Postdoctoral and Practicum Training Opportunities

Ardent Grove Foundation Description: 

The Ardent Grove Foundation is a nonprofit mental health and training clinic that works to provide high-quality, trauma-informed therapy services at a low cost in a comfortable, beautiful private practice setting. In addition to our clinic, we provide free community education focused on mental health. We are a newer model of care that combines a robust student training program and a professional team to provide excellent psychotherapeutic care. We can maintain low fees for our clients and families in the Colorado community through generous donations and grants and we also provide care to clients with Medicaid.

All our students and clinicians are EMDR-trained to offer this specialized technique at a uniquely low cost in the community. Incoming clinicians and new student therapists will receive full funding to obtain EMDR Basic Training. EMDR training enables clinicians to serve patients more effectively and impactfully, particularly patients at most significant risk of receiving poor mental health care because of financial and other barriers resulting from social determinants of health. We also offer training and didactics in Sandtray, Neurofeedback, and Trauma Informed Yoga, among many other exciting topics. 

Ultimately, Ardent Grove Foundation’s primary objective is to more impactfully serve individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds with quality and meaningful mental health care. Additionally, our therapists are passionate about guiding clients toward long-term healing from PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Mood Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, perinatal mental health, parenting, grief and loss, and relationship difficulties. We provide therapy and assessment services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. We are a safer and affirming space for LGBTQIA+ staff and clients. Our clinicians tend to focus on long-term, insight-oriented, client-centered therapy. 

Our model of service in our community has three parts: 

1) A small team of clinicians who see clients and supervise two to three pre-doctoral student therapists. 

2) A rich student training program with a team of six student therapists working towards their doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and who are trained in EMDR. Our advanced student therapists receive individual and group supervision and EMDR training for an 11-month tenure with Ardent Grove. They provide psychotherapeutic care and psychological testing at reduced costs. 

3) A community education program with opportunities to present and educate community groups on current and requested mental health topics. We have been honored to present at schools, libraries, parenting groups, and businesses. We provide this at no charge. Past topics have included coping with gun violence, trauma resiliency, stress management and reducing symptoms during the pandemic, grief and loss, perinatal mental health, parenting support, trauma-informed interactions with the public, and when to identify and seek help for mental health concerns. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship: 

We are seeking two Post-Doctoral Fellows for our one-year training program slated to start in September of 2023 (start date is negotiable prior to September). Our fellows will be actively involved in all three components of our clinic highlighted above, including the training of predoctoral externs. This full-time, one-year post-doctoral position is structured to meet all requirements for the 1500 postdoctoral hours necessary for licensure in Colorado. Post-doctoral fellows will be provided with training and practice in administering culturally sensitive therapeutic and assessment services to a diverse population of people including adults, children, families, and couples. The program emphasizes the importance of using a trauma lens to treat a multitude of symptoms and diagnoses, and also to support various life stressors and circumstances. Fellows will further develop their knowledge and clinical skills in assessing and treating clients with approximately 25 hours of clinical intervention per week. Fellows will be required to attend weekly staff/consultation meetings, weekly supervision, and regular didactic trainings. Fellows will also be required to maintain contact and consult with outside sources on client care. Participation in community outreach activities will also be available. 

NOTE: It is the postdoctoral candidate's responsibility to determine whether this placement will meet the requirements for licensure in other states, as some states require more than 1500 hours for licensure and may have additional regulations regarding these hours. 

Training will focus on several components: 

Conducting assessment and individual, couples, and family outpatient therapy. Providing supervision to one or two pre-doctoral practicum student therapists. Receiving clinical supervision as well as supervision of supervision for support of oversight of the practicum student therapist(s). Training and utilizing Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) techniques to clients in therapy sessions. Implementing a variety of theoretical orientations, interventions, and ways of conceptualizing clients. Infusing all clinical and administrative responsibilities with multicultural awareness and humility. 

Qualifications: 

Must have a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology, social work, or another relevant field. 

Must have completed the required 1500 pre-doctoral internship hours.

Must be able to come into the office setting (located in Denver) for a portion of the week. 

Must be team-oriented and collaborative.

Must be an inclusive practitioner and have an ability to exhibit cultural humility.

Must exhibit a passion for providing mental health services to Medicaid populations and the community.

Must be willing to train in EMDR techniques and utilize them throughout tenure.

Must demonstrate tact, initiative, resourcefulness, professionalism, enthusiasm, and a non-judgmental attitude.

Training/experience with diverse populations and multiculturalism a plus.

What Sets Us Apart: 

Healthy Work Culture: Our philosophy is based on the idea that healthy therapists do the best clinical work, especially with the challenges facing Coloradans and the increasing stressors for all of us. One way we facilitate this is to offer optional opportunities to build camaraderie both in and outside of work to help promote a sense of connectedness and support. 

Competitive Pay and Benefits: As a non-profit, semi-private practice, we can offer competitive compensation while empowering our staff to provide care to Medicaid clients and those who cannot afford out-of-pocket therapy sessions. 

What the Ardent Grove Foundation is Looking For: Ardent Grove’s team members are enthusiastic about serving those who might not otherwise afford such high-quality mental healthcare. They also possess high accountability to themselves and others. Ideal candidates will have a history of positively impacting their professional communities and workplaces. We welcome applicants interested in providing supervision to advanced graduate students. Each clinician is expected to supervise one to two student therapists, providing weekly supervision and overseeing documentation and clinical outreach for each student’s term with Ardent Grove. Being a clinician at Ardent Grove involves a high level of freedom and autonomy, and with that comes responsibility. Clinicians who work well independently and are responsible for all logistical aspects of our profession (e.g., paperwork, billing, scheduling) tend to succeed on our team. 

Job Type: 

Full-time Post-Doctoral Fellow (40-hour work week with a minimum of 25 clinical hours per week) 

Pay: $50,000 per year 

Schedule: This is a full-time therapy position (approximately 40 hours/week). Clinical duties (70%): 32+ client contact hours/week (minimum 25 clinical hours completed per week and 3 hours of supervision care and support) in addition to (10%) time necessary to successfully tend to the associated administrative tasks (documentation, clinical consultation, care collaboration). Flex scheduling available (such as Mon-Thurs, 9 AM - 7 PM) Hours may vary during peak periods Clinical Supervision (20%): supervision of one pre-doctoral student therapist, one hour per week of supervision of supervision, and then additional time as needed for supporting training needs, signing notes and reports for supervisees.

Benefits: Medical and Dental insurance available, Competitive PTO 

If you have any additional questions or you would like to apply, please submit your CV and Cover Letter to executivedirector@ardentgrove.org. Thank you!

More to come!