Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Training Tracks for 2027–2028
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in the Division of Psychology at the Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) offers advanced clinical and research training across diverse specialties, populations, and treatment settings. Fellows receive specialized supervision, collaborate in interdisciplinary care, and develop expertise in evidence-based practice, culturally responsive treatment, and clinical research.
Fellows receive dedicated, protected research time to pursue scholarly activities that complement their clinical training and professional interests. Research opportunities include participation in ongoing studies, quality improvement initiatives, and independent projects, supported by mentorship and opportunities for scholarly dissemination.
Neuropsychology
Duration: Two years | Research: 10% | Openings: 1
The Neuropsychology fellowship provides advanced training in clinical neuropsychological assessment through CHA's Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Service (NAPA). Fellows evaluate adults with neurological, medical, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, mood and psychotic disorders, complex trauma, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders.
Training emphasizes comprehensive outpatient neuropsychological assessment, brief cognitive screening in primary care, and inpatient consultation. Fellows typically complete two comprehensive evaluations and one to two cognitive screenings weekly, supported by two to three hours of supervision. Additional opportunities include cognitive remediation and collaborative psychological assessment.
The curriculum follows Houston Conference guidelines for specialty training in clinical neuropsychology and supports eligibility for ABPP board certification. Fellows participate in advanced seminars, case conferences, a second-year neurology rotation, and educational activities throughout the Harvard Medical School system.
Consistent with the scientist-practitioner model, fellows complete at least one research project culminating in a peer-reviewed publication or national scientific conference presentation during their two-year training.
Psychological Assessment and Psychotherapy
Duration: One year | Research: 20% | Openings: 2
Training emphases: Psychological Assessment or Psychotherapy
This fellowship offers advanced clinical training with two available emphases. Fellows primarily specialize in either psychological assessment or psychotherapy, with opportunities for limited training in the complementary discipline.
Psychological Assessment Emphasis
Fellows receive advanced training through CHA's Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment Service (NAPA), developing expertise in comprehensive psychological and diagnostic assessment within a therapeutic assessment framework. Referrals encompass inpatient and outpatient mood and anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, complex trauma, substance use disorders, and psychiatric concerns associated with medical, neurological, and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Training includes comprehensive psychological evaluation, diagnostic formulation, specialized assessment seminars, and monthly testing rounds. Fellows may also collaborate with neuropsychologists on complex evaluations and pursue limited psychotherapy experiences.
Psychotherapy Emphasis
Fellows receive intensive psychotherapy training within a designated outpatient specialty service, potentially including the Latinx Mental Health Clinic or other adult outpatient programs. Training emphasizes evidence-based psychotherapy for patients with complex clinical presentations, supported by specialized supervision and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applicants with strong preparation in evidence-based approaches, particularly transdiagnostic treatments such as the Unified Protocol, are especially encouraged to apply. Fellows may also pursue limited psychological assessment experience through NAPA.
Applicants should indicate their preferred emphasis in their cover letter, along with any interest in complementary psychotherapy or assessment training. Specific placements and secondary experiences will depend on clinical interests, training goals, and service availability.
Psychosis Across the Lifespan
Duration: One year | Protected research time: 20%
The Lifespan Psychosis fellowship provides specialized training in the assessment and treatment of psychotic disorders across adolescence and adulthood. Fellows train primarily within CHA's Health Integration Program (HIP), an outpatient specialty service for adults with chronic psychotic disorders and severe bipolar disorder, with potential opportunities through Recovery in Shared Experiences (RISE), a multidisciplinary program serving adolescents, young adults, and their families experiencing first-episode psychosis.
Fellows provide evidence-based individual psychotherapy, co-lead therapeutic groups, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive, recovery-oriented care. Training emphasizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), Individualized Resiliency Training (IRT), and Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) case formulation. Clinical experiences may also include family interventions, diagnostic assessment, and collaboration with peer support and supported employment and education services.
Fellows develop expertise in coordinated, population-based care through collaboration with community agencies, primary care, urgent care, and inpatient services. Educational experiences include a yearlong seminar on psychosis treatment and opportunities to pursue additional clinical interests.
Mindfulness Treatment and Research
Duration: One year | Research: 30%
The Mindfulness Treatment and Research fellowship provides specialized training in delivering, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based mindfulness interventions. Fellows train within the Mindful Mental Health Service (MMHS) at CHA's Center for Mindfulness and Compassion (CMC), a nationally recognized leader in mindfulness-based clinical care and research.
Under expert supervision, fellows co-lead structured mindfulness groups using established protocols, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness Training in Primary Care (MTPC). Additional opportunities include groups addressing trauma-related symptoms and maintaining mindfulness skills following treatment.
Fellows maintain a caseload of approximately eight psychotherapy patients, conduct two integrative psychiatric intake evaluations weekly, and participate in interdisciplinary clinical meetings. Additional experiences may include screening and brief interventions through CHAMindWell.
Educational opportunities include a weekly meditation and psychotherapy certificate course and mentorship from international experts. Fellows also develop an independent scholarly project through ongoing CMC research studies or quality improvement initiatives, with opportunities to participate in externally funded research and pursue additional fellowship funding.
Primary Care Behavioral Health and Family Medicine
Duration: One year | Research: 20%
This fellowship provides advanced training in integrated behavioral health through CHA's Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) Program at Malden Family Medicine.
Fellows work within interdisciplinary primary care teams, providing behavioral health evaluations, brief individual and group psychotherapy, risk assessment, consultation, and care coordination. Training emphasizes rapid assessment and evidence-based interventions for patients with psychiatric, behavioral, and adjustment concerns, including behavioral management of chronic medical conditions.
Additional experiences include teaching medical residents and co-leading group medical visits addressing substance use, chronic pain, weight management, and diabetes. Fellows participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, the Integrated Care Seminar, and the Fellows Professional Development Seminar.
Child and Adolescent Acute Services
Duration: One year | Research: 20% | Openings: 2
The Child and Adolescent Acute Services fellowship provides advanced training in inpatient psychiatric assessment and treatment. Fellows rotate across three CHA units: the Child Assessment Unit, Adolescent Assessment Unit, and Neurodevelopmental Unit, which serves youth with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder.
Working within interdisciplinary teams, fellows serve as primary clinicians for selected cases, providing individual and family assessment, psychotherapy, and systems-based interventions. Training integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), attachment-based approaches, trauma-informed care, and family systems interventions.
Fellows also conduct comprehensive psychological assessments using cognitive, personality, and performance-based measures. Additional responsibilities include leading therapeutic groups and using experiential activities to inform clinical formulation and treatment.
Adolescent Risk Assessment and Violence Prevention
Duration: One year | Research: 20%
This fellowship provides specialized training in juvenile risk assessment, forensic evaluation, violence prevention, and treatment of adolescents and young adults at risk for involvement in the juvenile legal system.
Training spans clinical, educational, community, and legal settings, emphasizing cross-system collaboration and early intervention. A central experience involves consultation with the Cambridge Police Department through the Safety Net Collaborative, a CHA-police partnership that integrates mental health expertise into youth-focused policing and diversion initiatives.
Fellows conduct safety assessments within Cambridge Public Schools and provide psychotherapy in school-based and outpatient settings, including treatment for youth identified through Safety Net. Additional experiences include rotations in the Cambridge or Lowell Juvenile Court Clinic, specialized forensic seminars, and the Fellows Professional Development Seminar.
Trauma Intervention and Consultation
Duration: One year | Research: 20% | Openings: 1
The Trauma Intervention and Consultation fellowship provides advanced training in the assessment and treatment of adults with complex trauma presentations. Clinical experiences emphasize evidence-based psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and interdisciplinary consultation across CHA's Department of Psychiatry.
Fellows provide individual psychotherapy for patients presenting with complex trauma and co-occurring psychiatric conditions, with an emphasis on developing individualized, evidence-based treatment plans. Training incorporates trauma-informed case formulation, differential diagnosis, and interventions addressing the psychological and interpersonal consequences of trauma.
Assessment experiences focus on clarifying diagnoses, planning treatment, and understanding complex clinical presentations. Fellows also provide consultation to clinicians and multidisciplinary teams across CHA Psychiatry, integrating trauma-informed perspectives into clinical assessment and treatment.
The fellowship emphasizes advanced clinical reasoning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrating psychological assessment and intervention for patients with complex treatment needs.