Clinical Psychology Resources
Field Experience
The Department of Psychology highly recommends that students interested in clinical psychology take advantage of research and clinical experiences while at Barnard. Living in New York City affords students a tremendous number of opportunities for placements and we encourage students to take advantage of this while they can. Graduate schools will be evaluating applicants on their research experiences, as well as their experience working with people in mental health settings. Getting involved in psychology outside of the classroom gives students the opportunity to learn what type of work they like and don't like, what professional environments best suit them, and with what populations they might like to help treat. Additionally, working with a mentor or supervisor in a research and mental health settings gives students a resource for stronger letters of recommendation.
Clinical Psychology Research, Internship and Full-Time Positions of recent Barnard students (updated May 2018)
NY State Psychiatric Institute Division on Substance Abuse
Part-time research assistants, 2015-2017: Tanya Lalwani, Maria Awwa (Cocaine Use lab), Kay Ferguson (Women’s Research lab)
NY State Psychiatric Institute Adult and Late Life Depression Research Clinic
Full-time Research Assistant, 2017: Kiley Kiley Cappetta
NY State Psychiatric Institute, Clinical Therapeutics, HIV research
Full-time Research Assistant, 2017: Madeline Finkel
Program for Anxiety and Trauma Stress Studies at Cornell University
Full-time Research Assistant, 2015-2017: Annell Ovalles, Adina Jick
NY State Psychiatric Institute Eating Disorders Research Unit
Volunteers, 2016-2017: Jamie Rosen, Hannah Weiner
NY Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Eating Disorders Day Program (White Plains)
Part-time Research Assistants, 2016-2017: Elizabeth (Lily) Abrahams, Joya Ahmad
Mount Sinai Eating and Weight Disorders Program
Full-time Clinical Research Coordinator, 2016-2017: Ayelet Hochman
The Translational Neuroimaging Lab at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Full-time research assistant, summer 2013-summer 2015: Tamar Glattstein
Bellevue Hospital Department of Social Work (within Psychiatry Inpatient Unit)
Intern, summer 2014: Leah Sodowick
The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai
Intern, Fall 2015, Spring 2016: Jordana Norry
PSYC BC3473 Clinical Field Practicum (formerly "Fieldwork Course in Psychological Services and Counseling") is a course offered in the spring semester each year for which students secure a clinical externship. Interested students must contact instructors, Profs. Julia Sheehy and Marjorie Silverman, in the fall semester.
Course Description: This course introduces students to clinical and counseling work, and to psychodynamic ways of understanding and supporting people in psychological distress. Students secure a clinical placement for the course, and apply readings on psychodynamic notions of parenting, psychopathology, and therapeutic process to their clinical experiences. The course helps students clarify their professional goals, and provides the clinical experience that strengthens applications to social work programs, and that is required for applications to clinical and counseling doctoral programs.
Application Process:
- Apply for the course by submitting an application to Professors Sheehy and Silverman prior to the spring semester beginning.
- Secure a placement for the course. Use the list of placements below as a guide in your search; some of the listed placements may no longer have openings, and you may contact sites not currently on the list. Finding a suitable placement requires time and perseverance, contact the instructors at any point for guidance.
- Arrange to work at least seven hours per week at your placement, and to begin there no later than the first class. Find an on-site supervisor who has professional training, preferably in an area you might be interested in pursuing. The supervisor must commit to supervise you once per week and to write a brief final evaluation.
- Contact the instructors for approval. Your place in the course is not final until your application and placement have both been approved.
- Sign and have your on-site supervisor sign the contract (obtained from Profs. Sheehy and Silverman). Make three copies - one for your supervisor, one for Professors Sheehy and Silverman, and one for yourself.
See below for examples of previous field placement sites that to the best of our knowledge remain current options.
A LIST OF PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Note: This list was last updated in Fall 2018. These are placement sites that had opportunities available at that time. Please follow up with the contacts listed under the site of interest in order to inquire as to whether positions are still available.
Graduate School
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Uncensored Advice on Choosing a Program and Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology
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Taking a gap year: A guide for prospective clinical psychology PhD students: A 5 page article (begins pg 212) in the Sep 2017 issue of The Behavior Therapist
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Full-time Post-Baccalaureate Job Opportunities: Part of the free online resource, Getting Into Clinical Psych Grad School, provided by the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology.
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Preparing and Applying for Graduate School in Psychology: Free video series to guide students through research, applications, interviews and decisions.
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Norcross & Sayette: Insider’s Guide To Graduate Programs In Clinical And Counseling Psychology: Bestselling book offering in-depth profiles on more than 300 accredited programs.
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What Mentors Want in Doctoral Applicants: Convergent and Divergent Perspectives
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Careers in Clinical Psychology
Learn Psychology offers comprehensive information about careers in clinical psychology
BestColleges.com offers helpful information on careers in counseling at the Masters degree level (rather than a PsyD or PhD)
Contact
Prof. Kathleen Taylor, Lecturer and Pre-Clinical Adviser in the Psychology Department; instructor for PSYC BC2155 Clinical Lab. Sign up for an appointment with Prof. Taylor here.
Prof. Michael Wheaton, Assistant Professor, instructor for PSYC BC2156 Clinical lecture
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