Autism Treatment Track

APPIC Program Match Number: 150916

Number of Internship Positions: 2

The Autism Treatment Track (ATT) is dedicated to training focused on the treatment of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Training includes treatment, assessment and advocacy experiences, all of which are based on a foundation of evidenced-based and family-centered care. Traditional supervision, group didactics, case conferences, and a professional development series are included in the training year. Clinical work is primarily conducted through the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD), but often takes place in home, community, and school settings.

Treatment

Treatment experiences throughout the internship year are varied and include a range of behavioral intervention services; intervention for complex problem behavior; school consultation; individual counseling; and group services with youth with ASD and their families.

Two primary, year-long, treatment experiences are engaged in, within 1) Behavioral Intervention and 2) Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), Outpatient Psychotherapy (OPP), Complex Behavior (CBP), or Adolescent Transition (ATP). A secondary, 6 month, rotation is chosen from one of the other CASD clinical programs (EIBI, OPP, CBP, ATP) that is not the intern’s primary rotation. Interaction and collaboration with other therapeutic providers (e.g. behavioral intervention aides, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, post-doctoral fellows, speech therapists, physicians) and educational personnel are involved with treatment experiences.

Assessment

The intern is involved in initial assessment to identify a client’s needs and to inform treatment recommendations accordingly. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Functional Analysis (FA) may be utilized as appropriate. Each intern engages in a standardized psychological assessment rotation at CASD aimed at documenting a client’s progress in treatment, client’s current level of functioning, and ongoing diagnostic status.

Advocacy

Advocacy work is central to the services offered at CASD. The interns will participate in advocacy through attending client IEP meetings, making school visits on a client’s behalf, assisting with or leading community trainings, and participating in community outreach events.

Hours

The ATT interns work five days per week with the potential for an occasional weekend responsibility related to EIBI start-up services or community outreach events. There is no “on call” coverage. The ATT interns will typically work 40-50 hours per week.

Sample Weekly Schedule

CASD Faculty

All members of the CASD faculty take part in each intern’s training in varying degrees, including clinical supervision, mentoring, and/or didactic training.

• Jacquie Wynn, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
  Director

• Cara Inglis, PsyD, BCBA, COBA
  Psychology Supervisor, Adolescent Transition Program

• Karen Tabern, PsyD
  Psychology Supervisor, Outpatient Psychotherapy Program

• Anya Froelich, PsyD, BCBA, COBA
  Psychology Supervisor, Behavioral Intervention Program

• Christin McDonald-Fix, PhD, BCBA, COBA
  Psychologist Supervisor, Complex Behavior Program 

• Christine Eichelberger, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
  Psychologist, Behavioral Intervention Program

• Ashley Showalter, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
  Psychologist, Behavioral Intervention Program

• Jessie Richard, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
  Psychologist, Adolescent Transition and Behavioral Intervention Program

• Carla Luevano, PhD, BCBA, COBA
  Psychologist, Adolescent Transition Program

• Jessica Graber, PhD, BCBA-D, COBA
  Psychologist, Complex Behavior Program

• Erin Fastzkie, PhD, NCSP
  Psychologist, Outpatient Psychotherapy Program

• Kristen Dell'Armo, PhD
  Psychologist, Adolescent Transition Program

• Tess Lewis, PsyD
  Psychologist, Behavioral Health Intervention Program

Successful Applicants

Invitations to interview for the ATT position will be extended to applicants who typically have the following:

• Prior work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder/developmental disability
• Behavioral therapy/parent training experience
• Prior work with families and community collaboration