Clarity Clinic’s training program emphasizes a practitioner-scholar model and closely integrates research with extensive clinical practice. Empirically based psychotherapy treatment models include but are not limited to: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Trainees are trained in the theory, technique, and implementation of different therapy modalities.
The training program is designed to provide experience in and exposure to clinical work that is characteristic of outpatient private practice. All activities and experiences are conducted under supervision to foster the development of new and enhanced skills throughout the process. Supervision is used as a collaborative model, emphasizing strengths, goals, and areas for growth, which will be evaluated throughout the year.
As emerging professionals in the mental health field, trainees are expected to be self-motivated and disciplined in the areas of documentation and patient care. Clarity Clinic aims to provide a supportive atmosphere, encouraging interns to participate in all activities of the Center, allowing for continued growth, professional development, and collaboration.
The internship program is designed to facilitate development in the following 12 competencies: Intervention, Assessment, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Consultation, Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills, Ethical and Legal Standards, Research, Communication, and Interpersonal Skills, Professional Values and Attitudes, Supervision, and Community Psychology and Outreach Programming.
About the Doctoral Level Clinical Practicum and Pre-doctoral Internship
Clarity Clinic offers Doctoral-level practicum and pre-doctoral internship training for those seeking a doctoral degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. The Clarity Clinic Doctoral Training Program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to provide psychological services in an outpatient multidisciplinary group practice. The program places a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and consultation as well as competency in treating a diverse population.
The program aims to facilitate the development of strong generalist clinicians to work comfortably with a wide range of mental health concerns. Trainees can expect to learn individual, group, and family therapy; consultation; training; and psychological diagnosis, assessment, and treatment planning with a variety of patients in a diverse outpatient clinical setting. The population includes children, adolescents, adults, and the geriatric population with a variety of mental health disorders.
Our practicum students and pre-doctoral interns will begin the year by participating in a training orientation with a cohort of their peers. The first two days of onboarding occur on-site at our Loop location before continuing their training at their assigned location. Orientation is designed to support trainees in preparing for the training year and provide information about the internship and operations of Clarity Clinic.
Our practicum students and pre-doctoral interns will be working alongside licensed clinical psychologists and have opportunities to work with other licensed mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, physician assistants, and licensed therapists. The program emphasizes a practitioner-scholar model and closely integrates research with extensive clinical practice. Trainees are trained in the theory, technique, and implementation of different therapy modalities.
All trainees receive didactic seminars, weekly individual, and weekly group supervision, and can present clinical cases on several topics. Throughout the year, trainees are trained to display competence in professional conduct, ethics, and legal matters, and develop the necessary skills to become competent independent clinicians.
All trainees can expect to receive training in advanced therapy techniques, diagnostics through psychological assessments, or both.
Our doctoral training program includes Psychological Testing and Advanced Therapy practicum placements, pre-doctoral internships, and post-doctoral fellowships and takes place at our Loop, River North, and Arlington Heights locations.
Psychological testing is conducted at our Loop and Arlington Heights outpatient clinics with patients for whom psychological testing has been ordered by psychiatrists, physician assistants, and outside providers. All psychological testing cases are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist who evaluates the practicum students and pre-doctoral interns in the areas of clinical interviewing, administration, scoring, report writing, and feedback skills. Participants can be expected to be trained in skills related to psychological testing, including clinical interviewing, test selection and administration, scoring, interpretation, report writing, and feedback. Our training provides a range of psychological assessments, incorporating a variety of cognitive, objective, and projective personality measures, and neuropsychological assessments. In addition to these measures, Clarity Clinic also offers more specialized measures, including mood and personality inventories, developmental/behavioral assessments, executive functioning assessments, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessments.
The Advanced Therapy track focuses on developing and refining skills by building therapeutic rapport, case conceptualization, developing and applying evidence-based treatment, and increasing self-awareness and insight as a therapeutic tool while providing individual or group therapy. All cases are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in a specific treatment orientation.
Applicants for the practicum training program can apply for either the Psychological Testing or Advanced Therapy track.
Pre-doctoral interns receive training in both therapy and conduct psychological assessments.
