Herbert S. Schiele Clinic Internship/Practicum Programs

A 12-Month Practicum Program
in Out-Patient Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Stuart J. Ozar, MD, Schiele Clinic Director    Work phone: 314-725-2828

Chester Smith, MEd, LPC, Director of Clinical Training    Work phone: 314-721-7885

Andrew Chirchirillo, PhD, Director of Psychology    Work phone: 314-721-2776

The Schiele Clinic of the St Louis Psychoanalytic Institute , located in the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute at 8820 Ladue Road, 3rd Floor, St. Louis, MO 63124, offers a twelve-month Practicum Program for graduate or post-graduate level students who are enrolled in or have completed clinical programs for masters and doctoral degrees in social work, psychology or counseling.

The practicum is an intensive learning experience in the theory and practice of individual and couples psychodynamic psychotherapy with adolescents and adults. The length and frequency of treatment are determined by the clinical needs of the patient. Patient fees are set on a sliding scale based on the patient’s economic and social circumstances. Patients treated in the clinic present with a wide range of diagnoses. The practicum is 12 months long with the option to apply for a second year.

In response to the growing need of the St. Louis immigrant community to have culturally sensitive, low-fee, mental health treatment from bilingual therapists, the Schiele Clinic — in partnership with the Mental Health Collaborative and Casa de Salud — is now offering a Bilingual Clinical Practicum Program.  In order to be accepted, applicants must demonstrate fluency in either Spanish or Arabic and have completed one or more years of a clinically based master or doctoral program in social work, psychology, or counseling.

The Practicum Program Components

1. Patient Contact
Students begin with a small number of patients and build up to 8 or 10 hours per week of scheduled appointments. Most of these will be with patients seen individually, but some couples and/or family therapy may be included. Frequency of treatment is once per week for most patients, but if clinical needs dictate more sessions, patients may be seen 2 or 3 times per week. In addition to providing therapy, students may also conduct initial evaluations of new patients.

A Friday Noon Case Conference

2. Supervision
One hour of individual supervision per week is scheduled.  To learn more about psychodynamic supervision of psychotherapy click here.

3. Conferences
Students attend a weekly one-hour clinical conference, a monthly administrative supervision and other meetings of importance that address ongoing therapeutic and program topics. Students also are invited to attend the scientific meetings of the St Louis Psychoanalytic Society, and Institute Lectures and Seminars.

4. Facilities
Each student will be provided with office space, a private voice mail number, and administrative support. The St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute Library is available as well as assistance from the Librarian with search and research projects.

*annual PEP fee (literature database) of $70 will be charged to each participant who wishes to subscribe

Eligibility

Application to the Practicum Program is open to the following candidates:

Basic Program:

Individuals who are currently enrolled in, and will have completed by the start of the practicum, one or more years of a clinically based masters or doctoral program in social work, psychology, or counseling. Two other experiences, while not required, add significantly to maximizing the educational opportunities of the practicum: (a.) participation in the Institute’s Window into the Therapy process and (b.) personal therapeutic experience. In addition, students are strongly advised to enroll in the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program (APP) of the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. The APP is a highly acclaimed 2-year, 30-week per year series of seminars (3 hours per week) and small group supervision (2 hours per week). The curriculum provides a thorough presentation of the theoretical, developmental, and clinical basis of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Advanced Program:

Additional practicum opportunities are available to individuals who have completed a clinically based masters or doctorate degree program in social work, psychology, counseling, or related disciplines and have also completed, or are currently enrolled in, the 2-year St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (APP) Program.

How to Apply:

To request information contact Cathy Krane, at 314-446-3043 or email csk@stlpi.org.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation to:
Schiele Clinic Practicum Program
c/o St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute
Attention: Randi Sarsfield
8820 Ladue Road  3rd Floor
St. Louis, MO  63124

or email the materials to: office@stlpi.org

Deadlines

Our practicum program has rolling start dates. In order to have time to process your application, we suggest you apply at least 6 months before your intended start date.

Start date Window/ Suggested Application Date/ Interview & Decision
June – Sept/ Jan. 15/ February 15
Oct – Nov/ June 15/ End of June
Jan – Feb/ Oct 1/ End of Oct

Qualified applicants will be personally interviewed.  Background checks will be performed on all who are accepted into the Schiele Clinic Practicum.