Clinician Spotlight: Graduate Students!
- Newton Neuropsychology Group
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
This time around, we have a special edition of our Clinician Spotlight: we’re featuring our graduate students! PsyD candidates Jordan French, DJ King, Brenna Lincoln, and Anna Port have been working with NNG for the past year, and they’re about to embark on the next steps of their professional journey. Before they finished up at NNG, we were able to get a few words from Anna, DJ, and Jordan, reflecting on their time with us.
What did you do at NNG?
Anna: I worked with older adolescents and adults for neuropsychological testing and individual therapy.
DJ: I’m one of the practicum trainees, in the adult track. So, similar to the other prac students, I saw 1 testing case per week and 1-2 therapy cases per week.
Jordan: I provided neuropsychological assessment for children and adolescents, as well as provided individual therapy.
What led you to pursue a career path in neuropsychology?
Anna: I've always loved learning about the brain and human behavior, but I wanted my emphasis to be on clinical work over research.
DJ: I used to work in marketing, and I hated it, so I applied for the PsyD program at William James College. And once I discovered assessment, I just loved it, so neuropsych became my goal.
Jordan: Initially, when entering graduate school, I was primarily interested in therapy. However, I came to love assessment through coursework and additional clinical experiences I sought out. I enjoy learning how different parts of the brain work, analyzing patterns in behavior and cognitive data, and ultimately translating that into better understanding an individual. I think it is transformational to have a comprehensive understanding of a child so that we can utilize their strengths to support areas of need.
Reflecting on your time with NNG, what’s one thing you’ve learned?
Anna: I learned how to provide clear and effective feedback to clients.
DJ: I have to choose just one? Aside from all the excellent clinical content, I’d say… how to manage my calendar and plan my time independently.
Jordan: I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge through my time at NNG, not only through my clinical work but also as a part-time intake coordinator. My understanding of assessment, diagnoses, case conceptualization, and treatment recommendations have all grown exponentially. I feel more confident in my clinical skills and with working with a variety of individuals.
What was the most rewarding thing about working at NNG?
Anna: Growing my therapeutic skills has by far been the most rewarding part of my work. But overall, NNG has always been warm, welcoming, and supportive. I've grown a lot since the beginning of the year and truly appreciated my time here!
DJ: Interacting with everyone!!! It’s a joy to come in and spend time in the office! Everyone is so delightful, and I just want to thank them for such a great and memorable year. NNG has something special. ❤️
Jordan: What has been most rewarding about my time at NNG is working with children and families directly. I enjoy using collaborative approaches to support each child's unique needs, as well as providing families with resources that can help their child flourish. Another rewarding part of working at NNG is the community environment! All clinicians openly welcome trainees and are available to provide support and suggestions whenever needed.
What’s next for you?
Anna: Starting in July I'll be working in Rochester, NY completing my APA internship at Rochester Regional Health's neuropsychology track.
DJ: I matched for APA Internship at the Bedford VA hospital, and then after that, a neuropsych post-doc!
Jordan: I’ll be moving to Pittsburgh to complete my predoctoral internship as the final step before graduating with a Psy.D. in clinical psychology. I look forward to continuing and growing the work I started at NNG within a new setting.
While we’re sad to see our grad students go, we are so grateful for the time we’ve had with them and for the drive, dedication, and positivity they’ve added to our community. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors!