Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at Princeton University offers Post-Doctoral training to graduates who come from scientific and scholarly-based counseling and psychology programs, who demonstrate the capacity to engage in theoretical and research-based inquiry, and who have a readiness for intensive training in practice. The Post-Doctoral training program offers extensive clinical experience with substantial supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration, treatment team participation, and outreach opportunities.The training program facilitates clinical competence through personal and intellectual development in supervisory relationships. CPS values multi-theoretical and evidence-based approaches to treatment within short-term therapeutic individual, couples, and group therapy models. We also offer concentrations in DBT-Informed Counseling, Eating Disorders, Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling, and Sports Psychology.Post-Doctoral Fellows graduating from our program have gone on to work at various college counseling centers including but not limited to Princeton, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Drexel, Wake Forest University, Georgetown, Cornell, UCLA, Lehigh, and Stevens Institute of Technology.Learn more about:Counseling & Psychological ServicesPost-Doctoral Training Program (training model, goals, activities)Stipend/BenefitsApplying to be a Post-DocContactAbout Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) CPS provides assessment and treatment for mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress/crisis management, identity concerns, transitional issues, grief, substance abuse, and eating, sexual, and/or relationship issues. Staff provide a broad range of services to all Princeton students. Spouses and dependents of Princeton students are also eligible for consultation.CPS is a multidisciplinary staff composed of fourteen Ph.D. and Psy.D. licensed or license eligible Counseling and Clinical Psychologists, five Licensed Clinical Social Workers, two M.D. Psychiatrist, two Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses, and one Office Manager. Additionally, there are four outreach counselors (one Clinical Psychologist, two Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and one Licensed Professional Counselor), three Post-Doctoral Fellows and three Social Work Interns. The total CPS staff includes 33 professionals who work part to full time.Approximately 25% of the student body receives clinical services each year while an even larger percentage of students and staff and faculty receive service through outreach and psycho-educational programming. Placement Within University Health Services CPS is a department within Princeton University Health Services (UHS). UHS is a member of the Division of Campus Life and is accredited by Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). UHS offers several services in addition to counseling and psychological services including athletic medicine, laboratory, radiology, infirmary, nutrition, physical therapy, travel health, sexual health and wellness, immunizations and allergy shots, health promotion and prevention services, occupational health, and Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising, Resources and Education (SHARE). Facilities Along with other UHS services, CPS is located in Frist Health Center at the center of Princeton’s campus. CPS offices are on Levels 1 and 2. Post-Docs have furnished offices, which they decorate as they choose, and have necessary office equipment and supplies. Placement Within the Office of Campus Life The Office of the Vice President for Campus Life plays a key role in bridging all aspects of the curricular and co-curricular experience, helping undergraduate and graduate students find their place within the university community. Campus Life strives to foster an educational community that reflects the highest aspirations of its members within an environment that encourages and provides opportunities to exercise leadership, citizenship, personal growth, and respect for intellectual and cultural diversity. About the Town Of Princeton Princeton University is located in downtown Princeton, New Jersey. Learn more about visiting or living in Princeton. About the Post-Doctoral Training ProgramCPS provides initial triage consultations, urgent care assessments, short term individual treatment, couples therapy, group therapy, psychiatric evaluations/consultations, and University outreach.CPS specialized treatment teams meet weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, and target multi-disciplinary treatment and intervention toward specific student groups. Teams review challenging cases, develop treatment plans, support clinicians’ therapeutic goals, provide suggestions and recommendations for care, provide relevant training experiences, and serve as a supportive staff resource.UHS has a 12-bed Infirmary available for students with medical and/or mental health issues. The infirmary is not a psychiatric in-patient unit. All Staff have admitting privileges for students who might benefit from a higher level of care which does not require a hospital emergency department or in-patient hospitalization.Overall Philosophy of TrainingThe Post-Doctoral training program offers extensive clinical experience with substantial supervision, interdisciplinary collaboration, treatment team participation, and outreach opportunities. The training program facilitates clinical competence through personal and intellectual development in the context of supervisory relationships. CPS values multi-theoretical and evidence-based approaches to treatment within short-term therapeutic models.Staff practice from a variety of theoretical models including: psychodynamic, cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, intersubjective/psychoanalytic, developmental, mindfulness-based, attachment, object relations, and others. Essential to these efforts is a focus on multiculturalism with awareness that ethical practice is crucial to effective care. To support these efforts CPS uses scholarly research to inform practice and deepen understanding of effective clinical interventions. Additionally, this overall philosophy is guided by these principles: Trainees are Primarily in Training The primary purpose of the Post-Doctoral Training Program is to train Post-Doctoral Fellows to practice psychology. Intensive supervision and didactic instruction are the primary vehicles for training and evaluating Fellows who work independently and are expected to seek consultation when questions arise. The training experience prepares Fellows for independent practice as licensed psychologists. Mentorship is the Cornerstone of Professional Development Post-Doctoral Fellows are always under the direct supervision and guidance of several staff members. The Training Program is founded on the belief that individuals grow mainly in the context of significant relationships. The relationship between Fellows and their Supervisors provides the foundation for growth in core skill areas and in professional identity development. Post-Doctoral Fellows are in Training to Develop Professional Identities Staff provide opportunities for Post-Doctoral Fellows to work with culturally diverse professionals from various disciplines (e.g., clinical and counseling psychology, social work, campus life, psychiatry, and nursing). Fellows are given time to process and reflect on their experiences in order to promote growth and integration of their professional confidence. The Growth of a Professional Identity Occurs Developmentally The Training Program provides higher levels of direction and structure initially, with movement towards greater autonomy and responsibility. Higher levels of structure assist transition into a new system by providing guidance and direction. Post-Doctoral Fellows have multiple opportunities to be increasingly autonomous in all aspects of their functioning. They come into the training year with a wealth of clinical experience and therefore there is an understanding that this is not another internship but rather an opportunity to focus on confidence building and flourishing in the development of clinical identity and voice. Training Needs are Met Through the Expertise of CPS Staff and Other Campus Professionals CPS provides exposure to a broad range of experiences and theoretical perspectives during the year, internally and externally. This allows Post-Doctoral Fellows to seek their own areas of interest within different venues such as clinical intervention, programming, consultation, psychopharmacology, alcohol and other drug usage, assessment, multiculturalism, didactics, case presentation, and scholarly inquiry. Individuals Learn in Individual Ways The Training Program uses various learning methods including practical experiences, modeling, process-based activities, group, didactic, experiential, and self-guided learning. CPS provides a supportive and challenging environment based in part on Post-Doctoral Fellows’ self-assessments. Time is spent initially working with Fellows to assist them in defining their goals and desires for training. Psychologists are Informed Through the Integration of Science and Practice Theory, research, and practice mutually inform each other. Post-Doctoral Fellows are guided and encouraged in their pursuit of observing, inferring, formulating, and evaluating clinical hypotheses. Fellows generate clinical hypotheses based on theory and research. Training ModelA Clinical Practitioner Model Informed by Theory and Research guides the CPS Training Program. Post-Doctoral Fellows are trained to ground their practice of psychology in theory and research. This model is accomplished in an intensive, supervised counseling center experience working with a multicultural group of interdisciplinary professionals. Imbued in this model are service provision, didactic and experiential instruction, and the use of psychological theory/ research.CPS provides a setting in which Fellows strengthen and consolidate their abilities to practice psychology. They successfully complete the fellowship when they reach a level of independent practice defined by having sufficient ability to practice core competencies without ongoing supervision. Training involves developing both core competencies and positive professional identity essential for an entry-level psychologist providing services in:Brief and Longer-Term Individual & Group CounselingThe Treatment of Eating Disorders, Emotional Dysregulation and/or Alcohol and Other Drug issuesCrisis InterventionProgramming/OutreachConsultationCPS recruits applicants from scientist-practitioner and scholar-practitioner programs so they come with a foundation of theoretical and research-based knowledge, with the capacity to engage in theoretical and research-based inquiry, and with readiness for intensive training. A part of competent practice includes being informed about the seminal and current theoretical and research-bases of psychology. CPS accomplishes integration through:Developing critical thinking to guide the use of research to inform clinical practiceGenerating clinical hypotheses to explore in supervisionLearning the empirical bases that guide the use of assessmentAttending and/or presenting at professional conferencesParticipating in in-service training programs on best current clinical practices.The environment in which this training model occurs is designed to provide a collaborative milieu for training. To accomplish this, CPS provides a Mentor/Apprenticeship Environment. This is operationalized based on the following program characteristics:Staff provides clinical and professional identity role modeling.Staff collaborates actively with Post-Doctoral Fellows.Staff members create a milieu respectful of Fellows, honoring their cultural identities, valuing their positive self-growth, and establishing a strong work ethic.CPS is a fast-paced, heavily utilized service in which Fellows receive quality supervision in an environment that strives to promote competence supported by scholarship. The program sets the stage for a vibrant training experience providing Fellows with rich and substantial developmental opportunities. This is the philosophy, model, and setting for the Training Program further elucidated by the following goals:Training Goals Post-Doctoral Fellows are expected to achieve the following goals over the course of their fellowship at CPS:Fellows become competent broad and general clinical practitioners with a specific concentration (e.g., eating concerns, alcohol and other drugs, DBT informed emotion management treatment) and a specialization in college counseling.Fellows develop competence in psychological assessment via diagnostic interviewing.Fellows increase their awareness of areas of diversity and become multi-culturally competent at the level of independent practice.Fellows become competent in group practice at the level of independent practice.Fellows become competent in crisis evaluation and intervention both with clients and the campus community.Fellows develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to competently provide outreach and consultation.Fellows become knowledgeable about and sensitive to the ethical and legal standards affecting the professional practice of psychology and act in a professional manner.Program Activities Clinical Services The training program provides multiple opportunities for Post-Doctoral Fellows to develop and refine clinical competencies. Through participation on various clinical teams, Fellows can concentrate in treatment approaches tailored to meet the needs of students who struggle with eating disorders, alcohol and other drug use/abuse, or emotion management. In addition to these three core treatment teams, Fellows can participate with the Mind/Body Health Services and TIGERSPAW Sports Psychology Teams. Fellows and all staff consult with the Crisis Intervention Team on an as needed basis.CPS focuses on clinical case conceptualization and treatment interventions that promote overall mental and physical well-being and which consider diagnosis, multiculturalism, family/ cultural contexts, and interpersonal connections. Clinical Activities Individual Counseling: Post-Doctoral Fellows engage in individual counseling, seeing students in a brief therapy model and providing approximately 15 individual contact hours a week. Individual counseling involves applying a theoretical frame-of-reference in assessing and conceptualizing presenting problems, providing clinical disposition, and developing and implementing formalized treatment plans.Initial Consultations (IC): Each week Post-Doctoral Fellows conduct approximately 6 IC’s, which are 20-minute triage meetings that clinicians use to guide students to optimal treatment options given presenting concerns and available resources. After Initial Consultation, students may be offered immediate urgent care, assigned an Intake within the service, or are referred to community providers.Group Counseling: Post-Doctoral Fellows are involved with leading or co-leading one or more of the various groups offered at CPS each semester. They have the option to co-lead with a senior clinician and so can work directly in a clinical situation with a supervisor. Most groups are themed groups with some general therapy groups. Some groups are on-going, open process groups and some groups are brief structured groups.Crisis Evaluation & Intervention: Post-Doctoral Fellows participate with increasing responsibility and autonomy in the day and evening on-call rotations providing emergency assessments to clients who present on a walk-in basis or after-hours. Supervisory support for these interactions is always available. As part of crisis and urgent care work, Fellows interact with the University Health Service Infirmary, which provides brief inpatient care, and have admission and discharge privileges. Interacting with the Infirmary and its medical staff provides additional interdisciplinary training opportunities.Urgent Care Appointments: Post-Doctoral Fellows will provide some urgent care coverage to see students who present with urgent and emergent clinical issues.Psycho-Educational Programming and Outreach: CPS engages in a wide range of programming and outreach including invited presentations to departments, classes, and residential colleges. Post-Doctoral Fellows are part of outreach programming through joining other Staff in presentations and developing their own based on their areas of interest and expertise. Additionally, Fellows develop outreach specific to their concentration areas for presentation on campus, and work with the Coordinator of Outreach to develop their outreach programs and thus gain practical training experience. Training Activities Individual and Group Supervision: Supervision of Post-Doctoral Fellows is conducted weekly on a regularly scheduled, including two individual supervision sessions and one group supervisor session with licensed Psychologists. In accordance with the 2003 APA Ethical Guidelines, we do not require disclosure of personal information. It is useful to share information about how we view self-disclosure in the supervisory experience so candidates are fully informed about the supervision model:With awareness that professional activities may be impacted by subjective experiences, beliefs, and values, Post-Doctoral Fellows may choose to disclose and are encouraged to do so if the information has a bearing on professional functioning.Supervisors may notice incidents and patterns in Fellows' professional behaviors, suggesting that they may be influenced by subjective experiences, beliefs, and values. Supervisors may ask for reflection on this in the context of professional growth.Post-Docs choose how much and what to disclose and are not penalized for the choice not to share personal information. Supervision is never viewed as psychotherapy.Group Supervision: Meets weekly and serves as opportunity to discuss clinical cases from a “large question” perspective. The group provides a “safe space” to discuss cases, and to address administrative issues and overall adjustment to the service. The group provides opportunities to talk about important marketplace issues and concerns as Fellows prepare for entrance to licensure and independent practice.Post-Doctoral Fellows’ Support Group: Post-Doctoral Fellows participate in a weekly support group, typically led by a graduate of the program who plays no supervisory role. The group provides an opportunity for Fellows to communicate candidly about their experiences in the training program. The group is generally confidential; however, exceptions can be made in the face of serious ethical lapses with a potential to cause harm to students.Clinical Team Meeting: Post-Doctoral Fellows are integrated into one or more Clinical Teams including Eating Concerns, Alcohol & Other Drugs, Emotion Management, Mind Body Health Services, Queer and Trans Health, and TIGERSPAW (athletes). Teams meet weekly or biweekly and provide peer supervision and clinical planning for cases relevant to the Team’s concentration.Case Conference: Post-Doctoral Fellows are integrated into weekly case conference meetings with Staff. Case conference presentations allow Fellows to learn from Staff by participating in case presentations and getting feedback from a broader group. Fellows are assigned to offer at least one formal case presentation to staff and receive feedback on their presentation.Seminar: Post-Doctoral Fellows meet weekly for training seminar with either CPS staff, other Princeton staff and faculty, or professionals from the community. Seminar goals include:Providing theoretical and research-based information on clinical practice such as empirically validated treatments, drug and alcohol assessment and treatment, brief-therapy models, practice ethics, diagnostics, multiculturalism, and treatment planning.Providing time to discuss issues important to them in their development as professionals.Providing structured time to apply the knowledge gained in seminar to direct clinical work.Fellows are expected to present at least one seminar and social work interns are invited to attend all seminars and have the option to present. Administrative Activities Case Management: Post-Doctoral Fellows are responsible for managing their own caseloads to ensure their size is appropriate. In addition, administrative time is provided each day to write reports, progress notes, business/ professional letters and e-mails, and to return telephone calls, consult with supervisors and other staff, and do general planning.Selection of Post-Doctoral Fellows: Current Fellows participate in the selection process for the next year’s class of Fellows and review applicant files, make recommendations, and actively engage in the interview process.Staff/Operations Meetings: The purpose of the meeting is for staff to have a set time each week to share office and university information, to experience learning together, process through staff issues, and share colleagueship, which becomes especially important in busy semesters. Post-Doctoral Fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in these meetings as full staff members. Typical Schedule 36.25 Hours per Week21 Hours Clinical Work (Approximately)Individual Therapy (14 Hours)Group Therapy (1 Hours)Initial Consultations (2 Hours)Intake (4 Hours)3 Hours SupervisionIndividual Supervision (2 Hours)Group Supervision (1 Hour)5.25 Hours Conferencing/Training/OutreachDidactic Training (Seminar) (1 Hour)Clinical Case Conference (1 Hour)Support Group (1 hour)Clinical Team Meetings (2 Hours)Outreach/Educational Activities (1.25 Hour)6 Hours Paperwork/Administrative ActivitiesAdministration time (5 Hours)Staff Operations Meeting (1 Hour)EvaluationEach semester Supervisors evaluate the Post-Doctoral Fellows. Evaluations are reviewed with Fellows who are given the opportunity to formally respond. In addition, Fellows complete an evaluation for their supervisors, and regularly evaluate seminars, their orientation experience, and the overall Program.Evaluations are conducted formally using electronic evaluation forms and through discussion. Evaluations occur at several levels among Fellows and supervisors, and address all experiences including individual, couples, and group work; outreach and programming; assessment; ethics; use of supervision; and multicultural work.Post-Docs are given the opportunity to evaluate all individuals from whom they receive evaluation and are provided with formal opportunity to respond to any evaluation they receive.Evaluation occurs three times during the training year:September: To identify each Fellows’ baseline skill level and to decide goals for the first half of the year, Fellows complete the baseline form and discuss their self-perceptions in a meeting with all three supervisors.December: To assess progress at the mid-way point of the year Fellows receive written feedback from supervisors and meet with all three supervisors to discuss the evaluation. Fellows receive feedback, review Fall goals, and set/reaffirm final Spring goals, and assist in generating methods by which to meet the training goals.June: To assess and address progress at the end of the academic year Fellows undergo a similar process to the December evaluations. Fellows receive feedback, review progress toward goals and identify professional goals and plans for continued education. Stipends/BenefitsThis is a full-time position from August 12, 2024 to August 15, 2025 with a competitive salary plus full and generous Princeton benefits, including health insurance and time off.An additional benefit of Post-Doctoral Training at Princeton is the accumulation of supervised hours towards licensure.Applying to be a Post-Doctoral FellowWho Should ApplyThe following candidate qualifications are required and preferred:RequiredFulfilment of all requirements of your doctoral degree such that your status is “Post-Doctoral” by the start of the Princeton Post-Doctoral Training Year including:Successful completion of your Pre-Doctoral Internship (APA-Accredited Preferred)Completion of all doctoral requirements from your program in clinical or counseling psychology (APA-Accredited Preferred)PreferredPrior experience working in a university or college mental health serviceExperience treating clients with substance abuse problems, eating disorders, and/or trauma history; experience leading groupExperience working effectively with people on a broad spectrum of social and cultural identitiesExperience working with clients with multiple diagnosesExperience with mindfulness and meditation in clinical practiceHow to ApplyApply online at Job Listings at Princeton (using Requisition #: 2024-20137)Upload:Your Letter of Interest (which includes a statement about the area of Concentration/Teams in which you are interested)Your Curriculum Vitae, andThree letters of recommendation, including one letter from your internship site training director/coordinator.Applications must be received by January 6, 2025.ContactDirect any questions you have to David B. Campbell, Ph.D., Manager, Clinical Psychology Post-Doctoral Training.Princeton University is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.
