Psychology Externship

Externship Rotations

Our externship program provides a rich variety of clinical intervention and evaluation experiences, in a range of settings, under supervision by our faculty. Rotations are organized by type of training experience (i.e., intervention, integrated primary care, evaluation rotations), and some rotations include a combination of intervention and evaluation opportunities. Specific days of the week in which rotations are offered is noted where applicable. If a rotation has flexibility for another day of the week, that will be noted in the description. 

Intervention Rotations

2024-2025 Training Year

Autism Behavior Consultation Clinic

The Autism Behavior Consultation Clinic (ABC) housed in the Swank Autism Center is designed to provide brief, targeted behavioral services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders and their caregivers. We have openings for 1 student in this placement. Intervention focuses on psychoeducation and empirically based approaches to behavior management within a neurodiversity affirming lens. Intervention targets include aggression, emotion regulation, tantrums, compliance, self-help skills, picky eating, and toileting concerns. Appointments in ABC are 45 minutes and therapy focuses on evidence-based techniques to support autistic children’s identity development, coping skills, skill development, emotional regulation, and increase caregivers’ ability to understand and support their child. Onsite telehealth opportunities are available. This experience often involves coordination with schools and/or other multidisciplinary team members as appropriate.

Externs see patients on Wednesdays and will obtain 4–5 intervention hours per week. Individual and live supervision via one-way mirror and opportunities to shadow advanced trainees are available. Third year students and above are encouraged to apply. Externs are able to combine this with another rotation for a 2-day placement. Experience delivering caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions is preferred. Preferred start date is June 2024.

Supervisor: Lily Slavin, PhD

 

Clinical Child Therapy — Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Behavioral Feeding

This rotations provide intervention services for children with feeding difficulties (ARFID) often comorbid with depression, anxiety and disruptive behaviors and for young children with moderate to severe disruptive behavior problems (PCIT). We are recruiting for one student to participate in this 2-day experience; however one day placements will also be considered. One day (Monday) will focus on training in PCIT, the second day (Thursday) will focus on Behavioral Feeding.

In the PCIT rotation, externs will learn how to provide PCIT to young children (2–6 years old) with disruptive behaviors and/or emotional concerns and their caregivers. Training in the implementation of PCIT with fidelity is provided in accordance with PCIT International standards for certification. It is sometimes possible for externs to become certified in PCIT upon completion of the rotation. On occasion, PCIT modifications and/or other evidence-based treatments may also be offered in conjunction with standard PCIT, as children may also present with anxiety, emotion regulation difficulties, attention concerns and toileting/sleep concerns. The externship day begins at Noon on Mondays with group supervision, followed by clinic Monday afternoons from 1–5 p.m. Live supervision via one-way mirror is provided throughout clinic, and individual supervision can also be provided as needed. This experience often involves coordination with schools and/or other multidisciplinary team members as appropriate. Externs can obtain up to 4 hours per week of intervention experience.

In the Behavioral Feeding Treatment rotation (Thursday), externs will gain therapy experience by providing family-based behavioral treatment to children (early and middle childhood) with eating disorders/feeding concerns that may be comorbid with depression, anxiety, and other disruptive behaviors. Externs can expect to receive 3-4 hours of intervention experience weekly and will also have the opportunity to learn from and observe other trainees in clinic.

Fourth year students and above are encouraged to apply. Experience in cognitive behavior therapy and early childhood is preferred. Onsite telehealth work may also be available dependent on family preference. Externs are required to be onsite Monday and Thursday afternoon. Preferred start date is July 2024

Supervisor: Zohal Heidari, PhD

 

Clinical Child and Adolescent Therapy and Parent Child Interaction Therapy

This rotation provides intervention services for children and adolescents with depression, anxiety and other mood disorders (CCAT) and young children with moderate to severe disruptive behavior problems (PCIT). We are recruiting for one student to participate in a 2-day experience; however one day placements will also be considered. One day (Monday) will focus on training in PCIT, the second day (Thursday) will focus on CCAT training.

In the PCIT rotation, externs will learn how to provide PCIT to young children (2–6 years old) with disruptive behaviors and/or emotional concerns and their caregivers. Training in the implementation of PCIT with fidelity is provided in accordance with PCIT International standards for certification. It is sometimes possible for externs to become certified in PCIT upon completion of the rotation. On occasion, PCIT modifications and/or other evidence-based treatments may also be offered in conjunction with standard PCIT, as children may also present with anxiety, emotion regulation difficulties, attention concerns and toileting/sleep concerns. The externship day begins at Noon on Mondays with group supervision, followed by clinic Monday afternoons from 1–5 p.m. Live supervision via one-way mirror is provided throughout clinic, and individual supervision can also be provided as needed. This experience often involves coordination with schools and/or other multidisciplinary team members as appropriate. Externs can obtain up to 4 hours per week of intervention experience.

In the CCAT rotation (Thursday), externs will gain therapy experience by providing individual treatment to children and adolescents with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and other mood concerns. Externs can expect to receive 3-4 hours of intervention experience weekly and will also have the opportunity to learn from and observe other trainees in clinic. Fourth year students and above are encouraged to apply. Experience in cognitive behavior therapy and early childhood is preferred. Onsite telehealth work may also be available dependent on family preference. Externs are required to be onsite Monday and Thursday afternoon. Preferred start date is July 2024.

Supervisor: Chrissy Cammarata, PhD

 

Clinical Child and Adolescent Therapy — Youth Mood and Anxiety

The Clinical Child and Adolescent Therapy – Youth Mood and Anxiety (CCAT-YMAP) externship provides intervention services for children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. We have openings for 2 students in this experience.

In this rotation, externs will gain therapy experience by providing individual treatment to children and adolescents with depression, anxiety, and other mood concerns. They will have the potential to gain experience in and/or receive didactic training in evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents, such as DBT, ACT, and CBT informed interventions. Externs can expect to receive 4 hours of intervention experience weekly and will also have the opportunity to learn from and observe other trainees in clinic. Date and time of extern’s placement is flexible and can be completed either in the morning or afternoon. Specific day of the week will vary depending on your supervisor placement with Wednesday (Dr. Simon) and Thursday (Dr. Washington) available. Externs have the opportunity to see patients in the morning or afternoon depending on supervisor. Fourth year students and above with experience providing evidence-based therapies to diverse populations of adolescents are encouraged to apply. Preferred start date is July 2024.

Supervisor: Chesha Simon, PsyD, Robert Washington, PhD

 

Early Childhood and Adolescent Therapy at Milford

The Early Childhood & Adolescent Therapy (ECAT) rotation at our Milford clinic offers a unique opportunity to gain intervention experience for early childhood and adolescent concerns in a one-day placement. The Milford clinic is located in a rural community and aims to increase access to therapy services for youth and their families. The day is structured where the extern will see 2-3 early childhood patients in the morning, receive an hour of supervision, and then see 2 adolescent patients in the afternoon. Externs will gain experience implementing evidence-based interventions for common early childhood concerns (e.g., disruptive behavior, sleep, toileting) while also gaining experience working with children and adolescents presenting with challenging behavior and mood concerns. Externs can expect 4-6 intervention hours per week with opportunities to consult with daycares, schools, and other providers. Opportunity for onsite telehealth services is available.

Date of placement is flexible with Wednesday or Thursday availability preferred. Fourth year students and above are preferred with experience in cognitive behavior therapy, anxiety and early childhood. Opportunities to learn from and observe other trainees in clinic is available. Preferred start date is June or July 2024.

Supervisor: Joanna Smith, PhD

 

Integrated Pain and Wellness Program

Externs on this rotation will work within an interdisciplinary pediatric pain program providing cognitive behavioral therapy for pain management to youth experiencing chronic pain/physical symptoms. Externs will gain experience conducting intake evaluations and providing individual therapy. Opportunities to collaborate with other disciplines (e.g., social work, physical therapy, physicians, nurses, etc.) will be included. Externs can expect to receive 4-6 intervention hours per rotation day.

Day of rotation is flexible with Thursday availability preferred. Third year students and above are encouraged to apply. This rotation can be a 2-day experience and can also be combined with another rotation for a 2-day placement, if interested. Individual and live supervision is available along with opportunities to shadow and connect with advanced trainees. Preferred start date is July or August 2024.

Supervisor: Katherine Salamon, PhD

 

Sickle Cell Disease Clinic

This externship will provide opportunities for brief evaluation (intakes, developmental screening), intervention (pain management, adherence, stress coping), and inpatient consultation liaison in a multidisciplinary Sickle Cell Disease clinic. The extern will work with providers on the multidisciplinary team including hematologists, nurse practitioners, social work and nutrition. Externs will gain experience using behavioral, cognitive behavioral and acceptance techniques.

Third year students and above are encouraged to apply. Clinic is held on Monday. This rotation can be combined with another rotation for a 2-day placement. Opportunity for onsite telehealth work is available. Preferred start date is July 2024.

Supervisor: Steve Reader, PhD

 

Integrated Primary Care Consultation and Treatment

This externship focuses on conducting diagnostic assessments, implementing brief therapeutic interventions with children, adolescents, and their caregivers, and providing consultation services with medical professionals at Nemours Children's Health primary care offices in Dover, Middletown and Milford. One full day is spent with clinic patients, students can expect to gain 4-5 hours of direct patient care experience a week. Patient populations are sociodemographically, racially, linguistically and geographically diverse across clinics and includes a wide variety of ages and presenting conditions including behavioral disorders, ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, elimination disorders, developmental delays, learning disabilities as well as eating, toileting and sleeping difficulties. Externs will gain experience utilizing brief screening measures (e.g., Wide Range Achievement Test-5, Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing-2, behavior and mood rating forms) as needed to clarify diagnoses and inform therapeutic and educational interventions and complete brief evaluations for ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Externs will have the opportunity to interact with medical providers to participate in joint visits and warm handoffs, and present psychology lectures to office staff.

In our Middletown clinic, externs are expected to participate in clinic activities in person, opportunities for onsite telehealth service delivery is available. In the Dover and Milford clinics, preference is for externs to participate in training activities onsite however participating in training activities through a hybrid model of in person and telehealth service delivery can also be discussed with interested applicants. Bilingual (English/Spanish) applicants may have opportunities to provide intervention and receive supervision in Spanish from Drs. Garcia (Milford) and Malkoff (Dover).

Locations and days in which specific rotations are available are listed below. Fourth year students and above are encouraged to apply. Experience implementing cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety and mood concerns, parent behavior management techniques, interventions to improve sleep and school functioning is preferred. Experience with children ages 5-18 is preferred. Rotations can be combined with others to create a 2-day placement. Four to five hours of intervention experience can be expected per week with additional opportunities for brief assessment, shadowing and consultation. Preferred start date is July 2024.

 

Locations:

Dover

Day Available: Thursday
Supervisors:
Anne Malkoff, PhD and Leah Orchinik, PhD (Thursdays)

Middletown

Days Available: Monday or Thursday
Supervisors:
Kathryn, Hoffses, PhD (Thursday)
Leah Orchinik, PhD (Monday)

Milford

Day Available: Friday
Supervisor: Allen Garcia, PhD

 

Evaluation Rotation

Neuropsychological Assessment

As of January 2024, the rotation in Neuropsychological Assessment will no longer be offered for the 2024-2025 training year. We apologize for this late change in our offerings. 

If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, Nemours offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research.