The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Forensic Psychology Fellow at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, GA.

Central State Hospital (CSH) is the home of Georgia's maximum secure forensic hospital, operated in the Payton B. Cook building in Milledgeville.  CSH serves individuals who are referred by the criminal justice system for pre-trial psychiatric evaluation and/or inpatient treatment; those who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of commission of a crime or mentally incompetent to stand trial; and those who are admitted on hold orders from jails for psychiatric evaluation, treatment and stabilization.  

Under the supervision of a licensed forensic psychologist, providing clinical and forensic psychological services to an inpatient program of 3 forensic units totaling 116 beds (male and female), an outpatient pre-trial referral program, and a conditional release program for persons acquitted as Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, with the following specialties: Conduct court-ordered evaluations and expert testimony to State, Superior and Juvenile courts, as needed, regarding opinions of competency to stand trial and degree of criminal responsibility (i.e., sanity); Supervises assigned inpatient clinical staff, as able and needed; Conduct violence risk assessments and other clinical or forensic psychological evaluations; Provide group and/or individual psychotherapy with forensic inpatients or outpatients, as needed; and, Other clinical/forensic psychological services as able and needed.

• Consults reference material such as textbooks, manuals, and journals in order to identify symptoms, to make diagnoses, and to develop approaches to treatment
• Counsels individuals and groups regarding problems such as stress, substance abuse, and family situations, in order to modify behavior and/or to improve personal, social, and vocational adjustment
• Develops and implements individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy
• Discusses the treatment of problems with clients
• Evaluates the effectiveness of counseling or treatments, and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, then modify plans and diagnoses as necessary
• Identifies psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues, and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, and reference materials
• Interacts with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment
• Observes individuals at play, in group interactions, or in other contexts to detect indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment
• Obtains and studies medical, psychological, social, and family histories, by interviewing individuals, couples, or families, and by reviewing records
• Provides occupational, educational, and other information to individuals so that they can make educational and vocational plans

In addition to a competitive salary (See Statewide Salary Pay, we offer a generous benefits package that includes a flexible schedule, training opportunities, employee retirement plan, deferred compensation, 12 paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, dental, vision, long term care, and life insurance.  More information on benefits here.

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