Post-doctoral Psychology Assistants - Grow with DBH

• Post-doctoral Psychology Assistants
• Grow Here at DBH!

Who We Are:

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

Dbh Values:

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.

Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

All six locations are hiring!

What You'Ll Do At Dbh:

This limited-term program aims to grow Ohio’s psychologist workforce to meet the needs of our patients within our regional psychiatric hospitals. Participants gain advanced skills while helping to improve hospital capacity and patient outcomes.

Our regional hospitals have a high percentage of justice-involved patients. Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants will gain experience in the specialized area of forensic psychology during their term. In this program, Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants may have the opportunity to conduct psychological evaluations, including cognitive, personality, and risk assessments, may assist in diagnosing mental health conditions and in the development and implementation of treatment plans and provide clinical interventions such as individual and group therapy. Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants may also be involved in court ordered forensic assessments, observing testimony, consultation and may provide umbrella training supervision.

This program provides Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants invaluable experience in working with complex mental health cases while preparing Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants for licensure and long-term careers as psychologists.

Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistants will also contribute to hospital initiatives aimed at improving patient care and treatment outcomes, as well as working closely with psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and other team members to coordinate patient care within our regional psychiatric hospitals.

This is an hourly position covered by the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 bargaining unit (union). The job classification title for a Post-Doctoral Psychology Assistant is Project Employee Psychology Assistant with a pay range of 13. Please see Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 Pay Range Schedule.

This position is limited-term (temporary), and will only last up to two years for post-doctoral employees who are working towards licensure in psychology from an accredited university.

Psychology Assistants Will Receive:

SEIU/1199 Union representation,  as well as generous state employment benefits, which include:

• Medical Benefits
• Continuing Education
• Paid Holiday, Sick, Vacation, & Personal Leave
• Pay Increases

Those who successfully completed their fellowship and become licensed in the state have preference for available psychology positions in the DBH system. 
 

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Position Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Psychology with psychology pre-doctoral internship must be conferred from an accredited university prior to the start of the post-doctoral fellowship.
• Primary Job Skill: Behavioral Health
• Technical Skills: Basic Documentation, Clerical & Data Entry, Counseling & Rehabilitation, Psychology
• Professional Skills: Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Interpreting Data, Organizing and Planning

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Application Procedures
To be considered for this position, you must apply online through this posting website (careers.ohio.gov). We no longer accept paper applications. When completing your online Ohio Civil Service Application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined on this job posting. We will not give credit for your qualifications, experience, education, and training in the job selection process if there is no evidence provided on your application. In addition, “see resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be fully supported by the work experience/education sections of your application. You may check the status of your application by signing into your profile on this website (careers.ohio.gov). We will communicate with you through the email you provided in your profile and job application. Be sure to check your email regularly.

Background Check Notice
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant’s prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Rule 5122-7-21, “Background check on applicants,” outlines disqualifying offenses that will preclude an applicant from being employed by the Department of Behavioral Health.

If you require a reasonable accommodation for the application process, assessment &/or interview, please contact Andrew Seifert, EEO/ADA Administrator at andrew.seifert@dbh.ohio.gov or 614-466-8884.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.