Postdoctoral Fellowship in Autism
Our mission is to train highly skilled, ethical psychologists who contribute to the field of psychology through clinical work, research and/or education.
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is a vibrant, multidisciplinary department dedicated to advancing science and integrating this foremost mission with those of clinical innovation, educational excellence, community engagement and commitment, and professionalism and leadership development.
The Autism Fellowship at Stanford serves as the culmination of training in psychology and is guided by the scientist-practitioner model. Residents are offered diverse clinical experiences in assessment and treatment utilizing evidence-based treatments, rich didactics based on current empirical literature, opportunities for scholarly inquiry, and supervision by Stanford faculty.
Program Goals and Competencies
The primary goal of the program is to provide advanced training in the areas of clinical service, scholarly inquiry, professionalism and ethical decision-making. The program design is based on seven core competencies, including:
- Integration of Science and Practice
- Ethics and Legal Matters
- Individual and Cultural Diversity
- Theories and Methods of Diagnosis and Assessment
- Theories and Methods of Effective Psychotherapeutic Intervention
- Professional Conduct and Interpersonal Relationships
- Dissemination Beyond Clinical Care
Additionally, fellows receive training in the following areas specific to children and adolescents.
- Life Span Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology
- Child, Adolescent and Family Assessment Methods
- Intervention Strategies
- Research Methods and Systems Evaluation
- Professional, Ethical and Legal Issues Pertaining to Children, Adolescents and Families
- Issues of Diversity
- The Role of Multiple Disciplines and Service Delivery Systems
- Prevention, Family Support, and Health Promotion
- Social Issues Affecting Children, Adolescents, and Families
- Specialized Applied Experience in Assessment, Intervention and Consultation
Clinical Descriptions
The fellow will conduct initial evaluations, psychological assessments, individual and family centered therapy and group therapy with patients in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic. The fellowship will include training conducting diagnostic assessments using gold-standard instruments as well as providing evidence-based therapies and parent training including Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). Minor rotations in the general, anxiety and eating disorder clinics are available. Fellows may elect to participate in active clinical research projects and to complete a scholarly project during the year.
Clinical Training
Fellows spend 20 hours per week in direct patient care. They conduct one to two new patient evaluations each week and carry ongoing individual and family therapy cases as well as participate in groups. Psychological testing cases (approximately one per month) are also conducted throughout the year.
Didactic Training
The fellow attends three didactic training seminars that meet on a weekly basis throughout the year including seminars focused on diagnosis and treatment of specific disorders as well as a seminar focuses on Ethics in preparation for licensure. Child Psychiatry Grand Rounds take place once a month.
Supervision & Evaluation
Fellows receive a minimum of four hours of supervision each week. The supervision is divided between two hours of individual and two hours of group. Fellows receive a copy of the competency evaluation form at the start of the fellowship during orientation and receive feedback at 3 month intervals. The feedback at 3 and 9 months is verbal and informally given during supervision. The feedback at 6 and 12 months is written using the competency evaluation forms and reviewed in supervision. Any issues regarding performance are discussed at these quarterly intervals as well as in weekly supervision.
