Major Rotations: Primary Clinical Experiences

Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment (CNaP) Outpatient Specialty Clinics

Fellows gain experience in psychological assessment by completing four six-month rotations through outpatient specialty clinics. There are two supervising psychologists per rotation, and fellows spend three months with each one. Additionally, fellows spend their first full year in the Targeted Assessment Clinic, their second full year in the EDGE Clinic, and both years in the Follow-Up Clinic. Through involvement in these clinics, fellows gain experience serving individuals, from toddlers to young adults, with a wide range of neurodevelopmental and/or psychiatric disorders. As part of this experience, fellows offer consultation to medical providers, families and school staff members, and they are exposed to relevant special education law.

Development and Early Learning (DEL) Clinic:

In the DEL Clinic, fellows participate in evaluations of children 6 years old and younger. Patients in this clinic present with developmental and/or behavioral conditions. Participation in this clinic provides fellows with opportunities to learn about assessment procedures used with young children, and evidencebased intervention strategies for supporting young children with developmental disorders. Fellows also develop skills in differentiating between typical and atypical development in young children. 

• Supervisors: Rebecca Lieb, PhD, ABPP, and Shelley McDermott, PhD, BCBA-D

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) Clinic:

In the EBD Clinic, fellows participate in evaluations of children and adolescents presenting with a variety of behavioral and emotional conditions. Participation in this clinic provides fellows with opportunities to learn about assessment procedures used for clarifying conditions related to mood and behavioral disorders.

• Supervisors: Tanisha Drummond, PhD, ABPP, and Judith Trussell, PhD

Evaluations for Development, Growth, and Education (EDGE) Clinic:

In the EDGE Clinic, fellows participate in interdisciplinary evaluations with developmental pediatricians for patients identified as requiring less extensive testing. Together, fellows and pediatricians conduct diagnostic interviews and provide feedback to families. Fellows also gain experience in constructing an abbreviated test battery to answer a specific referral question.

• Supervisors: Danielle Wexler, PhD, ABPP, and Rebecca Lieb, PhD, ABPP

Executive Function (EF) Clinic:

In the EF Clinic, fellows participate in evaluations of children and adolescents with known or suspected neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and/or medical disorders that can be associated with executive dysfunction. Many of the individuals seen in this clinic have or are suspected of having attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders. Participation in this clinic provides fellows with opportunities to learn about the development of executive function skills through early childhood and adolescence, common conditions associated with executive dysfunction across settings, special education law, and other school-specific information.

• Supervisors: Rashida Barner, PhD, and Ashley Kniola, PsyD

Follow-Up Clinic:

In the Follow-Up Clinic, fellows check in with families of patients whom clinicians have identified would benefit from follow-up several months after their assessment. In this context, fellows assist families in identifying and accessing resources, and in further developing their understanding of their child’s condition and relevant treatment options. Fellows develop critical research evaluation skills and gain hands-on familiarity with research processes—core competencies for psychologists—through active participation in departmental research initiatives.

• Supervisors: Allison Gornik, PhD, and second-year fellows

Pathways to Young Adulthood Clinic:

The Pathways to Young Adulthood Clinic provides comprehensive evaluation, consultation and progress monitoring for older teens and young adults with developmental and/or social-emotional needs. The mission of this clinic is to empower older teens and young adults to understand their learning strengths and needs, and to self-advocate, better manage self-care, and know when and how to seek the supports they need to work toward independence.

• Supervisors: Shalena Heard, PhD, and Christine Merola, PsyD

Targeted Assessment Clinic:

In the Targeted Assessment Clinic, fellows conduct diagnostic interviews and targeted psychological evaluations with patients who have been identified as requiring less extensive testing. Participation in this clinic provides fellows with experience in constructing an abbreviated test battery to answer a circumscribed referral question.

• Supervisor: Alison Pritchard, PhD, ABPP

Sample Schedule for Incoming Fellows: