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The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago Medical Center

Externship Programs

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Externship

Supervisor: Tina Drossos, Ph.D.
1-2 Positions

Externs will receive training in conducting intake/diagnostic interviews, and formulating a developmentally appropriate case conceptualization including diagnoses and recommendations for treatment. Externs will also be expected to provide ongoing outpatient psychotherapy services to child and adolescent referrals, and their parents. Externs will carry a caseload of 6-8 patients. Presenting problems typically include mood and anxiety disorders, externalizing behavior problems, and adjustment disorders. Given our affiliation with and referrals from the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, externs will also have the opportunity to see patients with somatoform disorders and patients who are experiencing difficulty adjusting to a chronic illness. Treatment will predominantly be provided utilizing a cognitive-behavioral orientation; however, externs will also gain experience using alternate theoretical perspectives (i.e., family systems, interpersonal).

Externs also have the opportunity to participate and observe a licensed clinical psychologist on the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Consultation/Liaison Service The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Consultation/Liaison Service exists to provide timely, expert psychiatric and psychological assessment and recommendations to Comer Children’s Hospital physicians and children/adolescent patients under their care. Comer Children’s Hospital is a stand-alone 161 bed facility within the University of Chicago Medical Center that provides comprehensive inpatient pediatric services.

Externs participate in Departmental training activities on the days they are on-site. Externs are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist.

In order to be considered for the externship, applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and have either obtained their Masters degree or present with verification that they have completed educational activities equivalent to a Masters degree (should their program not award the MA or MS).

Externs are expected to be available 16-18 hours per week. Start date is July 1, 2010.

Applications should include the following:

  1. Current Curriculum Vitae
  2. Cover letter including statement of interest, previous therapy experience, and training goals.
  3. Academic transcript
  4. Two letters of recommendation in sealed and signed envelopes

Send all materials (in one envelope) by March 1, 2010 to:
Tina Drossos, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience
The University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 3077
Chicago, IL 60637.

Selected applicants will be invited for interviews in early to mid March and offers will be made on an ongoing basis. Questions about the Child/Adolescent Psychotherapy Externship should be directed to Dr. Drossos by e-mail at tdrossos@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu.