OVERVIEW

Practicum training in Clinical Neuropsychology is provided through the Center for Brain Mind Medicine (CBMM) at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. The CBMM provides state of the art diagnostic and treatment services to patients with a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric syndromes at the interface of brain and behavior. Patient populations include those with neurodegenerative conditions, epilepsy, stroke, brain tumors, cancer, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, primary psychiatric syndromes, and neurodevelopmental syndromes.  Practicum students will gain experience with all aspects of the evaluation process, including clinical interviewing, test administration and scoring, case conceptualization, report writing, and providing feedback to patients and families.  Additionally, students have multiple opportunities to enhance their learning through didactic trainings, individual and group supervision, and collaboration with colleagues across varied disciplines.

OBJECTIVES
To provide robust clinical and didactic training and lay the foundation for careers in neuropsychology.  Specific goals will vary based on prior experience, and are detailed below.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The practicum begins on July 1 and concludes on June 30. The experience entails approximately 20 hours per week, though this is somewhat negotiable depending on individual circumstances.

There are two tracks within the practicum program, depending on students’ level of experience.  While both tracks share core features of the training (provision of clinical services, didactic learning, supervision), students in the advanced track will assume greater responsibility for independent case conceptualization, report writing, presenting cases, and providing feedback, with the goal of preparing students for a full-time internship in clinical neuropsychology.

• PRACTICUM I (Foundational)
  This program is designed for students who are newer to the field of neuropsychology and are interested in obtaining a solid foundation in test administration and scoring, learning about the role of neuropsychological assessment in a fast-paced academic medical center, and broadening their knowledge of brain-behavior relationships.  Students will spend the first part of the year learning to administer and score a wide range of neuropsychological measures, conduct chart reviews, observe clinical interviews and feedback sessions, and conceptualize cases in supervision. Students who master these foundational skills will also have the opportunity to begin writing shadow reports and participate in clinical interviews and feedback sessions, with the goal of fostering independent case conceptualization skills. Students will also have the opportunity to observe and/or co-lead cognitive remediation groups and participate in ongoing research, if interested and have the time to do so. At the completion of this training year, students will be well-prepared to move on to advanced training in neuropsychology. Previous experience in psychological testing and clinical interviewing are highly desirable but not mandatory.
  

• PRACTICUM II (Advanced)
  This program is designed for students in their 3rd or 4th year of clinical training, who have a solid foundation in neuropsychological assessment and plan to pursue advanced training and board certification in clinical neuropsychology. The goal of this track is to prepare students for a full-time APA accredited internship in neuropsychology by increasing autonomy in all aspects of the evaluation process.  Specifically, the focus of training is on clinical interviewing, report writing, providing feedback, and continuing to refine skills in conceptualization and case presentations.  Students are expected to have a minimum of a one-year, full-time training in neuropsychological testing, as these foundational skills are not a focus of training at this stage.  Advanced students are expected to present cases at the Center for Brain/Mind Medicine clinical teaching rounds at some point during the training year.  Other opportunities include leading/co-leading cognitive skills training groups and participating in ongoing research, if interns are interested in doing so and have the time to take on these additional activities.  At the completion of this training year, students will be well prepared to pursue advanced training in neuropsychology at an academic medical center.

CLINICAL EXPECTATIONS
Practicum students will generally see two patients per week.

SUPERVISION

• Individual supervision – 1-2 hours weekly for each case assigned
• Group supervision – 1 hour weekly

DIDACTICS
There are numerous opportunities for didactic learning within the department of neurology, as well as the larger BWH and HMS communities.  Several of these didactics are required for neuropsychology trainees, while others are available as optional learning.  These include:

• CBMM Clinical Teaching Rounds: Weekly 2-hour meeting with colleagues in Neuropsychology, Behavioral Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry and Social Work. Rounds are held on Wednesdays from 10-12 and are required for all students (unless arranged otherwise).

• Neuropsychology Seminar: A 10-month, weekly seminar focusing on professional issues related to neuropsychology practice, neuroanatomy and neuroimaging, development and neurodevelopmental syndromes, clinical neurology, acquired CNS syndromes, and dementia.  This seminar is hosted by MGH, and practicum students may attend virtually.

• Psychology Didactic Seminar Series: A weekly 2-hour seminar covering topics related general practice, diversity and inclusion, psychotherapy skills, assessment skills, supervision, and recovery practice. Psychology practicum students and trainees from other disciplines including neuropsychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing and/or occupational therapy may attend case presentations within the seminar series during the year.

• Ethical Conflicts in Psychology: A monthly ethics seminar for all psychology trainees. The seminar series is taught by an expert in the field and generally consists of a one-hour presentation followed by ethically oriented case presentations.

• Introductory Topics in Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry (July & August): Weekly one-hour seminar series for incoming behavioral neurology and neuropsychology fellows.  Topics include content related to the neurological exam, neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, classification of neurocognitive syndromes, and neuropsychological testing.

• CBMM Seminar Series: A monthly seminar series on brain/behavior related topics.  Speakers are recruited from various disciplines to provide diverse perspectives on brain functioning.

• Journal Club: A 10-month, weekly conference with colleagues in related disciplines to discuss current research relevant to the field.

TRAINING FACULTY

Mary-Ellen Meadows PhD ABBP – Chief, Clinical Director
Pamela Friedman PsyD ABPP – Director, Neuropsychology Internship and Practicum Training
Deborah Green PhD ABPP -Director, Neuropsychology Fellowship Training
Kim Willment PhD ABPP – Co-Director, RENEW Program
Abby Altman PhD – Co-Director, RENEW Program
Rebecca Amariglio PhD
Lauren Bolden PhD
Katelyn Bourgea PhD
Margaret O’Connor PhD ABPP
Kathryn Papp PhD
Deepti Putcha PhD ABPP
Dorene Rentz PhD
Gretchen Reynolds PhD
Emma Weizenbaum, PhD
Joseph Kim, PhD
Catherine Munro, PhD

REQUIREMENTS

• Students applying for Practicum I (Foundational) do not need any prior experience with neuropsychology.   Familiarity with cognition and/or assessment, through coursework or in other clinical settings, is helpful, but not required.
• Students applying for Practicum II (Advanced) Students are expected to have a minimum of a one-year, full-time training in neuropsychological testing.

COMPENSATION
The practicum training program is not a paid position.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested students are invited to apply by forwarding a cover letter, CV and three letters of recommendation by January 6, 2025 using this link.

Additional program details are available here.

Pamela Friedman, Psy.D., ABBP
Director of Neuropsychology Internship and Practicum Training
Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Pfriedman1@bwh.harvard.edu