UCLA Nathanson Family Resilience Center Post-Doctoral Fellowship
The UCLA Nathanson Family Resilience Center (NFRC) offers clinical and research post-doctoral training in family-centered care for families facing adversity. The NFRC uses innovative, science-driven approaches to support families in building upon their strengths to overcome a variety of challenges. By bridging the gap between research and practice, the center promotes healthy child and family development and addresses long-standing disparities in access to high-quality prevention and intervention programs.
The fellowship is a full-time appointment and offers an anticipated salary of at least $74,880, plus a comprehensive package of benefits, including health insurance (which includes medical, dental, and vision care; see https://www.ucresidentbenefits.com/enrolling/use-your-benefits/).
Travel stipends will be considered and reviewed individually when fellows are presenting and representing UCLA NFRC at conferences.
Requirements include: a Ph.D./Psy.D. in Clinical, Counseling or School Psychology from an APA accredited program, with an APA-approved internship (child specialization is required). These two-year fellowships are renewable upon satisfactory completion of the first year.
The LGBTQ Youth Trauma, Resilience, and Community Education fellowship focuses on (1) clinical training with LGBTQ youth and their families and (2) community care and education related to LGBTQ youth and trauma-informed mental health care. The fellowship offers clinical training in specialized mental health care through the UCLA EMPWR (“empower”) Program for LGBTQ Youth (www.uclahealth.org/empwr), with a specific emphasis on adolescents and young adults/transitional age youth dealing with stress and/or trauma in a hospital-based outpatient setting. The fellow will receive in-depth training in comprehensive evaluations, affirmative care for LGBTQ patients, evidence-based trauma-focused interventions, and resilience-based interventions. Treatment modalities primarily include individual and group therapy, as well as brief family interventions.
The fellow will also actively engage in supervision of junior trainees, interdisciplinary (psychiatry/psychology) case conferences, relevant seminars, and teaching in both academic and community settings. The fellow will participate in a county-partnership program to train school and/or community providers in preventive strategies related to mental health. Specific roles will include serving as a content expert, leading trainings, and involvement in other related projects. Lastly, the fellow will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing research on group and family interventions for highly stressed LGBTQ youth.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter with their statement of research, clinical interests and goals, curriculum vitae, and three (3) letters of recommendation to Dr. Natalia Ramos, MD at EMPWR@mednet.ucla.edu.
Applications will be reviewed beginning December 2nd, 2025 and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
The Lezlie and Richard Atlas Fellowship in Early Childhood and Integrated Care focuses on early intervention and prevention efforts for young children and their families. Clinically, the fellow will work directly with families with a baby born into the UCLA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during hospital visits, officevisits, and telehealth sessions. The fellow will also work closely with medical providers and the hospital system to provide staff education on trauma- and resilience-informed care. Fellows have an opportunity for an elective in STAR Clinic, PCIT Clinic or the DMH+UCLA Early Childhood Fellowship. Curriculum development, program evaluation, outreach, supervision of junior trainees, and training facilitation are integral to the experience. Fellows benefit from seminars on intervention research methods, grant writing, supervision of supervision, and professional development.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter with their statement of research and clinical interests and goals, curriculum vitae, and three (3) letters of recommendation to Dr. Sierra Kuzava at skuzava@mednet.ucla.edu.
Applications will be reviewed beginning December 1st, 2025 and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
The Stress, Trauma And Resilience (STAR) fellowship focuses on clinical training through the STAR Clinic, which provides trauma-informed outpatient services, including evaluation, consultation, and treatment to children and families affected by trauma and other life adversities. Fellows receive robust, advanced training and supervision in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress), as well as many key professional competencies, including:
-Leadership and administrative skills
-Conducting structured phone screenings
-Developing and managing referral networks
-Conducting intake evaluations
-Facilitating group therapy
-Interdisciplinary collaboration
-Multicultural competencies
-Clinical teaching
-Provision of clinical supervision
These competencies are enhanced through direct clinical service with supervision from licensed clinicians, participation in seminars, clinical meetings and case conferences, and consultation with multidisciplinary teams. Fellows have opportunities to teach seminars to psychology interns and psychiatry fellows, and to supervise the clinical work of junior trainees. In addition, fellows facilitate trauma-informed parenting and family groups.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter with their statement of research and clinical interests and goals, curriculum vitae, and three (3) letters of recommendation to Dr. Blanca Orellana at Borellana@mednet.ucla.edu.
Applications will be reviewed beginning December 1st, 2025 and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Coming Soon
UCLA TIES for Families
UCLA TIES for Families offers the following professional training opportunities.
University of California, Los Angeles, Division of Population Behavioral Health, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA
UCLA TIES for Families is accepting applications for an APPIC-member Clinical Child Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship to begin September 2025. The mission of UCLA TIES for Families is to improve outcomes for foster children, from birth to age 21, with special needs who are or will be in adoptive placement and their adopting families. Clinicians provide treatment and comprehensive psychological evaluations for children and their resource/adoptive families within an interdisciplinary team while consulting with child welfare workers.
The following postdoctoral fellow tracks are available for the upcoming training year:
Infant Mental Health (2-years)
Clinical (1-year)
Clinical-Research (1-year)
Clinical postdoctoral fellows provide the following services to children and families:
– Child, adolescent, and family psychotherapy utilizing evidence-based approaches (e.g. Child Parent – – –
Psychotherapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Managing and Adapting Practice, Attachment Regulation and Competency, PEERS, Reflective Parenting Program, Seeking Safety, UCLA TIES Transition Model)
– Group therapy, aimed at fostering attachment and better supporting both children and families adjusting to the specific circumstances of adoptive placement Involvement in the Infant Mental Health program, including developmental assessments, home visiting, and parent-infant support groups
– Therapeutic home visiting to strengthen parent-child attachment, support parents through the child welfare and court systems, and provide interactive guidance about developmental, emotional and behavioral issues of infants and toddlers
– Participation in clinical trial of ADAPT, a manualized adoption-specific intervention for older children being adopted from foster care and their parents
– Interdisciplinary, comprehensive psychological evaluations
Clinical-Research postdoctoral fellows split time providing clinical services mentioned above (60%) while engaging with the research team on a collaboratively identified clinical research project (40%).
Infant Mental Health postdoctoral fellows provide the clinical services mentioned above, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of infants and toddlers and their foster/adoptive families. Click here for more information on the IMH program.
All postdoctoral psychology fellows will complete a project during their training. They have the opportunity to lead new data collection efforts or work from existing projects. A list of previous, current, and upcoming research projects, presentations, and publications will be provided for reference. Click here for more information about the project.
Download our Postdoctoral Fellowship Brochure
Click here to view Postdoctoral Research Brochure
Click here to view handout about the postdoctoral research project
Application deadline is December 1, 2025. To apply, send curriculum vitae, cover letter, and three letters of reference directly to Paisha Allmendinger at pallmendinger@mednet.ucla.edu or mail to UCLA TIES for Families, 1000 Veteran Ave, Box 957142, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7142.
Start date is September 1, 2026.
UCLA is an equal opportunity employer. Please note this is a distinct and separate position than the fellowship advertised with Harbor-UCLA.
Current Postdocs:
Jennifer Scheller, Ph.D. (Clinical)B. Erika Luis Sanchez, Ph.D. (Clinical-Research)Kendra Knudsen, Ph. D. (Infant Mental Health)
2023-2024
Ana-Carina Ordaz, Ph.D.Debra Christy, Psy.D.
2022-2023
Samantha Gonzalez, Ph.D.Tiffani Tejada, Psy.D.; Licensed Clinical Psychologist at UCLA TIES for Families
2021-2022
Christine Moody, Ph.D.; Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Director of Research at UCLA PEERS ClinicGillian Binnie, Psy.D.; Licensed Child and Family Psychologist Nekolas Milton, Psy.D.; Registered Psychological Associate; Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University
2020-2021
Jessica O’Leary, Ph.D; Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Private PracticeLucia Cardenas, Ph.D.; Private Practice; Adjunct ProfessorChristine Moody, Ph.D.; Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Director of Research at UCLA PEERS Clinic
2019-2020
Mercedes Fernandez Oromendia, Ph.D.; Executive Functioning Coaching; Consultant for mental health startupsErica Wendel, Ph.D.; Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and The Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California
2018-2019
Elizabeth Ollen, Ph.D. – Clinical Director, EMPWR Program for LGBTQ Youth at UCLA SemelMercedes Fernandez Oromendia, Ph.D.Diana Santacrose, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts at Loyola Marymount UniversityErica Wendel, Ph.D. – Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and The Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California
2017-2018
Kristen Axelsen, Psy.D.Alycia Davis, Psy.D. – Staff Psychologist, UCLA TIES for FamiliesCaitlin Lepore, Ph.D., LCSW – Research and Program Evaluation at County of Santa Barbara
2016-2017
Debora Jason, Ph.D. – Co-Founder and Clinical Director at Trauma TherapyCaitlin Lepore, Ph.D., LCSW
2015-2016
Allison Brandt, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor at Pacific University, School of Graduate PsychologyDebora Ganz, Ph.D. – Clinical Director and Co-Founder, Trauma Therapy CA; Clinical Psychologist II, Orange County Health Care Agency, Clinical Evaluation & Guidance Unit, Orangewood Children and Family Center
2014-2015
Jennifer Ly, Ph.D. – Clinical Psychologist at UCSFMatthew Ruderman, Ph.D. – Research and Program Development Manager, UCLA TIES
2013-2014
Rachael Berg-Martinez, Ph.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Western Youth Services
2012-2013
Kalani Makanui, Ph.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Didi HirschMaria Paasivirta, Ph.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Summit Center Los Angeles
2011-2012
David Anderson, Ph.D. – Senior Director, ADHD and Disruptive Behavioral Disorders Center at Child Mind InstituteJennifer Shultz, Psy.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice in Los Angeles, CA”
2010-2011
Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Ph.D. – Chief Policy Consultant to the California State AssemblyJennifer Shultz, Psy.D
2009-2010
Kristin Olson, Ph.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Harbor Regional Center and Private Practice in South Bay California
2008-2009
Sapana Donde, Ph.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice in Austin, TXHeather Gibb, Psy.D. – Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice in Downers Grove, IL
UCLA Doctoral Internship Program in Clinical Psychology as part of the Stress, Trauma and Resilience Child Track
The Division of Psychology within the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences of the David Geffen School Medicine, the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital offer a 12-month clinical psychology internship. Interns part of the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Track (STAR) can complete hours at TIES. For information about the program, please visit their website below: https://education.semel.ucla.edu/clinical-psychology-training-programs/
UCLA Psychology Doctoral Practicum Training Programs
The UCLA Psychology Doctoral Practicum Training Programs (also known as Pre-Internships or Clerkships) are available for pre-doctoral students in psychology. We currently have 2-4 positions each year; the commitment is 16 hours per week for a minimum of 12-months, and typical start dates are September 1. Externs are expected to be at TIES on Mondays and Wednesdays.
For current information about our graduate student practicum placement/externship at TIES, please apply below:
Apply to Psychology Doctoral Practicum Programs
Level II Fieldwork for USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
In collaboration with USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, TIES has 1-2 Occupational Therapist, Level II Fieldwork positions available every training year. For more information, please visit:
https://chan.usc.edu/academics/fieldwork
Social Work Field Education and Internships
In collaboration with the UCLA Department of Social Welfare and USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, TIES accepts 1-2 social work interns looking for field agency placement per training year. For more information, please visit the following and see information about TIES below:
https://luskin.ucla.edu/social-welfare
https://online.usc.edu/programs/social-work/
Information About TIES
Click here to view more about our program
Click here to view the TIES brochure
Field/Practicum Instructors
Ahab Liskin, LCSW
aliskin@mednet.ucla.edu
310-825-6692
Belveth Marroquin, LCSW
bmarroquin@mednet.ucla.edu
310-267-5691
Brenda Pitchford, MSW
bpitchford@mednet.ucla.edu
310-825-6250
UCLA TIES Brochure