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Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
VA Long Beach Healthcare System Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center 5901 East 7th Street (06/116B) Long Beach, CA 90822 (562) 826-5604
http://www.longbeach.va.gov/ https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and- fellowships/psychology-training/
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Monday, December 2, 2024 at 11:59PM EST
Clinical Neuropsychology
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11:59PM EST
Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program
Women’s Mental Health & Trauma Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Rehabilitation Psychology
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
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Application and Selection Procedures
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Training Model and Program Philosophy
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Program Goals and Objectives
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Psychology Fellowship Training Experiences
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Method and Frequency of Evaluation
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Requirements for the Completion of Postdoctoral Fellowship
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Facility and Training Resources
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Administrative Policies and Procedures
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Psychology postdoctoral training faculty
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Doctoral Programs of Recent Fellows
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Local Information
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INTRODUCTION
The first cohort of Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows began in September 2008. Our program received full re-accreditation in 2019 and our next site visit will be in 2029. The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology was granted specialty accreditation in 2018 and the next site visit will be in 2028. The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology was granted specialty accreditation in 2020 and the next site visit will be in 2028. The VALBHCS is part of a national network of medical centers and clinics operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with the mission of providing comprehensive health care to men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. The VALBHCS is responding to many sweeping national changes in the presentation of syndromes suffered by our returning Veterans. Our training program will continuously refine our assessment and intervention techniques to address the needs of our many returning Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedon (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND), while at the same time attending to the needs of our aging Veterans. Psychology operates in a collegial fashion with other disciplines, and practicum students, interns and postdoctoral fellows all obtain much of their training and clinical experience in the context of multidisciplinary teamwork. The majority of supervisors in the Psychology Training Program are members of the Mental Health Care Group, and there are approximately 50 psychologists on our staff. In addition to the Medical, Surgical, and Mental Health Care programs, VALBHCS has a variety of specialized regional programs including a national Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Center and a Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC). The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHCS) was awarded full re-accreditation in 2019. The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology was granted specialty accreditation in 2018 and the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology was granted specialty accreditation in 2020.
Our Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program will offer training in five areas for the 2025-2026 year:
1. Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis Two positions open with a 1-year duration
2. Women’s Mental Health & Trauma Emphasis One position open with a 1-year duration
3. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Emphasis One position open with a 1-year duration
4. Rehabilitation Psychology One position open with a 2-year duration
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5. Clinical Neuropsychology One position open with a 2-year duration
Questions regarding the program’s accredited status can be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1 st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 (202) 336-5979 e-mail: apaaccred@apa.org Internet url: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURES
All applicants to the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at VA Long Beach Healthcare System must have received a doctorate from an APA (American Psychological Association) or CPA (Canadian Psychological Association) accredited graduate program in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology or PCSAS (Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System) accredited Clinical Science program. Persons with a doctorate in another area of psychology who meet the APA or CPA criteria for re-specialization training in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology are also eligible. The applicant is also expected to have completed an internship program accredited by APA or CPA or have completed a VA-sponsored internship. Additionally, certification of U.S. citizenship and drug screening are required for all VA Postdoctoral Fellows. The federal government requires that male applicants to VA positions born after 1959 sign a Pre-Appointment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration before they are employed. It is not necessary to submit this form with the application, but if you are selected for this fellowship and fit the above criteria, you will have to sign it. All Fellows will have to complete a Certification of Citizenship in the U.S. prior to beginning the fellowship. Applications from non-citizens will not be considered. The VA conducts drug screening exams on randomly selected trainees and employees. Our training programs are committed to creating a supportive learning environment for individuals of diverse backgrounds, and as a federal agency, we abide by the U.S. Government Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Reasonable Accommodation policies. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program follows a policy of selecting the most qualified candidates and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes attempting to ensure an appropriate representation of individuals along many dimensions, including (but not limited to) gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic/racial minorities, and persons with disabilities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the following two resources regarding eligibility for VA training: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Trainee-Eligibility.pdf https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/eligibility.asp
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These resources provide specific information regarding eligibility requirements and information regarding the process of being appointed to a VA position following the selection process. Please note that the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine are mandatory for all VA trainees and staff, except in the rare case of a documented medical exemption or deeply held religious belief that precludes being vaccinated.
Interviews will be offered by live videoconference for highly qualified candidates; no on-site interviews.
PLEASE NOTE: Selected applicants must have completed their internship and all required elements of their doctoral degree (dissertation, etc.) before starting postdoctoral fellowship. We WILL NOT allow late start applicants. The following information applies to ALL positions except Clinical Neuropsychology: Interviews will take place at the beginning to mid January 2025. Offers for positions will begin once interviews are completed. The start date for all positions is Monday, August 11, 2025. The following information applies to Clinical Neuropsychology ONLY: Interviews will take place at the beginning of January 2025. Offers for positions will be as soon as interviews are completed but we reserve the right to make an early reciprocal offer for a top candidate if contacted with evidence of a competing offer. The start date for all positions is Monday, August 11, 2025.
To apply to one or more of our programs, please submit materials by going to the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Psychology
Postdoctoral Application (APPA CAS) portal, which is located at: https://appicpostdoc.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
Spring Flores Johnson, PhD Director, Psychology Postdoctoral Programs VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center 5901 E. 7th Street (06/116B) Long Beach, CA 90822 spring.johnson@va.gov (562)826-8000 ext. 16365
Application Requirements
Along with CV and graduate transcripts, please include:
A cover letter that describes your personal training goals and how our training program may help you achieve your professional goals. In your letter, please describe your previous educational, research, and clinical experience relevant to the emphasis area or areas to which you are applying; your assessment of your training needs in each emphasis area;
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specific clinical settings and experiences at VA Long Beach Healthcare System that you want to pursue during your fellowship year; and your general career aspirations. These application requirments are also outlined in the APPA CAS portal. Note: If applying to more that one fellowship position at VA Long Beach HCS, the option is up to you regarding submitting one cover letter, or multiple. If you elect to submit multiple, you can upload one to the application portal and directly email the others to the Director of Postdoctoral Training (spring.johnson@va.gov) for appropriate distribution. Three letters of recommendation from faculty members or clinical supervisors who are familiar with your clinical work as well as your research. Please note that “letters of recommendations” are referred to as “Evaluations” with in the APPA CAS portal. A letter from your dissertation chair regarding disseration status and anticipated completion date. (Note: If your dissertation chair is writing one of your letters of recommendation, this information can be included in the letter). A letter from the training director at your internship site confirming that you are in good standing in the program and confirming your completion of internship will end prior to the start date of our postdoctoral fellowship. For Rehabilitation Psychology applications ONLY: One clinical work sample, such as a treatment summary or an assessment report, or other work sample, such as published manuscript on which you are first author or other written product that highlights work relevant to the specialty area. If using a clinical sample, please make sure to de-identify according to HIPPA standards.
Financial and Other Benefit Support for 2025-2026 Training Year Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Residents
$60,974 (Year 1) / $64,270 (Year 2)
Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time Residents Program provides access to medical insurance for resident? If access to medical insurance is provided: Trainee contribution to cost required? Coverage of family member(s) available? Coverage of legally married partner available? Coverage of domestic partner available? Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation)
N/A
Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
4 hours per 2-week pay period
Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave
4 hours per 2-week pay period
In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave?
Yes
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Other Benefits (please describe): Authorized Absence (AA) for training may be requested for off-site educational workshops/seminars, conferences, other approved training activities, and license examination. Up to 10 days can be requested by the Fellow throughout the training year. Requests for authorized absence are negotiated on a case-by-case basis between the Fellow, the Director of Postdoctoral Training, Executive Training Committee (ETC), and the Chief Psychologist. Fellows may combine authorized absence with annual leave if they wish.
TRAINING MODEL AND PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
We endorse the Scientist-Practitioner Model of Psychology, and the postdoctoral training experience is organized accordingly. We are guided both by the original Boulder Model (Raimy,1950) and by the update of the Scientist-Practitioner Model as articulated at the 1991 Gainesville conference (Belar & Perry, 1992). The mission of the VALBHCS Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow Training Program is to train psychologists who meet advanced practice competencies in psychology and can function effectively as professional psychologists in a broad range of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary settings. Prior to beginning their postdoctoral experience, Fellows are expected to have a solid grounding in generalist psychology training. The primary goal of the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is for our Fellows to develop the full range of skills required for independent functioning as a psychologist. A second major goal of our Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is to prepare fellows to practice in one of the current high-priority areas of mental health care for Veterans, as illustrated by our Emphasis areas. Through professional activities in these areas, Fellows receive training that facilitates their development of the core general advanced practice competencies. In addition, Fellows develop a depth of knowledge and advanced skills in working with specific populations and treatment settings (i.e., older adult Veterans, Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury, Veterans with physical and sensory disabilities and those living with Postraumatic Stress). For the Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology, high-priority areas include working with Veterans with concussions, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or other neurological conditions. Note: For the specialty accredited Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, the goal is to train practitioners in mental health disciplines to partner with integrative rehabilitation treatment teams and Veterans through a participatory, collaborative, and coordinated approach with shared decision making (Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative PIS, 2010 as noted in http://www.cihc.ca/files/publications/CIHC_EvalReport0809_May1109.pdf ). The Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program has been developed in accordance with the Guidelines for Postdoctoral Training in Rehabilitation Psychology/Baltimore Guidelines as well as the APA Guidelines for Assessment of and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities.
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Commitment to Diversity
The psychology service seeks to champion diversity by reflecting the hospital mission of emphasizing care and respect for the physical, psychological, and spiritual health of all. We seek to develop an inspiring environment that fosters authenticity, belonging, and creativity. As a federal employer and an equal opportunity training program, our facility and department of Psychology strongly adhere to policies on non-discrimination and accommodations to facilitate success in our training programs. We encourage applications to our postdoctoral residency from diverse applicants. The VA Long Beach Psychology Department believes that diversity presents in multiple facets. We consider diversity as including various cultures, values, and experiences of trainees and faculty, as well as different theoretical models, research paradigms, and ways of professional practice. Our training program and service regularly work towards creating a culture of humility with respect to diversity knowledge, awareness and skills. The VA Long Beach Psychology Service aspires to combat prejudice, stereotyping, and harassment and is committed to the continued development of the personal and professional skills of its employees, who are treated in a fair and unbiased way and given every encouragement to realize their potential.
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
We have two primary goals for our Psychology Postdoctoral Training Program:
1. Fellows will develop the full range of skills required for independent functioning as a psychologist. These skills follow the APA Comission on Accreditation competencies.
2. Fellows will develop skills required to function effectively as a psychologist in a high- priority area of health care for Veterans. For our Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows, this could be in the following five training areas: Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis, Women’s Mental Health & Trauma Emphasis , Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Emphasis, Rehabilitation Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology. Attainment of our first goal is quantified by a range of competencies established by the American Psychological Association’s Standards of Accreditation in Health Service Psychology. These include research, ethical and legal standards, individual and cultural diversity, professional values, attitudes and behaviors and intervention. Fellows are expected to demonstrate successful performance of these skills, as defined in our Handbook for Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows by the end of fellowship. Attainment of our second goal is quantified by a set of emphasis area specific skills, which are also defined in our Handbook for Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows. These requirements are further elaborated under the section below titled "Requirements for Completion of the Postdoctoral Fellowship."
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Program Structure
All Fellows are expected to work 40 hours per week. This includes programmatic experiences and emphasis experiences. All Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows are required to complete 2,080 hours of training per year (including any granted annual leave, sick leave, and authorize absence). Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows easily accrue the 1,500 hours of supervised professional experience (SPE) that is specified by the Board of Psychology in the state of California for sufficient postdoctoral experience for licensure. During the first month of the training year, Fellows are expected to identify their training goals and to work with their primary supervisor to develop a schedule of activities for the year designed to meet these goals. The conceptualization that goes into the Individualized Training Plan (ITP) involves self-assessment as well as discussions with the primary supervisor to facilitate personal and professional growth and development.
A breakdown of the encouraged weekly time distribution across programmatic and emphasis experiences is listed below:
Programmatic Experiences: Seminars: 1.5 – 3.5 hours/week Fellow Project: 3 - 4 hours/week (Optional) Administrative Time: 2 hours/week TOTAL = 10 hours
Emphasis Experiences: Clinical Work: 18 - 20 hours/week Administrative Time: 8 - 10 hours/week TOTAL = 30 hours
Some emphasis areas hold their own weekly or biweekly team meetings that may include didactic seminars, rounds or case presentations. Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows in some emphasis areas also participate regularly in interdisciplinary case conferences. Supervisors may recommend additional seminars or other specialty-specific training opportunities.
Supervision
Fellows schedule a total of four hours of supervision per week (10% of the Fellows' supervised professional experience time). At least two hours per week must be individual face-to-face supervision (one hour must be with the primary supervisor and the other hour can be with either the primary or delegated supervisor(s). Additional supervision may be obtained via either additional individual supervision or group supervision.
Seminars
Postdoc Professional Development Seminar (weekly): Presentations are developed to be sequential in Fellow development while building upon the existing knowledge base of our Fellows. A combination of topics are chosen that are relevant to clinical practice, self-care, career planning and overall professional development. Some of these seminars will require
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in-person participation. *Note: Second-year Fellows are required to attend bimonthly group check-ins but attendance at other repeat-topics is optional.
Diversity Seminar (bimonthly): This seminar includes consultation, didactic presentations, readings, and case presentations covering a wide range of diversity issues.
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Seminar (in conjunction with psychology interns): Presentations cover didactics on a wide range of EBPs offered throughout the VA as well as trainee case presentations demonstrating application of these EBPs in various clinical settings. *Note: Fellows are encouraged to attend EBP seminar topics which they have limited/minimal experience with.
Fellowship Project
*Note: Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows are required to complete one fellowship project during their two-year residency. The Fellowship Project is optional for all other postdoctoral fellows, and cannot be guaranteed. If interested in completing a project, Fellows will need to find a project advisor who is available/able to develop and conduct the project accordingly. The goal is for the Fellow to study or to develop some component of services that will be of utility to others in the field. This project may have a research focus (e.g., program utilization or effectiveness), an educational objective (e.g., training other staff, patients or their family members; developing a Contiuning Education (CE) module), a program development aim (e.g., new peer-led service, or community re-integration program), or service provision goal (e.g., new treatment modality, or application of treatment to an under-served population.). Fellows are strongly encouraged to submit an abstract of their research for presenation at a scietnific conference by the end of their fellowship. Other creative ideas are welcome. All projects should have some form of measurable evaluation of their effectiveness and impact. Fellows who complete a Fellowship Project will present the details and results at the end of fellowship.
PSYCHOLOGY FELLOWSHIP TRAINING EXPERIENCES
Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis Supervisors: Marisa Glivings, Psy.D, Veronica Palad. Ph.D.
The primary goal of the Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program is to train practitioners in multiple behavioral health disciplines to partner with treatment teams and Veterans through a participatory, collaborative, and coordinated approach with shared decision-making (CIHC PIS, 2010). Trainees will master advanced competencies specified in the curriculum below, which will be unique to this Interdisciplinary Education Program. Trainees will acquire knowledge of evidence-based practices through direct supervision, experiential treatment of patients, active participation in team meetings, and interdisciplinary didactics provided by faculty across disciplines. These core educational
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outcomes and objectives are based on models developed by collaborative efforts among accrediting bodies in health care settings (CIHC PIS, 2010; IEC, 2011).
Training Settings:
The Outpatient Mental Health Care Group at VALBHCS serves over 12,000 Veterans through four general interprofessional teams known as the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). Fellows in the Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis function within these integrated behavioral health teams specifically designed to increase Veterans’ access to evidence -based integrated behavioral health care. These teams are currently comprised of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, peer support specialists, and program support assistants. We have BHIP teams in the hospital as well as in the Community- based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and the Postdoctoral fellow can have the opportunity to rotate in CBOC as well. BHIP also work closely with our Addiction Recovery Program and can have the opportunity to have addictions treatment experience within the Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis features the unique opportunity to gain training and experience with comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Participation on the DBT team is required throughout the duration of the fellowship and entails a weekly 2-hour DBT Consultation Team meeting on Thursdays at 1-3PM as well as carrying one-two individual DBT cases and co-leading a weekly 2-hour skills training group. Implementation of an evidence-based, Veteran-centered, team-based service delivery model is a strong focus of treatment on the BHIP teams. The emphasis in this training is to be a generalist psychologist that is able to treat a wide array of diagnosis such as but not limited to Depression, Trauma, Grief, Anxiety, Addictions, Persistent Mental Illness, and OCD. Using experiential training and within a team format, trainees will work toward achieving optimal patient outcomes, exercising skills in educating patients and health care professionals on interdisciplinary topic areas, developing expertise in resolving patient- provider and/or interprofessional conflicts, conducting practice-based research and/or program evaluation, and providing evidence-based mental health treatments as a generalist mental health professional. Evidence-based treatment models emphasized in the Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). In addition to providing time-limited evidence-based psychotherapy to individuals, Fellows in the Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program Emphasis are required to co-facilitate at least two psychotherapy groups (e.g., Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Managing Emotions (i.e., DBT Skills), Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders, Trauma Recovery Skills, CBT for Anxiety and Depression, Social Skills for SMI, Mindfulness skills, etc). Fellows may also have the opportunity to develop new groups, depending on one’s interests, expertise, and training goals. The Psychology Fellow may collaborate with another fellow or with an intern on
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their Fellowship Project, and parts of the project may concur to meet other program requirements (e.g., running a group).
Fellows are also required to participate in BHIP Triage Clinic, offering two or more 60- minute evaluation and treatment planning sessions per week, which emphasize coordinating team services, using commitment strategies to engage patients in evidence- based treatment, and connecting patients to various treatment modalities. *Supervision with Dr. Glivings will only be offered in-person. Cultural Competence Training: Fellows will primarily work with Veterans spanning from the Vietnam era to the current OEF/OIF/OND conflicts era. In addition to the wide array of patient ages, Fellows working on this rotation will also see Veterans with diverse racial, ethnic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, occasional opportunities to work with LGBTQ patients also arise as well as addictions recovery. Supervisors will strive to expose Fellows to an intersectional approach to diversity consideration, whereby relevant background factors are taken into account during assessment, treatment planning, and intervention phases of therapy. Common issues associated with working in the VA setting, such as how to deal with encountering various forms of prejudice, will also be a focus.
Women’s Mental Health (WMH) & Trauma Emphasis Primary Supervisors: Shana Napier, Ph.D. and Grace Kim, Ph.D. Delegated Supervisor: Catherine Nash, Psy.D.
Founded in January 2005 through a VA Special Needs Grant, the Women's Mental Health Clinic (WMHC) serves women Veterans by providing gender-specific and sensitive services. The WMHC is unique in that 1) it is one of only a few dedicated women’s mental health clinics in the VA nationally, 2) it functions independently from BHIP and PCMHI, and 3) it affords the opportunity for training in a wide array of therapies to treat general mental health conditions, as well as specialized focus in learning treatments for PTSD. Our treatment philosophy follows a holistic and evidence-based approach, which influences our conceptualization of patients as well as the types of interventions that we use. The WMHC is currently comprised of licensed staff including three full-time psychologists, Dr. Shana Napier (Clinic Lead and WMH Champion), Dr. Grace Kim (Associate Director of Predoctoral Training), and Dr. Catherine Nash (Women’s SUD Psychologist). In addition, Dr. Kayla Costello (Part-Time WMHC psychologist), Jenny Williams, LCSW (full-time clinician), and Sandra Greenman (full- time women’s peer support specialist) make up the WMHC team. The team also regularly consults with psychiatry, primary care, and other specialty care staff outside the WMHC when appropriate in the service of patient-centered care. The WMHC offers a wide variety of evidence-based groups addressing topics such as race and resilience, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, harm reduction, PTSD, perinatal skills, and coping skills. The clinic also offers gender-specific SUD services and trainees may have the opportunity to co-facilitate the CBT for SUD group if interested. The Psychology Postdoctoral Resident in the WMHC focuses primarily on trauma-focused treatments (e.g, CPT, PE, Trauma Skills Group). There is flexibility for the WMHC resident
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to choose cases and groups that suit their training goals. The WMHC resident participates in informal supervision of Psychology interns and practicum students (via co-leading groups together), collaborative treatment planning sessions with Veterans, and in developing new groups and/or projects if there is need and interest among our women veterans.
Training Opportunities:
1. Trauma focused outpatient psychotherapy (group and individual) 2. Generalist outpatient psychotherapy (group and individual) 3. Collaboration with WMHC interdisciplinary team (psychology, social work, and peer support) 4. Participation in the department-wide comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy program (5-6 hours of team consultation, phone coaching, and individual and group therapy). *
*Please note that participation in the comprehensive DBT program is a requirement for the WMHC emphasis
The Women’s Mental Health Clinic provides individual and group psychotherapy to women Veterans who present with a wide range of presenting problems. We offer a variety of evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychodynamic, Interpersonal Therapy for Depression, CBT for Substance Use, and Interpersonal Therapy for Reproductive Mental Health. We also offer outpatient groups exclusively for women. Please note that availability for group options change throughout the year. The following are groups that have been historically offered on a regular basis. Trainees may have the opportunity to co-facilitate these groups if interested:
Trauma Skills Group
• • • • • •
Managing Emotions Group
CBT for SUD
Healthy Relationships Group Race and Resilience Group Stress Management Group
• Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Group • R.O.S.E. Group (pregnancy/postpartum skills and support) • Courage for MST
Historically, supervisees who have an interest have developed and/or contributed to projects/groups that fit the interest and needs of our women Veterans. Examples of such projects/groups are below: • Mindful Self-Compassion Group
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Hope & Happiness Group
•
• Pride & Grit (LGBTQ+ Support) Group • Virtual Women’s Wellness Fair (Workshop Event) • WMHC Needs Assessment • Development of Literature – Differentiation of PE vs. CPT • Women Veteran’s Baby Shower
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Emphasis Supervisors: John Huang, Ph.D., Nathanial Hawkins, Ph.D., Daniel Taule-Nadal, Psy.D. and Melissa Stewart-Buret, Psy.D. The PTSD Program multidisciplinary team is comprised of psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurse-case managers, social workers, and program support assistants. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow will work with three of the psychologist supervisors listed above during the training year, choosing one of the three psychologists as her/his primary supervisor for the year and two psychologist supervisors for six-month rotations each. Rotation training opportunities with each supervisor are described further below. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow in the PTSD Emphasis area will be responsible for conducting individual and group psychotherapy, providing staff consultation, potentially supervising Psychology trainees, and facilitating intakes and psychological assessment. The PTSD Specialty Clinic population predominantly consists of combat Veterans from the Vietnam and Afghanistan/Iraq (OEF/OIF/OND) conflicts, some of whom have co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD), TBI, and/or other psychological disorders. The program places emphasis on evidence-based approaches, while offering flexibility and meeting each Veteran’s unique needs with a phase -based approach. Following intake evaluation and admission to the program, Veterans may participate in a variety of treatment approaches including psychopharmacology, trauma-focused therapy (individual and group formats), supportive group therapy, introductory/coping skills groups, relaxation and stress management groups, and additional adjunctive therapy options. The Combat PTSD Program follows a “whole health” model, with a goal of treating the body and mind following traumatic events. Individual therapy provided by the Postdoctoral Fellow is typically trauma-focused in nature, with emphasis placed on evidence based treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE). Opportunities for individual work focused coping skills or substance use reduction may also be available. The PTSD Postdoctoral Fellow will also facilitate or co-facilitate several groups throughout the year, including a CPT group. They will also have opportunities to administer, score and interpret a number of self-report measures assessing symptoms of PTSD (e.g., PTSD Checklist (PCL), Combat Exposure Scale, depression (e.g., PHQ), SUD (Brief Addiction Monitor), and suicide risk (CSSRS). After completing the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship year in the PTSD Emphasis area, the Fellow will have acquired advanced knowledge in the treatment of combat PTSD, including learning how to facilitate coping skills and exposure-based trauma-focused treatments. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow in the Emphasis Area of PTSD will be
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expected to build on skills acquired by co-leading groups earlier in the postdoctoral year by facilitating her or his own group by mid-year. Training Opportunities may include:
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) • CBT Skills for Depression and PTSD Group • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders (CBT- AUD/SUD) • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-Ii) • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) • Combat PTSD Program intake evaluations • Drum Circle Therapy Group • Interdisciplinary team consultation • Mindfulness • Moral Injury • Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET) • Prolonged Exposure (PE) • PTSD Coping Skills • Seeking Safety for PTSD/SUD • Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) • Tai Chi Movement Group • Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR) • Women’s Combat PTSD Group • Written Exposure Therapy (WET) The PTSD Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow will be expected to attend twice monthly PTSD staff meeting, and potentially work one evening per week (a supervisor will always be available) in order to meet the current increasing demand for services during evening hours. Other specific interests of the Fellow can be discussed, and the program will try to accommodate them. The PTSD Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow will be expected to attend twice monthly PTSD staff meeting, and potentially work one evening per week (a supervisor will always be available) in order to meet the current increasing demand for services during evening hours. Other specific interests of the Fellow can be discussed, and the program will try to accommodate them.
Training Settings:
Supervisor: John Huang, Ph.D.
Dr. Huang leads the Mindfulness and PTSD group, which focuses on the practice of mindfulness in dealing with PTSD and general stress. Mindfulness is a type of meditation with three main components: focusing on the present moment, using full awareness, and having a non-judgmental, accepting attitude. In addition, Dr. Huang leads a Cognitive
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Processing Therapy group. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr. Huang will have the opportunity to co-lead the groups mentioned above, as well as participate in the Tai Chi and Drum Circle groups. He is also trained in ACT and may be able to supervise the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow on CPT, PE, and ACT if there are enough patients available. Another one of Dr. Huang’s interests is spirituality and psychology, especially in how spirituality facilitated coping, healing, and creating meaning within the context of trauma.
Supervisor: Nathanial B. Hawkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Hawkins is a staff psychologist in the Combat PTSD program. Dr. Hawkins specialized in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for PTSD. He leads a CPT group and short-term PTSD Symptoms Management group designed to provide psychoeducation, assess Veterans motivation for treatment, introduce effective and healthy coping skills, and develop future PTSD treatment plans. Psychology trainees would have the opportunity to co-lead these groups and be supervised in these modalities. Dr. Hawkins also offers a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Insomnia group within the Psychology Department. Dr. Hawkins’ other clinical interests include the treatment of other trauma related disorders, Whole Health, military and childhood sexual trauma, posttraumatic resilience, PTSD family support, substance use disorders, transgender care, and LGBT issues.
Supervisor: Daniel Taule-Nadal, Psy.D.
Dr. Taule-Nadal is a staff psychologist in both the Combat PTSD program and Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI). Trainee opportunities under Dr. Taule-Nadal within Combat PTSD would include conducting intake assessments and providing trauma- focused therapy in individual and group formats. Dr. Taule-Nadal is trained in PE (Prolonged Exposure), CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), TrIGR (Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy) and Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). He leads various groups available for trainees to co-lead including PTSD Coping Skills, CBT for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders, PTSD Orientation Group, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. Dr. Taule- Nadal’s additional interests includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), EBPs within primary care, exposure-based treatments for anxiety disorders & OCD, military psychology, and suicide prevention.
Supervisor: Melissa Stewart-Buret, Psy.D.
Dr. Melissa Stewart-Buret is a staff psychologist in the Combat PTSD Program. Psychology fellows would have the opportunity to conduct intake assessments and provide trauma-focused therapy in individual and group formats. Dr. Stewart-Buret is trained in CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), PE (Prolonged Exposure), TrIGR (Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for PTSD. Psychology trainees would have the ability to receive supervision in these evidence-based treatments, as well as more integrative approaches to trauma treatment. Dr. Stewart-Buret also facilitates a PTSD Coping Skills group , a CPT group, and a Women’s Combat group at this time. Fellows will have will have the opportunity co-lead these groups, and possibly
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others, within the Combat PTSD clinic setting. Dr. Stewart- Buret’s additional interests include mindfulness, MST (Military Sexual Trauma), integrative treatment approaches for PTSD, and professional development.
Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship (Specialty Accredited) Supervisors: Sarah S. Brindle, Ph.D., Phuong Chau, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, N. Garcia, Ph.D., David N. Kerner, Ph.D., Kristina Moncrieffe, Psy.D., Jeffrey Shulze, Ph.D., Morgan Macaluso, Ph.D., Judy Su, Ph.D., and Ashley Vaillancourt, Ph.D. The two-year postdoctoral fellowship at VA Long Beach Healthcare System offers a Major Area of Study in Rehabilitation Psychology. This program is designed to conform to the proposals from the National Conference on Postdoctoral Training in Professional Psychology and the Baltimore Conference Rehabilitation Psychology training guidelines. In addition, th is program utilizes the American Psychological Associations’ February 2022 “ The Guidelines for Assessment and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities ” in order to facilitate education, training, and experience with disability constructs as they relate to psychology practice. The program fulfills eligibility requirements for licensure in Clinical Psychology and for board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. Fellows will spend at least 80% of their time in supervised experience involving at least 50% time devoted to clinical care of people with disabilities receiving rehabilitation services, and their family members and care teams. Fellows in Rehabilitation Psychology will acquire knowledge of evidence-based practices through direct supervision, experiential assessment and treatment of patients, active participation in care team meetings, and interdisciplinary didactics provided by faculty across disciplines. Across rotations, several methods of supervision will be used to guide Fellows in developing specialty knowledge and skills in Rehabilitation Psychology while working in Medical Care Clinics/Teams (described below). In keeping with the larger Psychology Postdoctoral Program’s apprenticeship model of training that focuses on graduated levels of responsibilities, Fellows will work alongside their supervisors – perhaps first observing, then practicing while being observed, and then practicing independently. At the beginning of the Rehabilitation Psychology Fellow’s first year, they are expected to be an entry-level clinician, demonstrating good generalist skills. Fellows are expected over the course of the two years to achieve the level of skills, critical thinking, and judgment in specialized areas where supervision is not needed (but maintained due to training program requirements) and the focus is on using supervision as consultation on complex cases and discussing advanced topics. In addition to significant development as a generalist during the two training years, Fellows are expected to develop advanced skills in the area of Rehabilitation Psychology and become competent in the skills essential to that practice. At least one hour of individual direct, face-to-face supervision will be provided weekly by the primary supervisor. Methods of supervision may include direct observation, audio or video tapes, review of notes, and/or group supervision discussion. Fellows are expected to provide supervision to Psychology practicum or intern students under the supervision of a licensed staff member. Fellows will also complete a postdoctoral project relevant to Rehabilitation Psychology during the two-year duration of the program.
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Fellows’ skill levels, interests, and goals are taken into account in the development of their individualized training plans across the two years. Training activities are selected that address trainee skills and development needs, while allowing for increased experiences in areas of strength. Fellows in the Major Area of Study in Rehabilitation Psychology develop Individualized Training Plans that can be modified throughout either year, depending on a Fellow’s needs, and emerging interests. As a Fellow transitions into their second year of training, they are given greater autonomy within their rotations due their more advanced nature of knowledge and skills. In addition, in their second year, the advanced Fellow will provide peer mentorship to the Fellow who will be in their first year of the training program.
Training Settings:
Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Supervisors: Sarah S. Brindle, Ph.D., N. Garcia, Ph.D., David N. Kerner, Ph.D., Jeffrey Shulze, Ph.D., Judy Su, Ph.D. The Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Health Care Group at VALBHCS is the largest SCI Center in the United States. Patients in this setting present with a broad spectrum of SCI/Ds, from the newly injured individual facing a catastrophic life change, to the individual injured many years ago who is now coping with decreased functional ability as a result of the aging process. SCI/Ds can result from traumatic injury such as gunshot wound or motor vehicle accident, or from a variety of non-traumatic causes such as Multiple Sclerosis. Persons with spinal cord injuries are classified as either tetraplegic or paraplegic. SCI/D rehabilitation and treatment demands a broad interdisciplinary approach, both for acute rehabilitation and for ongoing care. The psychologists and various trainees work within closely-knit teams that include physicians, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, case managers, dietitians, respiratory therapists, psychiatrists, and especially the nursing staffs of the three different SCI units. Psychology staff assess each patient and provide interventions that address a wide variety of adjustment, mental health and health behavior concerns. Frequently seen problems include adjustment to disability, depression and anxiety, pain, and adherence concerns. Intervention approaches include individual counseling, education, psychotherapy, sex therapy, relaxation training, pain management, social skills training, patient education, couples therapy, and psychosocial support for the injured person’s family and social support systems. A neuropsychological testing service is embedded within the SCI/D department. This rotation provides opportunities for both inpatient and outpatient neuropsychological evaluations for a diverse and complex population that presents with a variety of cognitive concerns related to disorders frequently seen within the SCI/D and aging Veteran population. Opportunities to participate in neuropsychological testing and its associated responsibilities including report writing, rehabilitation specific feedback and team consultation are available. Given the fast-paced and interdisciplinary environment of inpatient rehabilitation, postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to operate at developmentally appropriate levels of autonomy within dynamic treatment teams. Through the training year, fellows will gain advanced skills in flexibly adapting to the needs of our Veterans as well as the treatment team to provide optimal interdisciplinary care. Additionally, our fellows are treated as
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valuable and professional members of the treatment team with opportunities to participate in administrative meetings and gain experience managing clinical crises as appropriate.
Note: Most responsibilities require the trainee to be on campus for in-person clinical services, although some remote work may be arranged.
Community Living Center (CLC)/Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) Supervisors: Phuong Chau, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Morgan Macaluso, Ph.D.
The Community Living Center (CLC) is an 85-bed subacute inpatient facility that serves Veterans in need of a) slower-paced physical rehabilitation, b) skilled nursing care (e.g., IV antibiotics, wound care), c) respite care, d) a bridge to longer term placement, or e) end-of- life hospice care. The patient population is diverse, with most common medical issues to include deconditioning from prolonged illness, recovery following intensive surgery, cancer, stroke, dementia, limb loss or other orthopedic injury, and terminal illness. Veterans residing in the CLC are typically older adults with multiple medical problems. There are also frequent co-morbid cognitive, psychiatric, substance abuse, and psychosocial difficulties. CLC psychologists serve as primary mental health consultants to a large interdisciplinary team and work in close collaboration with allied health disciplines from Geriatric Medicine, Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapy, Pharmacy, Dietary Services, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, and Psychiatry. Fellows are able to participate in a wide range of clinical work to include providing mental health assessments, individual psychotherapy, family education/support, neuropsychological assessments with the emphasis on using test results to inform interventions and care planning, medical decisional capacity evaluations, and assisting teams with challenging patient behaviors. There is also opportunity for Fellows to gain experience working with the hospice team on end-of-life care issues. The Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) is a small (<10-beds) inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) unit that provides intensive rehabilitation services to those recovering from surgery, stroke, brain injury, or other medical debility. ARU stays tend to be more brief, ranging from a few days to weeks. Rehabilitation goals can include physical strengthening, adjustment to prosthetics, household or community mobility, or other personalized goals. Fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with team members from Physiatry, Physical Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Nursing, and Social Work to help promote rehabilitation success. Reasons for psychology referrals in ARU overlap with those above in CLC. Overall, there tends to be more of a focus on assisting with mood/anxiety/cognitive issues that are actively interfering with or have the potential to disrupt rehabilitation progress and helping to identify and plan for post-discharge mental health care needs. Note that Fellows on this rotation will be working primarily with Dr. Chau in the CLC and ARU. There may also be opportunities to work with Dr. Macaluso in CLC hospice if that training experience is desired. Fellows interested in obtaining additional neuropsychology experience may be able to see occasional outpatient neuropsychological assessment cases with Dr. Chau through referrals from the outpatient geriatric evaluation/management (GEM) clinic. We will strive to tailor the clinical experiences on this rotation to best meet the Fellow’s unique training goals, to the extent possible.
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