while we don’t have immediate opportunities, we’D LOVE TO CONNECT AND Are always open to chat
Who we are
Fermata Psychotherapy is an intentionally psychodynamic practice. While acknowledging the value of other modalities, our primary way of understanding human nature and clinical process is through a psychoanalytic lens. This might mean a number of things depending on the specific perspective you embrace, but we think it involves sharing a couple of central beliefs:
The experiences, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that bring people to therapy have meaning. Such meaning is rooted in developmental trajectory, intrapsychic phenomena, relational experience, and social and cultural context.
As therapists, our own thoughts and feelings are an unavoidable expression of our participation in the clinical encounter, and essential to understand our patients and help them make sense of their experience.
At Fermata, we conduct in-depth, long-term clinical work with adults of all backgrounds, who bring to therapy a range of presenting concerns, experiences, and aspects of our shared humanity. Our vision is to create a small community of psychodynamically-oriented therapists in Chicago. Our aim is to support clinicians in the development of their own ways of being with and relating to their patients.
Who will we be looking for
Someone with a psychoanalytic sensibility, understanding, knowledge, and/or interest. Ideal candidates will have started to nurture their interest by proactively supplementing what their grad school experience provided.
Someone who is curious, open, and willing to explore, examine, and discuss the complexities of their countertransference and their participation in the relational dynamics with their patients.
Someone who is committed to ongoing professional and personal inquiry, learning, development, and growth.
Someone who is available to develop a full-time case load over time and who can meet patients on some evening and/or weekend times.
Pre-licensed (e.g., LSW, LPC) or fully licensed clinicians are welcome to apply.
People of all backgrounds, identities, and orientations, those personally familiar with experiences of otherness, and individuals with prior work experience (clinical or otherwise) are invited and encouraged to apply.
What we offer
This is a W-2 position. Among other things, that means that Fermata will take care of withholding and paying required income and payroll taxes on your behalf, and will provide professional liability insurance and paid sick leave.
Access to health insurance can be a major source of stress and anxiety in our field. We offer subsidized access to BCBS PPO insurance. We also offer Dental and Vision insurance.
As part of our commitment to your ongoing professional development, we offer training funds be used in psychoanalytic trainings or events of your choosing.
Ongoing case consultation and mentoring, and weekly supervision if you’re working towards your license.
Access to Electronic Health Records system for notes and billing support, so that your paperwork involvement will be minimal and fully automated.
Marketing support, at both practice- and therapist-specific levels, to help you grow your caseload, increase your visibility, and support your work at Fermata.
No “No-Compete” upon termination: if at some point you want to open your own practice or have a different experience, we’ll be happy to have been part of your journey.
Flexibility to set your own schedule and keep a hybrid model, with a mix of teletherapy and in-person sessions from our office in downtown Chicago.
Please take a look at our website to read more about our values, our approach, or if you’d like to know what a fermata is.
If you’re interested in connecting with us to explore future possibilities, please email Santiago Delboy at santiago@fermatapsychotherapy.com. 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