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Training and Education

The Forensic Evaluation Center provides supervised training experiences for various mental health disciplines.

 

Pre-doctoral Psychology Practicum: Each academic year, we typically offer in-person, part-time positions to graduate psychology students from local universities seeking advanced training in psychological assessment and introduction to the forensic specialty. The primary goal of the practicum experience is to enhance the student’s psychological assessment skills in preparation for pre-doctoral internship. All training experiences are supervised by a licensed psychologist and conducted in accordance with the sponsoring institution’s requirements.

 

Supervised experiences include selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological testing, including (but not limited to) intelligence, cognitive, academic achievement, and performance and symptom validity tests, as well as exposure to (and possible training on) various instruments used in forensic mental health assessment (e.g., risk assessment instruments, competency assessment instruments). Practicum students provide consultation to psychiatric and social work forensic examiners on psychological testing and, when necessary, conduct testing to assist in examiners’ evaluations for the Court. Practicum students are also supervised in the provision of clinical interviews and drafting of written reports for defendants referred to the FEC for determination of their clinical eligibility for specialty court programming. Additional practical and educational opportunities are offered as available and in consideration of the student’s training goals and needs.

 

Interested students from local Clinical or Counseling Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs may apply to the position by emailing the following materials to Dr. Tatiana Matlasz, Director of Training and Education (tmatlasz@cuyahogacounty.gov):

  1. Curriculum vitae;
  2. Deidentified psychological assessment report (preferably an integrated report);
  3. Cover letter identifying your interest in the position and clinical experience, including readiness for an advanced assessment practicum;
  4. The name and contact information of your training director or clinical supervisor who can speak to your current clinical skills and areas in need of additional training prior to internship.

Applicants who are perceived to be a good fit for the position will be contacted to schedule an interview.

 

 

Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship: The FEC is a rotation site for fellows of the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship, sponsored by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. The key goal of this rotation is to enhance the fellows’ overall forensic mental health assessment skills by gaining experience with court-ordered evaluations in a community-based setting. Their work is supervised by licensed practitioners who serve as faculty of the CWRU Fellowship.

 

Psychiatry residents interested in the CWRU Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program are encouraged to click here for more information. 

 

 

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology: The FEC houses a 12-month, 2,000-hour training program designed to prepare doctoral-level practitioners for independent practice in forensic psychology. Over the course of the year, the fellow engages in practical and educational activities to develop the foundational and functional competencies necessary to work in the field of forensic psychology, and to pursue board certification in forensic psychology in the future, should they be interested. Fellows also gain the requisite supervised hours for licensure application.

 

For more information on the FEC’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forensic Psychology, please click here.

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to formal supervised training experiences, the FEC also offers regular trainings and presentations on a variety of forensic mental health topics. If you are interested in having one of our staff provide a training to your organization, please reach out to Dr. Tatiana Matlasz, Director of Training and Education (tmatlasz@cuyahogacounty.gov) to learn more about our offerings and availability.