Opportunities at the Center
Psychology Externship Training Program 2009/2010
Originally located in Bethpage, NY, the Lindner Center will be relocated in the spring of 2009 to a new 5,100 square-foot state-of-the-art facility on AHRC's Brookville campus on Wheatley Road.
The Center for Autism offers the opportunity to acquire skills in the area of assessment, treatment, consultation, and conducting groups (social skills, CBT, parent education) with children and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ages 18 months to adulthood) and their parents.
The Center for Autism follows a best practice, empirically based model of service delivery and actively engages in program development and evaluation in innovative areas within the field. Faculty and advanced trainees at the Center are nationally and internationally renowned for their work in the area of CBT and psychotherapy and ASDs, understanding gender issues, and developing growing up / sexuality programming for individuals and their families. Shana Nichols is the author of the book Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know about the Pre-teen and Teenage Years (2008) Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Psychology externs are an integral part of our interdisciplinary comprehensive assessment team (psychology, speech-language, social work) and participate in chart reviews, assessments, team meetings, and parent feedback sessions. Trainees receive training not only in gold standard diagnostic assessment methods and complex differential diagnosis (e.g., OCD, anxiety, ADHD, Tourettes, language disorders, mental retardation), but also in providing therapy (individual and group) for a range of clients (e.g., behavior management, CBT for anxiety) and consultation with our school team, across a wide range of ages and ability levels.
Supervision:
Externs receive one hour a week of supervision with a licensed psychologist, and one hour a week of group supervision and seminars with other trainees. Advanced externs in the 3rd or 4th year of their program may have the opportunity to begin to co-supervise junior trainees and undergraduate students.
Professional Development:
Professional development is emphasized including developing a curriculum vitae, participating in ongoing clinical research protocols, presenting center-based workshops, writing articles and book reviews for newsletters, and writing a case report for publication.
Schedule:
This placement typically requires that the extern spend two days (16 hours) per week at the center. Schedules can be flexible however, and a three-day placement is also available for those students who want a more intensive learning experience in autism spectrum disorders. “Mini” rotations are also available during the summer, and for students who would like to learn to co-facilitate an 8-week group. Emphasis during the externship experience can be tailored towards assessment, intervention, or a combination of both. Placement days are typically Tuesday-Thursday. Graduate students in their second year and above are encouraged to apply.
Faculty:
Shana Nichols, Ph.D.
Clinical Director, Researcher
Licensed Psychologist
Specialty Areas: diagnostic assessment; cognitive behavioral therapy; group treatment; mental health; sexuality and growing up; girls' issues; adolescent and young adult issues.
Laurie Better Perlis, Psy.D.
Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow
Limited Permit to Practice Psychology (Anticipated date of license Aug 2009)
Specialty Areas: mental health; cognitive behavioral therapy; group treatment; psychological assessment; adolescent, adult and older adult issues.
Samara Pulver Tetenbaum, M.A., Doctoral Candidate
Behavior Specialist
Specialty Areas: diagnostic assessments; cognitive behavioral therapy; group treatment; mental health; positive behavior support; family support.
To Apply (materials will be accepted starting January 15, 2009):
Up to 5 externship positions are available during a given training year. Summer positions (June-August) are also available. Applications will be accepted starting in January 2009 until the positions are filled.
Submit:
- Letter of application indicating your interest in and goals for an externship.
- Current C.V.
- Current transcript
Send completed application package to:
Shana Nichols, Ph.D.
Clinical Director / Researcher
4300 Hempstead Turnpike
Bethpage, NY, 11714
After March 1, 2009:
Shana Nichols, Ph.D.
Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism / Advantage Care
Clinical Director / Researcher
189 Wheatley Road
Brookville, NY 11545
Letter of application and C.V. can also be emailed.
For questions, call 516-802-8600 or e-mail Shana Nichols.
Research Opportunities at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders
We are seeking motivated, organized, and conscientious volunteers to help us run our various Autism research studies. Volunteers will gain valuable experience and will help our staff in several aspects of conducting research , including : data collection, data entry and analysis, organization of study files, conducting chart reviews, contacting eligible families, and various administrative work necessary for running the research studies.
There are several opportunities and different areas of interest. This is a great opportunity for students or individuals with an interest in Autism, research, and/or psychology and related fields. If interested, please call : 516-802-8600.
Volunteer/ Internship at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volunteer/ Internship Description:
Gain valuable internship experience in a friendly office environment. We are seeking interns to help us with the compilation of a patient database that will be an integral part of the Center for Autism’s day-to-day functions. The database will be used to store, retrieve, and organize patient information and to run statistical analysis for research and performance improvement initiatives. In the process of working on the database, interns will gain insight into the Autism field, learn what is involved in the evaluation process at the Center for Autism, and gain practical, real-life knowledge of how professionals diagnose and treat autism spectrum disorders. This is an unpaid position for work experience. However, we will be happy to provide a recommendation, if needed. Responsibilities will include: Data entry: entering in patient demographic information, testing results, medical history and diagnostic information into the database; conducting chart reviews; ensuring smooth data-flow.
Qualifications: Must be highly detailed-oriented and conscientious. Preferably some college, though is not required. This is a great opportunity for gaining more experience in the field of psychology, though students majoring in all fields are welcome to apply.