Connection's Day School | Clinical Training

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
This program is recognized as a Member of APPIC.
Revised August 2009

Click here to view in PDF format (print-friendly).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Connection’s Day School (CDS) is a private therapeutic day school, founded in 1998, that serves high-risk children and adolescents in Lake County who require an alternative school program that is both educational and therapeutic. CDS utilizes therapeutic, educational, family and community connections to promote academic achievement, social/emotional well-being and personal growth.

CDS Staff Members employ a variety of methods to help students make academic progress, and develop and/or improve their coping and social skills. By utilizing a combination of respect, humor, empathy, and kindness balanced with firmness (i.e., maintaining high expectations and ensuring that students adhere to rules, boundaries and limitations), Staff Members are able to establish and maintain supportive, nurturing relationships with our students. In turn, these relationships can help the students be more open to learning the life skills required for long-term success.

With regard to treatment philosophies, the Clinical Staff at CDS use a cognitive-behavioral/problem-solving approach as well as psychodynamic, family-systems and narrative principles. In addition, the Lakota-Sioux Circle of Courage (teaching the value of belonging, independence, generosity and mastery) is also utilized. This multi-faceted approach works to assist the students in: overcoming issues at hand; practicing more successful behavioral alternatives; and exploring ways to “re-write” their frequently negative life stories. The goal is to work with students to build on their strengths and gifts, and be allies with them in their “fight” against the challenges and obstacles that get in the way of their success. The environment is based on a positive, nurturing model, where natural consequences for behaviors are frequently utilized. CDS avoids using restrictive and/or punitive methods of behavioral management and does not have a time-out room. Therapeutic holding (restraint) is only employed as a last resort, when the child is determined to be a danger to him/herself or others.

Ms. Betty Lindquist and Dr. John Schuler, founders of the program, chose to base the mission of CDS on philosophical principles similar to those held at Counseling Connection - their multi-disciplinary group practice which specializes in the therapeutic needs of children, adolescents and families. The professionals at Counseling Connection have worked closely with the schools, courts and social service agencies of Lake and Northern Cook Counties since 1983.

TRAINING PROGRAM, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Clinical Training Program at Connection’s Day School is quite extensive - offering two Post-Doctoral Fellowship (APPIC), two Pre-Doctoral Internship (APPIC) and four Psychotherapeutic Externship/Practicum positions.

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program in Clinical Psychology has been designed to help Fellows acquire refine their clinical skills in key areas of practice, all while functioning as a valued member of a Multi-Disciplinary Team. There is an emphasis on training in fundamental and advanced clinical skills with a primary focus on Individual, Group and Family Therapy. Fellows are provided with opportunities to work with frequently challenging/complicated children, adolescents and their families – individuals struggling with mild to severe: mood, anxiety, behavior, substance-related, psychotic, developmental, and personality disorders. Fellows also get an opportunity to work with people of all ages, and diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. All of this is done under the supervision of CDS’ Clinical Director, and other members of the Clinical Training Staff.

Ultimately, the main training goal/objective is to promote Fellow’s professional growth in such a way that, by the end of the training year, s/he feels confident in his/her ability to function as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, with the ability to practice in accordance with the highest standards of care.

Individual, group and family treatment with children and adolescents
Monthly Parents’ Support Group meetings
Attending Multi-Disciplinary Staffings for students
Writing and presenting Treatment Summaries and occasionally, Social Developmental Histories for these Staffings
Two hours of Individual, and one hour of Group Supervision per week with at least two Licensed Clinical Psychologists and other members of the Clinical Training Staff
Monthly consultation meetings with CDS’ Medical Director/Consulting Psychiatrist
All Staff Meetings - daily from 3:30 - 4:00 pm to discuss the day’s events, problem-solve and develop plans for the future
Institute Days - in-school staff training which covers school-related, therapeutic and behavioral topics and interventions

12 consecutive months
At least 40 hours per week (8:00am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday is required)
Fellows are required to participate in a minimum of 2,000 hours of Supervised Clinical Experience throughout the year, this time is spent in: Direct Service; Indirect Service; Training; and Supervision
Fellows are expected to spend at least 800 hours in direct, face-to-face student service
Traditionally, the Fellowship program will begin at the start of the academic year (mid-August), however, alternate start dates may be required

EVALUATION
Evaluation is an active, ongoing process throughout the Fellowship period. Formal, written evaluations will occur every six months throughout the course of the training year. These evaluations will be completed by the Fellow’s Primary Supervisor will include an active discussion of the evaluation itself, and the Fellow’s areas of strength and weakness Any serious concerns will be discussed with both the Fellow and the other members of the Clinical Training Staff. Please request the document: Due Process Procedures, for a full explanation.

CLINICAL STAFF
As a Connection’s Day School Fellow, you will be a member of a dynamic Clinical Team:

Kristen Mittl Pollina, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Clinical Director / Director of Clinical Training / Primary Supervisor

Ruth M. Tompkins, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Diagnostic/IAES Program Coordinator / Primary Supervisor

John L. Schuler, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Founder / Administrator / Auxiliary Supervisor

Sol Rappaport, Ph.D.
DePaul University
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Psychodiagnostician / Auxiliary Supervisor

Michael Greenbaum, M.D.
University of Illinois
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist / Medical Director

Christina Bailey, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Psychodiagnostician / Consultant

Charlotte Edwards, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Licensed Clinical Psychologist / Consultant

Cherie Lusky, M.S.
Mount Mary College
Art Therapist / Art Therapy Group Leader

Diana McNelis, M.A., LCPC, CADC
Loyola University
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor / Substance Abuse Education Group Leader

MaryPat Henders, M.A.A.T., LCPC
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor / Personal Management Group Leader

Susan Richey, M.S., OTR/L, SIPT
Rush University
Occupational Therapist / Sensory Integration Specialist

Joanne Wagner, M.A., CCC/SLP
Northwestern University
Speech & Language Pathologist

Tiffany Taylor, Psy.D.
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Post-Doctoral Fellow

Vanessa Davidson, M.A. (Psy.D. Candidate)
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Pre-Doctoral Intern

David Kohler, M.A. (Psy.D. Candidate)
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Pre-Doctoral Intern

Angela Ceisel, M.A. (Psy.D. Candidate)
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Advanced Psychotherapeutic Extern

Maria Cisneros, M.A., LPC (Psy.D. Candidate)
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Psychotherapeutic Extern

Erin Miles (Psy.D. Candidate)
Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Psychotherapeutic Extern

Genevieve Nehrt (Psy.D. Candidate)
Adler School of Professional Psychology
Psychotherapeutic Extern

APPLICATION PROCESS
Individuals who have met the following requirements for graduation from Doctoral-Level Clinical Psychology training programs:

Must submit the following materials by April 15th prior to their Fellowship year:

Cover Letter outlining professional goals and interests, and how this Fellowship site meets those criteria
Curriculum Vitae
Three Letters of Recommendation
Writing Sample (Note: a Case Formulation, Treatment Summary, etc. is preferred. However, if you do not have a sample that would fit in this category, please send a Psychodiagnostic Report.)
All Graduate School Transcripts

Application Note: Please do not send any application materials under separate cover – all materials should be contained within the same envelope.

Kristen Mittl Pollina, Psy.D.
Clinical Director & Director of Clinical Training
Connection’s Day School
31410 Highway 45
Libertyville, IL 60048

The Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Connection’s Day School fulfills the licensure requirements for “Post-Doctoral Supervised Practice” as established by the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – Division of Professional Regulation.

PRE-DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
This program is recognized as a Member of APPIC.
Revised August 2009

Click here to view in PDF format (print-friendly).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Connection’s Day School (CDS) is a private therapeutic day school, founded in 1998, that serves high-risk children and adolescents in Lake County who require an alternative school program that is both educational and therapeutic. CDS utilizes therapeutic, educational, family and community connections to promote academic achievement, social/emotional well-being and personal growth.

TRAINING PROGRAM, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Clinical Training Program at Connection’s Day School is quite extensive - offering two Post-Doctoral Fellowship (APPIC), two Pre-Doctoral Internship (APPIC) and four Psychotherapeutic Externship/Practicum positions.

The Pre-Doctoral Internship program in Clinical Psychology has been designed to help Interns acquire and refine their clinical skills in key areas of practice, all while functioning as a valued member of a Multi-Disciplinary Team. There is an emphasis on training in fundamental and advanced clinical skills with a primary focus on Individual, Group and Family Therapy. Interns are provided with opportunities to work with frequently challenging/complicated children, adolescents and their families – individuals struggling with mild to severe: mood, anxiety, behavior, substance-related, psychotic, developmental, and personality disorders. Interns also get an opportunity to work with people of all ages, and diverse cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. All of this is done under the supervision of CDS’ Clinical Director, and other members of the Clinical Training Staff.

Ultimately, the main training goal/objective is to promote Intern’s professional growth in such a way that, by the end of the training year, s/he feels confident in his/her ability to function as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, with the ability to practice in accordance with the highest standards of care.

Individual, group and family treatment with children and adolescents
Monthly Parents’ Support Group meetings
Attending Multi-Disciplinary Staffings for students
Writing and presenting Treatment Summaries and occasionally, Social Developmental Histories for these Staffings
Two hours of Individual, and one hour of Group Supervision per week with at least two Licensed Clinical Psychologists and other members of the Clinical Training Staff
Monthly consultation meetings with CDS’ Medical Director/Consulting Psychiatrist
All Staff Meetings - daily from 3:30 - 4:00 pm to discuss the day’s events, problem-solve and develop plans for the future.
Institute Days - in-school staff training which covers school-related, therapeutic and behavioral topics and interventions

12 consecutive months
At least 40 hours per week (8:00am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday is required)
Interns are required to participate in a minimum of 2,000 hours of Supervised Clinical Experience throughout the year, this time is spent in: Direct Service; Indirect Service; Training; and Supervision
Interns are expected to spend at least 800 hours in direct, face-to-face student service.
Traditionally, the Internship program will begin at the start of the academic year (mid-August), however, alternate start dates may be required

EVALUATION
Evaluation is an active, ongoing process throughout the Internship period. All evaluations that an Intern’s academic program requires will be completed by her/his Primary Supervisor. In addition, the Supervisor and Intern will have an active discussion of the evaluation itself, and the Intern’s areas of strength and weakness (this type of discussion will occur at least 2 times throughout the course of the training year). Any serious concerns will be discussed with the Intern, the other members of the Clinical Training Staff, and the Director of Training at the Intern’s academic program. Please request the document: Due Process Procedures, for a full explanation.

CLINICAL STAFF
As a Connection’s Day School Intern, you will be a member of a dynamic Clinical Team: