Postdoctoral Fellowship Overview of Training

Overview of Training

The fellowship spans a two-year period, with each training year divided into two six-month terms. Some training activities will be concentrated in a specific term, others will occur throughout the majority of the fellowship, and others will occur in concentration at various points of the fellowship. Training activities will include:

1. Clinical Supervision

   Individual supervision at WRNMMC or remote locations, covering the following areas:
   Forensic psychological consultation, evaluation and treatment. Supervision provided at WRNMMC (2+ hours per week).
   Forensic mental health assessment lab (The month of July and one- to-two weeks in August).

2. Teaching Rounds

   Forensic psychology case conference (1 case per week with the WRNMMC forensic psychiatry service).
   FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit- Law enforcement consultation(One day per week for one year - elective).
   NSA- Personnel selection and security evaluations (1 day per week for six months to one year- elective).
   CID- Indirect threat assessment, psychological autopsies, fitness for duty assessments, law enforcement consultation (One day per week for six months to 18 months).

3. Didactics/Seminars

   Forensic Psychology Didactic Seminars.
   Forensic mental health instrument assessment lab (conducted in first month to two months of fellowship to increase reliability and validity of psychometric evaluations).
   Attendance at 3-4 week long course at the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA specializing in military criminal law
   Attendance at one to two day Intermediate Trial Advocacy Center (ITAC) course at the JAG school in Charlottesville, VA for expert witness training
   Attendance at one off-site in-depth training activity related to forensic psychology per training year, as approved by Fellowship Director. Typically, the fellow will attend a total of two CEU conferences offered through the American Academy of Forensic Psychology over the course of the entire Fellowship training period. The intent is to assure that all fellows have the minimum requisite forensic CE hours to sit for the forensic board examination by the end of their fellowship experience and to further provide a broad didactic base covering essential aspects of forensic psychological practice.

4. Resources

   The fellowship currently has three formally designated core training supervisors who:
   Deliver forensic psychological services.
   Function as an integral part of the WRNMMC Department of Psychology.
   Assume primary clinical responsibility for cases supervised.
   Are appropriately credentialed (i.e., licensed, registered, or certified) to practice Psychology in a federal government setting.
   Demonstrate substantial competence and have credentials in the advanced practice of forensic psychology.
   The fellowship director is a forensic psychologist board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology/American Board of Forensic Psychology.
   The fellowship is co-located with the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship and the Director of that program, who is board certified in forensic psychiatry, will also provide supervision. At time graduates of the program who work at other military installations may assist with supervision and training.
   The fellowship maintains a roster of adjunct faculty who:
   Engage in forensic psychological service delivery and/or research.
   Broaden the range of experience for the fellow.
   Assume primary responsibility for any clinical cases supervised.
   Are appropriately credentialed to practice psychology in the setting in which their practice occurs.
   Are attorneys with experience in military law
   Are law enforcement officers with extensive experience in criminal investigations
   Have demonstrated competence in the area in which they are providing supervision.
   Guest lecturers with expertise in different topics with also provide additional support
   As part of Walter Reed National Military Center the fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of workshops in various topics to earn CEUs for psychology.