ACG Health & Center for Integrative Medicine
Site Director: Nicholas Wood, Psy.D.
Website:
1 Position
Program code: 218111
ACG: 904 Chester Pike
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
CIM: 2201 Providence Ave
Chester, PA 19103
The internship program at ACG Health provides interns an opportunity to become well-rounded clinical psychologists with advanced competency in working with underserved and vulnerable populations. Interns complete one year of training in clinical health psychology, serving adults living in the greater Philadelphia area. Supervision is provided by ACG’s eight psychologists. Specifically, the Director of Integrative Medicine oversees all psychological services, the Director of Psychology Internship oversees the training program (which also includes an APA-accredited postdoctoral residency program and trainees in social work, professional counseling, and others), and interns are assigned two licensed psychologists for supervision. These psychologists oversee daily intern activities including patient care, documentation, care coordination meetings, and individual clinical supervision.
ACG Health treats the whole person, bringing together medical and psychological services in a team-based approach to effectively care for individuals with chronic conditions. We have a few main services within our agency:
- A Ryan White provider, dedicated to medical, dental, psychological, case management services to patients living with HIV and providing Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people at risk of getting HIV.
- The Center for Integrative Medicine – A PA-designated Center of Excellence for Opioid Use Disorder, providing primary care-based integrated treatment and care management for people living with opioid use disorder. Mosaic Medical Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Health and Wellness – medical and psychological services for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- A state-designate STI testing site (testing and treatment, free and confidential for the community).
- Hepatitis C Community outreach (including rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, prison) and medical/psychological treatment.
- Eddystone Community Pharmacy.
ACG trains predoctoral interns in clinical psychology. Interns are trained primarily as generalist clinical psychologists with the skills to provide psychological services to a wide array of underserved and vulnerable populations. We have a few target populations that we serve, notable individuals recovering from opioid use disorder, individuals living with HIV, and those who identify as LGBTQ+. We additionally provide short-term therapy for individuals being treated for Hepatitis C and those participating in our PrEP Program. Individual psychotherapy is the primary treatment modality within the internship program, with additional training offered in group psychotherapy and psychological assessment as well. Interns work in an outpatient setting, typically, using long-term model of psychotherapy.
ACG’s training program focuses on an integrated medical model of practice, meeting the unique needs of individuals living with chronic and co-occurring conditions. In addition to treating a variety of psychological illnesses, intern gain working on an interdisciplinary team, working within a medical setting, and completing intake evaluations to determine the level of care and motivation for treatment for new patients. The therapeutic techniques used tend to focus on recovery-oriented psychotherapy, including motivational interviewing and relapse-prevention, but trainees will be encouraged to use other approaches when warranted, including other evidence-based treatments depending on client needs, presenting problems, diversity issues, and other client-related factors.
Other opportunities for training at the clinic include weekly care coordination meetings with medical providers, weekly group supervision of group psychotherapy, weekly didactic sessions led by psychologists and visiting speakers, an opportunity to present a didactic session, weekly peer consultation led by postdoctoral residents, and two hours per week of individual supervision with a licensed psychologist. This internship provides the opportunity for the trainee to expand on and build skills in health psychology and psychotherapy for a challenging population while expanding knowledge into new areas and while developing skills required for independent practice.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The ACG offices are located in a variety of buildings in both Chester, PA, and Sharon Hill, PA, outside of Philadelphia. The buildings of relevance for interns include the following:
- 907 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA. Dental offices. Includes reception area, waiting room, multiple dental treatment rooms and two meeting spaces. Wheelchair accessible.
- 921 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA. Six psychology offices, the Director of Integrative Medicine’s office, small kitchen, psychology library, and location of administrative staff and waiting room.
- 126 Kenny Ave, Sharon Hill, PA. Two psychology offices, one of which is utilized by an art therapist for individuals and groups. Small kitchenette.
- 904 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA. Four psychology offices, one of which is also used for groups. Sunroom, which is used for meetings and groups. A large waiting room and kitchen.
- 940 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA. Medical provider office, which is used for care coordination meetings, two exam rooms, a phlebotomy lab, a medication administration room, a reception office with locked file cabinets, and site of the administrative hub for one program. A waiting room and wheelchair accessible.
- 2201 Providence Ave, Chester, PA. A waiting area, two psychology offices, a reception office with locked file cabinets, exam rooms, phlebotomy stations, administrative offices. Wheelchair accessible.
- 2304 Edgmont Ave, Chester, PA. Four psychology offices, a large reception area and waiting room, a small kitchenette, and a non-psychology office.
Depending on location, the buildings have both street and designated parking lots available for staff and are located along public transit routes. Some of our buildings, but not all, are wheelchair accessible. All buildings have at least one bathroom, most have multiple. Coffee and water are available in every building. Every building is locked, requiring a proximity card (which we provide) to enter; patients must be granted access by administrative staff.
Each building has a reception area staffed by full-time administrative employees, with the exception of the offices at Kenney Ave, which have a waiting room space but no additional support staff. Licensed psychologists are positioned throughout each site to provide ample support and crisis response if needed. All staff is trained in crisis response and in the use of naloxone in the case of an overdose. Staff is additionally trained in de-escalation skills. We have a staff person designated to provide security on campus.
Our sites are equipped with internet, phones, fax, printers, copy machines, as well as locked file cabinets for patient records. We primarily use an electronic health record for the majority of documentation. We have designated staff to provide technical support and coordinate agency assets. Staff employed by ACG include physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, medical assistants, dentists, dental assistants, psychologists, art therapist, postdoctoral residents, interns from various programs, reception and administrative staff, case managers, recovery specialists, a human resource director, pharmacists, pharmacy director, pharmacy techs, drivers, outreach staff to prisons and community, and additional supportive and administrative staff.
All interns and staff share office space, with an assigned office or meeting space always provided. All interns are provided an agency-owned laptop and cellular phone for work-related duties. We have video cameras and secure USB drives available for training purposes as needed by the doctoral program. Some psychological assessment materials are available. Office space and supervisor support are available for interns interested in completing psychological assessments.
Beechwood NeuroRehab (Woods Services Inc.)
Site Director: Jospeh DiCondina, Psy.D.
Website: Beechwood NeuroRehab – Bucks County Brain Injury Residential and Outpatient Rehabilitation
1 Position
Program Code: 218116
469 East Maple Ave.
Langhorne, PA 19047
Beechwood NeuroRehab (BNR) is a community-integrated, post-acute rehabilitation program serving individuals who have acquired neurological disorders, including traumatic brain injuries, non-traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, and other neurological disorders.
BNR is a program of Woods Services, which serves children and adults with developmental and acquired disabilities. BNR is situated in the historic borough of Langhorne, in the heart of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. BNR is located between the cities of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Trenton, New Jersey, and is easily accessible by the major traffic routes servicing the greater Philadelphia area and by public transportation.
BNR’s mission is to develop and facilitate daily skills performance for individuals whose functional autonomy has been compromised by acquired neurological disorders. BNR recognizes and respects the needs, desires and the rights of those whom we serve, their families, and those agencies providing financial support. BNR serves individuals with a wide range of needs in several program locations, as well as individuals who live in their own homes in the community. BNR provides supports for living and services for individuals served in community residential, vocational, and outpatient programs.
BNR’s Transdisciplinary Teams focus on functional skills development that enables the persons served to actualize the greatest degree of autonomy, dignity and quality of living. BNR provides a full range of transdisciplinary services including Cognitive Rehabilitation, Health and Nutrition Services, Physical Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, Supported Employment Services, Neuropsychological Services, Structured Day Services, Communication Services, Life Skills, Recreational Services and Case Management.
BNR serves people who have experienced brain injury, who also may experience a full range of life problems now made even more difficult by cognitive and physical impairments. This includes people injured in car crashes, work accidents, falls, assaults, soldiers injured in war, as well as injuries to the brain that occur as a result of stroke, tumor, seizure disorder, anoxia, or electrocution. These causes of brain injury may result in mild, moderate, or severe disabilities. Some of the people served live in their own homes in the community and some live in Beechwood’s 9 Community Residences. BNR serves roughly 85 residential participants while serving roughly 25 outpatient participants. Life problems include dealing with emotional problems, such as anxiety and depression, interpersonal difficulties, such as spousal, peer, and family relationship problems, as well as difficulties with being successful in work or school. Thus, the trainee will get a well-rounded training and experience, not just in neuropsychological assessment and intervention, but in how to intervene clinically in any area of life functioning, using a neuro-rehabilitation based, systems approach.
The Neuropsychology Internship Training Program is housed within the BNR Clinical Department. The Clinical Department includes Neuropsychology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology and Cognitive Rehabilitation services. Beechwood offers one full-time training Intern position, that includes training on site 4 days per week and training at the Consortium one day per week.
Neuropsychology trainees have the opportunity to develop assessment and intervention skills within a context that hinges upon the transdisciplinary approach. Training activities include neuropsychological assessment, neurocognitive assessment, providing feedback to those after providing such assessments, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, brain injury counseling and education, cognitive behavioral therapy, and structured day program groups. These skills may be developed in BNR’s Community Residential, Clubhouse Structured Day, Outpatient, or Vocational programs. Additional training occurs through participation in weekly Clinical Department Meetings and weekly Neuropsychology Section Meetings. Didactic training at BNR will focus on brain-behavior relationships and cognitive rehabilitation, and didactic training is also offered one day a week through the Consortium. Opportunities exist to learn from the entire BNR team, including Neuropsychologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Cognitive Rehabilitative Therapists, Vocational Specialists, Care Coordinators, Recreational Therapists, Life Skills Trainers, Medical Director, Neurologist, Psychiatrist, and Physiatrist. There are opportunities to learn from a wide variety of medical rehabilitation specialists and allied health professionals using a transdisciplinary model. Opportunities also exist for developing pediatric skills in a school-based brain injury classroom in BNR’s Connect NeuroEd Program.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
Each intern is provided with either individual office space and/or shares an office with a Staff Neuropsychologist. Beechwood NeuroRehab has a Main Campus, Community Group Homes, Apartments, and outpatient services. Space and equipment is provided to conduct professional services at each different site. The main building, the Stabler Center, has an office with a one-way mirror allowing supervisor(s) to observe when a trainee is conducting interventions and assessments. Each intern undergoes Orientation Training with the Parent Organization, WOODS, as well as an Orientation geared specifically to Beechwood NeuroRehab. After training is completed with the Parent Organization, interns and trainees are given identification badges, a computer email address, and each trainee/intern is included in the Clinical Department’s Group email list. All interns/trainees have access to the same computer, software, internet, and research resources available to Staff Neuropsychologists. Each intern/trainee has access to clerical supplies, but most choose to use their own laptops, or the computers found in the offices they occupy. Interns/trainees are able to gain knowledge of Adaptive Prosthetic Equipment through the other branches of the Clinical Department and our Assistive Technology Department. The site provides any and all clerical and mechanical supports required so each intern/trainee is treated no differently than an employee, with the exception they do not have direct access to billing technology or support.
It is the policy of Woods Services to protect the welfare of all the individuals we serve and to comply with child abuse, criminal history records and Federal Bureau of Investigation clearance requirements of Child/Adult/Older Adults Protective Services Laws. It is the policy of Woods Services to ensure proper credentials of employees and contractors relevant to position-specific requirements. All newly hired staff, interns, fellowship students, and selected volunteers are required to provide Woods with a copy of a Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Check and a Department of Human Services FBI fingerprint clearance which is dated within 1 year of start date at Woods Services. Students, Interns, Fellowship Students and Volunteers are responsible for all costs incurred to obtain the required clearances.
Woods Services requires any applicants, interns, fellowship students and selected volunteers to undergo a post offer preemployment drug screening.
Caron Treatment Centers
Site Director: Paula Boulware-Brown, Psy.D.
Website:
3 Positions
Program Code: 218117
243 N. Galen Hall Road
Wernersville, PA 19565
Caron Pennsylvania blends substance use disorder rehabilitation and behavioral health treatment with the latest evidence-based practices and historically proven treatment modalities. We believe our success is grounded in our ability to apply a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to true healing for every individual and family we treat.
Caron Pennsylvania provides diverse levels of care ranging from residential treatment to outpatient services to better meet the individual needs of our patients and their families and provide consistent care throughout a continuum of services. Decisions regarding admission and placement are based upon the guidelines of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the individual needs of the patient based upon a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment process.
Caron delivers evidence-based, specialized treatment through two distinct groups of programming – signature and core programming. Providing patients and families with the respect and compassion they deserve, while meeting their unique treatment needs. Core Programs are treatment units separated by developmental stage, phase of recovery, and gender. Their treatment docus is primary substance use disorder with supplemental offerings including psychological care, chronic pain treatment, and professionals programming.
Caron’s signature programs focus heavily on addressing the unique clinical, medical, and psychological needs of certain populations who require and desire a specialized, concierge level of care. Signature Programs include Older Adult and Grand View (i.e. business owners, executives, etc.). True to Caron’s long-standing clinical philosophy, our core programs provide evidence-based treatment modalities to manage a patient’s clinical, medical, and psychological conditions. As an in-network partner with several national and regional insurance providers, our core programs allow those who need treatment, regardless of where they live in the United States, to access the care they need. Included across programming is the Healthcare Professionals Track. The Healthcare Professionals Program at Caron provides treatment to those in safety-sensitive positions within the healthcare field.
Caron Pennsylvania employs a multidisciplinary team to conduct individualized assessments to help patients create treatment plans and meet measurable objectives. Clinicians with backgrounds in specific areas provide assessment and/or treatment services, as needed, as well as offer their expertise in a supervisory capacity. Clinicians work together to plan for and provide the most appropriate care.
Additionally, Caron Pennsylvania has established family therapists in response to the need for families to receive support and guidance; advocates work directly with patients and families to involve all significant persons in the treatment process by exploring the dynamics that either enhance or hinder the recovery process.
Psychology Services at Caron
Psychology at Caron Treatment Center, PA includes a team of licensed psychologists, psychology trainees at various levels, and one administrative support staff. Many of our current team members were trained through the former pre-doctoral internship or the current post doctorate training program. Clinical specialties entail an array of dual diagnosis conditions such as addiction with trauma, personality disorders, mood/affective disorders, thought disorders as well as anxiety, depressive and executive functioning disorders. We practice with a variety of evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, CPT, IFS, EMDR and more. The psychology team in conjunction with our interdisciplinary team of medical, health and wellness, spiritual, dietary, counseling professionals work 365/366 days of the year to help individuals and families primarily impacted by addiction. Caron works with a population of individuals ranging in age from 15 to older adult and from various vocational backgrounds. Units are gender, age, and stage of recovery specific. Other areas of treatment and specialized services at Caron include the family program, a partial hospitalization program, sober living, neurofeedback services, research, LGBTQIA+ programming, and chronic pain programming.
Current programming within the psychology department includes psychological testing and assessment, specialty group programming and trauma services. Additionally, services will be primarily provided for our core programs as well as our Healthcare Professionals Program. Occasionally interns will also provide psychological services for our Signature Programs. Psychological services are typically dispensed in group or individual format.
The psychology team at Caron takes pride in maintaining a group with high morale and great character. For the psychology team, we provide individual and group supervision to support staff and ensure each staff member employs a healthy work/life balance. We also provide training and other didactic needs to meet licensure requirements and enhance the provision of service. Striving to be ethical, healthy, well-balanced providers and remaining current with the latest research and best practices in the field ensures we provide excellent psychological services to patients.
Pre-doctoral interns will be fully engaged in all phases of the psychology department’s current structure including psychological testing, trauma, and specialty programming. For requirements such as research and outreach program, students will have the opportunity to engage with other departments within the Caron family to enhance their training experience. We have a fully functioning research program and various outlets of community outreach and engagement to make Caron an exciting place to train.
Trauma and Specialty Services
Our treatment team focuses on how traumatic events or situations, such as PTSD, are affecting recovery from substance abuse. In the context of a substance use disorder (or addiction), identifying trauma is the first step in treating it. We use measures such as PCL-5, a symptom checklist for PTSD, and the Trauma Symptoms Inventory (TSI), to identify a trauma response or PTSD.
If trauma symptoms or PTSD is identified, our trauma team, which includes on-site, full-time psychologists, works closely with the patient and the primary treatment team to incorporate trauma therapies into the treatment plan. The therapies used will depend on symptoms and treatment unit. Those therapies may include:
- Evidence-based treatments to address PTSD and trauma symptoms, which include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT), gold standards in treating PTSD based on a significant amount of research that proves its efficacy and effectiveness.
- Specialty cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) groups to address coping skills for anxiety and depression.
- Trauma-sensitive yoga, with certified instructors, provides a safe and gentle way to relearn how to be “in” your body and explore how that feels.
- Neurofeedback, a noninvasive therapeutic intervention that can reinforce recovery and help to manage moods and emotions.
Interns will participate in trauma programming and specialty group therapy. The trauma program offers psychoeducational and coping skills groups, trauma expressive art therapy, and trauma sensitive yoga to patients experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms across the lifespan. The specialty groups are additional therapeutic groups designed for patients with co-occurring mental health needs, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy groups for Depression and Anxiety. Interns will:
- Be actively involved in the assessment and referral process.
- Participate in the weekly multidisciplinary case consultations.
- Facilitate and/or co-facilitate the weekly psychoeducational and coping skills groups.
- Observe and/or facilitate trauma expressive art therapy.
- Have educational opportunities in various trauma treatment modalities, such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, and/or Internal Family Systems.
- Facilitate and/or co-facilitate weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy groups for Depression and Anxiety.
- Participate in crisis response/management across campus which includes risk assessments, crisis interventions, treatment and safety planning, and communication with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
- Have the opportunity to observe other specialty groups such as chronic pain, grief and loss, LGBTQIA+, etc.
Psychological Testing
Patients who come to Caron for the treatment of substance use disorders often have an array of mental health symptoms. These concerns can stem directly from their substance use or may be related to other co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Additionally, other pre-existing factors may be unrelated to the substance use disorder yet mimic the symptoms, contribute to substance use, and complicate the diagnostic picture – often the case for those struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or older adults with cognitive decline, for example.
To successfully treat patients and make informed aftercare recommendations, staff at Caron strive to understand the root causes of each patient’s symptoms to create a comprehensive treatment plan. In some cases, that may require psychological testing to clarify the diagnosis and better understand the relationship between substance use disorder and a patient’s mental and cognitive health.
The psychology department at Caron offers testing and assessment as part of our comprehensive treatment programming for adults and older adults. Psychological testing is available, by referral, to address specific diagnostic questions. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Comprehensive ADHD testing
- Neuropsychological testing to assess cognitive functioning and identify deficits
- Assessing personality characteristics and functioning
- Evaluating emotional health and well-being
- Accurately identifying psychiatric illnesses
- Identifying and suggesting evidence-based methods and treatments to address areas of concern
Participation in psychological assessment provides the patient an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of his/her cognitive and psychological functioning. Most importantly, testing helps to identify areas of concern and target evidence-based interventions that will guide the treatment plan.
Interns will have the opportunity to learn, administer, score, and interpret self-report, projective, neuropsychological, and cognitive measures. Interns are required to complete at least two integrated testing batteries/reports and attend weekly testing consultation and supervision meetings. Interns will utilize testing results to provide feedback and recommendations to patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team, which includes physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, nurses, and other disciplines.
Healthcare Professionals Track
The Healthcare Professionals Program at Caron provides treatment to those in safety-sensitive positions within the healthcare field. The program’s continuum of care includes a four-day residential assessment program, residential treatment, and Caron’s partial hospital program with sober living. Each stage of treatment and its length of stay is determined by Caron’s Healthcare Professional Interdisciplinary team. In making recommendations for each treatment stage, the team complies with the requirements of state monitoring programs and licensing boards. The program includes group and individual therapy modalities, as well as psychological evaluation and cognitive assessment when indicated. Group and individual counseling focus on relapse prevention, coping skills, appropriate disclosure, establishing a healthy work-life balance in recovery, and stress reduction. In addition to individual and group counseling, the Healthcare Professionals Program includes specialty groups that address licensure and work issues, integration back into professional practice, and challenges specific to healthcare professionals.
Specific Intern duties may entail the following:
- Complete psychological evaluations
- Observe discussion of monitoring options with patient and HCP Team
- Observe anonymous calls between patients and monitoring programs
- Observe/participate in progress updates delivered to monitoring programs
- Complete routine MoCA screenings at approximate midpoint of treatment (if not completed at time of initial evaluation)
- Offer individual follow-up to HCP patients when indicated
- Complete safety plans with HCP patients when indicated
- Administer RBANS and CTMT and deliver feedback (could be in the context of an HCPA out brief at times)
- Observe and participate in HCPA out briefs
- Observe/participate in HOW HCP Process Group
Internship Training Philosophy
Our pre-doctoral internship program’s philosophy of training endorses a scientific attitude as psychologists to observe, assess, and intervene in all professional capacities such as testing, consultation, therapy, and research within a multidisciplinary treatment approach. In essence, an essential goal is to train interns to think like psychologists and to expand their level of observation, assessment, and intervention beyond the level of the “individual identified patient” to all relevant bio-psycho-social systems (especially the family system) that impacts the patient’s recovery. The highest standards of professional conduct and ethics as well as a maturing sense of professional identity as a psychologist are required of our pre-doctoral interns as they are the foundations of our beliefs.
The internship training program at Caron trains pre-doctoral level clinical psychologists, in accordance with a practitioner-scholar model. The primary goal of the program is to provide high quality training that will prepare pre-doctoral psychology students for the independent practice of professional psychology. Upon completion of the program, pre-doctoral interns are expected to be able to function as competent, ethical, responsible, autonomous, entry-level psychologists able to provide professional psychological services in a variety of clinical settings and especially within a substance abuse treatment center.
Checklist for Intern
As outlined in the Site Affiliation Agreement with Agency, the College/Consortium of each Intern is required to attest to current and primary verification of the following documents. All documents are to be housed at the College/Consortium; however, Agency requests the right to access copies at our request. These are required by Agency prior to any Intern beginning his/her observation. The psychology department admin staff will also maintain a copy of these documents.
- Evidence of current certified CPR/First Aid
- Evidence of Mantoux Test administered within the past 12 months
- Positive test evidence of standardized practice follow through
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania child abuse/sex offender history clearance (Act 33) completed and no existing record
- Acceptable drug screening result upon hire
- Recent County criminal background check completed
- FBI clearances completed within the past 12 months and cleared to work with adolescents
- Graduate training license to practice medicine within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if applicable
- Provide full coverage of health, professional and privacy liability insurance
- Copy of DEA certification, if applicable
- Proof of physical exam and influenza inoculation
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The psychology team is supported by the department administrative assistant. Department administrator will assist with the scheduling of groups and some psych testing services. The intern will be responsible for electing and maintaining all patient appointments with the use of the electronic record and outlook. Pre-doctoral interns will be provided a viable workspace and trained on the use of Caron technology to include the medical record, phone, and dictation system as well as other tools and systems required for the position. Psychology interns are responsible for maintaining appropriate documentation in the electronic record of all patients. Caron has a full functioning IT department that can be utilized to provide as needed support for technology during regular business hours and after hours in an emergency. The facilities department manages office space and equipment outside the electronic resources in all office space. The intern will be provided with access and information governing facilities and office equipment. Caron utilizes a switchboard system for outside and internal communication systems. The operators assist with on-campus emergencies and general communications across campus. The intern will be oriented to all Caron’s systems utilized to provide support to the required duties and the provision of services.
Work Schedule
Interns will maintain a standard 40-hour work week Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm to include 32 hours on site, with a 30 min lunch period. Interns will then be engaged in didactics all day on Fridays off site. Flexibility in work hours will be pre-approved by the Training Director or assigned supervisors. Scheduled PTO should be cleared by the intern’s assigned supervisor and procedures for back up coverage should be strictly adhered to.
Site Interviews
Potential candidates will be invited in for in-person interviews. Interviews will include a variety of assessment and observational modes to include writing samples and group interaction as well as a traditional interview format.
Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic
Site Director: Amy Brosof, Ph.D.
Website:
2 Positions
Program Code: 218115
1107 Bethlehem Pike, Suite 212
Flourtown, PA 19031
The Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic (CHC-PSC) offers interns the opportunity to become well-rounded clinical psychologists with advanced generalist competency in working with diverse populations. Interns complete one full year of training in assessment and psychotherapy, serving children, couples, families and adults living in the greater Philadelphia area. Licensed clinical psychologists on the faculty of the Chestnut Hill College Department of Professional Psychology supervise all clinical services and are active in the CHC-PSC training program.
The setting is a community mental health clinic providing outpatient treatment and assessment services to a diverse population, presenting to treatment with a great range of clinical concerns. The therapeutic approaches utilized focus primarily on psychodynamic and family systems modalities, but students will be encouraged to integrate other evidence-based interventions as needed, in an effort to be as responsive as possible to clients’ individual circumstances and experiences.
Interns will also gain substantial training in the provision of psychosocial psychoeducational and psychodiagnostic assessment services. In collaboration with their supervisors, interns are responsible for the assessment process from start to finish. As such, they will conduct the initial interview, choose appropriate assessment instruments, administer, and score tests, and write comprehensive integrated reports. Interns may also go to schools for observation of clients, as well as for the administration of the tests.
The CHC-PSC clinic provides the following types of assessment services to children, adolescents, college students, adults, and older adults:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder evaluations
Training experiences at CHC-PSC include weekly group supervision of couples and family therapy, group meetings focused on routine outcomes monitoring, supervision of peer supervision of practicum students, interdisciplinary consultation with referring providers, and community outreach activities. In addition, interns may have the opportunity to engage in research with CHC faculty members, related to testing and/or supervision conducted through the clinic.
This internship provides the opportunity for the trainee to expand on and build skills in assessment and psychotherapy while expanding knowledge into new areas and while developing skills required for independent practice. Interns will be involved in training and consultation with other professionals, program development and enhancement, and community outreach, all within a growing and thriving community health setting. The internship slots require one evening shift.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
The Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic is located in an office building on Bethlehem Pike in Flourtown, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. The building has ample parking, is wheelchair accessible, and is located near a stop on a public transit bus route. The clinic has a reception desk and a small waiting area. The reception desk is generally staffed by graduate assistants, who are students in the Psy.D. program that earn tuition remission by committing to work for a specified number of hours in a given semester. The front desk area has a computer, a combination printer/copier/fax machine, telephone, and locked file cabinets that contain client records and office supplies. Chestnut Hill College’s Information Technology staff installed the computer system and provides ongoing tech support.
Beyond the waiting area, the clinic contains 9 individual offices. The interns are each assigned individual offices. There is also office space that is shared among clinical supervisors, including the clinical director and associate director, and therapy and assessment practicum clinicians. All of these offices are comfortably equipped for individual therapy. The offices can also be made ready for psychological assessment. The clinic owns several card tables for this purpose.
The clinic’s largest room serves several purposes. It is used for psychological testing, for family therapy sessions, and for clinic team meetings and presentations. It is outfitted with a one-way mirror for direct observation of clinical activities and is also equipped with video-recording capabilities. Videotaping can also be done in most of the other offices. There are several smaller rooms used for storage of psychological testing materials and office supplies and available to students for test scoring and report-writing. The clinic also has a small reference library of books relevant to clinical practice. Additionally, an ample number of psychological tests and assessment materials are available for cognitive, academic, neuropsychological, and personality assessment (for example, Wechsler scales, ADOS-2, MMPI-2/3, Rorschach). Finally, there is a small kitchenette, with a microwave, coffee maker, and water cooler.
Growth Opportunity Center
Site Director: Diane Sizer, Ph.D.
Website: www.growthopportunitycenter.org
1 Position
Program Code: 218113
928 Jaymor Road
Southampton, PA 18966
The Growth Opportunity Center (GOC) is a large, outpatient behavioral health group practice founded in 1974.
GOC Mission Statement: Transforming life’s challenges into opportunities for growth through quality mental health services.
GOC Vision Statement: To be a trusted community resource empowering individuals and families to access inner strength and resiliency to realize their full potential.
Growth Opportunity Center services include:
- Individual, couples, and family counseling for all ages
- Psychological and Psycho-educational evaluations
- School-based support services and consultation
- ADHD assessment and services
- Medication evaluations and management by staff psychiatrists and nurse practitioners
- Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluation and treatment team
- Social Skills training groups
- College Counseling (varies by yearly contract)
- High School Counseling (varies by yearly contract)
- Opportunities to create and run groups to serve the needs of the population such as DBT-informed groups, mindfulness groups, adolescent groups, etc.
The internship experience is designed to provide a full range of psychological services to the community. By the end of the internship, the student will be prepared for independent practice as a psychologist. The responsibilities of a doctoral intern may include the following: psychoeducational evaluations, diagnostic assessments, consultation, coordination of assessment services (e.g. conducting telephone intakes and assignment of cases, management of testing materials), counseling for college student populations in the college setting (we currently have a contract with a local college but this could change yearly), counseling in a high school setting (we currently have a contract with a local private high school, but this could change yearly) and developing and forming psychoeducational groups (e.g., social skills, DBT-Informed, resiliency, mindfulness). The intern will be supported to develop an area of interest or expertise that may serve as a starting point for a specialized area of practice. The number of hours spent doing assessment and counseling will depend on our contracts at the high school and college. Approximately, 16 hours per week will be spent at school counseling centers; 3-4 hours in individual adult and child/family therapy; and 4-6 hours in psychological assessment. Additionally, 3-4 hours are spent in supervision, administrative work, and program development.
The GOC intern will have opportunities to attend peer supervision groups, didactic training and to consult and interact with the entire GOC team of psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and master’s level therapists. The applicant should be highly motivated for practice development, should be comfortable with independence, and must be a self-starter. In addition, the intern must have strong writing skills, be highly organized, and be able to perform without external deadlines.
The internship slot requires weekend or evening hours.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
GOC is a large outpatient behavioral health facility. Its main site, where the interns work, has 27 offices. The interns have an office that has a large table for testing, a computer with software for scoring many tests and rating scales, and a file cabinet. It also has an observation mirror which is used for training purposes. The interns will have additional office space to conduct individual and family therapy. GOC has a well-stocked testing closet with the most commonly used cognitive, achievement, memory, information processing, and personality tests. There is also a multitude of rating scales and checklists to help in assessing and diagnosing behavioral, neuropsychological, and mental health disorders. Each student has a GOC phone number, an electronic health record account and Microsoft Teams Software and email. Although the office staff is primarily a billing staff and not secretarial, they are able to support the students by answering common questions.
Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Peaceful Protests, and Criminal Convictions
Interns at Growth Opportunity Center are NOT considered essential employees. Thus, working virtually is acceptable in accordance with PA State Guidelines. Applicants whose criminal background checks reveal a convicted felony will not be considered; however, those applicants who have exercised their constitutional right to engage in peaceful protests which may have resulted in an arrest or conviction will still be eligible for interviews.
Prism Therapy Center
Site Director: Rebecca Bubb, Ph.D.
Website:
1 Position
Program Code: 218112
101 Greenwood Avenue, Suite 625
Jenkintown, PA 19046
Prism Therapy Center is a group psychotherapy practice located in Jenkintown, Pa. We offer in-person and virtual services. Prism is committed to working from a non-judgmental, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed stance. In addition to some generalist experiences, interns will have the opportunity to get deeper experience working with LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Kink, Poly, Sex Work, Disabled, Neurodivergent, and Trauma Survivor communities. Interns will be providing mostly individual therapy but may also have couples or groups. Clients are mostly adults, but interns may also see teens and children. Interns will also complete two assessments while they are at Prism.
Prism’s work is rooted in Psychodynamic, Relational, Feminist, and Attachment theories. Supervision will largely be from those perspectives, but we are also committed to supporting the individual clients and meeting their needs and goals, so other evidence-based modalities may be incorporated as well. Some of our providers also offer trauma specific modalities including EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Somatic Experiencing therapies, so these are approaches the intern will have some exposure to.
Administrative Responsibilities
Interns are responsible for timely and complete clinical documentation including progress notes, treatments plans, and termination documentation. Interns will be given an account on our Electronic Health Record and use the templates there for documentation. We request that notes are finished by end of business day Friday. Interns are not responsible for collecting payment or managing the finances of client’s care – that is managed by the administrative team.
COVID-19 Policy
At Prism we recognize that COVID-19 is a serious and ongoing public health issue that is of particular concern for at-risk populations including those with weakened immunity, pregnant people, and elderly. As such, we ask that you follow these guidelines:
Last Updated: 3/22/2024
If you have COVID, we follow the current CDC recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19 at minimum. But also, please use your own judgment as to when you believe you are safe to return to in person work. The most updated guidelines can be found here.
- When in doubt, stay home. We would rather you practice virtually than spread illness.
- If a client feels sick, encourage a virtual session.
- Masks will be available for those that would like to use them (both clients and clinicians).
- If you have an immediate household member with COVID or have been directly exposed, please test before coming to work.
In general, err on the side of caution and when in doubt ask the leadership team.
SPIN Behavioral Health & Autism Services
Site Director: Jessica Lax, Psy.D.
Website:
1 Position
Program Code: 218124
10501 Drummond Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
SPIN is a nationally recognized non-profit provider of direct support, employment, educational, and behavioral health services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 1971, SPIN’s mission and values-led services have supported thousands of children, adults, and families to live inclusive lives in their communities. SPIN’s mission is to provide the highest quality people-first services and supports for children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and autism spectrum disabilities so that each may achieve and enjoy a life of possibilities. SPIN’s mission-driven programs demonstrate the expectant values of hope, possibility, and choice supported by SPIN’s four pillars of People-First, Professionalism, Performance Excellence, and Productivity, the standard to which all employees are held accountable. Today, SPIN supports over 3000 children and adults annually in the Southeastern and Lehigh/Northampton regions of Pennsylvania to achieve and enjoy a life of possibilities. SPIN has received many awards for its innovative services, partnerships, and professional development practices. SPIN has been ranked among the global elite for its innovative workface training and development by Training Magazine’s Top Philadelphia for 14 consecutive years. SPIN has also been recognized by Opportunity Knocks as the best Non-Profit to work for and has been designated as an Employer of Choice within Philadelphia.
The Behavioral Health and Autism Services Department at SPIN currently employs a team of highly trained and experienced clinical professionals who have a variety of roles working with children and youth with behavioral health disorders, with a specific focus within the practice on the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). SPIN has been designated as a Philadelphia Autism Center for Excellence. Within its licensed outpatient mental health clinic, which serves a broad-ranging population, SPIN provides the following services specifically for individuals with Autism and their families: high quality, comprehensive diagnostic assessment of individuals at risk for Autism; outpatient medication management and psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and families; social skills treatment groups; intensive home-, school-, and community-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services, Blended Case Management, and ongoing parent support groups/activities. Each of these services adopts an integrated treatment approach that supports enhanced coordination of care and integration of interventions across all aspects of the patient’s/family’s life.
The APA Internship will be a 12-month, full-time internship within SPIN’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinic and Autism Center for Excellence. The intern will typically work Monday-Thursday and will be assigned to work two evenings per week until 8:00pm. The internship will prepare professionals to diagnose and support individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as gain experience working with children and families with co-occurring neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism, and serious behavioral health disorders, and those who have a history of trauma. The primary responsibilities of the intern will be to complete the following responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed psychologist:
- Complete intakes with a variety of patients and in conjunction with the clinical supervisor assign diagnoses and make preliminary recommendations fore treatment services.
- Carry an ongoing therapy caseload throughout the year, that may include children, families, or adults. Act as a co-facilitator for social skills treatment groups for children/youth with ASD and other social impairments.
- Perform annual re-evaluations for children receiving prior authorized services to determine ongoing medical necessity.
- Perform comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for individuals (primarily children/youth ages 2-21) at risk for a diagnosis of autism, including writing reports and making treatment recommendations. This will include being clinically trained in the administration of the ADOS-2, as well as the use of other autism-specific instruments.
- Assist with training and supervision of Masters’ interns or staff within the department.
- Participate in all departmental required meetings, supervision, didactic, and trainings as assigned by their supervisor.
It is expected that the intern will complete this experience with an enhanced degree of specialization in working with children with ASD and their families, as well as gain experience working in a mental health clinic. Many prior interns have remained with SPIN after the internship to complete a post-doctoral fellowship year.
Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Support
SPIN has an administrative/clerical support team that coordinates each intern’s schedule, reaches out to families to confirm they will be attending the appointments, and ensures all necessary clinical paperwork is completed. The administrative team also supports the interns with obtaining necessary office supply materials, scheduling confidential meeting spaces, and troubleshooting any other issues that arise on a day-to-day basis. The administrative team is available Monday-Friday from 7:00am-8:00pm for the interns.
Regarding computer/IT support, SPIN has an IT department that supports the intern’s computer, phone, and system access needs. All interns have a cell phone, laptop, a confidential email login, and a confidential network and electronic medical record login. The IT department is available Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm and then on a limited basis over the weekend via an on-call line.
The full-time intern at SPIN has private office space in which he or she can conduct therapy and diagnostic sessions, and this is located in SPIN’s licensed outpatient mental health clinic. There are large rooms in which group sessions are conducted. In addition, video equipment is available for recording sessions, as well as video conferencing and the clinic has one two-way mirror for live supervision. With regard to training materials, the interns have a full range of psychological assessment materials available for their use, and these are available for inspection during the site visit if needed. Additionally, a library of reference books and journals are available for their access, as are therapeutic games, toys, and other resources to use with clients. Several behavioral health curricula are available to all clinical staff, including the interns, and interns are offered opportunities to participate in clinical staff training throughout the year. All trainees receive pre-service training and orientation at SPIN, and a full curriculum of these courses can be made available to applicants as necessary.
