Practica
You will complete a first-year assessment practicum testing children applying to the Chicago Public School’s Selective Enrollment Program, which involves approximately 15–20 hours per week from November through the beginning of March. This is an internal practicum that takes place in the Center for Research and Service, housed within the Department of Psychology.
In years two through four, you will complete three years of external practica at sites around the Chicago area, which involve 15-20 hours per week throughout the year. During your second year therapy practicum, your training site will focus on developing general diagnostic assessment and intervention skills. During years three and four, your training sites will be more advanced and specialized in an area of your choice. Examples of specialized training sites include those focusing on neuropsychological assessment, medical psychology, pediatric behavioral medicine, rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient mental health, and couples and family therapy.
Recent practicum placements:
- Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (adult outpatient; behavioral health; pediatric development)
- AMITA/Alexian Brothers Medical Group (adult neuropsychology)
- City Colleges of Chicago Wellness Centers (Harold Washington and Malcom X locations)
- Chicago Center for Cognitive Wellness
- Delve Psychotherapy of Chicago
- DePaul Family & Community Services (parent-child interaction therapy [PCIT])
- Depression and Anxiety Specialty Clinic of Chicago (DASC)
- Euclid Center at MacNeal Hospital
- Hartgrove Hospital (inpatient therapy; assessment; partial-hospitalization program)
- Hines Veterans Administration Medical Center (complex medical care/polytrauma; spinal cord injury; primary care behavioral health, neuropsychology; trauma services)
- HIV Care Program at Mercy Hospital
- Illinois Tech Student Health and Wellness Center
- Leyden Family Services
- Loyola University Medical Center (heart and lung transplant; liver and kidney transplant; psychosocial oncology; adult health therapy and assessment)
- Medical College of Wisconsin (pediatric neuropsychology)
- NorthShore Health Systems(pediatric and adult neuropsychology)
- Northwestern University (inpatient and outpatient psychological assessment)
- Pillars Community Health
- Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
- Rush University Medical Center (pediatrics, pain, neuropsychology, psychosocial oncology)
- Stroger Hospital of Cook County (neuropsychology)
- Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare
- Trinity Services Family Counseling Center
- University of Illinois at Chicago (adult neuropsychology; bariatric/health psychology; craniofacial clinic)
- University of Chicago (addictions and related disorders; adult neuropsychology; college counseling center; cognitive-behavioral therapy; eating disorders program; integrated primary care; obsessive-compulsive disorders; parent child interaction therapy (PCIT); psychotic disorders spectrum)
- Wellington Counseling Group
Internships
In your final year, you will participate in a year-long, funded internship accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). This experience is designed to strengthen your clinical skills and prepare you for work as a psychologist. Additional professional resources are available through the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers.
Recent Site Placements (* indicates a Chicago-area site)
Veterans Affairs Medical Centers
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Bedford, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Cleveland, OH
- Chicago (West Side), IL*
- Chillicothe, OH
- Danville, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Topeka, KS
- Hampton, VA
- Hines, IL*
- Hudson Valley, NY
- Little Rock, AR
- Jackson, MS
- Miami, FL
- Madison, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- North Chicago, IL*
- Dallas, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Salem, VA
- San Diego, CA
- Sepulveda, CA
- Syracuse, NY
- Togus, ME
Academic Medical Centers and Consortia
- AMITA/Alexian Brothers Medical Group (IL)*
- Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital (TX)
- Brown University (RI)
- Charleston Internship Consortium/Medical University of South Carolina (SC)
- Children's Hospital, Minneapolis (MN)
- Children's Hospital of Michigan (MI)
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CA)
- Denver Health Medical Center (CO)
- Dupont Hospital for Children (DE)
- George Washington University (DC)
- Hennepin County Medical Center (MN)
- Henry Ford Health Sciences Center (MI)
- Louisiana State University (LA)
- Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium (MO)
- Mt. Sinai Medical Center (NY)
- Northeastern Ohio Universities Consortium (OH)
- Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County (IL)*
- Oklahoma Health Consortium (OK)
- Rush University Medical Center (IL)*
- SCO Health Services (Ottawa, Canada)
- Tulane University (New Orleans, LA)
- University of Alabama, Birmingham (AL)
- University of California, San Francisco (CA)
- University of Chicago (IL)*
- University of Florida (FL)
- University of Indiana (IN)
- University of Miami (FL)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Minnesota (MN)
- University of New Mexico (NM)
- University of Illinois at Chicago (IL)*
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (NJ)
- University of Virginia (VA)
- University of Washington (WA)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Additional Internship Placements (e.g., Community Mental Health, Private Practice)
- Allendale Association (IL)
- ANDRUS Mental Health (NY)
- Dallas Independent School District (TX)
- Illinois State University Counseling Center (IL)
- Indiana University Counseling Center (IN)
- The Menta Group (IL)
- Milwaukee County Mental Health Center (IL)
- Northern Illinois University Counseling Center (IL)
- Southlake Community Mental Health Center (IN)*
- University of Akron Counseling Center (OH)
- Western Missouri Mental Health Center (MO)