Sue Ammen, PhD
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Sue Anita Ammen, Ph.D.
Web Page: www.alliant.edu/faculty/ammen.htm
Cell: (303) 810-0759
Academic Work Address: Clinical Work Address
California School of Professional Psychology Aurora Mental Health
Alliant International University Early Childhood Family Center
5130 E. Clinton Way, Fresno, California 93727 11059 E. Bethany Drive, Ste 101
(559) 253-2224 Aurora, CO 80014
Education
Degree Institution Area Granted
Ph.D. California School of Professional Psychology Clinical Psychology 1989
Fresno, California Child-Family Specialty
Accredited by the American Psychological Association
M.A. California School of Professional Psychology Psychology 1982
Fresno, California
B.A. University of Montana Psychology 1980
Missoula, Montana (with honors)
B.S.N. Montana State University Nursing 1975
Bozeman, Montana (with distinction)
Predoctoral Internships
Internship 1984 -1985 Merced County Mental Health Youth Services, Merced, CA
¨ Outpatient therapy with children, couples, and families
¨ Case coordination, child psychotherapy, & family therapy with the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program
¨ Case coordination, child psychotherapy, family therapy with the Intensive Day Treatment Program for severely emotionally disturbed children (INSITE)
¨ Comprehensive psychological assessments for Child Protective Services
Internship 1983 -1984 Fresno County Mental Health Adult Outpatient Services, Fresno, CA
¨ Individual and group therapy, intake assessments, 5l50 evaluations (danger to self or others or mentally incapacitated), and psychological testing with adults.
Licenses / Certifications / Privileges
Licensed Psychologist, State of California, PSY 12560 (currently inactive) 1992 – present
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of Colorado, PSY 2936 2005 - present
Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor, RPT-S 0049 1993 - present
International Association for Play Therapy
Medial Staff Privileges (Psychologist), Children's Hospital Central California 2001 - 2004
Registered Nurse, State of California, RN 274532 1980 - present
Registered Nurse, State of Montana, expired 1975 – 1982
Academic Experience
Professor, California School of Professional Psychology - PhD Clinical Psychology Program, Alliant International University, Fresno, CA.
September, 2009 – Present Full-time
September, 2004 – August, 2009 Part-time
September, 2002 – August, 2004 Full-time
¨ Core Faculty with PhD clinical psychology program and teaching responsibilities in PsyD clinical psychology and PhD forensic psychology programs
¨ Responsible for elective courses in Child-Family Psychology Emphasis area
¨ Graduate level classes in assessment, clinical intervention, teaching, and research
¨ Clinical supervision of third year PhD and PsyD clinical psychology students in child-family clinical work
¨ Research mentoring of PhD clinical psychology students
¨ Dissertation committee chairperson/member for PhD and PsyD clinical psychology students and consultant for PsyD clinical psychology and PhD forensic psychology students
¨ Course development and instruction for Infant Preschooler Mental Health Certificates Courses
Associate Professor, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, CA.
September, 1996 – August, 2002
¨ Core Faculty with PhD and PsyD clinical psychology programs and member of Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency Faculty.
¨ Responsible for core and elective courses in Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency
¨ Responsibilities same as above
Assistant Professor, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, CA.
January, 1992 – August, 1996
¨ Core Faculty with PhD and PsyD clinical psychology programs and member of Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency Faculty.
¨ Responsibilities same as above
Courses Taught
Clinical Courses / Research and Teaching Courses· Teaching Parents Parenting Skills: Developmentally-based Curricula for Infants, Preschoolers, Latency-Age Children & Adolescents / · Multiple Research Methods: A Dialogue between Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches
· PhD Research Practicum (4 semester course)
√ Philosophical assumptions of research
√ Ethical issues in research
√ Research issues with children
√ Developing appropriate research questions
√ Writing a literature review
√ Designing research methodology
√ Selection of appropriate statistics
√ Human subjects review of research
√ Implementation & data collection
√ Analyzing data; writing up results
√ Professional presentation or paper
· Advanced Research Methods: Phenomenology, Grounded Theory & Hermeneutic
· Qualitative Research in Forensic Psychology
· PsyD Dissertation 4-semester Sequence (Web)
· Teaching with Distance Learning Methods
· Teaching Parents Parenting Skills: Attachment-based Groups for Teen Parents & their Children
· Child Abuse Assessment, Reporting & Treatment
· Play Diagnosis and Assessment
· Personality Assessment: Projectives
· Play Therapy II: Interventions
· Attachment-Based Interventions in Play Therapy
· Family Law and Psychology
· Family Systems Approaches
· Parent-Child Relationship Assessment
· Fundamentals of Infant Mental Health
· Fundamentals of Preschooler Mental Health
· Biopsychosocial Factors in Infant-Preschool Mental Health (Web-based)
· Life Span Developmental Psychology (Web-based)
· Cognitive & Affective Bases of Behavior (Web-based)
Creative Development of Coursework
¨ Integrated didactic coursework and clinical experiences in several of the above courses, e.g., students in the Teaching Parents Parenting Skills courses designed and implemented the parenting curricula.
¨ The Teaching Parents Parenting Skills courses also included a research component that was implemented by the students in my PhD Research Practicum and resulted in several small service and evaluation grants.
¨ The Fundamentals of Infant Mental Health, Parent-Child Relationship Assessment, Fundamentals of Preschooler Mental Health, and Biopsychosocial Factors in Infant-Preschooler Mental Health are part of a Certificate Series in Infant-Preschooler Mental Health, which is also open to mental health professionals in the community. I designed and coordinate the seven-class Certificate curriculum.
¨ The Introduction to Multiple Research Methods class is a unique research class that presents the philosophy behind qualitative & quantitative methodologies, establishes a dialogue between them, and introduces the major quantitative (Structural Equation Modeling & Multivariate Statistics) and qualitative (Phenomenology, Ethnography, Grounded Theory, & Hermeneutic) methods.
¨ Participated in the design and development of the four-semester Research Practicum experience for our PhD students in which 6-8 students work together with one professor to learn research skills and participate in ongoing research projects. Students in my practicum are introduced to both qualitative and quantitative research methods, as well as the unique logistics and ethical issues of doing research with children. Representative research projects have included:
1) Development of tools to research the Color-Your-Life technique – a simple paper and crayon activity designed to help children communicate their affective experiences
2) Qualitative research using phenomenology to study the parental experience of attachment
3) Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation of several early intervention projects.
¨ Team-taught three courses, including Family Law and Psychology with a Juvenile Court Referee.
¨ Developed blended web-based/seminar class: Neurobiological & Psychosocial Factors in IPMH.
¨ Developed six web-based classes for the Accelerated PsyD Program – Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior, Life Span Developmental Psychology, and the four semester sequence in PsyD Dissertation.
¨ Team developed and taught Teaching with Distance Learning Methods for our clinical PhD students in preparation for their Teaching Practicum experiences.
Administrative Experience
Director, Infant-Preschooler Mental Health Certificates Program, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University.
August, 2003 – Present
¨ Responsible for designing the curriculum, identifying and coordinating instructors and coursework on two campuses, developing and managing a budget, identifying potential markets, designing and distributing information about the program to mental health professionals, and coordinating across different programs and campuses
¨ Expanded Certificate course offerings across California, including Fresno, Sacramento, San Diego, and Los Angeles, and one cohort in Monterey County.
¨ Established contracts with county agencies to provide training for county clinicians.
¨ Negotiated Prop 10 and Prop 63 Training Grants
Director, Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno, CA
November, 1996 – December, 1998
¨ Administrative responsibility for Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency including supervision and evaluation of other faculty, coordination of curriculum, advisement for PhD and PsyD students in the Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency, budget preparation and management, and participation in the Academic and Administrative Councils.
Acting Director, Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency, California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno
January, 1995 – June, 1995
¨ Administrative responsibility for Ecosystemic Clinical Child Proficiency during sabbatical of Director. Responsibilities same as above.
Mental Health Experience
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant/Trainer, Aurora Mental Health, Aurora, CO
August, 2009 – Present
¨ Provide clinical consultation, professional training, and program development research for the Early Childhood and Family Center
Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist, Aurora Mental Health, Aurora, CO
June, 2006 – July, 2009
¨ Provide child and family mental health services, professional training, and program development research for the Early Childhood and Family Center
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
January, 1993 – Present
¨ Small private practice with children, families, and adults. Areas of interest and expertise include attachment issues, developmental & neurological disabilities, medical populations, child abuse and neglect, post-traumatic stress disorder, at-risk parenting, parent-child relationship problems, infant-preschooler mental health, & gay & lesbian families
¨ Diagnostic evaluations using traditional psychological instruments combined with play diagnostic interviews and structured parent-child interactional interviews.
¨ Expert testimony in adoption/bonding cases
¨ Professional Training/Continuing Education in attachment, play therapy, trauma, infant-preschooler mental health, and supervision for psychologists and other mental health professionals.
Consulting Psychologist, Fresno County Youth Link – Infant Mental Health team, Fresno, CA
January, 2000 – April, 2003
¨ The Youth Link Infant Mental Health team is responsible for provision of services to children under three years of age in the foster care system. I provided consultation and training to assist them in the development of a relationship-based intervention model and to address issues of collaboration, countertransference, and ethics in infant mental health.
Consulting Psychologist, Pediatric Neuropsychology Department, Children's Hospital Central California (formerly known as Valley Children's Hospital), Madera, CA
March, 1998 – May, 2002
¨ .Pediatric Neuropsychological evaluations in outpatient clinic with wide range of developmental and neuropsychological problems in children
Registered Psychologist, Fresno County Mental Health Youth Outpatient Services, Fresno, CA.
May, 1990 – November, 1990
¨ Child psychotherapy, peer group therapy, family therapy, and psychological testing with children and adolescents
¨ Individual Education Plan evaluations for emotional disabilities (PL 3632) for the Fresno Unified School District
¨ Consultation with community resources.
Clinical Psychologist Extern, Diagnostic Center for Neurologically Handicapped Children – Central California, Extended Assessment Program, State Department of Education, Fresno, CA
March, 1988 - April, 1990
¨ Population consisted of students between ages of 5 & 13 with a combination of serious emotional and learning/neurological problems in year long residential program.
¨ Developed and implemented a developmentally-based treatment program based on the social-emotional needs of these children to facilitate learning.
¨ Intensive individual & group therapy with children/adolescents in residential program
¨ Family therapy & referral to community resources for families of children in program
¨ Treatment coordination and consultation with residential program staff and teachers
¨ Consultation/collaboration with medical professionals as needed, including psychiatrists, pediatricians & neurologists
¨ Comprehensive interdisciplinary diagnostic assessments (cognitive, social-emotional, educational, language, motor, and medical) at end of residency
Mental Health Worker II, Merced County Mental Health Youth Services, Merced, CA
August, 1985 – February, 1988
¨ Outpatient therapy with adults, children, couples, and families
¨ Case coordination, child psychotherapy, & family therapy with the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program
¨ Case coordination, child psychotherapy, family therapy with the Intensive Day Treatment Program for severely emotionally disturbed children (INSITE)
Psychosocial Resource Nurse, Valley Children's Hospital, Fresno, CA
October, 1983 – June, 1985
¨ Consultation to nursing staff regarding development of skills to meet the psychosocial needs of cardiac patients and families in a cardiovasular unit with adult and pediatric open heart surgical patients.
Crisis Worker, Emergency department at Valley Medical Center, Fresno, CA
October, 1982– October 1983
¨ Weekend coverage of psychiatric emergencies for Fresno County Mental Health through contract with Central California Psychological Services, including 5150 evaluations (danger to self, danger to others, gravely disabled), crisis intervention, & referrals to appropriate agencies.
Psychological Trainee, Diagnostic School for Neurologically Handicapped Children – Central California, Fresno, CA
September, 1981 – August, 1983
¨ Completed psychological test batteries on children with serious learning problems
¨ Worked with interdisciplinary team to integrate test results into comprehensive diagnostic assessment report
¨ Provided individual play therapy for learning /neurologically disabled children
Psychological Trainee, Kern Youth Facility, Bakersfield, CA
January, 1981 – August, 1981
¨ Individual therapy with conduct disordered adolescents
¨ Coordination of treatment with Kern Yourth Facility staff and Probation.
Outreach Drug Counselor, National Institute of Drug Abuse, Southwest Montana Drug Program, Butte, MT
May, 1975 – September, 1976
¨ Crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and drug detoxification with adolescents and adults
¨ Developed and implemented prenatal counseling group for adolescent substance abusers who became pregnant
Medical Experience
Registered Nurse, Valley Children's Hospital, Fresno, CA
August, 1980 – October, 1983
¨ Charge Nurse in Cardiac Intermediate Care Unit and Critical Care Nurse in Cardiac Intensive Care Unit with adult and child cardiac surgical patients
Registered Nurse, St. Patrick's Hospital, Missoula, MT
September, 1978 – July, 1980
¨ Critical Care Nurse in comprehensive Intensive Care Unit that provided medical intensive care, neurological intensive care, post-open heart surgery recovery, and cardiac care for adults and children in western Montana
Registered Nurse, Community Hospital, Missoula, MT
April, 1977 – June, 1978
¨ Team Leader on a combined adult medical and pediatric medical & surgical unit. Rotated to surgical floor, emergency department, and intensive care.
Medical Laboratory Assistant, Boulder River School and Hospital, Boulder, MT
Summers: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
¨ State hospital and residential facility for developmentally delayed children and adults
¨ Responsibilities included collection of blood samples and routine medical laboratory procedures for residents of the Boulder River School