Behavioral Headache and Concussion Externship
This externship is ideally suited for advanced practicum students seeking specialized training within a pediatric hospital setting. This is a joint externship opportunity between the Headache and Concussion programs.
About the Externship
This position includes one day working within the interdisciplinary chronic headache team in the evaluation/diagnostic program along with neurologists, neurology fellows and nurse practitioners. The second day will entail working within the multidisciplinary Safe Concussion Outcome Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program.
Both programs provide clinical training in pediatric psychology and pain management. Specialty seminars and didactics are available as well. Theoretical orientations utilized include an integrative approach involving cognitive and behavioral, acceptance and commitment therapy and other mindfulness approaches. The externship includes interdisciplinary evaluation/consult clinics and short-term individual therapy, as well as opportunities to collaborate with care teams and schools. Trainees will leave externship with experience working in multi-disciplinary teams within a medical setting and utilizing evidence-based treatment approaches that are highly transferable to other pediatric populations.
The Headache Program is an interdisciplinary team consisting of neurologists, psychologist, neurology fellows, medical students and nurses who collaborate as a team to evaluate, diagnose and treat children and adolescents with various headache conditions.
The Concussion Program is a multidisciplinary team consisting of neuropsychologists, psychologist, neurologist and a physical therapist. The extern will provide evaluations for patients with a range of physical, behavioral/emotional, cognitive and sleep disturbance symptoms following a concussion (mild traumatic brain injury). Twice a month there is also the Comprehensive Concussion Clinic, which is an interdisciplinary clinic serving children, adolescents and young adults with more acute injuries or persisting symptoms. Note - this clinic is dedicated to Tuesdays at the Neuropsychology at Montgomery County location or Thursdays at the Fight for Children Sports Medicine Center.
Qualifications
Applicants must be in at least the third year of a doctoral program with experience in child and adolescent therapy and documented interest in gaining advanced experience in a medical/pediatric setting.
Number of Available Positions
One to two externs will be recruited for this externship.
How to Apply
Please email your letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and two letters of reference directly from recommenders to:
Interested applicants should also complete this survey one time, regardless of how many externships you are applying for.
Locations
Flexibility with location is important. This externship is at:
- Children's National Friendship Heights - 5028 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
- Children's National Prince George’s County - 2900 North Campus Way, Lanham, MD 20706
- Fight For Children Sports Medicine Center - 1 Inventa Place, Suite 150, Silver Spring, MD 20910
- Neuropsychology at Montgomery County - 15245 Shady Grove Rd, Rockville, MD 20850
Note: Some clinical care may be provided through telehealth.
Time Requirements
Externships are one year and will occur from summer 2026 – spring/summer 2027.
Please note: Ideally this is a two-day externship (16 hours/week) and is tentatively dedicated to Tuesdays (Neuropsychology at Montgomery County) and a choice of either Monday or Wednesday. There is the possibility to participate in the Comprehensive Concussion Clinic on Thursdays at the Fight For Children Sports Medicine Center in Silver Spring, MD, if a candidate is interested.
