For over 30 years, Oakes has served children with emotional, behavioral, and educational difficulties by providing specialized educational and therapeutic services. Our mission is to help these children develop the independence and self-awareness necessary to live and continue learning in the least restrictive setting possible. Oakes Children’s Center is a non-profit mental health center. The primary program is a day treatment program.

Position Description: Under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, Art/Drama practicum trainees provide psychotherapy, assessment, and consultation services to children, adolsecents ans their families. Client’s served include individuals with developmental dissabilities as well as indiviudals with emotional and behavioral challenges.

Trainees provide services in three therapeutic settings.

Children’s Day Treatment : The combined day treatment and school program serves approximately 24 children from ages 3 to 14 years old. Children served are designated as severely emotional disturbed (SED) and exhibit severe behavioral and emotional problems at home and in school. The children enrolled receive a comprehensive academic program (which may include occupational and speech therapy) in addition to psychotherapeutic services (including individual play therapy as well as group therapy). The day treatment and after-school program is open Monday through Friday September to July.

Outpatient Services: Oakes has a history of serving the needs of children and families with developmental dissabilities since it’s founding. The needs of these clients are addressed in our outpatient program. Current trainees and interns provide individual and group services to children diagnosed with developmental dissabilities such as Asperger’s Syndrome and PDD, NOS.

School-based Partnerships: Trainees and interns are also able to work with children and familes in more traditional school-based settings through Oakes’ partnerships with several San Francisco elementary schools. By co-leading groups with seasoned staff-level clinicians and one-on-one work other clients, trainees have the experience of collaberating with school staff and families at school sites.

Caseload

1-2 individual Day Treatment therapy clients

Co-Lead an outpatient social skills group with PDD clients

Co-lead social skills group for emotionally disturbed children in an Oakes partnership school

Lead 2-4 art or drama therapy groups at Oakes Day Treatment program.

1 – 2 individual outpatient therapy client’s based on interest and number of hours needed

Duties

Conduct 2 individual play therapy sessions each week with each day treatment client

Maintain session progress notes and weekly behavioral notes on each day treatment client

Participate in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings

Treatment Goal planning

Long-term, in depth, psychodynamic case presentations

Training

Weekly play therapy seminar conducted by Julie Tapley, MFT

Weekly Treatment Reviews lead by Larry Brenner, Ph.D. – Clinical Coordinator

Twice Monthly Seminar for PDD groups led by Alex Kuskuslis, MFT

Twice Monthly Seminar for families in treatment

Weekly Individual supervision

Weekly group supervision conducted by James LaCroce, Ph.D.

Requirements

Applicants must have at least one year of prior supervised experience providing mental health services in a clinic or school-based setting – preferable with children.

Applicants should have received training in art therapy with children prior to beginning practicum.

Time Commitment
Practicum requires an academic year commitment (August 12, 2013 through July 9, 2014). 16-20 hours – All day W, Th afternoon required.

Application Process

Letter of Intent - required under "Cover letter"

CV - required under "Resume"

3 letters of Reference - required

All completed applications are due by March 14, 2012

Questions?
Contact: James LaCroce, Ph.D., Director of Training
Phone: (415) 641-8000