Therapist Uses Multi-Disciplinary, Collaborative Approach To Treat Children
Dr. Kate Altman is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist in Pennsylvania. She received her psychology doctorate at Chestnut Hill College with a concentration in psychological assessment, receiving her school psychology training at Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Altman is a psychologist at The Ruttenberg Center in Blue Bell, PA.
What continuing education is required for your role?
"I am both a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. I hold a psychology license from the Pennsylvania Psychology Licensing Board. In order to maintain that license, I must complete a total of 30 contact hours, including at least three contact hours in the area of ethics, every two years. The courses we take must be pre-approved by the state board to count towards licensure renewal. Luckily, we have a lot of wonderful options for continuing education in PA, including those offered by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association."
Can you describe your duties as a psychologist?
"I am a clinical psychologist specializing in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and young adults. My clinical expertise centers on autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders, behavioral and self-regulating challenges and learning disabilities. I work with families and schools to help determine exactly what is going on with a child/adolescent and how we can best meet his needs educationally, behaviorally and emotionally."
How has education prepared you for your career in psychology and social sciences?
"My education could not have prepared me better for my career. I earned my masters and doctorate from Chestnut Hill College and simultaneously completed a school psychology certification at Bryn Mawr College. Thanks to both of my training programs, I feel confident working within both clinical and school settings and collaborating with parents, teachers, doctors, specialists and other care providers to learn about and help each child. I firmly believe that a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach is best when it comes to assessing and treating children and adolescents."
What advice would you give someone who is pursuing a career in psychology?
"Follow your passion, and it will take you where you need to go! When choosing my dissertation topic, I was fascinated by the topic of "what happens to children on the autism spectrum as they grow up and leave high school?" I ended up doing my dissertation research on the social experiences of college students with ASD. I can honestly say that my dissertation was one of the best and most rewarding things I have ever done. I got to interview college students on the spectrum who volunteered their time to talk to me about their lives so that they could help others in their position. It was incredible and such an honor to bear witness to their stories. I learned so much and then developed professional workshops that I presented at conferences so others could hear what I had learned and apply it to their own lives. Since then, I have always specialized in assessing and treating ASD, and I love my work."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She reports on various topics such as: Social Media, Local Events, Entertainment, Food and Drink and more. Her work can be found at http://firstsendmedia.com/