Clinical Practicum
in Evidence-Based
Youth Psychotherapy

Professional Training

Professional training at CECT focuses on assisting trainees in the use of effective, sustainable treatments that have withstood rigorous clinical testing (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Parent Training) as well as measuring patient progress during treatment to inform therapeutic decisions. Our focus on data and quantifiable measures gives trainees unique insight into the best ways to help children and families and assists trainees in developing necessary intervention skills.

The Focus

The practicum experience is between 16 - 24 hours (two to three days) per week and focuses primarily on the delivery of short-term psychotherapy to children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 as well as their families. Trainees can expect to gain experience with a wide range of psychopathology, with a focus on anxiety disorders, depression, and disruptive behavior disorders. Treatments center on cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression as well as behavioral parent training techniques for disruptive behavior disorders.

Students may select a focused track on early childhood treatment and receive training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) or a focused track on school-aged children and adolescents and receive training in the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children (MATCH). Students in either track will gain exposure to clients across the age range. Students must be available on Thursdays to attend staff seminars as part of the practicum experience, as well as evening hours to facilitate seeing clients.