting cognitive development and learning. The extern will be required to administer, score, and write reports based on test results obtained. Externs will also participate in intakes and feedback relevant to these testing cases.
  • Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy experience may be arranged on an individual basis if other supervisors have the availability, though this cannot be guaranteed. Any interest in doing psychotherapy should be discussed during the interview process so that the possibilities can be assessed. Patient populations primarily include children and adolescents with ADHD, ODD, and Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Staff orientation is generally cognitive-behavioral in therapeutic approach.
  • School Visits: Externs are invited to attend monthly school visits in which we are educated about specialized programs throughout the city.  Opportunities for classroom observations are part of a clinical evaluation may also be available.

Non-Clinical Responsibilities:

  • Weekly ILAA Training Seminar
  • Weekly individual and group supervision for testing cases
  • Weekly Case Conference (Fridays 9:00AM-11:00AM)
  • Weekly Grand Rounds (Fridays 11:00AM-12:15PM)
  • Participation in seminars and other education opportunities

Presentation:

The extern will receive training in cognitive-behavioral case conceptualization. With the guidance and support of a staff psychologist, the extern will prepare a case presentation to present at a team meeting. Case presentations usually consist of a conceptualization, brief literature review, and overview of the treatment approach. This practice exercise aims to help prepare students for advanced training requirements of internship. Externs can also assist in presentations given to the NYU academic community, as well as to local community organizations and professional group.

Research (optional):

Opportunities may arise for externs to participate in clinical research projects that are being conducted by staff psychologists.

Time Requirement:

Two full days per week will be required. For the Long Island office, Monday and Wednesday are required from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. For the New York City office, either Tuesday & Friday or Thursday & Friday are required, also 9:00AM to 5:00PM.

Contact Information:

Those interested in applying to either the Long Island or New York City extern ILAA extern positions should submit a letter of interest and CV to Lori Evans, Ph.D., Director of Psychology Training, NYU Child Study Center, 577 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or via email at lori.evans@nyumc.org. The applicant should also forward a list of tests divided into three categories: (1) those can be administered proficiently, (2) those that the applicant has some experience with, but requires more training, and (3) those that the applicant has no experience with but would like to learn about if possible.  Please contact either Lori Evans, Ph.D. at lori.evans@nyumc.org, Dominic Auciello Psy.D, Coordinator of Long Island Neuropsychology Externship, at dominic.auciello@nyumc.org or Susan Schwartz, M.A. Ed., Coordinator of New York City Neuropsychology Externship at susan.schwartz@nyumc.org with questions.

  

Autism Spectrum Disorders Service Neuropsychology Externship

The Autism Spectrum Disorders Service at the NYU Child Study Center is seeking graduate students to complete a year long externship in neuropsychology.  The position is open to graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program with the terminal degree of Ph.D. or Psy.D. Applicants should have completed first year coursework in psychological testing.

Responsibilities:

  • Testing: The position will primarily involve performing neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations of children and young adult populations with, or suspected of having, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, and other neurosychiatric conditions affecting cognitive development, social skills, and learning. The extern will be required to administer, score, and write reports based on test results obtained. Externs will also participate in intakes and feedback relevant to these testing cases.
  • Non-clinical: Responsibilities will include weekly individual and group supervision for testing cases, attendance at our weekly clinical staff meeting during which administrative issues, new cases, and difficult ongoing cases are discussed. Participation in seminars and other educational opportunities (e.g., Grand Rounds) are also expected.
  • School Visits: Externs are invited to attend monthly school visits in which we are educated about specialized programs throughout the city. Opportunities for classroom observations as part of a clinical evaluation may also be available.
  • Research/Electives (Optional): Research opportunities exist at the CSC. An interest in these opportunities should be expressed at the start of the externship year.

Time Requirement:

  • Two full days per week will be required.
  • Time for preparation of written reports can be included in these two full days, although externs have elected to use additional time to complete report writing at home and used the days for clinical experience.

Contact Information:

Those interested in applying should contact Dr. Lori Evans via e-mail at lori.evans@nyumc.org and include their CV. The applicant should also forward a list of tests divided in to three categories: (1) those can be administered proficiently, (2) those that the applicant has some experience with, but requires more training, and (3) those that the applicant has no experience with, but would like to learn about if possible.

  

Child & Adolescent Psychology Externship (Hackensack, New Jersey)

We are pleased to announce the creation of a child and adolescent psychology externship program at our newest location in Hackensack, New Jersey.  Students are eligible if they are enrolled in an APA-approved program in Clinical Psychology or School Psychology and are in good standing with their program.  An interest in work with children and their families is strongly preferred.  Experience with children and adolescents is useful, but not mandatory.  In some cases, students enrolled in Counseling Psychology programs will be considered.

Responsibilities:

  • Conducting psychological assessments using tests of intelligence, tests of achievement, and rating scales for adjustment as a component of comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of children and adolescents. 
  • Conducting intake assessments for evaluating child and adolescent problems and determining diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
  • Conducting individual and family therapy with selected cases.

Time Requirement:

Externs will be expected to be present for 16 hours per week in a schedule that is negotiated with their externship supervisors.

Contact Information:

Those interested in applying should submit a letter of interest, writing sample (intake report preferred), attestation letter from your graduate program stating your eligibility for externship, two to three letters of recommendation (from professors or clinical supervisors) and CV to Jerome Bubrick, Ph.D., NYU Child Study Center – New Jersey Office, 411 Hackensack Avenue, 7th Floor, Hackensack, NJ  07601

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