Mission
The Chesapeake Center is a large, multidisciplinary private clinic in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb close to Washington D.C. that provides neuropsychological, psychoeducational and psychological testing, psychotherapeutic support, educational tutoring, executive functioning coaching and psychiatric services to individuals across the lifespan with attention, learning, neurodevelopmental and behavioral issues and the broad range of psychiatric conditions that so often accompany these disorders. We are known for our effective, brain-based, solution-focused treatment approach and we provide a range of services to people of all ages, including: individual, family and couples therapy, trainings and workshops, career counseling, ADHD coaching/tutoring and group psychotherapy. Our mission is to provide education and training that fosters professional competencies required for state licensure, specialization in clinical neuropsychology, and the fellow’s eligibility to seek ABPP/ABCN board certification. Our program follows the guidelines outlined in the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training and conforms to program requirements for membership in the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN).
As a private clinic that cannot provide the range of clinical experience available in a large institutional setting, and to ensure our postdoctoral fellows are afforded opportunities to work with individuals with a wider range of central nervous system conditions than typically seen at our clinic, we have developed educational experiences for our fellows at nearby clinical neuropsychology training sites. Two other centers have agreed to join us to form The Chesapeake Postdoctoral Neuropsychological Training Consortium. The group is organized and overseen by The Chesapeake Center. The mission of our consortium is to provide top-quality, intensive and comprehensive adult and pediatric clinical neuropsychological training to postdoctoral fellows.
Settings
The Chesapeake Postdoctoral Neuropsychological Training Consortium consists of:
♦ The Chesapeake ADHD Center for ADHD, Learning and Behavior Health
6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 500 Bethesda, MD 20817
♦ The Neurology Center, P.A.
5454 Wisconsin Ave, #1720, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
♦ NeuroBehavioral Associates
5550 Sterrett Pl, Suite 200, Columbia, MD 21044
Vincent Culotta, PhD ABH, President
♦ The Kennedy Krieger Institute Department of Neuropsychology, while not a member of the consortium, has invited Chesapeake’s postdoctoral fellows to attend the KKI Didactics Seminar, Fall 2019 Mondays 4:30pm – 5:30 pm Fairmount 3rd Floor Conference Room (3068) Baltimore, MD 21231
The majority of postdoctoral neuropsychological training will be provided at the Chesapeake Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The Chesapeake Center is comprised of a multi-disciplinary staff that includes five psychiatrists, one psychiatric nurse practitioner, a developmental/behavioral pediatrician, three clinical social workers, three neuropsychologists, two clinical psychologists, tutors, and executive functioning coaches. Our center offers comfortable, modern professional facilities including access to computers, adequate office space for trainees, test materials, and scoring programs.
Primary Training
Fellows will receive training and experience in the administration of neuropsychological assessments that emphasize the importance of providing a comprehensive, individualized set of recommendations for parents, educators and other professionals that may be involved in interventions and treatment. In some instances, the neuropsychologist participates in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to collaborate with educators in the development of objectives, strategies, and accommodations based on the findings of the neuropsychological assessment. We encourage neuropsychologists engaged in assessment to provide follow-up support services including counseling and neuropsychotherapy to the client and/or client’s family, as appropriate. We are highly collaborative as a staff, meeting together twice monthly as a full staff. Meetings include clinical case presentations and in service training. We have a long-standing commitment to continuing education for our staff and offer monthly APA approved CE events on a variety of topics related to the neurodevelopmental focus on our center. As such, we provide a rich learning environment for any student seeking advanced training in neuropsychology.
Training Experiences
In addition to training at the Chesapeake Center, during the first year of fellowship the fellow will train one day per week at The Neurology Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland or one day every other week at NeuroBehavioral Associates in Columbia Maryland. They will train at the alternate site during the second year of fellowship.
Training Experiences
In addition to training at the Chesapeake Center, during the first year of fellowship the fellow will train one day per week at The Neurology Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland or one day every other week at NeuroBehavioral Associates in Columbia Maryland. They will train at the alternate site during the second year of fellowship.
At The Neurology Center, fellows will work with populations affected by Bell’s Palsy, Chronic Pain, Concussion, Dementia, Essential Tremor, Lyme Disease, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuropathy, Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease Seizures/Epilepsy, Stroke, and Tourette Syndrome. Fellows will participate in in conjoint intake interviews with a supervisor, administer individual neuropsychological assessments, score and analyze test data, make clinical formulations, prepare reports, strengthen oral and written communication skills, and conduct testing feedback sessions with patients and family members. It is expected that fellows will become increasingly competent and independent in clinical service delivery over the two years of training.
At NeuroBehavioral Associates, the post-doctoral trainee will be on site one day every other week for a full calendar year and assigned assessment cases involving neurodevelopmental disorders, acquired brain injury, chronic illnesses, and other neurologic disorders. In addition to direct supervision of each assessment, NeuroBehavioral Associates will provide a reading list to trainees to enhance their knowledge regarding the types of assessments and neuropathology they will be encountering at our center. Fellows will participate in conjoint intake interviews with a supervisor, administer individual neuropsychological assessments, score and analyze test data, make clinical formulations, prepare reports, strengthen oral and written communications skills and conduct testing feedback sessions with patients and family. It is expected that fellows will become increasingly competent and independent in clinical service delivery over the two years of training.
Consortium Staff:
Our administrative structure is small, allowing for close and frequent consultation among those involved. Dr. Nancy Mahaney, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, is our Training Director. Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D. (our Clinical Director) and Robert Chase, Ph.D., a highly experienced clinical neuropsychologist comprise our training team at The Chesapeake Center. In addition, at our consortium partner sites our fellows are supervised by board certified neuropsychologists, Dr. Vincent Culotta, ABN at NeuroBehavioral Associates, and Dr. Jesse Brand, ABPP-CN, and Dr. Anne Newman, ABPP-CN at The Neurology Center.
Our Postdoctoral Didactic Opportunities
1..Assigned Reading – (Required)
a. NeuroBehavioral Associates will provide a reading list to trainees to enhance their knowledge regarding the types of assessments and neuropathology they will be encountering at our center
b. The Neurology Center present the trainee with a reading list of books and articles related to her work and will engage in informal discussions with her regarding the content of this reading list.
c. Fellows are expected to keep abreast of the current neuropsychological literature relevant to assessment and treatment of the populations with whom they work.
2. Chesapeake Neuropsychology Seminar – Fellows are expected to attend weekly neuropsychology seminars presented by supervisors and make presentations on assigned topics relevant to the practice of neuropsychology.
3. Attend weekly Neuropsychology Seminars presented by Kennedy Krieger Institute.
4. Attend twice month group supervision to discuss Clinical Cases.
5. Attend monthly Center-wide clinical case presentations
6. Attend monthly continuing education presentations
7. Attend monthly neuropsychotherapy case discussions
8. Neuroanatomy Course Neuroanatomical Dissection: Human Brain and Spinal Cord- Fellows will attend the course offered at Marquette University Madison, Wisconsin in July between their first and second years of training.
9. Professional Development- Fellows will have opportunities to meet with the Center Director, supervisors and/or other professionals at Chesapeake to discuss issues related to career interests and professional growth.
Research:
Postdoctoral fellows can fulfill their research requirements in a number of ways including preparing previous research for presentation to the entire clinical staff, preparing previous research for potential publication, or engaging in research as part of an ongoing project at our center to explore the diagnosis and treatment needs of older adults with ADHD, headed by our Clinical Director, Kathleen Nadeau, PhD.
Supervision:
The Chesapeake Postdoctoral Neuropsychological Training Consortium adheres to the APA Guidelines for Clinical Supervision in Health Service Psychology 2014 and endorses supervisory methods outlined by Falender, C.A. and Shafranske, E. P (2017). Supervision essentials for the practice of competency-based supervision. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. The Consortium uses the Supervision Contract developed by Carol Falender, PhD with her permission (personal communication, 8/31/2019).
Each full-time fellow will receive a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per week. The trainee’s working with more than one supervising neuropsychologist during the course of the fellowship allows the trainee to be exposed to different perspectives. Two hours of individual supervision will be focused on neuropsychological assessment – helping fellows to learn how to develop appropriate test batteries based on presenting complaints as well as issues that emerge during the initial interview; the supervisor will initially attend and guide, to the extent needed, the initial interview of each client that is assigned to the fellow for an assessment; the supervisor will review the clinical data presented, review the postdoctoral fellow’s full report draft, making suggestions; and, especially during the first quarter of the first year, the supervisor will also attend the feedback session following each assessment, discussing the feedback with the trainee following that session. Each supervisor has the latitude to establish a mutually agreeable time, supervisory methods used, e.g. modeling, direct observation, discussion of test data, and expectations for the fellow’s preparation for each individual session.
Other supervision will take place on a group basis, such as a twice monthly supervision group regarding case management, twice monthly neuropsychology meetings discussing issues related to testing and assessment, and monthly neuropsychotherapy meetings/seminars. All supervision will be provided by neuropsychologists and clinical psychologists with the exception of elected training in DBT, which will be conducted by a DBT-certified LCSW-C.
Key duties and responsibilities of the supervisor include but are not limited to assuming legal responsibility for services offered by the postdoctoral fellow. Therefore, the supervisor will make himself/herself available when the fellow is providing client services. The supervisor reviews and signs off on all reports, progress notes, and communications. In doing so the supervisor maintains a respectful and collaborative supervisory relationship sensitive to the known difference in power between supervisee and supervisor roles. Evaluative feedback to the fellow is grounded in the fellow’s training goals, objectives and competencies.
Primary responsibilities of the supervisee/fellow include understanding the supervisor’s role in overseeing the fellow’s clinical practice and behavior; following the rules, policies, and procedures at all training sites; following supervisory directives and bringing to the supervisor’s attention any clinical issues and errors as they arise.
Sample Weekly Schedule:
Competence in cultural diversity and individual
Our center staff – both support staff and professional staff – is racially and culturally diverse. We regularly engage in discussions among staff members to ensure that the trainees are viewing and treating their clients within the broader context of social environment – including race, gender identity, religion, and cultural differences. Because we are located in the Washington DC suburbs, our clients come to us from many different nations, religious affiliations, and cultural identifications – so we are challenged on a daily basis to expand our knowledge and understanding of individual differences. Our center is committed to providing Center-wide continuing education in-service training on topics of cultural diversity and competency
Exit Criteria for Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellows
(Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Neuropsychology Guidelines)
Graduates from the postdoctoral fellowship program will be able to demonstrate:
A. Advanced skill in the neuropsychological evaluation, treatment, and consultation to patients and professionals sufficient to practice on an independent basis.
B. Advanced understanding of brain behavior relationships
C. Scholarly activity, e.g. submission of the study or literature review for publication, presentation, submission of a grant proposal or outcome assessment
D. A formal evaluation of competency in the exit criteria A through C shall occur in the fellowship program
E. Eligibility for state or provincial licensure or certification for the independent practice of psychology
F. Eligibility for board certification in clinical neuropsychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology
Evaluation and Grievance Procedures
- The Director of Training will formally evaluate the postdoctoral fellow’s progress toward demonstrating competence in each of the exit criteria on a quarterly basis.
- The Director of Training will confer with the primary supervisor and all supervisors to develop an action plan to assist postdoctoral fellows who are not performing at the expected level of competence. Possible actions include provision of educational materials, modeling, and supervision to facilitate improvement in weak skill areas.
- Postdoctoral fellows will be asked to participate in evaluating the training program on a quarterly basis using a rating scale provided to them following acceptance into the program.
- Postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to initiate discussions directly with all involved parties to resolve any disputes or grievances. The Director of Training, The Chesapeake Center Clinical Director, and other supervisors will be available for advice and guidance to resolve any disputes and resolutions. Should the matter not resolve directly, the Director of Training and/or The Chesapeake Center Clinical Director will review the circumstances with the involved parties to facilitate a successful resolution.
Stipend of $48,000 per year including financial payments received for clinical services delivery at our consortium partner sites, The Neurology Center and NeuroBehavioral Associates.
Other benefits provided by the Chesapeake Center include:
- Paid Parking at Westmoreland Building in Bethesda
- Paid Professional Liability Insurance through APAIT
- Vacation –One week (5 days) is taken between the Christmas and New Year holidays when the Center is closed. The remaining two weeks (10 days) should be taken at non-peak testing times (typically the early summer months). Fellows will be allowed to use some of these 10 vacation days as personal leave days, as needed, to be approved by the primary supervisor and Center administration.
- Healthcare – Group Health Carefirst HMO Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Application Eligibility – Prospective residents must have:
- A doctoral degree in one of the health service delivery areas of psychology or a doctoral degree in psychology with additional completion of a “re-specialization” program designed to meet equivalent criteria as a health services delivery training program in psychology.
- Competed a clinical internship that satisfies APA or CPA criteria.
- Doctoral Training Verification Form available from the APPCN website, signed by your training director or dissertation director. (Click Here for More Information)
- Completed within their graduate training or re-specialization programs the majority of the coursework in the Generic Psychology and Generic Clinical core areas, as well as additional coursework in the Brain-Behavior Relationships and Practice of Clinical Neuropsychology areas, as specified in the Houston Conference Policy Statement.
- Demonstrated clinical training and competency with research methodology to meet equivalent criteria as a health services delivery professional in the scientist-practitioner model.
- Provide graduate transcripts listing courses, grades and degrees.
- Three letters of recommendation including a letter from the individual in your internship program that is most familiar with your neuropsychological training and assessments, as well as letters from professors and/or clinical supervisors during your externships and doctoral level studies.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Two redacted neuropsychological reports ideally of your most recent assessments.
- A list of all psychological and neuropsychological test instruments on which you have been trained and which you have used in your clinical training.
All Positions Filled for 2019-2021
(Please check back at a later date)