The CHA Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program combines advanced specialty training with opportunities for clinical practice, scholarly inquiry, teaching, and professional development. Fellows pursue intensive training within their respective specialties while participating in a broader community of psychologists, educators, researchers, and interdisciplinary clinicians across CHA and Harvard Medical School.
Training experiences are tailored to each fellowship's clinical focus and the individual fellow's professional goals.
Clinical Training and Supervision
Fellows develop advanced clinical competencies through direct patient care, psychological and neuropsychological assessment, consultation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Depending on their fellowship, clinical activities may include individual, group, and family psychotherapy; diagnostic and psychological assessment; consultation with medical and mental health teams; and participation in specialized clinical services.
Individualized supervision is a central component of training. Fellows work closely with experienced faculty and clinical supervisors to refine their clinical reasoning, deepen their specialty expertise, and develop increasing professional independence. Additional group supervision, case conferences, and interdisciplinary consultation provide opportunities to learn from colleagues across disciplines and treatment settings.
Seminars and Professional Development
All fellows participate in a weekly Professional Development Seminar, which brings together trainees from across fellowship specialties. The seminar addresses professional identity and the transition to independent practice, including clinical supervision, teaching, multicultural competence, scholarly writing and publication, research and grant development, licensure, and legal and ethical issues in psychology.
Fellows also participate in specialty-specific seminars, clinical case conferences, and educational activities within their training sites. Additional learning opportunities are available through CHA's Department of Psychiatry and the broader Harvard Medical School academic community, including Grand Rounds, continuing education programs, and presentations by nationally recognized clinicians, educators, and researchers.
Research and Scholarly Activities
All fellows receive protected research time to pursue scholarly activities aligned with their clinical interests and professional goals. Opportunities include participation in ongoing research, quality improvement initiatives, program evaluation, and independent projects under faculty mentorship.
Fellows are encouraged to contribute to scholarly dissemination through conference presentations, publications, and other forms of professional scholarship. The scope and expectations of research activities vary by fellowship specialty.
Teaching, Mentorship, and Consultation
Fellows have opportunities to develop skills as educators, supervisors, and consultants. Depending on their training setting, these experiences may include teaching clinical seminars, presenting cases, mentoring psychology interns and practicum students, participating in interdisciplinary education, and providing consultation to clinical teams.
These experiences support the development of professional competencies extending beyond direct clinical practice and prepare fellows for future roles in academic medicine, healthcare leadership, teaching, and clinical supervision.
Additional Academic Opportunities
Through CHA's academic affiliation with Harvard Medical School, fellows have access to educational experiences that extend beyond their primary clinical training.
Examples include the Expert Witness Training Program, a simulated courtroom experience offered in collaboration with Harvard Law School, and Mysell Day, an academic event within Harvard Medical School's Department of Psychiatry. Fellows may also participate in selected lectures, conferences, and other educational programs across the Harvard academic community.
Individualized Training and Mentorship
Each fellow works with designated clinical supervisors and faculty mentors who support their professional development throughout the fellowship. Site preceptors help coordinate clinical experiences, monitor training progress, and identify opportunities aligned with fellows' interests and goals.
The Director of Postdoctoral Training provides program-wide oversight and meets with fellows throughout the year to support their development, address training needs, and facilitate connections across fellowship specialties.
Together, these experiences provide a foundation for the transition to advanced clinical practice, scholarly engagement, and professional leadership.