Externship in Clinical Psychology


Be a part of a team that truly makes a difference

 

Update as of January 1st, 2021: We do not plan to accept externs for the 2021-2022 academic years. Please check this page or join our newsletter for updates.

The Center for Anxiety offers a one-year externship training program for doctoral students currently enrolled in clinical, counselling, school, or combined psychology graduate school programs. Our program places an emphasis on practical training within a supportive environment, to facilitate growth as a clinician. Our externship program is a 12-month training opportunity, starting on July 1st and ending the following June 30th, each year. This externship is most appropriate for advanced level doctoral students (e.g., preferably 3rd or 4th year students) in clinical, counseling, school, or combined graduate psychology programs. Externs who successfully complete our program are welcome to apply for our doctoral internship program in a subsequent training year. Externship placement will not impact opportunities for further training (internship or postdoctoral fellowship) at our site.

Specific responsibilities of the Externship include:  

  • Approximately 50-60% of externs time (10-12 hours/week) is spent in the provision of direct clinical services to adults, adolescents and/or children, within the Center for Anxiety’s standard outpatient, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) programs.
  • Throughout the training year, externs conduct initial intake and diagnostic assessments using structured and semi-structured clinical interview methods and provide individual outpatient and intensive outpatient psychotherapy to adults, adolescents and/or children. Additional opportunities may include co-leading DBT skills groups, co-leading OCD support groups, and outreach efforts (e.g., organizing or delivering community lectures).
  • On average each week, externs can expect to conduct 1-2 intake assessments, carry a caseload of 6-8 individual therapy patients, collaborate with senior clinicians in order to provide adjunctive therapy on 1-2 IOP cases, and co-lead either an IOP DBT skills group, or a standard outpatient DBT skills group for adults or adolescents.
  • Externs are expected to be on site for approximately 16-20 hours each week, spread over 2-3 days per week (typically 1 full day plus 2 partial days).
  • One evening per week is required. Flexibility in scheduling will be determined by externs’ availability and the clinical needs of our patients.

Externs receive extensive support for the above activities including: One hour of individual supervision with a licensed clinical psychologist, one hour of weekly rounds, DBT consultation team, and ad hoc consultation as needed with members of our supervisory and/or clinical administrative staff. Additionally, depending on scheduling and availability, externs are welcome to participate in our weekly didactics training program (two hours/week), and case conferences. Throughout the training year, there is an explicit focus on helping externs to build competency in evidence-based assessment and intervention (i.e., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Behavioral Activation, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Parent Management training, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy). More broadly, externs develop key skills in clinical consultation, case presentation, professional collaboration, and in utilizing clinical data to inform case conceptualization, treatment planning, and intervention.

Qualifications of applicants must include all of the following:

  1. Currently enrolled in a clinical, counseling, school, or combined psychology graduate school program
  2. Prior experience with CBT, DBT and/or other empirically-supported treatments
  3. A willingness and capacity to handle high risk cases on an outpatient and intensive outpatient basis  
  4. A dedication to provide the highest standard of evidence-based care 

Center for Anxiety’s training program strongly values diversity and this value is explicitly reflected across multiple areas of the training experience. The training program makes efforts to create an equitable, inclusive, and affirming learning environment. We also provide equal opportunity to all prospective trainees and staff, and do not discriminate due to a person’s age, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, social economic status, or other factors that are not predictive of or related to success as a psychology extern.

The Center for Anxiety follows PSYDNYS-NYNJADOT Externship Guidelines for applications, interviews, and notifications. Please refer to the current guidelines for a list of relevant dates. Qualified applicants should upload and submit the following applications materials through the APA application portal:

  1. Cover letter (Specify which location you are applying to. If both, please specify which location is preferred.)
  2. Curriculum Vita
  3. At least two letters of reference
  4. Verification of eligibility to apply from academic program

In situations where students are not able to submit recommendation letters with the rest of their application materials through the APA portal, writers should email their letters of recommendation as an email attachment directly to our Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Marcia Kimeldorf at [email protected]. Please be sure that the subject line of the email as well as the title of the attachment both read LOR Psychology Externship followed by the students first and last name (e.g., LOR Psychology Externship John Doe).

Once applications have been reviewed, qualified applicants will be invited to engage in a virtual interview with two staff members. Interviews will be conducted on an individual basis and will be scheduled for approximately 30 minutes each. Questions or comments about our program should be directed to Dr. Kimeldorf at the above email address.

The advantages of working at Center for Anxiety include: 

 

Competitive Salary

Fitness and Mental Health Benefits

Professional Development Funds

Collaborative Environment

Professional Growth Opportunities

Employees at Center For Anxiety are also offered:

  • Externs receive a modest transportation stipend to help defray the cost of travel, equivalent to 50% of the total cost for a monthly MTA MetroCard
  • Hybrid Remote/In-Person Opportunities
  • Relocation Funds
  • Five Prime Office Locations
  • Opportunities for Professional Growth and Leadership
  • Team Building Events, Happy Hours & Retreats
  • In-office Lunch, Snacks, and Drinks

     

    Culture Quotes

     

    “Center for Anxiety brought me all the way from my internship in Las Vegas, NV, four years ago, and I am so glad I made the move both geographically and professionally. I’ve been privileged to watch the organization grow from grassroots private practice to a world-renowned treatment center that caters to a diverse range of mental health needs. Not only anxiety!”

    Rebecca Holczer, PsyD
    Supervising Psychologist

    “Center for Anxiety is a wonderful place to work. All of our clinicians are warm, caring, and truly dedicated to helping patients improve their mental health. And, there are endless opportunities to contribute in creative and impactful ways. In previous jobs I’ve had, it was so hard to get anything new created; at CFA, the sky is the limit. All staff ideas are considered, and staff are empowered to make improvements that benefit our team or our patients (e.g. starting another psychotherapy group, creating another program, offering a support group).”

    Marcia Kimeldorf, PhD
    Clinical Director

    “Working at Center for Anxiety has been such a rewarding experience, filled with countless opportunities to learn and grow as a clinician. This is a supportive workplace, where everyone’s voice is valued and there is a true sense of belonging. CFA remains true to its values of Always Growing and Never Alone, and I am grateful to be a part of such a hard-working and dedicated team of professionals.”

    Jamal Waire
    Doctoral Intern

    “Center for Anxiety has been an exceptional stepping stone from undergrad to graduate studies. I’ve had countless opportunities to enrich my research skills, clinical skills, and administrative skills, which are all key to moving towards my goal of being a psychologist. I feel so prepared and confident to begin the journey to my PhD, thanks to CFA!”

    Molly Friedel
    Patient Care Manager

    “I came to Center for Anxiety to learn from a collaborative and skilled team with diverse backgrounds helping a variety of people. It has been a supportive workplace that has allowed me to grow as a clinician while always knowing that my colleagues have my back. “Never Alone” is a value that is truly embodied here at and I am extremely grateful to be part of this skilled and dedicated team.”

    Shmaya Krinsky
    Postdoctoral Fellow

    “Center for Anxiety has provided me invaluable and fulfilling professional growth opportunities, as well countless support within and beyond my clinical work. It has been great joining such a welcoming, inclusive, and committed team. My contributions and feedback always feel valued. I could not have asked for a better environment for professional development.”

    Jackie Zhou
    Postdoctoral Fellow

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