The mission of the Psychology Department at the Accotink Academy is to promote the social, emotional and behavioral health of the students. This is accomplished through the following modalities:

· Individual Therapy – Students are provided with weekly individual therapy to address behavioral and emotional difficulties that interfere with optimal classroom performance and availability for learning.

· Group Therapy – Students receive group therapy intervention to assist them in the development of appropriate and adaptive interpersonal skills, active problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

· Classroom Consultation – Psychologists serve as members of the multidisciplinary team. In this capacity, psychologists may observe classroom behavior and dynamics and plan interventions to address classroom concerns.

· Case Management – Psychologists serve as the contact person at the school for all clinical issues and communicate with parents/guardians, outside service providers and agencies to make recommendations and promote continuity of care across student environments.

· Crisis Intervention – Psychologists provide primary intervention with students when crises arise. Psychologists evaluate students who have made serious threats against themselves and others to determine their ability to be safe. If it is determined that a student cannot maintain safety, the psychologist facilitates evaluation for psychiatric hospitalization.

PSYCHOLOGY EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Accotink Academy is a school for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and emotional disturbances. Our population is drawn predominantly from the District of Columbia school systems. The age range of students is 5 to 21, and the treatment needs vary from social skills training with lower functioning students to intensive psychotherapeutic interventions with students struggling with severe psychopathology.

The psychology department consists of thirteen clinical psychologists, five art therapists, and seven behavioral counselors. Long-term psychotherapy is conducted from psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. The externs function as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, consisting of psychologists, art therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and special education teachers.

Psychology externs carry approximately four individual cases over the course of the year and co-lead three psychotherapy groups. In addition, externs participate in a weekly assessment seminar and are required to complete four comprehensive psychological evaluations. Each week, externs receive two hours of individual therapy supervision in addition to supervision from group co-leaders and assessment supervisors. The psychology externs, along with art therapy interns, participate in two interdisciplinary seminars. The first is a case presentation seminar, in which particularly challenging cases are presented and discussed by all members of the clinical services department. These seminars help to facilitate the development of case conceptualization and therapeutic intervention. The second is a didactic seminar in which staff members present on a variety of topics related to the treatment of children and adolescents in a school setting. Examples of seminar topics include classroom consultation and behavior management, group psychotherapy, countertransference, racial and cultural awareness, grief and loss, and play therapy. The psychology externship requires two and one-half days per week from August 25 to June 18, 2009 and pays $5000. To apply, please send your vitae and two letters of recommendation by March 15, 2009 to Deserie Charles, Ph.D. and Erica Russell, Ph.D. Selected applicants will be invited for interviews during the latter part of March. For more information please contact Dr. Charles or Dr. Russell, Monday through Friday at (703) 451-8041.