What are the responsibilities and job description for the POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY) - RESTRICTED POSITION position at Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services?
Title: POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY) - RESTRICTED POSITION
State Role Title: Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
Hiring Range: $89,878 - $124,031
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Eastern State Hospital
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/esh/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
* Note Deadline to submit application is January 3, 2026*
Eastern State Hospital (ESH) is seeking a postdoctoral fellow for the 2026-2027 training year. ESH is the largest state psychiatric hospital in Virginia and is situated on 500 acres, consisting of two patient care buildings with 300 patients, and a highly skilled staff of over 900. The current hospital population consists of adult and geriatric patients who have either a civil or forensic commitment; however, our population has largely shifted to primarily pre- and post-adjudicatory forensic patients.
Eastern State Hospital is part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) system, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital, located in Williamsburg VA, is located near several large cities and beaches, including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Washington DC and Baltimore.
The Postdoctoral Training Year Will Include Both Clinical Work And Didactic Seminars. The Clinical Work Will Primarily Consist Of Working Within The Psychology Department To
Treatment at ESH is offered to the patient in partnership with a multi-disciplinary team, and the post-doctoral fellow also has the opportunity to be part of a treatment team alongside physicians, other psychologist, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and activities therapists. Thus, a treatment-oriented role would include:
The ESH postdoctoral training program will also include didactic and case law seminars; weekly seminars focusing on various forensic issues – violence risk assessment, assessment of malingering, ethical considerations, psychology in the courtroom, insanity, competence to stand trial, and an overview of the legal system. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to participate in case weekly law seminar, focusing on landmark cases at both state and federal levels that set standards for the practice of forensic psychology and guidelines for conducting court ordered evaluations; will be expected to present summaries of assigned cases during this seminar.
Postdoctoral fellows will have access to various training throughout the state, including the following program – Basic Forensic Evaluation: Principles and Practices, a five-day course offered by the Institute of Law Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. The course is designed to provide foundational evidence-based training in the principles and practices of forensic evaluation generally and specific to the Code of Virginia.
Postdoctoral fellows will receive individual face-to-face supervision from one or more licensed clinical psychologists. They may also have the opportunity to supervise interns and doctoral-level practicum students from local graduate programs, and Master level counseling practicum and intern student under the guidance and supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist.
For questions or to speak further about the position, please contact Andrew Osborn, Ph.D. at 757-208-7601 or lawrence.osborn@dbhds.virginia.gov.
If interested, the following materials are required to complete your application:
The position will be open until filled. We anticipate a start date of September 2026, but start date is negotiable.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Contact Information
Name: EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL
Phone: 757-208-7717 / REFER TO PAGEUP FOR APPLICATION STATUS
Email: EMAIL APPLICATION MATERIAL NOT ACCEPTED
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
State Role Title: Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
Hiring Range: $89,878 - $124,031
Pay Band: 4
Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop
Location: Eastern State Hospital
Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/esh/
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
* Note Deadline to submit application is January 3, 2026*
Eastern State Hospital (ESH) is seeking a postdoctoral fellow for the 2026-2027 training year. ESH is the largest state psychiatric hospital in Virginia and is situated on 500 acres, consisting of two patient care buildings with 300 patients, and a highly skilled staff of over 900. The current hospital population consists of adult and geriatric patients who have either a civil or forensic commitment; however, our population has largely shifted to primarily pre- and post-adjudicatory forensic patients.
Eastern State Hospital is part of the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBHDS) system, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. The hospital, located in Williamsburg VA, is located near several large cities and beaches, including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Washington DC and Baltimore.
The Postdoctoral Training Year Will Include Both Clinical Work And Didactic Seminars. The Clinical Work Will Primarily Consist Of Working Within The Psychology Department To
- Conduct various types of forensic evaluations, including temporary custody evaluations, competence to stand trial, mental state at the time of the offense, and risk assessments for court-ordered defendants.
- Conduct psychological testing, including forensic assessment instruments, IQ and personality testing, neuropsychological instruments, and test of malingering. There may also be opportunity for sex offender risk assessments.
- Serve in other clinical roles (e.g. more treatment oriented) in the hospital, depending on the postdoctoral fellow’s interest and training needs.
Treatment at ESH is offered to the patient in partnership with a multi-disciplinary team, and the post-doctoral fellow also has the opportunity to be part of a treatment team alongside physicians, other psychologist, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and activities therapists. Thus, a treatment-oriented role would include:
- Individual and group psychotherapy, psychoeducation, treatment planning and principles of recovery, team building, milieu intervention, risk assessment and management, crisis management and program development.
- Serving in a treatment role for acute admissions and jail-transfer or the large population of “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity” (NGRI) acquittees.
- Working in a treatment role with NGRI population to assess and treat an individual’s level of risk after having been adjudicated NGRI; these individuals are remanded to the hospital for treatment while they move through the privileging and gradual release process under Virginia law.
- Working in a treatment role with acute admissions patients who are individuals under voluntary or involuntary civil commitment, individuals who have been transferred from a jail for emergency psychiatric treatment, and persons who have been court-ordered for evaluation and/or treatment of competency to stand trial and/or mental state at the time of offense.
The ESH postdoctoral training program will also include didactic and case law seminars; weekly seminars focusing on various forensic issues – violence risk assessment, assessment of malingering, ethical considerations, psychology in the courtroom, insanity, competence to stand trial, and an overview of the legal system. Postdoctoral fellows will have the opportunity to participate in case weekly law seminar, focusing on landmark cases at both state and federal levels that set standards for the practice of forensic psychology and guidelines for conducting court ordered evaluations; will be expected to present summaries of assigned cases during this seminar.
Postdoctoral fellows will have access to various training throughout the state, including the following program – Basic Forensic Evaluation: Principles and Practices, a five-day course offered by the Institute of Law Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. The course is designed to provide foundational evidence-based training in the principles and practices of forensic evaluation generally and specific to the Code of Virginia.
Postdoctoral fellows will receive individual face-to-face supervision from one or more licensed clinical psychologists. They may also have the opportunity to supervise interns and doctoral-level practicum students from local graduate programs, and Master level counseling practicum and intern student under the guidance and supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist.
For questions or to speak further about the position, please contact Andrew Osborn, Ph.D. at 757-208-7601 or lawrence.osborn@dbhds.virginia.gov.
If interested, the following materials are required to complete your application:
- Cover Letter addressing interests and training goals
- One de-identified report (preferably a forensic evaluation) that has minimal edits by a supervisor
- Three letters of recommendation
- Two of these letters should be from individuals familiar with your clinical work.
- At least one of these letters should come from an individual who has supervised you in the last year.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Status of Dissertation.
- Academic Transcripts may be requested.
The position will be open until filled. We anticipate a start date of September 2026, but start date is negotiable.
- Fellowship is a classified full-time position and is expected to begin September 2026 and continue one full year from start date.
- Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from APA-accredited program required.
- License eligible in Virginia.
- Completion of Dissertation and related doctoral program requirements prior to beginning the fellowship.
- Training and experience in the delivery of forensic psychological evaluation and treatment.
- Knowledge of relevant Virginia code and psycho-legal criteria for persons found IST, Sanity at the Time of the Offense, and persons adjudicated NGRI.
- Demonstrated ability to provide consultation and /or training to the behavioral health and legal community.
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Contact Information
Name: EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL
Phone: 757-208-7717 / REFER TO PAGEUP FOR APPLICATION STATUS
Email: EMAIL APPLICATION MATERIAL NOT ACCEPTED
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.
Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.
Salary : $89,878 - $124,031
