Pre-Doctoral Advanced Practicum in Rehabilitation Psychology

Overview

Founded in 1953 as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with a range of conditions — from traumatic brain and spinal cord injury to stroke, amputation and cancer-related impairment. The organization opened its doors to a $550 million, 1.2-million-square-foot research hospital in March 2017. The facility is the first-ever “translational” research hospital in which physicians, scientists, innovators, technologists and clinicians work together with patients in the same space, applying novel research in real time during rehabilitation. The central goal of the translational approach is to develop new research and insights to help patients gain more function, achieve better outcomes and enjoy greater ability and independence. Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

U.S. News has declared Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to be the best hospital in its field every year since 1991.

* Training Opportunities for Psychology Professionals

Our psychology department at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers rehabilitation [Post-Doctoral Fellowships]() and Externships (Pre-Doctoral Advanced Practicum in Rehabilitation Psychology) for individuals interested in pursuing a career in rehabilitation psychology.

Fellows and externs will gain experience in rehabilitation and neuropsychology — working with patients who experience medically complex conditions, such as amputation, brain injury, burns, cancer, spinal cord injury, stroke and transplants in inpatient rehabilitation. Fellows and externs also will have rotational options in outpatient settings, including DayRehab, the Pain Management Center, and Outpatient Neuropsychology.

Minor Rotations

DayRehab: Trainees will have the opportunity to provide initial psychological evaluations and individual psychotherapy to both adult and pediatric patients participating in intensive outpatient rehabilitation. These patients are seen at DayRehab as they acclimate into their homes and communities following, but not limited to, cancer rehabilitation, organ transplant, spinal cord injury, stroke and traumatic brain injury. DayRehab allows the extern to work therapeutically with patients for an extended period, as typical lengths of stay range from two to four months.

Pain Management Center: Trainees will provide CBT and ACT-focused psychoeducational groups. Patients from the Pain Management Center experience arthritis pain, chronic low back pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), fibromyalgia and neck pain. Trainees will gain clinical experience working on an interdisciplinary team consisting of medical doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists and vocational rehabilitation counselors via co-treats, consultations and team conferences.

Faculty

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab staff includes rehabilitation psychologists, health psychologists, neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, and social workers. Our staff members provide high-quality clinical care with compassion and sensitivity to the patients’ intersecting identities. Our staff is licensed in the state of Illinois and can assist the fellow in navigating applications for licensure.

Pre-Doctoral Advanced Practicum in Rehabilitation Psychology

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a one-year predoctoral advanced practicum in Rehabilitation Psychology focused on patients with medically complex conditions, cancer, spinal cord injury, and acquired brain injury. The Advanced Practicum will have the option to train in a variety of settings, including a primary rotation in either our acute inpatient rehabilitation or outpatient neuropsychology clinic.

* Our acute inpatient rehabilitation setting offers a comprehensive range of responsibilities, which may include individual and family therapy, group therapy, neuropsychological evaluations, patient team conferences, observation of capacity assessments, suicide risk assessments, as well as teaching, training, and staff support. A unique aspect of the training is the opportunity to provide co-treatment alongside allied health professionals, fostering an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

* Our outpatient Neuropsychology Clinic includes comprehensive evaluations with adults (with an option of pediatric) presenting with cognitive and physical disabilities due to chronic and traumatic illness, with a goal of assisting in differential diagnosis and treatment planning. The extern will be engaged in a comprehensive clinical service, including review record, clinical interview, test administration and feedback appointments. Patients are referred from a variety of sources across the organization, allowing for continuous collaboration with the referring physician and rehabilitation team. In addition to outpatient comprehensive batteries, the extern will have the opportunity to participate in Concussion Clinic evaluations.

Tracks

Externs will have the choice of a Rehabilitation Track focusing on inpatient therapy, Neurorehabilitation Track focusing on inpatient neuropsychological evaluations and inpatient therapy, or Outpatient Neuropsychology in a rehabilitation clinic. Minor rotations available include our DayRehab program, Pain Management Center, and Acute Concussion Clinic.

* Rehabilitation Track (Therapy Focus): Includes rotating through the Innovation Centers. Minor rotation with DayRehab (6 months) and Pain Management Center (6 months).
* Neurorehabilitation Track (Inpatient Neuropsychology and Therapy Focus): Includes rotating through the Innovation Center. Minor rotation with DayRehab (6 months) and Pain Management Center (6 months).

* Neuropsychology Track (Outpatient Neuropsychology): Includes opportunity to rotate with inpatient Neuropsychology and Acute Concussion Clinic.

In addition to individual supervision, externs will be offered weekly group supervision and didactics. Additional opportunities include Neuroradiology Rounds, PM&R Resident Core Lectures, PM&R Grand Rounds, Schwartz Rounds, Ethics in Practice, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Academy Lectures.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Individuals interested in pursuing a career in rehabilitation psychology (with relevant background shown from Curriculum Vitae)
* Evidence of clinical / internship experience in rehabilitation, health and/or neuropsychology
* Relevant graduate school qualification evidenced from graduate school transcripts