Central State Hospital (CSH) located in Petersburg, Virginia, is pleased to offer a one-year post-doctoral Fellowship in forensic psychology, with an emphasis on forensic evaluation. The primary goal of our Fellowship program is to prepare the Fellow for independent practice of forensic psychology with a severely and persistently mentally ill population as well as to provide advanced training in forensic assessment and forensic report writing. Throughout the training year, the Fellow is expected to dedicate 70% of their time to conducting forensic and psychological evaluations, and 30% of their time to other clinical, didactic, and training activities. Formal didactic training is offered both on-site and at the Institute for Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy (ILPPP) at the University of Virginia.
This is a full-time, one-year position that is designed to meet all supervision requirements for licensure as a clinical psychologist in Virginia and has been determined to meet the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP) criteria for the experience waiver. The fellowship year begins in August or September each year (start date is negotiable related to completion of internship). Successful applicants must have completed a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology by the fellowship start date, as well as a pre-doctoral clinical internship (APA accreditation in both the graduate program and internship is preferred). The stipend is approximately $50,000 and the fellow receives health and malpractice insurance, as well as paid leave time. Applications are accepted from mid-November through January 1st each year. For a copy of the program brochure and information about how to apply, please contact Dr. Helen Greenbacker at Helen.Greenbacker@dbhds.virginia.gov.
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship Brochure – PDF
Practicum and Internship Programs
Practicum and Internship Programs are provided in conjunction with the governing educational facility and within the scope, professional standards and methods within the specified discipline providing the training. This may include but are not limited to the role of the PSR staff member on an interdisciplinary treatment team; practice in administering modality specific assessment/evaluations, treatment planning/intervention and meeting medical record progress note protocols; practical application of the methods and techniques inherent in the application of services/treatment within their modality; and possible clinical case study presentations. Students will be required to participate and complete additional mandatory in-service trainings in compliance with Central State Hospital safety and performance improvement policy and procedure.
Doctoral Internship In Forensic Clinical Psychology
Central State Hospital (CSH) located in Petersburg, Virginia offers two doctoral internship positions in forensic clinical psychology. This internship training program provides the intern with exposure to the full range of mental disorders typically seen in forensic and inpatient psychiatric settings. The internship training program offers education and supervision in the practice of clinical and forensic psychology, a primary goal of which is to prepare the intern for the practice of psychology with a seriously mentally ill population. Central State Hospital provides services to male and female adults with serious mental illnesses, many of whom also have diagnoses of substance abuse disorders and/or intellectual disability. Our patient population includes pre- and post-trial forensic patients receiving court-ordered evaluation and treatment, patients who have been adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity who are receiving evaluation and/or treatment, and non-forensic patients receiving treatment under civil commitment. Formal didactic training is offered both on-site and at the Institute for Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy (ILPPP) at the University of Virginia. The interns also receive dedicated research time.
This is a full-time, one-year position that is designed to meet all supervision and training requirements for doctoral internship as outlined by APPIC and APA guidelines. The internship year begins in August, with a stipend of approximately $37,000. The intern also receives health and malpractice insurance, as well as paid leave time. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024-2025 internship year. The application window for consideration in the first 2024-2025 APPIC match cycle closed December 1, 2023. However, applications for future cycles are accepted each fall, and interested applicants are encouraged to email our Director of Psychology and Training Director Dr. Rachel Lane (rachel.lane@dbhds.virginia.gov) with any questions.
- Internship Brochure – PDF