The Psychiatric Institute of Washington is a private, 130-bed inpatient facility with programs for adolescents and adults, as well as a partial hospitalization program for adults. Excellence in behavioral health programs has been the mission of The Psychiatric Institute of Washington since it opened nearly 50 years ago. PIW is the first and only free standing psychiatric care facility in Washington, DC.

The Psychology Department offers consistent groups, psychodiagnostic testing, individual psychotherapy, and consultation to all units at PIW. We also provide some limited interdepartmental education.

Our department offers a Post-Doctoral Fellowship and Pre-Doctoral Externship, which are outlined below.

The Psychology Department offers an intensive assessment externship focusing on psychological assessment and group psychotherapy, with opportunities for individual psychotherapy with adolescents and adults in a locked inpatient setting. This is an advanced externship, most typically training students with some assessment and psychotherapy experience. Our department relies on structured and semi-structured types of psychological tests, and focuses on cross-battery, transtheoretical evaluations designed to diagnose and make support patient functioning.

Students receive individual assessment supervision as well as group supervision. Students also participate in a weekly assessment and a weekly psychotherapy seminar. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in treatment planning and/or family meetings with their patient and multidisciplinary treatment team members.

Candidates interested in the Assessment Externship at PIW should have a working knowledge of cognitive tests, and be comfortable with the Rorschach (RPAS Preferred).

Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Externship – Psychotherapy Focus

The psychology department offers the opportunity to develop clinical skills while working with patients, adults and adolescents, managing acute and chronic mental health challenges and diagnoses. Candidates interested in the Psychotherapy Externship at PIW should have a working knowledge of therapeutic rapport building skills, basic crisis management skills, and a foundation in evidence-based interventions. Students will have the opportunity to rotate between the adolescent and adult units, providing them with a wide range of clinical experiences and opportunities for learning appropriate interventions for the populations we serve. An emphasis is placed on providing group psychotherapy, and students will also have the opportunity to see patients in short-term individual psychotherapy, and to consult in treatment teams. Students also receive weekly individual supervision, group supervision, and psychotherapy seminar.

The externship is restricted to doctoral candidates in the field of Psychology. Students are required to work 16 to 20 hours per week. The externship extends from June to June of the following year.

To apply, email the following to: [email protected]:

• In the subject of the email please include “NAME – FOCUS” (E.G. Jane Doe – Assessment Focus).
• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• A de-identified test report

For questions, please email Dr. Stephanie Lopetegui, Director of Psychology, at [email protected]

** Deadline for applications is on the 1st of February

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW) offers a one-year, full time, 2080-hour Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychology. The position begins in early August and ends in early August of the following year. Fellows will be guided in attaining a Psychology Associate license prior to beginning their fellowship.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship is an intensive training program in the treatment and evaluation of a short-term inpatient population. We also have a heavy emphasis on training to become a skilled clinical supervisor. Postdoctoral fellow responsibilities include:

• Conducting inpatient group psychotherapy, individual psychotherapy and psychological assessments (neurocognitive and psychodiagnostic assessments, behavioral intervention plans). Leading groups in the Intensive Outpatient Treatment Center at PIW is also possible, depending on the preference of the Post-Doc.
• Supervising psychology externs
• Coordinating clinical services for the Psychology Department
• Consulting to other departments, and providing in-service trainings

Postdoctoral fellows receive supervision by licensed psychologists, and attend weekly didactic seminars. Candidates interested in this fellowship must have completed a PsyD or PhD graduate program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology and completed a Doctoral Psychology Internship.

The full-time Postdoctoral Fellowship offers a salary of $40,000 plus health, dental and other benefits, including paid time off.

To apply email the following to [email protected]:

• cover letter
• curriculum vitae
• a de-identified psychological assessment report
• three letters of recommendation

For questions, please email Dr. Stephanie Lopetegui, Director of Psychology: [email protected].

Qualified applicants will be invited to interview starting in mid- January.

Deadline for applications: January 9^th