Postdoctoral Fellowship - Family Compass, Reston, VA
Posted: Thursday, December 17, 2015
Post-Doctoral Training in Reston VA (DC area): a cutting-edge, collaborative private clinic serving children and families is seeking two post-doctoral trainees for our APPIC approved, 1-year fellowship program.
Recognizing that development and child rearing are complex processes, we employ a comprehensive approach offering a range of specialized services including: (1) broad-based psychotherapy with preschoolers and grade-school children and their families, (2) an intensive intervention program for young children with autism, (3) neuropsychological and psychological evaluations, (4) a program to support children with ADHD, (5) neurofeedback, (6) social skills and drama group therapy and (7) parenting classes.
In addition, our clinic provides consultation and educational services to local preschools and public schools; we have provided ongoing staff trainings on mental health and child development issues to 45 preschools in the local area for the last five years. We also provide twice-yearly trainings to public school counselors, psychologists and social workers. For the last three years, our clinic has served as a training site for George Washington University's doctoral psychology program and Catholic University's Masters in Social Work program.
We offer three tracks for postdoctoral trainees. Each trainee may enroll in one or two of the following options:
1. Psychotherapy with children and families, with an emphasis on working with younger children (ages 2 to 6) with emotional and behavioral challenges. Candidates should demonstrate relevant experience and special interest in working with young children, as well as grade-school aged children. In addition to broad-based psychotherapy with children and parents, the trainees will also lead social skills groups.
2. Psychological and neuropsychological evaluations and interventions for grade-school children with ADHD and learning challenges. When we evaluate a child, we aim not only to provide a diagnosis, but to also gain insight into the child's strengths and weaknesses, emotional well-being, and family context. Our reports are concise and jargon-free so parents, teachers, and other professionals can benefit from the findings. Our ADHD program uses ideas from ADHD Coaching, significantly adapted to grade-school children. Candidates should have previous experience with psychological and neuropsychological testing and strong writing skills. Experience working in interventions with children with ADHD is a plus.
3. Developmentally-based intensive intervention for toddlers and preschoolers with autism. Our early intervention builds on the "developmental approaches" to autism intervention, and specifically from the DIR approach, however we also apply original ideas and methods. As expressiveness is central to engaging children with autism, candidates must have an aptitude for playing spontaneously and joyfully with young children. Experience working with young children with autism is a plus, especially if it includes any of the developmental approaches.
Each trainee will receive two sessions of individual supervision a week as well as once a week group supervision. In addition, trainees will participate in weekly staff meetings that center on our clinical work.
Pay: $45,000 per year
Interested candidates should send a resume with a letter of interest to [email protected] with "Postdoctoral Application" in the subject line. The letter of interest should highlight the tracks the applicant is applying to while noting relevant experience and specific interests.
Applicants to the Psychological and Neuropsychological Evaluations track should also include two writing samples. All applicants are expected to complete their doctorate by July 2016. We will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.
