Postdoctoral Fellow

Behavioral Health Network • Pittsfield, MA

1d

About The Position

BHN, Inc. is accepting applications for its Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Training Program, offered through the Adult Court Clinic and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. The clinic conducts court-ordered forensic evaluations for the District and Superior Courts in the four counties of western Massachusetts. The position is primarily located in courts in Berkshire County, with opportunities to conduct evaluations in the other three western Massachusetts counties.

The Adult Court Clinic includes experienced forensic psychologists and social workers credentialed by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Team members provide training and supervision in forensic assessment and public-sector forensic work. The program serves adults across a range of clinical and neurocognitive conditions, from mild psychological disorders and learning disabilities to severe mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and brain injuries or illnesses.

The fellow will work in court clinic settings, apply psychological principles to the legal system, and consult with judges, attorneys, probation, and other criminal court personnel on psycho-legal questions. Training includes conducting court-ordered evaluations, communicating opinions in written reports and testimony, making intervention recommendations, and developing knowledge of Massachusetts mental health law and the public-sector forensic system. The fellow will also remotely attend didactic training offered to postdoctoral fellows in forensic psychology at Bridgewater State Hospital. The program provides training and didactic experience necessary to earn the Massachusetts credential of Designated Forensic Psychologist.

The fellowship is funded through BHN, Inc.’s contract with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to provide forensic mental health services to western Massachusetts District and Superior Courts. The ideal candidate intends to join the team in Northampton District Court and pursue credentialing as a Designated Forensic Psychologist after completing the fellowship year and obtaining Massachusetts psychology licensure. Pay is $90,000 for the fellowship year.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology.
• Completion of requirements to sit for the EPPP exam.
• Strong assessment and writing skills.
• Genuine desire to be a team player.

Responsibilities

• Work in court clinic settings and apply psychological principles and knowledge to the legal system.
• Provide consultation on psycho-legal questions to judges, attorneys, probation, and other criminal court personnel.
• Conduct evaluations of competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility, and other court-ordered evaluations, including aid-in-sentencing, prisoner-in-need-of-treatment, and civil commitment evaluations related to substance abuse and mental illness.
• Communicate opinions regarding psycho-legal questions in written reports and testimony for the courts.
• Make appropriate recommendations for interventions with defendants and respondents.
• Develop knowledge of mental health law related to adult forensic evaluations, especially in Massachusetts.
• Develop an understanding of Massachusetts’s public-sector forensic system, its divisions, treatment facilities, allied services, and their relationship with court clinics.
• Attend remotely the didactic training offered to forensic psychology postdoctoral fellows at Bridgewater State Hospital.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree