Clinical Psychology Externships

The Division of Psychology at Northwestern Medicine offers a range of Clinical Externships in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology. Clinical Externships are made available to students currently enrolled in accredited PhD or PsyD programs in Clinical Psychology.  For the 2023-2024 recruitment year (to start July 1, 2024), we offer the following Clinical Externship opportunities:

1. Advanced Practicum in Clinical Neuropsychology
2. Inpatient and Outpatient Psychological Assessment Practicum
3. Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic: Advanced Neuropsychology Practicum 

All Clinical Externships at Northwestern Medicine follow the Chicagoland Coordinated Externship Offers and Deadlines process.  

Advanced Practicum in Clinical Neuropsychology

Northwestern Medicine offers advanced practicum (externship) training in the practice and science of clinical neuropsychology in a fast-paced multidisciplinary outpatient setting. The externship is housed within the general Neuropsychology service within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine, one of the nation’s top academic medical centers located in downtown Chicago.

Externs receive intensive training in neuropsychological sequelae of medical, neurologic, and psychiatric illness and clinical experience in the neuropsychological assessment of patients presenting with a variety of neurologic, neoplastic, cardiovascular, toxic/metabolic, psychiatric, and developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and systemic conditions with mental status changes. Under the supervision of postdoctoral fellows and attending neuropsychologists, externs work as part of a multidisciplinary team and participate in all aspects of patient care including neuropsychological evaluation, case conceptualization, report writing, and liaison work. The majority of the caseload is outpatient, with an opportunity to participate in bedside inpatient assessment as needed.

The medical center offers a rich spectrum of educational activities including weekly neuropsychology case conferences and Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurosurgery Grand Rounds. Externs participate in weekly individual and group supervision, didactics, and journal club presentations. There are also opportunities to participate in supervised research with one of the faculty members.

This externship is an unpaid position. Externs are expected to commit to commit approximately 20 hours per week for at least 12 months, beginning July 1, 2024. applicants are students who are: (1) currently enrolled in a graduate training program in clinical psychology, (2) pursuing specialty training within a neuropsychology emphasis or concentration area in their program, (3) have a foundational knowledge of functional neuroanatomy and common neuropsychological syndromes, and (4) have at least 1 year of practical neuropsychological assessment experience.

This externship follows the coordinated Chicagoland externship application timeline.

Applications should be submitted via email to Kristina Johnson, PhD – Kristina.johnson@nm.org 

Application materials should include:

• Brief statement of interest
• Curriculum Vita
• Names and contact information of three professional references

Inpatient and Outpatient Psychological Assessment Practicum

The Clinical Neuropsychology Service in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine is offering an opportunity for doctoral students in clinical psychology to develop competencies in psychological and neuropsychological evaluation, as well as intervention. Students will participate in three clinics as part of this practicum:

1. Learning, Attention, and Diagnostic (LAD) Clinic: The LAD clinic provides outpatient neuropsychological assessment for individuals referred for neurodevelopmental and other mental disorders in adults. Evaluations often include primary referral questions for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Specific Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disability, and co-occurring mental disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use). Additional patients are referred for evaluation of serious mental illness and severe emotional disturbance, as well as general personality and psychological assessment. Evaluation protocols are flexible to address the presenting problem, but typically include clinical interviews, structured diagnostic interviews, symptoms checklists, personality tests (self-report and performance-based), academic achievement tests, intellectual tests, memory tests, and tests of executive functioning.
2. Inpatient Assessment Clinic (IAC): The IAC provides psychological evaluations for patients who are admitted to the Norma and Ida Stone Institute of Psychiatry Inpatient Unit. Referrals for evaluation come from psychiatric attendings and residents and are typically focused on diagnostic clarity, including mood disorders, personality disorders, and serious mental illness and severe emotional disturbance. Evaluation protocols typically include clinical interviews, structured diagnostic interviews, personality tests (self-report and performance-based), and occasionally intellectual or cognitive tests.
3. Outpatient Psychotherapy Clinic: In addition to the evaluations, students will have the opportunity to provide outpatient psychotherapy to patients. The number of patients is flexible to meet the needs of the students. Additional opportunities in specialty clinics (e.g., recovery from early psychosis program, focus forward clinic, gender pathways program, collaborative behavioral health program), may be available (see more details here: https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/behavioral-health/behavioral-health-services-downtown).

The LAD and IAC are run by Jason J. Washburn, PhD, ABPP, Chief of the Division of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Washburn will provide primary training and supervision, along with support from the broader Clinical Neuropsychology Service. Supervision for psychotherapy patients is provided by a variety of licensed clinical psychologists working within Northwestern Medicine.

Dr. Washburn is seeking two-to-three students for a two (2) day/week practicum. Students will be assigned one-to-two LAD cases per month; IAC cases will be assigned as referrals come in. All services are provided at Northwestern Medicine’s downtown campus. Our new outpatient clinic is in the Arkes Pavilion at 676 North Saint Clair St. (11th Floor, Suite 1100) in downtown Chicago. The inpatient unit is in the Galter Pavilion at 675 North Saint Clair St (13^th floor).

As part of the practicum, students can participate in the weekly Neuropsychology Seminar and Consultation Group for the broader Clinical Neuropsychology Service. Students will also participate in a weekly Case Consultation group along with Northwestern Clinical Psychology interns and other practicum students. All practicum students will be provided intensive assessment training in the tests at the beginning of the practicum.

This practicum is designed for students who have foundational coursework in Psychological Assessment. No prior psychological testing or neuropsychological experience is required, and training will be provided on the specialized tests administered as part of this practicum. This practicum will provide opportunities for students to develop assessment competencies in test selection, administration, scoring, and interpretations of tests, as well as report writing and feedback.

The practicum will require a commitment of 16-20 hours/ week for 12 months, starting in July 2024.

To apply, please provide a brief cover letter explaining your interest in work in this clinic, your CV, and at least one letter of recommendation to Dr. Washburn at j-washburn@northwestern.edu. This practicum follows the Coordinated Externship schedule.

Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic: Advanced Neuropsychology Practicum

The Neuropsychology service at the Mesulam Center is offering an advanced practicum for graduate students in psychology with a particular interest in pursuing a career in clinical neuropsychology. Students will participate in outpatient neuropsychological evaluation of older adults with cognitive disorders and dementia. We are seeking advanced graduate students who have already completed an initial neuropsychology practicum experience for a 2-3 day/week practicum. The experience focuses on the selection, administration, and scoring of neuropsychological tests, as well as in formulating interpretations of findings and communicating test results via written report, feedback sessions, and oral presentations in interdisciplinary meetings.  

Duration: The practicum will require a commitment of 16-20 hours/ week for 12 months, starting in July 2024 

Activities: Students will see two cases per week under the supervision of clinical neuropsychologists (Drs. Maureen Daly, Tamar Gefen, Molly Mather, Sandra Weintraub, and Jana Wingo). They will also be expected to attend weekly clinical rounds meetings with our interdisciplinary team of behavioral neurologists, psychiatrists, social workers, neuropsychologists, and nurse. Additional didactics include Fact Finding, Roundtable, Journal Club, Clinicopathologic Case Conference, and Neuropsychology Case Presentations.   

Supervision: A minimum of 2 hours of supervision by licensed clinical psychologists will be provided per week. 

Application Requirements: Cover letter providing an explanation of interest in work in a dementia clinic, curriculum vita, and a de-identified neuropsychological evaluation. Please provide your academic institution’s practicum requirements with the application. Please send these materials to: jana.wingo@northwestern.edu   

Contact: For more information contact: Dr. Jana Wingo via email at jana.wingo@northwestern.edu