Psychological Services - Postdoctoral Fellowship

  • Full-time

Company Description

The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the outreach, education, early intervention, support, and advocacy for all eating disorders.

Founded in October 2000, The Alliance has worked tirelessly to raise awareness; eliminate secrecy and stigma; promote access to care; and support those susceptible to, currently experiencing, and recovered from eating disorders. We create a bridge for those needing and seeking help by connecting people with resources to assist them in recovery.

The Alliance offers comprehensive services, including: educational presentations and training days to schools, healthcare providers, hospitals, and community agencies; free, clinician-led weekly support groups nationwide for those experiencing eating disorders and for their loved ones; support and referrals through both our free help-line and comprehensive referral website; and unique and empowering scale smashing events and SmashTALK panel discussions. In September 2017, The Alliance opened Psychological Services, which offers direct, low-cost, life-saving treatment to underinsured and uninsured adults in the South Florida community.

Over the past 20 years, we have demonstrated our tireless commitment to making a positive impact on communities nationwide. 

Job Description

The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Postdoctoral Fellowship is focused on the care of individuals experiencing an eating disorder who have no insurance or are underinsured and historically have had no access to care.  Support is also provided for loved ones who can play a significant role in the recovery process.  There is no other program like Psychological Services in the country!  Individuals experiencing eating disorders represent a complex and heterogeneous population, which challenges clinicians at all levels of ability.  Psychological Services at The Alliance provides outpatient treatment for adults, all genders, that present with various eating disorder behaviors, as well as significant co-morbidities which may include depression, anxiety, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, severe trauma, dissociative disorders, and more.  Modalities of treatment offered at Psychological Services include individual, couples, family therapy, and a variety of group psychotherapies.  Our treatment approach is firmly rooted in empirically-based treatment while being individually tailored to meet the individual needs of the patients.  The program allows the fellow to develop a comfort level working with the eating disorder population and the serious mentally ill population.

Fellows function as valued members of a clinical team.  As such, the fellow operates with a significant degree of autonomy and responsibility while maintaining close contact with the Clinical Director, Head Training Supervisor, and other supervisors as needed.  Unique to this program is the involvement in the work that is done in the community by a non-profit promoting awareness and education related to eating disorders.  The Alliance educates professionals in medical schools, nursing schools, social work schools, and psychology programs.  Training is also done with school psychologists, guidance counselors, and teachers for children of all ages.  The Alliance runs support groups for those experiencing eating disorders all over the country (presently on hold due to Covid-19), virtual support groups for individuals experiencing eating disorders, a virtual support group for loved ones and provides ongoing supervision for the facilitators of the nationwide and virtual support groups.  The fellow is involved in all of these activities.  Advocacy is also important at The Alliance.  This year we did "Virtual Advocacy Day" and met with Representatives and their Legislative Assistants promoting two eating disorder related bills.  The Alliance generally goes to Washington D.C. twice per year to advocate in Congress.

As part of the Fellowship you will:

1.  Work with adults with eating disorders with co-occurring mental illness doing individual, couples, family and group therapies

2.  Work with a multidisciplinary team (including physicians, psychiatrists, nutrition therapists, treatment centers and others) to provide comprehensive treatment and care

3.  Facilitate virtual and face to face support groups

4.  Speak to medical, nursing, social work, psychology schools and community programs educating and promoting awareness of eating disorders, their severity and guidance in diagnosis and referral

5.  Be involved in advocacy in Washington, D.C. (or virtually) for eating disorder related bills

6.  Learn how a non-profit works and be involved in the process

7.  Receive excellent supervision and guidance

Research opportunities

Postdoctoral fellows are required to do a Postdoctoral Project. A fellow may choose to do research of their choice if approved for this project.

Qualifications

Successful applicants will have experience in the field of Clinical or Counseling Psychology and preferably have experience with the treatment of eating disorders.  The applicant must demonstrate excellent potential for being a creative and productive team member and work well with The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness organization.  Although the fellowship is for 13 months, fellows are able to consider a two year fellowship (not required).  Decisions for two year fellowships are made by the 5th month of the first fellowship year. 

Additional Information

Your Application Must Include:

  1. A letter from the director of the graduate program stipulating that, by the start date of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, the applicant has completed all requirements for their doctorate and will graduate
  2. Verification and Eligibility of Readiness Letter from the predoctoral internship training director to begin a fellowship program
  3. A current curriculum vitae
  4. Three (3) letters of recommendation from clinical supervisors (at least one from the internship) sent by the supervisor
  5. Official transcripts (an unofficial copy may be sent while we are waiting for the certified copy from the university)
  6. Written work sample completed within the last 2 years, preferably during the internship.

Fringe Benefits
Health, Dental, and Vision insurance available, 18 working days (144 hours) of PTO accrued at 12 hours/month for the first 12 months, 7 paid holidays, $2500 for conferences/training outside of The Alliance, compensation for travel if work-related.

The Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and affirming environment for all employees.