Doctoral Diagnostic Practicum details
City Colleges of Chicago welcomes doctoral level applicants working toward their PsyD or PhD in clinical psychology seeking a diagnostic practicum placement.
Diagnostic externs will complete 20 practicum hours per week and will complete, at minimum, 12 comprehensive testing batteries over the course of the training year. Supervision will consist of, at minimum, 1 hour of individual supervision weekly and 2 hours of diagnostic group supervision bi-weekly.
In addition to diagnostic group supervision, diagnostic externs will also participate in weekly group supervision provided by their campus Wellness Center.
Ideal Applicants:
An ideal applicant brings a commitment to their personal and professional growth, an eagerness to learn and an openness to feedback. They are open to collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and are invested in a team-based approach to client care. They are committed to growing in their ability to provide culturally informed care through their selection of assessment tools, interpretation of test data and provision of attainable recommendations.
Supervision Philosophy:
Dr. Cossu is a Clinical Psychologist, specializing in working with those impacted by trauma, substance use and life transitions. Her previous experience working in forensic settings has influenced her understanding of social, cultural, economic and political stressors and their profound effect on individual well-being.
In addition to her forensic work, her prior experience includes providing both psychotherapy and psychological assessment services within primary care clinics, inpatient hospital settings and community mental health clinics. She is an Adler University graduate, having received her MA in Counseling with a specialization in Forensic Psychology, MA in Clinical Psychology and PsyD in Clinical Psychology at Adler University.
She has focused her career on providing therapy, psychological assessment services and clinical supervision within community organizations. She has supervised students in the provision of mental health services to historically underserved communities. Her experience working within community, correctional and health systems informs her ability to aid trainees in navigating multidisciplinary collaboration.
She has a passion for working within communities and a deep appreciation of the importance of collaboration, relationship building and communication that is necessary in order to provide the best care possible. When facilitating psychological testing, Dr. Cossu collaborates with each client and other healthcare providers to design a course of testing that is empirically supported to best address the client’s needs.
Her goal is to provide a comfortable testing experience that ultimately provides the client with greater insight and informed recommendations. Her supervision style is a collaborative one, with a focus on professional development, professional identity, building diagnostic knowledge, assessment administration and report writing skills.