Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowships

Program Coordinators

James Lolley, PsyD, and Erin Olson, PhD

Program Overview

Seattle Children's has an international reputation for excellence in clinical care, research and teaching and serves as the primary tertiary facility for pediatric care in the Pacific Northwest.

The primary goals of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Clinical Psychology are to help fellows develop the clinical and research skills necessary to provide care for diverse pediatric populations and to receive advanced training to support a future career in a pediatric healthcare setting or university-based training program after fellowship completion.

Psychology postdoctoral fellows will participate in a variety of clinical and didactic experiences and will have opportunities to integrate research goals into their overall plan for the fellowship. In addition, fellows may have opportunities to participate in the supervision of psychology interns and practicum students and to collaborate in multidisciplinary training opportunities. We strive to promote the strongest match possible between your training needs and goals and our program mission and goals.

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed their training in an American Psychological Association (APA)- or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)-accredited PhD or PsyD program in clinical, counseling or school psychology, as well as an APA-accredited internship. Applicants must have completed all doctoral degree requirements by the fellowship start date, including internship completion and successful dissertation defense. Preferred candidates will have a commitment to learn and actively engage in anti-racist work.

Salary and Benefits

Psychology postdoctoral fellowship salary for the 2026-2027 academic year will be a minimum of $80,168.40. See a detailed description of benefits offered by Seattle Children's.

How to Apply

Please submit completed applications to the primary contact person listed for each individual fellowship position. Final candidates will also need to apply through Seattle Children's Careers page.

Unless otherwise noted, all psychology postdoctoral fellowships will start in September 2026 and are a one-year commitment.

For More Information

General questions regarding the fellowship program should be directed to James Lolley, PsyD, Director of Postdoctoral Training, Outpatient Psychiatry or Embedded Behavioral Health fellowship at [email protected] or Erin Olson, PhD, Director of Training, Seattle Children’s Autism Center at [email protected].

Fellowship Opportunities for 2026-2027

Autism Center (one position)

Seattle Children’s Hospital is currently recruiting for a postdoctoral fellow specializing in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. The overall goal of Seattle Children’s Autism Fellowship is to train the next generation of scientist-practitioners who will demonstrate leadership in the areas of service, training, research and excellence in the care of autistic individuals and their families. We are committed to training compassionate and ethical fellows, with a deep understanding of the specific and complex needs of autistic youth and their families.

Objectives of the Seattle Children's Autism Center Postdoctoral Fellowship

Reflecting the complex and diverse nature of specialized clinical programs at Seattle Children’s Autism Center and research opportunities at UW, we are offering one postdoctoral fellowship opportunity. The Seattle Children’s Autism Center fellowship is a one-year combined clinical/research postdoctoral fellowship, with the expectation that a minimum of 20% time is spent in research activities, with remaining time in clinical training at Seattle Children’s Autism Center. Research activities can include participation in ongoing studies at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the University of Washington, or engagement in clinical research activities at the autism center. Applicants should indicate clinical rotations and research programs that are of interest.

Below is a description of the specialized activities connected to each clinical and research opportunities:

Overview of clinical programs at Seattle Children’s Autism Center

Seattle Children’s Autism Center is a national leader in caring for the diverse needs of autistic children, adolescents and young adults. We evaluate and provide treatment to over 4,300 unique patients every year. The center offers a range of medical and mental health services for children, adolescents and adults designed to meet the autism community’s needs.

Clinic-Based Diagnostic Assessment: The fellow will be provided a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in the specialty area of diagnostic assessment of autism and related disorders. The fellow will become knowledgeable about best practices for diagnostic assessments in ASD, including engagement with providers of other disciplines at the center (e.g., speech pathologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners) and gold standard tools including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition. Depending on prior experience, the fellow may also conduct complex psychological evaluations for children who present for ASD rule out in the context of complex psychiatric or psychosocial history.

Applied Behavior Analysis: The fellow will be provided a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in the specialty area of applied behavior analysis treatments for autistic youth and/or those with an intellectual/developmental disorder. Training in this rotation will include experience and supervision in behavioral assessment and treatment of aggressive, self-injurious, or disruptive behavior (Biobehavioral Outpatient Program) and/or skill acquisition in early intervention for young children 18-60 months of age (Early Intervention Program). The fellow will become knowledgeable about best practices for comprehensive evidence-based assessment and treatment across the populations these programs serve. The fellow will work within interdisciplinary teams during all levels of care (e.g., assessment and treatment). To be eligible for a rotation in our Biobehavior Outpatient Program, fellows must obtain a Certified Behavior Technician credential in the state of Washington.

Outpatient Treatment and Parent Education: The fellow will provide a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in evidenced-based treatments for autistic youth with co-occurring conditions. Depending on selected rotations, training experiences may include: (a) individual and group treatment of co-occurring mood and anxiety conditions, including OCD, using cognitive behavioral therapy, (b) brief behavioral intervention using a manualized parent-training intervention (RUBI), (c) parent training to target core skills in ASD, (d) transition services for school-age children and young adults, and (e) youth and family-based group interventions targeting emotion regulation strategies (Facing Your Fears).

Autism and Gender Clinic: The fellow will provide a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in assessment, evidence-based intervention and advocacy for intersectional youth, specifically neurodiverse youth who identify as gender diverse. The fellow will become knowledgeable about best practices with intersectional youth, including collaboration with providers in Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic (e.g., endocrinologists, adolescent medicine, nurse practitioners and social work). Fellows will participate in 1) gender support evaluation series for intersectional youth seeking gender affirming medical care, 2) complex psychological evaluation for gender diverse youth presenting with possible Autism Spectrum Disorder, 3) consultation to intersectional youth and families in support of their gender journey and understanding of intersectionality and 4) individual and group treatment of co-occurring mood and anxiety conditions, including gender dysphoria, using a trauma and equity focused lens. Depending on their interest, the fellow may also conduct neuropsychological evaluations with a focus on executive functioning skills. Fellows are also expected to participate in community outreach and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth and families.

Applied Behavior Analysis: The fellow will provide a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in the specialty area of applied behavior analysis treatments for autistic youth. Training in this rotation will include experience and supervision in behavioral assessment and treatment of aggressive, self-injurious, or disruptive behavior (Biobehavioral Outpatient Program) and/or skill acquisition in early intervention for young children 18-60 months of age (Early Intervention Program). The fellow will become knowledgeable about best practices for comprehensive evidence-based assessment and treatment across the populations these programs serve. The fellow will work within interdisciplinary teams during all levels of care (e.g., assessment and treatment).

Assessment and Consultation on the Effects of Prenatal Substance Exposure: Fellows in the Specialized Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Consultation Service (SNACS clinic) have an interest in prenatal substance exposure. The SNACS clinic provides opportunities to conduct evaluations and provide consultation for individuals with prenatal substance exposure. SNACS serves families of children with prenatal substance exposure, complex trauma and other early adversities. The SNACS model includes diagnostic interviewing; record review (medical, legal); psychological testing; collaborative feedback and treatment planning; and consultation sessions focused on increasing parent self-efficacy in understanding and advocating for their children at school and in the community. Evaluations provide comprehensive diagnostic and developmental conceptualization, with common diagnoses including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); complex trauma and PTSD; ADHD; autism; learning disabilities; and mood and anxiety disorders. Fellows commonly consult with inpatient, residential and wraparound teams and schools. Postdoctoral fellows gain particular expertise in FASD. The SNACS team engages in ongoing data collection and fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in joint publications and/or presentations.

Overview of research programs and other rotations at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington

We are committed to the scientist-practitioner model through our focus on involvement in research. Applicants are expected to have a minimum of 20% time (maximum of 80%) committed to research-related activities. This can involve engagement in research-related activities embedded within their assigned Seattle Children's Autism Center clinical program or through one of our targeted research programs. See below for a description of an upcoming research option:

School-Based Intervention Implementation Research: The ideal candidate will have relevant autism research experience and/or a strong interest in implementing interventions in real-world settings, particularly in public schools. Candidates with an active interest and/or expertise in implementation science, human-centered design or intervention science are preferred. There is an opportunity to participate in two ongoing projects:

1. A hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial testing the clinical effectiveness of RUBI for Educational Settings (RUBIES), an adaptation of the Research Units in Behavioral Intervention (RUBI) program, relative to educator psychoeducation for autistic children in elementary schools. The study also evaluates an organizational implementation strategy, Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM), to promote sustainment of RUBIES in school settings.
2. A randomized trial comparing two strategies to support paraeducators in implementing Remaking Recess, a social engagement intervention that helps autistic children and their non-autistic peers connect during recess. The study examines paraeducators’ use of Remaking Recess when receiving coaching alone versus coaching combined with consultation from school-based teams.

Fellows will have the opportunity to engage in intervention delivery as well as broader study initiatives, including preparation of manuscripts for publication.

School-Based Diagnostic Assessment: The UW Autism School Collaborative (CASCADES) focuses on increasing access to diagnostic assessment, evidence-based care and supports in collaboration with diverse school districts across Washington state. CASCADES teams are formed together with school district psychologists, speech pathologists and special educators to reach underserved children and their families within their local communities. As part of CASCADES, fellows will be provided a range of clinical and didactic opportunities to develop advanced competencies in cross-systems diagnostic assessment, training of allied health professionals, school-based consultation and public policy development. Specifically, fellows will gain experience in 1) collaborative team assessments with underserved youth and families, 2) consultation and support to the CASCADES teams and schools, 3) outreach within local underserved communities and 4) ongoing development and research evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the CASCADES model. CASCADES provides a unique opportunity for fellows to participate in a community-based collaboration model aimed at increasing equitable and coordinated access to care.

Justice-Involved Assessment and Intervention: The fellow will be provided a range of clinical opportunities to develop advanced competencies in assessment, evidence-based intervention and advocacy for justice involved youth, specifically neurodiverse and BIPOC youth at Echo Glen Children’s Center (EGCC), Washington state’s primary juvenile rehabilitation center. The fellow will join the Behavioral Health team at Echo Glen which includes University of Washington Psychiatry fellows and faculty and adolescent medicine fellows and faculty in addition to a dedicated psychology core. The fellow will gain expertise in 1) complex psychological evaluation for justice-involved youth presenting with possible autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders, 2) behavioral consultation to EGCC staff, 3) DBT for youth with ASD and neurotypical youth and 4) evidence-based trauma focused care, including TFCBT, TARGET and DBT-PE through an equity focused lens. Fellows are also expected to participate in programmatic development, research and evaluation at Echo Glen.

The postdoctoral fellowship position is available for candidates who will have obtained their PhD in clinical or school psychology and completed an APA/APPIC-approved internship prior to September 2026, and who are interested in research, clinical training, leadership and program development. Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent describing the postdoctoral fellowship they are interested in applying for as well as their clinical and research interests.

Applications are due on December 1, 2025. Qualified candidates will be invited for virtual interviews. We endeavor to extend offers by the Uniform Notification Date of February 23, 2026, and will be in communication with candidates on or before that date if they are under consideration. Seattle Children’s Hospital is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer with a strong institutional commitment to diversity in all areas.

Please direct questions and applications electronically to:

Erin Olson, PhD
Training Director, Seattle Children’s Autism Center
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington
[email protected]

Acute Psychiatry Services/Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) (one position)

Seattle Children’s Hospital's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, in association with the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, seeks applicants interested in opportunities for specialized training in the continuum of acute care services for high risk diagnostically complex youth and families. This one-year fellowship position will be approximately 30% training in outpatient clinical practice in the Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-A) Program, 30% inpatient clinical activities on the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit (PBMU), 20% in Seattle Children's Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and 20% program development and research.

Postdoctoral fellows will work closely with faculty and attending psychologists at Seattle Children's Hospital and the UW School of Medicine who will serve as mentors and supervisors. Primary mentors are Kyrill Gurtovenko, PhD, and Alysha Thompson, PhD.

Seattle Children's DBT Clinic provides full comprehensive outpatient DBT for adolescents aged 13-17 who present with significant mental health challenges including suicidality, self-harm and other complex comorbid problems. The postdoctoral fellow will be trained in all modes of gold standard DBT including individual therapy, multi-family skills group, phone coaching and DBT consultation team. The fellow will also have opportunities to be trained in more family-focused aspects of the treatment, including the DBT parent skills group, as well as experience working closely with caregivers and families as a parent therapist and phone coach. The fellow will receive weekly supervision and participate in consultation and collaborative care as a part of our multidisciplinary DBT team which includes psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatry fellows, psychology residents and practicum students. Training in DBT also includes participating in the UW Psychiatry DBT two-day workshop and six-month didactics seminar. The postdoctoral fellow will also have opportunities to get involved with research, program evaluation and measurement-based care efforts underway in our clinic. DBT is a highly flexible, comprehensive and individualized transdiagnostic therapy, with treatment lasting about six months to a year for most patients in our program. By the end of this rotation the fellow will have attained significant depth experience and expertise in utilizing DBT with a wide range of complex patients and their families.

The Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Unit (PBMU) provides training in empirically supported assessment and treatment of severe mood, anxiety, behavioral and co-morbid conditions in an inpatient psychiatry setting for children and adolescents. The multidisciplinary team is comprised of psychology and psychiatry practicum/medical students, residents and fellows, as well as psychologists, psychiatrists, advanced practice nurse practitioners, nurses, master’s-level therapists, case managers and milieu staff. On the PBMU, trainees have opportunities to assess and treat youth who present for acute services. Children and adolescents typically present with primary depression, mood instability or PTSD with a range of co-occurring issues including suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury, substance use, anxiety, neurodevelopmental disorders and disruptive behavior problems. The average length of stay is seven days, while some children and adolescents may experience longer hospitalizations. Fellows step into the role of consult psychologist on the team and duties include completing thorough diagnostic evaluations for complicated patients, serving as an expert consult for difficult therapy cases and providing consultation regarding behavior planning. Fellows will also have opportunities to participate in family meetings, conduct evidence-based skills groups on the unit, conduct groups for parents of children on the unit and supervise residents and practicum students who conduct individual and group interventions. The fellow will share responsibility with the psychology resident for structuring the time of psychology practicum students and will provide tiered supervision to these students. In turn, they will receive supervision of supervision by the attending psychologist. Co-therapy with supervisors also occurs periodically. Fellows will attend morning rounds and weekly therapist group supervision. Fellows will also have the opportunity to be involved in program development, including, but not limited to, continuing to build the group therapy curriculum based in CBT and/or DBT skills and continuing to build the behavioral interventions utilized for both individual patients and unit-wide.

As a part of the training experience across the continuum of care, the fellow will also work one day at Seattle Children's Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), which is a DBT-based program with an average length of stay of three weeks. The fellow may also have opportunities for other cross-service training and experiences within Seattle Children’s Hospital, as well as being involved in efforts to improve cultural competence and equity of care for diverse patients served across all rotations. The fellowship also includes opportunities for a variety of research collaborations, including clinically integrated research across clinical rotations, as well as other community- and hospital-based research initiatives and projects.

Competitive applicants ideally have interest and experience in clinical practice with high risk complex youth and their families, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), inpatient care, program development, training and research focused on implementing culturally sensitive evidence-based care.

Requirements: Candidates must have completed a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or related discipline from an accredited APA program, and an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship working with children/adolescents. Stipend is commensurate to the NIH salary range for postdoctoral fellows along with full medical and dental benefits. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and we will review applications as they are received. Start date is Monday, September 8, 2026.

To apply: Interested candidates should send 1) curriculum vitae, 2) a letter of interest, 3) a statement of individual and cultural diversity and 4) three letters of recommendation via email addressed to both: Kyrill Gurtovenko, PhD, at [email protected], and Alysha Thompson, PhD, at [email protected]. Please include in your letter of interest: experience with specific evidence-based treatments in a child clinical or pediatric population; theoretical orientation; research experience and interests; and relevant/specific experience with DBT, inpatient and/or PHP levels of care. Please don’t hesitate to contact Drs. Gurtovenko and Thompson via email with any questions about the fellowship.

Disruptive Behavior and Early Childhood (one position)

The Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Seattle Children's Hospital, in association with the University of Washington School of Medicine, seeks applicants interested in opportunities to specialize in the treatment of disruptive behavior problems in early childhood (ages 1-4) and school-aged children (ages 5-16). The one-year postdoctoral psychology fellow position will be approximately 70% outpatient psychiatry clinical activities split between the Early Childhood Clinic (ECC) and Behavior and Attention Management Program (BAM) and 30% research.

Services provided at ECC will include consultation visits for new patients, evaluations, and evidence-based treatments (e.g., PC-CARE, Incredible Years, Early Childhood Anxiety group). The fellow will also help develop the curriculum and lead classes to support toileting, sleep and feeding challenges in early childhood populations. Clinical activities in BAM will include co-delivering group-based parent behavior management training (PBMT) for children and teenagers with disruptive or aggressive behavior, conducting diagnostic evaluations for ADHD and related disorders and delivering individualized PBMT for families in crisis due to high-acuity aggressive and disruptive behavior. Clinical activities in both clinics involve regular consultation and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

The fellow’s research time will be focused on the implementation and evaluation of a parent-focused intervention to promote language development in toddlers with cleft palate (BOOST; NIDCR UH3 DE029753) under the mentorship of Dr. Brent Collett. Activities will include learning to implement the intervention model with fidelity and working with study participants. The fellow will participate as a co-author on abstracts and manuscripts and will lead at least one abstract or manuscript as first author. They will also participate in grant-writing efforts for studies related to early childhood neurodevelopment with the opportunity to submit at least one intra-mural or extra-mural grant as principal investigator. The fellow will participate in regular interdisciplinary lab meetings and other opportunities to meet with collaborators.

Selection criteria or preferred qualifications

Applicants must have completed all graduation requirements from a doctoral program in clinical, counseling or school psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Ideal candidates will have experience providing parent behavior management training, clinical experience with young children under age 5 and previous research experience. Bonus for previous research and clinical experience in delivering culturally-sensitive evidence-based treatments in early childhood.

How to apply

The application deadline is December 30, 2025. Interested candidates should send 1) curriculum vitae, 2) a letter of interest and 3) three letters of recommendation via email addressed to both [email protected] and [email protected]. Please include in your letter of interest: experience with specific evidence-based treatments in a general child clinical or pediatric population and parent behavior management training specifically; theoretical orientation; research experience and interests (if applicable); and relevant/specific experience in externalizing disorders and/or early childhood. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Erin Gonzalez via email with any questions about the fellowship.

Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP) and Community Based Implementation Science (one position)

This fellowship will consist of 50% time delivering clinical services and 50% time engaged in research training and activities in community-based implementation science. Research time will be split equally across two projects (described below) and will include both implementation of project activities (e.g., clinical trials, data collection) as well as data analysis and manuscript writing. All clinical and research activities described below are concurrent year-long rotations.

Clinical Rotation (50%): Mood and Anxiety Program (MAP) (Supervisor: Danzo/Lolley)

The fellow will primarily work within the depression pathway within the MAP outpatient team at Seattle Children’s Hospital, gaining experience conducting intake evaluations and feedback sessions, providing short-term individual therapy, and groups for youth with depression and comorbidities. The fellow may also have opportunities for cross-service training and experiences in MAP (e.g., anxiety group, Seattle Children's Crisis Care Clinic) or the Embedded Behavioral Health program (EBH; e.g., pulmonary clinic). The fellow will also participate in consultation with schools, primary care providers, community- and school-based therapists and Public Health – Seattle and King County.

Research Rotation 1 (25%): Suicide Prevention in Primary Care (Supervisor: Danzo)

The fellow will gain research experience working with Dr. Danzo on her NIMH K23 implementing and evaluating an adapted suicide prevention program in pediatric primary care in Washington state.

Research Rotation 2 (25%): School-Based Mental Health (Supervisor: Liu)

UW/Seattle Children's Psychiatry has been providing clinical consultation and system-level implementation support to the Seattle/King Country school-based mental health program for over a decade. The fellow will gain experience in applying implementation science to real-world implementation, working with community partners and implementation of research skills.

Selection criteria or preferred qualifications, if applicable

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology or School Psychology from an APA-accredited program
• Completion (or near completion) of an APA-accredited predoctoral clinical internship
• Strong foundational knowledge of evidence-based interventions (e.g., CBT, DBT, behavioral activation)
• Prior research and/or clinical experience focused on adolescent depression, suicide prevention and related mood/anxiety disorders in children/adolescents
• Familiarity with suicide risk assessment, safety planning and crisis intervention
• Demonstrated research experience relevant to child/adolescent mental health (e.g., clinical trials, implementation science, intervention development or community-based research)
• Strong oral and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary clinical and research teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with measurement-based care, data collection systems or quality improvement initiatives
• Evidence of scholarly productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations)
• Demonstrated interest in health equity, culturally responsive care or improving access to mental health services in diverse communities
• Experience supervising or mentoring trainees (e.g., graduate students, research assistants)
• Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Mplus or Dedoose) or mixed methods research approaches.

How to apply

Interested candidates should send the following materials via email to [email protected] and [email protected]:

1. A cover letter that describes your interest in the position
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A statement of relevant diversity or health equity experiences
4. Three letters of recommendation

Pediatric Psychology (one position)

The Pediatric Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2026-2027 is designed to prepare the postdoctoral level trainee for a career in a medical-academic setting providing behavioral healthcare to youth in a multidisciplinary setting. The fellow will work across inpatient settings and outpatient clinics with youth in rehabilitation medicine, cystic fibrosis program, diabetes clinics and the gut-brain health program. The fellow will provide behavioral health assessments/interventions; short and longer-term individual and family therapy; psychological diagnostic evaluations and group interventions.

Additionally, the fellow will be allotted 0.2 FTE (one day/week) to participate in research as part of the pediatric pulmonary center. There are also opportunities to supervise practicum students in a tiered supervision model in the Cancer Survivorship Clinic (pending practicum student recruitment).

This fellowship is jointly supervised by Drs. Sara Fligelman, Freda Liu, Ashley Moss and Emily Beckmann.

How to apply

Applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest and three letters of recommendation via email to Dr. Joanna Patten at [email protected]. Applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position has been filled.