Dr. Heather Davidson
Child Psychologist

Clinical Psychology Externship

 CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY EXTERNSHIP

Behavioral Associates is a participant in the New York/New Jersey Externship Match Program maintained through the American Psychological Association (APA). The Psychology Directors of New York State (PSYDNYS) and the New York New Jersey Association of Directors of Training (NYNJADOT) have developed guidelines to govern the process of applying to externships and accepting externship offers. The guidelines are for this application process are as follows:

  1. There will be a six-week period between submission of applications and the first date on which offers may be made to students. The earliest date that students may submit applications is 9:00 am, Tuesday, January 16, 2019. The earliest date on which an offer may be made to a student is Monday, February 26 at 9 am.
  2. Offers can be made between 9am and 5 pm. Offers can only be made via email and respective DCTs must be copied on the email offers. Phone calls are not acceptable.
  3. During the period of time guidelines govern the externship process, applicants may hold no more than one offer during any 2 hrs time period. That is, applicants must decline second and all subsequent offers within any two hours’ time of receipt.
  4. Students receiving offers on Monday, February 26, have until 9:00 AM on Tuesday February 27 to accept or reject the offer they are holding.
  5.  Students who receive an offer on Tuesday February 27 BEFORE 3 pm have until 9 AM on Wednesday to accept or reject the offer.
  6. Offers made after 3 pm Tuesday are no longer governed by the Externship Guidelines.  That is, Externship Guidelines for the 2017-18 Externship Match are suspended AFTER 3 pm on the second day, Tuesday February 27.
  7. Students who receive an offer after 3 pm on February 27, 2017 will abide by each site’s stated guidelines with regard to the time allowed to respond to offers. The site’s guidelines are to be judiciously and fairly enacted. Sites should provide at least a one to two hour period for the student to make a decision.
  8. All application materials, including letters of recommendation, are to be sent electronically as attachments in a single email or as hard copies mailed in one packet. It is recommended that the contents of the letters be transparent to the students.
  9. Sites should update their WIKI information prior to December 1. Sites should include number of positions that are offered by the placement and number of hours required. (See psychpracticum.apa.org).
  10. Sites should update the number of positions by 5:00pm on each of the first two days of the match (February 26 and February 27).
  11. Students need to insert their DCT’s name, email address and phone numbers on their CVs. It is advisable for students to indicate the days of the week that they are available for externship and the day/s that they are not able to attend.
  12. Students need to inform the sites and DCTs of acceptances and subsequent withdrawals from all sites where they were granted interviews.  If the site has posted “all positions filled” on the wiki, students are not required to send withdrawal email.
  13. Students must confirm receipt of any interview offer by emailing the Externship Coordinator at the site and DCT.
  14. Students must IMMEDIATELY confirm receipt of any placement offer by emailing the Externship Coordinator at the site (and whether they are accepting or holding).
  15. Students must check their SPAM folders to ascertain if any interview or acceptance offer has been directed to SPAM.
  16. Students should ask for letters of recommendation from their faculty or others as early as possible in the semester.
  17. No Thank You Notes:  Students are not to send “Thank you” notes to their interviewers or to other professionals at the externship site.
  18. As of February 5, it is permissible for applicants to contact sites (via email) and inquire if they are still being considered for an interview. Students should consult their DCTs before they send the email (See item 28c for related information)

The extern position at Behavioral Associates is a training program designed for students currently enrolled in a clinical, child, or counseling doctoral program. Our program’s main goal is to train psychologists as specialists in cognitive behavioral therapy and the therapeutic technological interventions. Graduates from our program will also have the knowledge and skills of how to start and maintain a successful private practice. We expect that our graduates leave with solid skills in assessment, diagnosis, and intervention, specifically within the realm of biofeedback, neurofeedback, and virtual reality exposure therapy. We are committed to training graduates who will be able to effectively implement evidence based practice, work collaboratively within a team, and become compassionate and ethical practitioners of the field of psychology.

The extern’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Participation in the program trainings
    1. Orientation to Behavioral Associates
    2. Introduction to Biofeedback
    3. Introduction to Neurofeedback
    4. Introduction to Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
    5. Psychology as a Business
    6. Externs are also invited to attend our 2-day intensive DBT training seminars.
  2. Receive supervision from multiple supervisors (group, individual, and technology related supervision)
  3. Conduct neuropsychological, educational, and diagnostic assessments
  4. Provide empirically supported treatments including, but not limited to CBT, DBT, Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
  5. Opportunities to join or propose new group therapy sessions
  6. Engage in peer supervision/mentorship with postdoctoral fellows
  7. Collaborate with other professionals
  8. Opportunities to join or propose new research projects
  9. Participate in public speaking positions including schools, hospitals, and conferences

Generally, our externs start in July/August and are required to commit to 2 to 3 days per week. Preference is given to those that are in their 3rd year + in their training program. Please reference the official website for more information: https://psychpracticum.apa.org/Behavioral_Associates