Postgraduate Social Work Fellowship
2 YEAR POST-GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship Summary
The Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University offers a two-year post-graduate fellowship for newly graduated social workers. This full-time training opportunity is focused on developing psychotherapy skills that integrate developmental theories (attachment, differentiation, intersubjectivity), psychodynamic approaches, family systems theory, religious/spiritual/existential concerns and resources, cultural humility and social justice commitment, therapist formation, and salient research.
Those interested in applying for the post-graduate fellowship must plan to complete their Master of Social Work (or equivalent) degree prior to the beginning of the fellowship on September 1. Fellows must be minimally approved to take the ASWB Masters examination at start, ideally already holding the Massachusettes-granted Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) credential. All fellows must be licensed at the LCSW level within 60 days of the start of the fellowship.
Fellowship hours and supervision can be applied towards the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) credential requirements in Massachusetts. Fellows should be aware that the fellowship will not grant the full 3,500 hours required for independent licensure on its own.
Training Framework:
Post-graduate social work fellows will train alongside psychology doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows in a multi-disciplinary framework. Weekly trainings will be focused on developing clinical skills that integrate the perspectives mentioned above. Fellows will also have an opportunity to learn and apply the Danielsen Institute Relational Spirituality Model (RSM). The fellowship emphasizes critical, collaborative reflection upon clinical activities and attention to personal formation in addition to knowledge and skill development. Fellows will be asked to reflect upon their personal history and identity as relevant to working effectively with issues of identity and diversity, including a genogram presentation.
Post-graduate fellows will also receive two hours of weekly supervision from LICSW-level social workers, as well as weekly group supervision in a variety of formats. Fellows will also meet in a special Social Work Collegium, focused on issues and topics pertinent to social workers and in alignment with the NASW Code of Ethics.
More details on the overall structure of our program can be found at https://www.bu.edu/danielsen/training/
Fellowship Schedule:
The post-graduate fellowship begins on September 1, 2025 and continues through August 31, 2027. The major training day is Wednesday, with several additional meetings on other days. Apart from scheduled meetings and supervision, the remainder of the weekly schedule is available to fellows to schedule their clinical sessions. Fellows will be expected to see between 14-16 clients per week, with a requirement to offer at least two evenings per week. The remainder of the time can be scheduled during open clinic hours from 8 AM – 8 PM, Monday – Thursday; 8 AM – 1 PM, Friday.
Additionally, fellows should plan for a full-time onboarding and training orientation during the first two weeks of September in-person from 8 AM – 5 PM.
Please see below for a sample training schedule.
Compensation:
Post-graduate fellows are two-year, salaried employees of Boston University, and are eligible for all benefits afforded to full-time staff of the University including retirement (with 3% match), health insurance through BCBSMA, and generous holiday, sick time, and vacation time.
The salary for 2025-2026 is: $58,656
More details on benefits can be found at: https://www.bu.edu/hr/employee-resources/benefits/
Requirements for perspective candidates:
- Solid grounding in attachment, psychodynamic, and family systems theories
- Openness to exploring and working with clients’ religious / spiritual / existential issues
- Interest and readiness in a formational approach to training that includes working with transference and countertransference considerations
- Clinical experience as demonstrated in advanced MSW field placement
Application:
To apply, please submit the following:
- Application form found here
- Current CV (include anticipated MSW graduation date if still in school)
- 3 letters of reference
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- 1 must be from 2nd year MSW field placement
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- 2 additional professional letters attesting to the readiness for a post-graduate fellowship.
- Copy of mid-year and final field education evaluations from first year MSW internship and the mid-year evaluation from the second/final year internship.
- Unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate and graduate program(s)
- Three brief essays:
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- Describe your interest in the fellowship, primarily, your interest and readiness to explore spiritual, religious, theological, and existential issues in your clinical practice.
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- Describe your primary theoretical orientation and your exposure to and background in attachment, psychodynamic, and family systems theories.
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- Describe your experience and interest in working with issues of diversity and social injustice in professional practice.
Please send completed application materials to:
Makena Anise Shaughnessy
Education Coordinator
Email Subject Line: Post-Graduate Social Work Fellowship Application
If you have any questions, please email:
The Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck, MDiv, DSW, LICSW
Assistant Director of Training
Staff Clinical Social Worker
or
David Rupert, PsyD, LP
Director of Training
Staff Psychologist
ABOUT THE DANIELSEN INSTITUTE
The Danielsen Institute Clinic is a multidisciplinary outpatient community mental health clinic licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The mission of the Institute is to alleviate suffering and to promote healing, growth, and change in the persons, communities and institutions that we serve through research, training, and direct clinical service. Our clinical services, including individual, group, and couples psychotherapy, and psychological and neuropsychological testing, and these services attend to all dimensions of a client’s personhood including spirituality and religious faith should the client so desire.