Careers Category: Practicum

Practica run for either 9 or 12 months, depending on the student’s needs and academic program requirements. Though not required, year-long placements are preferred in order to assure clients of the highest level of continuity between trainees. The Clinic offers both psychotherapy and assessment practicum placements.  Clinical work can be with either children or adults, depending on candidates’ learning goals. Lorenz recommends that interested applicants follow the specified application timelines as designated by their graduate programs, which is typically 5-8 months prior to placement. Applications should be submitted using the Clinic’s application portal.

Description:

Outpatient psychotherapy or psychological assessment practica are for typically takes or doctoral students from psychology doctoral programs. The placement requires at least 20-hours and at least two evenings per week (if in outpatient services). In our experience, the educational quality of a practicum is negatively correlated with a student’s concurrent credit load, and students are encouraged to begin practicum only after completing the majority of their degree requirements.

Prerequisite Doctoral Coursework:

• Ethics
• Counseling theories
• Psychopathology

Although the clinic serves clients throughout the lifespan, practicum students are able to focus on the client population that best suits their learning goals.

• Psychotherapy
• Psychological Assessment

Application Process

Admission to the training program is competitive. Application materials are accepted starting mid-January and will be accepted through the spring for both June and September starts. To apply for a practicum placement, you will submit your resume/CV and letter of interest to the selection committee through our application portal. Letters of interest should broadly outline your learning goals and commitment to the common good and explicitly state the type of degree program you are in as well as the placement you are seeking. Interviews are typically done individually with the supervisor and/or Training Director. Finalists will be required to submit writing samples.

Note: All practicum placement offers are contingent upon successful completion of reference checks and background checks including Minnesota Statute 148.01 “Minnesota Sexual Exploitation Act.” This statute requires Lorenz Clinic contact employers from at least the last five years to determine whether any sexual exploitation of clients has occurred. Applicants who do not successfully pass these background checks will be dismissed from the placement.

For master’s practicum, visit this page.

Program Description

The focus of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum/Preceptorship is to provide clinical hours and experience for students pursuing a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The focus of this clinical rotation is to develop proficiency in the PMHNP role. Practicum courses occur concurrently with didactic coursework. Students learn mental health care concepts in didactic coursework that they can directly apply in practicum placements. In addition, students learn to assess and diagnose psychiatric disorders and provide age-appropriate holistic treatment and lifestyle management including pharmacologic interventions, complementary and alternative therapies, and individual, group, and family psychotherapies that promote mental health and reduce disability.

Program Benefits

Each student collaborates with a PMHNP clinical faculty member from the School of Nursing that have clinical practices established and are ANCC board certified. Students will work directly with an experienced PMHNP preceptor and other care team members/professionals such as psychiatrist, psychologist, LMFT, LCSWs, counselors, and other trainees in the clinic. As an outpatient clinic, our primary focus is providing an array of weekly services aimed at assessing and treating the most common mental health issues. We are skilled at triaging client needs, selecting effective treatments, and collaborating with community resources and higher levels of care. Furthermore, we work closely with pediatricians, primary care physicians, schools, and social services agencies to achieve alignment in goals in complex cases.

Why Lorenz Clinic

The Lorenz Clinic of Family Psychology is a multi-disciplinary psychotherapy clinic serving the unique mental health needs of children, adults, families, couples and groups. Issues we often treat include Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Depression, Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. Beyond individual therapy, we offer couples counseling, parent-child therapy, advanced psychological testing, and medication management services. PMHNP practicum students will join with other practicum students from other specialties as part of the existing Lorenz Clinic training program in group supervision and other training experiences including grand rounds and clinic-wide case consultation. Students will also have the opportunity to develop a patient panel in the clinic.

Application Process & Details

To apply and complete the practicum at Lorenz Clinic, your program must have an affiliation agreement with us. The following schools have a current agreement in place for student practicum experiences: University of Minnesota School of Nursing.

To apply for a practicum placement, email your resume/CV and letter of interest to the selection committee at employment@lorenzclinic.com. In addition to your strengths, cover letters should broadly outline your professional goals, commitment to the common good, and a brief narrative of your experience providing mental health services. Applicants who are invited to interview may be asked to provide writing samples and a letter of recommendation from a past clinical supervisor. Interviews are typically done individually with the PMHNP clinical preceptor and/or Director of Psychiatry.

Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the school year. Spots are limited so applicants are encouraged to apply at least 6 months prior to desired placement start date. Start dates are determined by applicant needs and academic program requirements.

Note: All practicum placement offers are contingent upon successful completion of reference checks and background checks including Minnesota Statute 148.01 “Minnesota Sexual Exploitation Act.” This statute requires Lorenz Clinic to contact employers from at least the last five years to determine whether any sexual exploitation of clients has occurred. Applicants who do not successfully pass these background checks will be dismissed from the placement.