Forensic Psychologist
Psychologist Positions are available in the California Department of Mental Health at Atascadero State Hospital
Located on California's Central Coast, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Atascadero State Hospital is working to transition to a Recovery Model of Care and increasing our staffing quite significantly. We welcome applications from postdoctoral trainees as well as psychologists who are considering relocation.
Atascadero State Hospital (ASH) is a maximum security, JCAHO- accredited forensic facility designed for the care and treatment of mentally ill men either charged with crimes or previously convicted of crimes. Mentally ill men are legally committed to the hospital as Incompetent to Stand Trial, Mentally Disordered Offenders, Mentally Ill Prisoners, or a Sexually Violent Predator. Treatment is geared towards treatment goals inherent in these commitments and based on the Wellness and Recovery Model. Atascadero State Hospital employs over 1800 people and has 1250 beds.
Clinical psychologists at the hospital provide the following duties: psychological assessment, psychological treatment, treatment planning, forensic reviews and evaluations, and behavioral interventions. Clinical psychologists are part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatry, social work, rehabilitation therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, registered nurses, and psychiatric technicians. Salaries for licensed psychologists range from $96,000 - $102,000 per year, and for unlicensed psychologists salaries range from $81,000 - $84,000 per year.
We offer excellent opportunities and benefits including health, vision, dental, paid vacations and holidays, continuing education units, life insurance, retirement, investment options, an on-site child care center, and a free 24 hour employee fitness center.
Required qualifications include a doctorate degree from an accredited program in psychology, but a candidate does not need to be licensed. If hired, you must obtain California licensure as a psychologist within 3 years. The hospital provides individual and group supervision while you are preparing for licensing exams. To practice as a psychologist in the hospital requires ultimately becoming a member of the medical staff.
To begin the application process submit a curriculum vita to Susan Cahill, susan.cahill@ash.dmh.ca.gov; it will be forwarded to the Credentials Committee for review. We shall contact you once your CV has been reviewed. If you have questions regarding this process, please contact me at erosten@ash.dmh.ca.gov.
Atascadero State Hospital is located 225 miles south of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles. The hospital is in San Luis Obispo County, which encompasses 100 miles of pristine coastline, a rapidly growing wine industry, agricultural lands, ranches, and a carefully preserved rural quality. San Luis Obispo County contains pleasant small communities with excellent schools, California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Cuesta Community College, and access to land and air transportation. The seaside communities of Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria offer ocean breezes, beautiful beaches, fine dining and entertainment. San Simeon and Hearst Castle are less than an hour’s drive to the north along California’s spectacular coastline winding its way north to Big Sur. Within a two hour drive to the north are Pebble Beach, Carmel by the Sea, and the world famous Cannery Row on the Monterey Peninsula. Two hours to the south is Santa Barbara, its famous beaches, the Santa Barbara Zoo and many historical landmarks.
