CHA Psychology Postdoctoral Options for 2025-2026
Option I: Adult Neuropsychology (two years)
Option II: Adult Psychotherapy/Psychological Assessment
Option III: Treatment of Psychosis: Individual, Group and Family Treatment
Option IV: Mindfulness Treatment and Research
Option V: Primary Care-Behavioral Health/Family Medicine
Option VI: Pediatric Primary Care Behavioral Health/Perinatal Mental Health
Option VII: Child and Adolescent Acute Services
Option VIII: Adolescent Risk Assessment and Violence Prevention
I: Adult Neuropsychology
This two-year program provides intensive training in clinical neuropsychological assessment at the Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Service (NAPA) in the psychiatry department at CHA. Our objective is to provide intensive training in the neuropsychological assessment of a range of adult outpatient populations with primary neurological, medical, psychiatric, and developmental disorders. Outpatient referrals stem from neurology, primary care, and psychiatry divisions, and include evaluations of patients who present with a variety of neurological disorders, such as dementia, movement disorders, head trauma, seizure disorders, vascular disorders, metabolic disorders, and sleep disorders. Psychiatric referrals include mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders, as well as complex trauma, and polysubstance abuse. Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, and autism spectrum disorders are also evaluated. We conduct brief neuropsychological screens in primary care. There is also a minor rotation of inpatient neuropsychological evaluations (medical-surgical, psychiatric, geriatric units). Fellows sometimes work on an assessment team with psychologic assessors to coordinate patient care and integrate comprehensive assessments. The majority of our patients are from ethnic, racial and culturally diverse backgrounds, and fellows develop strong skills in multicultural neuropsychological assessments and work with medical interpreters as needed.
The neuropsychology training program adheres to guidelines proposed by the Joint Task Force of Division 40 of the APA and the Houston Conference on Specialty Education and Training in Clinical Psychology to meet eligibility requirements for ABPP Board Certification in the specialty of Clinical Neuropsychology. To meet these goals, fellows conduct two outpatient evaluations per week, and one to two cognitive screens per week. They receive two to three hours of supervision weekly. They also have the opportunity to engage in a cognitive remediation rotation. They complete various intensive seminars over the course of two years within the hospital and Harvard Medical. First year seminars include adult neuropsychology, and a clinical case seminar (using a fact-finding method). In their second year, fellows participate in a neurology rotation in which they shadow a neurologist in clinic. They also participate in a brain-cutting seminar, a case seminar, Psychiatry Grand Rounds, and a joint virtual lectures series between Cambridge Health Alliance and the Boston VA neuropsychology programs. The wider Harvard Medical School system provides fellows with other diverse didactics. Opportunities for advanced training in psychological assessment are also available and multidisciplinary interaction with psychiatry, neurology, and geriatrics is typical. The program, consistent with its scientist practitioner approach requires the fellow to participate in at least one research project culminating in a publication in a peer-reviewed journal or presentation at a national scientific conference within the two-year training.
II: Adult Psychotherapy/Psychological Assessment
This one-year fellowship provides a half-time psychotherapy experience, combined with half-time advanced psychological assessment training in the Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Service (NAPA). In the psychotherapy rotation, fellows are provided with in-depth psychotherapy supervision for psychotherapy in a variety of options, including the adult outpatient clinic (with a potential for a specialty in trauma), the outpatient addictions and Bridge clinics, or the LatinX Mental Health Clinic (requiring full fluency in Spanish). At NAPA, fellows receive supervision and training in projective and objective assessment techniques, within a Therapeutic Assessment model of care. There is also limited opportunity to gain experience in neuropsychological assessment, as well as in coordinating with neuropsychologists for comprehensive assessments. Assessment patients for this fellowship include a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including mood and anxiety disorders, severe and persistent psychotic disorders, complex trauma, and poly-substance abuse. Patients with medical, neurologic, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning disabilities, attention-deficit disorder, and autism spectrum disorders are also evaluated for co-morbid psychiatric conditions. Fellows in this rotation have the option of attending a variety of neuropsychological testing seminar offerings, and play an integral role in leading monthly testing rounds.
III: Treatment of Psychosis: Individual, Group and Family Treatment
This one-year fellowship provides a half-time intensive experience in a clinic for the treatment of chronic psychosis (HIP) treating patients through individual and group modalities. The Health Integration Program (HIP) or Behavioral Health Home is a long-term service that provides daily activities and treatment for people with chronic or serious mental illness (SMI). Since 2015 the HIP program has worked to improve health care and outcomes for those who need more support. People at need find integrated medical services and care management within a mental health clinic. This provides more comprehensive, team-based care. The core idea is that mental health clinics may be a more comfortable and effective "medical home" for people with SMI than traditional primary care centers. In addition, this fellowship will offer training in family interventions with this population. Seminars include a full-year seminar in the treatment of psychosis, and an option for a full year seminar in family therapy.
IV: Mindfulness Treatment and Research
This is a one-year fellowship that includes expert clinical training and protected research time focused on the delivery and evaluation of evidence-based mindfulness interventions for mental healthcare. The fellow will work full-time in the Mindful Mental Health Service (MMHS) within the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion (CMC) at Cambridge Health Alliance. CMC is a national leader in research on and implementation of evidence-based approaches to integrating mindfulness and compassion practices into primary and mental health care. The MMHS is an innovative clinical service that offers evidence-based mindfulness interventions as a billable service for hospital patients with emotional and behavioral health needs. Under expert supervision, fellows will learn to co-lead structured mindfulness-based clinical groups following empirically supported protocols, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness Training in Primary Care. Fellows may assist with other mindfulness groups for specific patient needs, such as Introduction to Mindfulness groups for patients with trauma symptoms, and Alumni groups for patients who completed previous groups and need support to maintain mindfulness skills for mental health. Fellows will also carry a caseload of approximately 8 individual therapy patients. Individual visits may include supportive and problem-solving sessions for patients in current mindfulness groups, as well as short-term individual therapy following evidence-based MBCT or MTPC individualized protocols. There will be the option to carry some individual cases longer-term throughout the year. Fellows will also conduct two integrative psychiatric intake evaluations/week for MMHS and participate in the MMHS weekly team meeting, which is an interdisciplinary team meeting for clinical supervision and administration. Fellows will have the option to conduct screening assessment and brief interventions as part of the CHAMindWell community mental wellness program. Fellows will participate weekly in a didactic and experiential meditation and psychotherapy certificate course and meet with international experts for mentoring.
This fellowship also includes 30% protected research time. CMC is a national leader in mindfulness-based intervention research, with multiple studies funded by the NIH and other institutes. Fellows will be expected to develop an independent research project throughout the year through opportunities that exist within ongoing research studies at CMC, and/or through the Center’s Quality Improvement Program. Fellows will be encouraged to apply for internal HMS and NCCIH-sponsored research fellowships.
V: Primary Care Behavioral Health/Family Medicine
The fellow in the one-year Primary Care/Behavioral Health track will work at the Malden CHA site, working in Primary Care Behavioral Health integration and Family Medicine consultation. The fellow will also work closely with the Chief Psychologist and with the Practicum, Internship, and Postdoctoral Training Directors and other faculty members to develop a Primary Care-Behavioral Health curriculum for psychology interns, practicum students, and fellows. The fellow may also be asked to join the Chief Psychologist and/or cohort site directors at CHA events and meetings pertaining to Primary Care-Behavioral Health integration. Seminars will include a Consult-Liaison Seminar with Psychiatry Residents. Qualifications for this fellowship include a doctoral degree in psychology, engagement with public sector mental health, a defined interest in health psychology, willingness to learn how to develop programs, and the personal qualities of flexibility and good collaboration skills.
VI: Pediatric Primary Care/Behavioral Health and Perinatal Mental Health
The fellow in the one-year Pediatric Primary Care/Behavioral Health track will work half-time at the Cambridge CHA site, working in Pediatric Primary Care Behavioral Health integration. The fellow may also be asked to join the Chief Psychologist and/or cohort site directors at CHA events and meetings pertaining to Primary Care-Behavioral Health integration. The fellow will also work half-time at the Perinatal Mental Health Clinic, and will conduct individual evaluations, treatment and groups using empirically supported protocols. Qualifications for this fellowship include a doctoral degree in psychology, engagement with public sector mental health, a defined interest in health psychology, willingness to learn how to develop programs, and the personal qualities of flexibility and good collaboration skills.
VII: Child and Adolescent Acute Services
This one-year fellowship consists of rotations on three inpatient CHA inpatient units: The Child Assessment Unit, the Adolescent Assessment Unit, and the Neurodevelopmental Unit serving children with neurodivergent conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorders. All three of these units have patient populations that are quite diverse ethnically and diagnostically, and operate within a collaborative interdisciplinary team framework. While on the inpatient units, fellows serve as the primary clinician for two cases in which they provide individual, family and systems assessment and interventions. Fellows also complete 3-4 psychological assessment batteries during the two inpatient rotations, often including performance (projective), personality, and cognitive testing measures. Supervision emphasizes CBT, DBT, psychodynamic, attachment, trauma-informed and family systems approaches. Fellows also lead and co-lead therapy groups on each unit, through a variety of evidence-based approaches and utilization of performance tasks to enhance understanding of patient needs in novel group designs.
VIII: Adolescent Risk Assessment and Violence Prevention
This one-year fellowship consists of specialized training in juvenile risk assessment as well as violence prevention treatment for adolescents and young adults. The fellow selected for this position will provide consultation to the Cambridge Police Department through the Safety Net Collaborative. Safety Net is a partnership between the Cambridge Health Alliance and Cambridge Police designed to integrate mental health services into juvenile policing and has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a promising approach to the prevention of juvenile delinquency.
The fellow will also conduct safety assessments for the Cambridge Public Schools. There are also part-time rotations through the year in the Juvenile Court Clinic in either Lowell or Cambridge. The fellow will provide individual and family therapy through the Child/Adolescent Outpatient clinic at the Cambridge Health Alliance and will conduct at least one group utilizing a violence prevention curriculum developed to address retaliatory violence in youth. There is also an opportunity for research through the ongoing program evaluation of the Safety Net Collaborative. Seminars are available through the Court Clinic, and the fellow will also attend the Professional Development Seminar.