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Devereux Pennsylvania - Children’s Services Emotional and Behavioral Health Track

APPIC Match Number: 154811

Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services provides 24-hour, residential services to children and adolescents (ages 7 to 18) with a variety of needs. The Emotional and Behavioral Health Track supports doctoral interns in working with individuals presenting with diagnoses, including, but not limited to, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant and conduct disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. We are proud to provide a safe environment where LGBTQIA youth and families can receive, and engage in, mental health services. Note: We will always use the names and pronouns with which each individual identifies.

Interns will work as part of a team of interdisciplinary professionals providing individualized assessments and interventions within a multi-tiered framework of positive behavior support (e.g., Devereux Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports [D-PBIS]). Intern activities are focused on developing program-wide interventions across the residence and school programs, as well as implementing individual- and group-based interventions. Given that many of our admitted youth have significant histories of personal trauma, our milieus and classrooms are developed to support trauma-informed care.

We offer training and supervision in evidence-based practices, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT). Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services offers a comprehensive DBT program that is inclusive of all elements of DBT, including individual therapy sessions, coaching by clinical and direct care staff, skills groups and a consultation team. The individuals we serve present with a variety of emotional and behavioral health needs, and we are able to support interns in tailoring treatment to each individual they serve.

Successful Applicants:

• The ideal candidate will have experience providing evidence-based practices to children and adolescents; the ability to conceptualize a case from a cognitive behavioral framework; and experience in administering a variety of assessments to children and adolescents.
• The ideal candidate will be trained in behavioral principles, and have the ability to apply behavioral interventions.
• Intern candidates should have strong consultation skills, and be able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Intern candidates will be able to conduct independent research (e.g., conceptualization, methodology and analysis).

Intervention: 

Interns will carry a caseload of three clients. Interventions include group, individual and family therapy. Group therapy sessions occur weekly. Specific clinical interventions include: dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT), self-regulatory training, other cognitive behavior therapies (CBTs), behavioral intervention-based on positive behavior support (PBS) and parent training. Supervision on clinical formulation, treatment planning, intervention delivery and progress monitoring is provided. Interns also will have opportunities to observe supervisors or senior clinical staff as they conduct interventions.

Assessment: 

Interns are required to demonstrate competency in assessment during the training year. Interns are expected to develop competence in the administration of psychological tests prior to the internship. Assessment assignments provide an opportunity for the intern to develop competency in the following:

• Tailoring assessment batteries to address referral questions
• Mastering resolution of discrepant results
• Developing clear conclusions that are responsive to the referral question(s)
• Writing individualized recommendations that follow rationally from the results, and provide user-friendly guidance to the clinical team.

Assessment opportunities include: assessment of cognitive functioning, academic skills, functional skills, diagnostic evaluations, functional behavioral assessments, intake evaluations and personality functioning.

Consultation: 

Consultation may include: assessment, observation and/or interviews to formulate hypotheses. From the hypotheses, interns will formulate both informal and formal recommendations. Interns provide consultation during team meetings and on an individual basis with all disciplines within the therapeutic milieu, including teachers, direct care professionals and program managers, among others. In cases where a specific training or a behavior support plan may be recommended, interns will provide training and follow-up to ensure treatment integrity. Interns will be provided with training in the implementation of Devereux-Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (D-PBIS), and can assist with staff training and integrity checks on the implementation of this approach.

Sample Schedule:

Supervisors:

Alexandra Gallagher, Psy.D. (Primary Supervisor)
Emily Gallagher, Ph.D.