POSITION DESCRIPTION

• |
• Temporary

The postdoctoral traineeship is a 12-month position designed for recent graduates of an APA-approved clinical or counseling PhD PsyD psychology program who are seeking licensure and are interested in receiving supervised experience in college mental health practice. 

Columbia Health Counseling and Psychological Services is currently accepting applications for five 12-month postdoctoral fellowships.

Fellows receive advanced training in assessment, brief and long-term psychotherapy, crisis intervention, support spaces, group therapy, and outreach activities—with special attention to multicultural concerns, sexual and gender identity concerns, and acculturative stress, among other issues salient to a diverse undergraduate and graduate student population from over 100 countries, presenting with a full range of diagnoses and challenges in living. 

As fellows receive extensive supervision from senior clinicians working across a broad range of treatment modalities, participate in a continual case conference on the application of psychodynamic thinking to college mental health practice, and attend a weekly seminar and in-service presentations, among other professional development experiences. 

Many graduates go on to careers in college mental health at Columbia or elsewhere and are encouraged to apply for open positions as they near completion of the program.  Fellows interested in establishing a private practice have the opportunity, upon licensure, to join the Columbia-specific referral network through which Columbia students are referred off-campus to private practices. 

Hybrid -four days/week in person on the Morningside campus; one day/week remote 

Responsibilities

• Provides psychological evaluations, including diagnostic and risk assessment, based on a review of present problem(s), mental status, current symptoms, and the student's developmental, social, psychological, family, academic/employment, and treatment history.
• Conducts treatment planning sessions, assessing students' subjective level of distress and acuity, and arranging for appropriate follow-up care, be it at CPS or off campus. 
• Provides short-term and moderate-term psychotherapy and crisis intervention for Columbia students.
• Work with licensed clinicians in coordinating, implementing, and facilitating therapy groups and/or psycho-educational workshops. 
• Staff Urgent Concerns clinic one evening per week.
• Participates in one or more elective rotations from among Eating Disorders Team, Trauma Support Team, Behavioral Health Initiative, and Consultation and Outreach.
• Performs other appropriate responsibilities as assigned.

ABOUT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

http://www.Columbia.edu

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer - Race/Gender/Disability/Veterans. It is committed to a workforce of faculty and staff that reflects the diversity and talent of New York City, the larger metropolitan area, and the nation.  

For more detail information regarding our team and the department, please visit us online at: http://health.columbia.edu/services/cps          

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of all requirements for a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical or counseling psychology from an APA-approved program prior to beginning the traineeship.
• Completion of an APA-approved pre-doctoral internship in psychology.
• Inpatient experience or other demonstrated ability to work with patients with serious psychopathology.
• Excellent clinical, interpersonal, and communication skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of Ph.D. or Psy.D.
• Experience in working with adolescents; demonstrated research skills.
• Training and experience in one or more of the following: eating disorders, alcohol and other substance abuse, group therapy, learning disability assessment, multicultural counseling.

COMPENSATION

• Salary Range: $73,000 - $73,000

APPLICATION MATERIALS

How to Apply: 

Complete the online application.  Attach your CV and detailed letter of interest, including any specific election rotations of interest. 

For more information about the postdoctoral fellowship in general, and these specialized tracks, please visit us at: 

https://health.columbia.edu/content/postdoctoral-fellowship-training-program and register for Tuesday November 11, and December 11 open house

In addition to standard application materials:  Email the following to Debra Domenech, Ph.D., Associate Director for Postdoctoral Training at: dd2034@cumc.columbia.edu

• Curriculum vitae
• Detailed letter of interest including your interest in any of the electives
• Three letters of recommendations
• De-identified clinical writing sample
• Official graduate school transcript

Applications are accepted until positions are filled; the final deadline is January 16, 2026.

Anticipated start date is August 31, 2026