Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory Entry

Department of Forensic Services at the Center for Behavioral Medicine

Center for Behavioral Medicine, Missouri Department of Mental Health
Kansas City, Missouri

Starts on Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Applications due Friday, January 2, 2026

This training experience is not an APPIC Member program and is not APA Accredited. Applicants should be aware that this training experience has not undergone a formal external quality review process.

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

This training experience is a planned and programmed sequence of training that aims to ensure preparation for advanced practice rather than one that is focused on providing supervised hours for licensure. Yes

This training experience ensures that training takes precedence over service delivery regarding the nature, content, volume, and quality of the postdoc’s activities. Yes

This training experience ensures that postdocs receive at least two hours of individual supervision per week for the duration of the experience. Yes

This training experience is administered by a doctoral-level licensed psychologist who directs and organizes the training experience and its resources, is responsible for the selection of postdocs, and monitors and evaluates the goals and activities of the experience. Yes

This training experience has two or more doctoral-level licensed psychologists who have sufficient time to provide quality supervision and training.   Yes

This training experience includes regularly scheduled structured educational activities that help postdocs its defined goals. These activities may include didactics, seminars, case conferences, and/or research activities. Yes

This training experience has written Due Process and Grievance procedures. Yes

This training experience has the stable and necessary financial (e.g., stipend) and physical resources (e.g., computers, physical space) needed for effective training. Yes

2026-2027 Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship

Two 12-month postdoctoral fellowships in Forensic Psychology, beginning September 1, 2026, are offered through the Outpatient Department of Forensic Psychology at the Center for Behavioral Medicine, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.

Board Certification in Forensic Psychology

Our training program has been certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology for their five-year experience waiver for board certification in forensic psychology.

Core training components:

Residents complete court-ordered mental examinations of criminal defendants under the supervision of licensed psychologists. Psycho-legal questions include Competency to Stand Trial, Competency Restoration, Mental State at the Time of the Offense, and Sexually Violent Predator status. The opportunity to provide expert testimony in court is available.
Residents provide supervision to psychology pre-doctoral interns.
Residents will provide treatment and consultation services for inpatient forensic patients. This will include one treatment group of the resident's choosing related to competency restoration.
Upon completion of the training program, residents will have satisfied clinical and supervisory requirements for licensing as a psychologist in the State of Missouri.

Forensic Evaluations Include:

Competency to Stand Trial
Competency Restoration
Criminal Responsibility

Additional training components:

In addition to serving on the hospital ethics committee, residents may attend hospital-wide grand rounds and case conferences. Residents will participate in a monthly didactic covering relevant psycho-legal topics. Opportunities to participate in clinical programming, including providing individual and group treatment, are available. Postdoctoral residents are also welcome to shadow private practice evaluations when such opportunities are available. Postdoctoral residents may participate in the Mock Trial didactic provided to interns if they are interested.

https://https://dmh.mo.gov/center-for-behavioral-medicine/psychology-training/post-doctoral-residency

Additional Information

Agency Type: State Hospital
APPIC Membership: No
APA Accredited: No
Recognized Specialty: Forensic Psychology
Emphasis or focus area: Assessment
Other Emphasis: Forensic Evaluations
Research Time: Less than 25%
Training Director: Christopher Robertson, Ph.D.
Contact Email: cbmpostdoc@dmh.mo.gov
Contact Phone: 816-512-7254
Virtual Interviews: Virtual Only
Duration in Months: 12
Hours Per Week: 40
# of Licensed Supervisors: 5
Number of Positions: 2
Applications recieved last year: 12
Accepts Int'l Students: Yes
International Application Details: No formal support is provided other than flexibility. We have had two international postdocs so far who have needed to delay their start dates due to visa applications taking longer than expected, and that has been no issue for us. However, ultimately the responsibility is on the incoming postdocs to handle their unique immigration situations.
Stipend: $58,895
Will follow APPIC Selection Standards: Yes
Estimated offer date: Friday, February 13 2026
Created Date: Tuesday, November 21 2017
Fringe Benefits: Residents receive full State of Missouri employee benefits. These benefits include: fifteen (15) days paid annual leave, fifteen (15) days sick leave, thirteen (13) paid holidays, medical and life insurance plans, and retirement.
Research opportunities: No formal opportunities for conducting research are available; however, forensic residents are welcome to conduct independent research within the department.
Application Instructions: Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled and should include the following: 1. Statement of training interests and goals. 2. Curriculum vitae. 3. Two sample psychological reports, preferably related to a forensic issue. 4. Three letters of reference from individuals familiar with the applicant’s clinical experiences (sent directly by the authors). 5. Letter from the director of the applicant’s training program verifying date of completion/anticipated completion of doctorate. 6. Doctoral program transcript All application materials should be e-mailed to Selection Committee at cbmpostdoc@dmh.mo.gov. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

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