Diagnostic & Advanced Practicum Program

We are seeking 3-5 diagnostic and advanced practicum students for our neuropsychology-focused, 12-month practicum program. Training includes supervision from neuropsychologists who specialize in a different patient population (pediatric, geriatric, and adult/lifespan). We also provide training in psychological assessment and projective measures such as the Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). Applicants do not need prior experience in these measures, as training will be provided. Trainees with enthusiasm and openness toward flexible cognitive batteries that include both objective and projective measures will thrive in our program. Additionally, trainees who seek variety in clinical diagnoses and presenting symptoms are encouraged to apply. Our trainees will have exposure to a number of neurodevelopmental and acquired disorders including ADHD, learning disorders, mood disorders, social pragmatic/communication concerns, and autism spectrum disorders. There will also be exposure to a variety of medical syndromes and ailments such as sports-related concussion, traumatic brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral vascular accidents, cognitive decline associated with chemotherapy, and other neuromedical conditions commonly seen in the adult and geriatric populations. Our patient population is usually referred from pediatricians, neurologists, primary care doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers and medical facilities. Our students have the opportunity to participate in training in an outpatient clinic, rehabilitation care facilities, long-term care facilities, and multiple hospital settings. ARCC Neuropsychology acts as a consultation liaison at multiple hospitals in the western suburbs including 3 University of Chicago Advent hospitals, a Loyola system hospital, Edward/Elmhurst (Endeavor Health) Hospitals, and Good Samaritan hospital. Our program stresses personal growth within the field and encourages each student to focus on a specific population of their choice (pediatric, adult, or geriatric); however, it is expected that each trainee will have some exposure to all client populations to enhance and broaden their experiences. Trainees will be actively involved in each stage of client care including diagnostic intake interviews, neuropsychological and psychological assessment, scoring and interpretation, and feedback appointments accompanied by their supervisor. Individuals who are hard-working, flexible, and team-focused are encouraged to apply. Candidates should have at least one year of graduate coursework completed, an eagerness to expand their clinical foundation, as well as the interest in learning new perspectives on completing comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for guiding patient care. Supervision ARCC Neuropsychology remains committed to helping students develop techniques in assessment, choosing appropriate evaluations, report writing, giving a diagnostic interview, as well as providing direct feedback to medical providers, care teams, and providing behavioral intervention at hospitals or nursing care facilities. Students receive direct individual supervision with their assigned supervisor on a weekly basis as well as group didactic development for at least one hour each week. Our practice is structured around a collaborative group experience. All doctors in the practice have an open-door policy for easy access and direct communication to resolve questions and concerns quickly. Our goal is to help supervise complex cases in an effective and productive manner, providing the highest level of care to the patient while helping the trainees develop and grow through learning small nuances of assessment and interpretation. Supervision is not specifically limited to neurocognitive/neuropsychological and projective assessments. Professional development is another part of the training program and mentoring process. Trainees will gain exposure and awareness of the private practice model, business, community outreach, insurance, and billing issues associated with being a competent neuropsychologist. They will also have specific didactics focused on internship, postdoctoral fellowships, the psychologist licensure exam, and board certification processes. Trainees will have the opportunity to practice their formal presentation skills through a case presentation format, and they will be able to regularly consult on cases as a group during group supervision. Interested trainees should send a cover letter, CV, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample (preferably a previous assessment report) to the training director, Dr. Randy Summerville, Psy.D., at dr.summerville@arccpsych.com. We accept applications and make offers on a rolling basis beginning in January 2024, and we accept both ACEPT and non-ACEPT abiding candidates.