Pediatric Psychology Fellowship Program

The Pediatric Psychology Program is in the Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience in the Department of Pediatrics.  The focus is on addressing the psychological aspects of illness, injury, and the promotion of health behaviors in children, adolescents, and families in a pediatric health setting. Psychological issues are addressed in a developmental framework and emphasize the dynamic relationships that exist between children, their families, and the health delivery system as a whole.  The program addresses problems of behavior, learning, child development, and coping with illness. It focuses on the developmental and psychological aspects of pediatric medical care. Because a variety of social, educational, psychological and medical factors contribute to a child’s total well-being, the Fellow within the Pediatric Psychology Program will participate and work cooperatively with many subspecialty services of the Department of Pediatrics.  A strong emphasis is placed on the following:  addressing psychosocial development and the environmental factors that contribute to the stress of having a medical condition; improving outcomes in children with medical conditions; treating the comorbid behavioral and emotional components of illness and injury; and promoting proper health behaviors.

Patients are referred to the Pediatric Psychology Program from within The University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital as well as from the community for a broad range of psychological and neuropsychological concerns. The patient population comprises both general mental health services and specialty services related to health issues. Psychotherapeutic services may include behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, parent training, trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, as well as exploration of issues related to chronic illness, death, dying, and bereavement. A focus is placed on both outpatient and inpatient consultative services on an individual and family basis.

The Pediatric Psychology Program includes an active consultation service and a busy outpatient program involving neuropsychological assessments.  Consultations come from pediatric endocrinology, gastro-enterology, rheumatology, metabolism/genetics, pulmonology, and cardiology with specific questions related to adjustment to new diagnosis and adherence to medical regimen.  The outpatient program also receives referrals from pediatric neurologists, pediatricians, schools, and mental health providers.

Evaluations are full neuropsychological assessments with a focus on differential diagnosis and treatment planning. Evaluation referrals are often for patients with a history of prematurity, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, solid organ transplant, and other developmental or medical issues.  A major focus of the evaluation process is the follow-up, feedback appointment, at which time parents are provided with both written and oral summaries of the examination along with detailed recommendations.  Occasionally, opportunities are available to participate in school IEP meetings.