Looking For Psychodynamic Psychotherapists!

Who we are

Fermata Psychotherapy is a psychoanalytically-oriented practice in downtown Chicago. We work with adults of all backgrounds dealing with a wide range of difficulties, including the effects of complex trauma and early attachment wounds, challenging family dynamics, a disjointed or diminished sense of self, and complicated relationships with themselves and others. We strive to honor the uniqueness of our patients' experience and the complexity of their inner world, helping them get acquainted with themselves to create a life with more meaning, agency, freedom, and hope.

Feel free to browse our website to read more about our therapists, our values, our approach, or if you’d like to know what a fermata is.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for clinicians with a demonstrated interest in psychodynamic theory and practice, and whose understanding of the clinical process is informed by a psychoanalytic sensibility and perspective. We are looking for therapists specifically interested in growing as psychodynamic clinicians, who are curious about their patients and about themselves, willing to look at their own countertransference and relational dynamics with their patients, and who are committed to ongoing personal and professional development.

Role Responsibilities

  • Grow and maintain a full time caseload of of at least 24 sessions per week

  • Handle all aspects of the relationship with patients (e.g., scheduling, working through payment issues)

  • Complete progress notes, treatment plans, and billing documents in a timely manner

  • Engage with patients in a timely and professional manner

  • Track and meet requirements to keep professional license active

  • Actively participate in individual supervision (if needed) and group consultation

  • Pursue further learning to develop understanding of psychodynamic theory and practice

Position Benefits

  • W-2 status with a flat rate per hour fee structure

  • Weekly psychodynamic supervision for pre-licensed clinicians (e.g., LSW, LPC)

  • Bi-monthly group case consultation (first and third Fridays of the month), including discussion of psychoanalytic readings

  • Flexibility to determine your own schedule

  • Training funds to participate in psychoanalytic trainings or events of your choosing

  • Medical health insurance through BCBS PPO, generously subsidized by the practice

  • Dental and Vision insurance, fully paid by the practice

  • 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions

  • Paid Sick Time and PTO

  • Professional liability insurance

  • Opportunities to earn additional income (e.g., blogging, supervision)

  • Marketing provided by the practice, at both practice and clinician level

  • Electronic Health Records system provided by the practice to minimize paperwork

  • Back-office tasks, including interacting with insurance, handled by the practice

  • Fully furnished and equipped office in historic downtown Chicago building

  • Dedicated practice email and phone number

  • No "no-compete" clause if you decide to leave the practice - we will be happy to have been part of your journey

Required Qualifications

  • Holding or being eligible to hold a clinical license (e.g., LCPC, LCSW) or pre-license (e.g., LPC, LSW) in the state of Illinois

  • Availability to schedule enough weekly appointments (28-30) to meet full time caseload

  • Available to work at least two evenings and/or a weekend day

  • Available to work two days at our office to hold in-person patient sessions

  • Available to conduct telehealth (video) sessions from home with own computer, ensuring privacy, confidentiality, and reliable connectivity

  • Available to attend in-person staff meetings on first Fridays of the month and via Zoom on third Fridays of the month

  • Curiosity and openness to examine and discuss countertransference during supervision and consultation

  • Interest in ongoing learning and professional development

  • Ability to work autonomously, remain consistently organized, and receive and incorporate feedback

  • Timely and professional communication, with openness, transparency, and integrity

  • Compliance with Fermata's policies and procedures

Preferred Qualifications

  • An understanding of psychoanalytic theories, ideas, and concepts (e.g., unconscious, drives, transference, countertransference, identification, defenses, enactments, object relations)

  • Demonstrated interest in psychoanalytic theory and practice (e.g., candidate has taken additional training or attended events beyond what graduate school provided)

  • People of all backgrounds, identities, and orientations, those personally familiar with experiences of otherness, and individuals with prior work experience (clinical or otherwise) are particularly encouraged to apply

  • Availability and intention to stay at Fermata for at least a couple of years

To Apply

Please send CV/resume, cover letter, and 2-3 professional references to Santiago Delboy, MBA, LCSW at santiago@fermatapsychotherapy.com.

In your cover letter, please make sure you describe our familiarity, interest, and experience with psychodynamic/psychoanalytic theory and practice

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. We’d love to hear from you.

RESOURCES FOR CLINICIANS

Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2)
Infographic of the P-Axis (Personality Syndromes) in Adults, including summary of PDM background, 4 levels of functioning, and 12 personality syndromes. Click here to access.

What People Want From Therapy
Research-based paper (published in 2021) showing that a significant number of people in the US intuitively know that there is more beneath the surface, believe that therapy is a process that takes time, and are willing to make that investment. Read the full article here.

What Have Others Read? A Psychoanalytic Bibliography
Compilation of 270 psychoanalytic references that clinicians deemed in their Top 3 titles (compiled in 2017). Click here to access.

Psychoanalytic Couples Therapy
Bibliography compiled from psychodynamic clinicians’ recommendations (compiled in 2020). Click here to access.

Psychoanalytic Papers on Race
Bibliography compiled from psychodynamic clinicians’ recommendations (compiled in 2021). Click here to access.

Banner photo credit: Pierre Bamin