VA Long Beach Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Brochure for the 2027 - 2028 Training Year
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Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship • 2027–2028
VA Long Beach Healthcare System Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center 5901 E. 7th Street (06/116B), Long Beach, CA 90822 | (562) 826‑5604
Quick Facts & Application Deadlines
• Clinical Neuropsychology Application Due Date: o Monday, November 9, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
• Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program, Addiction and Recovery, Women’s Mental Health & Trauma, PTSD, Rehabilitation Psychology Application Due Date:
o Wednesday, December 2, 2026 (11:59 PM ET)
Program site: http://www.longbeach.va.gov/ Training site: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and- fellowships/psychology-training/
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Program Overview & Accreditation The VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALBHCS) Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship began in 2008 and is fully accredited (re-accredited in 2019; next site visit 2029). Specialty accreditation is held for Clinical Neuropsychology (since 2018; next site visit 2028) and Rehabilitation Psychology (since 2020; next site visit 2028). Questions about accreditation may be directed to the APA Commission on Accreditation: 750 1st Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; (202) 336-5979; apaaccred@apa.org; http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation. VALBHCS is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs national system. As a part of the VA system, we focus on the mission of providing comprehensive health care to individuals who have served in the Armed Forces and address the needs of returning Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation New Dawn (OND), while at the same time attending to the needs of our aging Veterans. Psychology trainees work in collegial, multidisciplinary teams across Medical, Surgical, and Mental Health services, with specialized regional programs including a Spinal Cord Injury Center (SCI) and Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC). Our Mental Health Department has over 60 psychologists on staff. Training Philosophy & Model We train according to the Scientist–Practitioner model, emphasizing advanced practice competencies for independent functioning in varied healthcare settings. Our mission is to prepare fellows to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care and consultation in high-priority Veteran domains (e.g., trauma, women’s mental health, neuropsychology, rehabilitation). We foster whole-person care, equity, inclusion, and cultural humility within a supportive learning environment. Prior to beginning their postdoctoral experience, Fellows are expected to have a solid grounding in generalist psychology training. 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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Tracks & Available Positions (2027–2028) • One-year fellowships:
o Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (ABHIP) - 2 positions
Addiction and Recovery – 1 position
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o Women’s Mental Health & Trauma - 1 position o Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - 1 position
Two-year Fellowships:
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o Rehabilitation Psychology (Specialty Accredited) 1 position o Clinical Neuropsychology (Specialty Accredited) 1 position
Eligibility & How to Apply Applicants must have completed an APA/CPA-accredited doctoral program in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology or a PCSAS-accredited Clinical Science program; re-specialization applicants in Clinical/Counseling/Combined who meet APA/CPA criteria are eligible. A completed APA/CPA-accredited internship (or VA-sponsored internship) is required. U.S. citizenship and drug screening are required; male applicants born after 1959 must certify Selective Service registration prior to employment.
Please review VA trainee eligibility details:
• https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Trainee-Eligibility.pdf • https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/eligibility.asp • Flu vaccines are mandatory for trainees and staff, with limited medical/religious exceptions. • Interviews are conducted via live videoconference; no on-site interviews.
Apply through APPIC APPA CAS: https://appicpostdoc.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
Contact: Spring Flores Johnson, PhD Director, Psychology Postdoctoral Programs Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, 5901 E. 7th Street (06/116B), Long Beach, CA 90822 Email: spring.johnson@va.gov | Phone: (562) 826-8000 ext. 16365 Equal Opportunity & Diversity Commitment We select the most qualified candidates and uphold EEO and Reasonable Accommodation policies. The Psychology Service seeks to reflect 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
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applications to our postdoctoral residency from a variety of applicants. The VA Long Beach Psychology Department believes that who you are presents in multiple facets. We consider differences 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.
Interviews & Start Dates • All tracks except Clinical Neuropsychology: Interviews in early to mid January 2027; offers begin once interviews conclude; start date: Monday, August 9 th , 2027. • Clinical Neuropsychology only: Interviews in early December 2026; offers may be made promptly after interviews, with the right to issue early reciprocal offers if contacted about a competing offer; start date: Monday, August 9 th , 2027. Note: All required doctoral degree elements (e.g., dissertation) and internship must be fully completed before fellowship start; late starts are not permitted. Cover letter describing training goals, fit with VALBHCS, relevant experiences, training needs by emphasis area, desired clinical settings, and career aspirations. (If applying to multiple tracks, you may submit one letter or multiple letters; if sending multiples, upload one to CAS and email others to the Director for distribution spring.johnson@va.gov.) • Three letters of recommendation (called “Evaluations” in APPA CAS) from supervisors/faculty familiar with your clinical and research work. • Dissertation chair letter stating status and anticipated completion date (may be combined if the chair is also a recommender). • Internship Training Director letter confirming good standing and internship completion prior to fellowship start. • Application Materials Submit via APPA CAS your CV and graduate transcripts , plus: • Rehabilitation Psychology applicants only: One de-identified clinical work sample (e.g., assessment report, treatment summary) or relevant scholarly product (e.g., first-author publication).
Financial & Other Benefits (2026–2027)
• Stipend (Full-time): Year 1: $63,558 | Year 2: $66,992 • Medical insurance: Available; trainee contribution required; coverage options include family, legally married partner, and domestic partner. • Leave: Accrue 4 hours annual leave and 4 hours sick leave per 2-week pay period; Authorized Absence (AA) for conferences/training/licensure exams up to 10 days/year (case-by-case approval). • Unpaid leave: Reasonable unpaid leave may be granted for medical/family needs beyond accrued time.
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Program Goals & Core Learning
• Develop comprehensive skills for independent practice as a psychologist, aligned with APA Accreditation competencies. • Gain expertise in a high-priority area of Veteran health care, choosing from five emphasis areas: Advanced Behavioral Health, Women’s Mental Health & Trauma, PTSD, Rehabilitation Psychology, or Clinical Neuropsychology. Competency attainment is measured by APA standards and specific skills outlined in the Fellowship Handbook. Fellows must demonstrate proficiency in research, ethics, diversity, professional conduct, and intervention, as well as emphasis-specific skills by the end of the fellowship. Program Structure Program Structure • Fellows work 40 hours/week, completing 2,080 hours annually (including leave), meeting California’s supervised experience requirements for licensure. • In the first month, fellows set training goals and create an Individualized Training Plan with their supervisor, focusing on personal and professional growth.
A breakdown of the encouraged weekly time distribution across programmatic and emphasis experiences is listed below:
Programmatic Experiences Approx. 10 hours per week • Seminars: 1.5–3.5 hours •
Emphasis Experiences Approx. 30 hours per week •
Clinical Work: 18–20 hours
Fellowship Project (optional): 3–4 hours Administrative Tasks: ~2 hours
Administrative Responsibilities: 8–10 hours
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Supervision Fellows schedule a total of four hours of supervision per week (10% of 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: Weekly seminar covering topics relevant to clinical practice, self-care, career planning and overall professional development. • Postdoctoral Competencies: Bimonthly seminar including peer consultation, didactic presentations, readings, and case presentations covering a wide range of postdoctoral competencies. • Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Seminar: Weekly seminar with psychology interns covering a wide range of EBPs offered throughout the VA as well as trainee case presentations
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demonstrating application of EBPs in various clinical settings. Fellows are encouraged to attend EBP topics for which they have limited experience.
Fellowship Project (optional for 1-year tracks; required for 2-year Neuropsychology & Rehabilitation) Projects may focus on research, education, program development, or service provision; all include measurable evaluation and an end-of-year presentation. Fellows are encouraged to submit conference abstracts.
Emphasis Areas (Training Experiences)
1) Advanced Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Supervisors: Marisa Glivings, PsyD; Veronica Palad, PhD; Brandon Reed, PhD; Troy Stettler, PsyD. The Outpatient Mental Health Care Group at VALBHCS serves over 12,000 Veterans through Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) teams. Fellows in this emphasis work within integrated teams—including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, peer support specialists, and program assistants—focused on expanding access to evidence-based care. Fellows will rotate in both hospital and Community-based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), and gain experience how to function as a staff psychologist in an interdisciplinary team. A key feature of this fellowship is comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) training. Fellows participate in weekly DBT consultation meetings, carry 1–2 individual DBT cases, and co- lead a weekly skills group, experiencing a full DBT, adherent model of treatment. The program emphasizes a generalist approach, preparing fellows to treat a wide range of diagnoses (e.g., depression, trauma, anxiety, addictions, co-occurring disorders, persistent mental illness, OCD etc.) using evidence-based models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorder, Unified Protocol, Cognitive Behavioral Analysis of System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy(CPT). Fellows co-facilitate at least two psychotherapy groups and may develop new groups based on their interests and goals. Groups offered include, CBT-D, ACT, Trauma Skills, Managing Emotions, CBT for Chronic Pain, SUD groups etc. Collaboration on Fellowship Projects with other fellows or interns is encouraged. The fellows will have diverse experience both in clinical presentation and clinical backgrounds. Fellows also participate in the BHIP Triage Clinic, conducting at least two weekly evaluation and treatment planning sessions, coordinating care, and engaging patients in evidence-based treatment.
Note: Supervision with Dr. Glivings is in-person.
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2) Addiction & Recovery Treatment (ART) Supervisors: Lilia Sheynman, PhD; Elena Marquez, PsyD; Ben Wegner, PsyD
The ART Program’s full-time Postdoctoral Fellowship offers a structured, in-person training experience that combines intensive clinical practice, outreach, and care coordination. Fellows provide evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy to Veterans across the Cabrillo Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) and Long Beach Main Campus, gaining experience in intensive outpatient treatment and collaborative care within a complex healthcare setting. Fellows spend three days per week at Cabrillo CBOC, facilitating groups in the face-to-face and VA Video Connect (VVC) Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) tracks, delivering short-term psychotherapy interventions within a 90-day treatment framework, and coordinating care to support continuity and progress. Two days per week are spent at the Long Beach Main Campus focusing on evidence-based individual and group psychotherapy. Although Fellows support both in-person and virtual IOP treatment tracks, the residency itself is fully in person. Beyond direct clinical care, Fellows collaborate with inpatient and medical teams to support transitions into the ART Program and to lower levels of care. Participation in outreach, intakes, treatment planning, and ongoing care coordination strengthens skills in improving access and fostering treatment engagement. Through work with diverse patient populations and interdisciplinary teams, Fellows develop advanced clinical competencies and care management skills that prepare them for independent practice and leadership in mental health care.
3) Women’s Mental Health & Trauma (WMH) Supervisors: Kayla Costello PhD; Terisha Simmons, PhD, Catherine Nash, PsyD.
WMH serves women Veterans by providing gender-specific and trauma informed services. WMH offers training in a broad range of therapies for general mental health and specialized PTSD treatments for women. WMH is integrated into the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) and Addiction, Recovery, and Treatment (ART) program, expanding access and collaboration. The fellow will be collaborating in their respective teams to learn how to function in an interdisciplinary team with an emphasis in treating our women Veterans. WMH provides individual and group therapy using CBT, PE, CPT, EMDR, DBT Skills, ACT, Interpersonal Therapy, and more. Outpatient groups for women include Trauma Skills, Managing Emotions, ACT, CBT for Depression, R.O.S.E. (pregnancy/postpartum), Unstoppable Warriors (menopause), and Courage for MST. Group offerings may change throughout the year. The WMH team includes licensed psychologists, clinicians, and peer support specialists, and regularly consults with psychiatry and other specialties to deliver holistic, evidence-based care. In this emphasis, fellows gain experience in trauma-focused and generalist psychotherapy (individual and group), participate in the comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, and may co-facilitate groups such as CBT for SUD within ART. Fellows can contribute to or develop projects/groups based on Veteran needs and interests in the program.
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4) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Supervisors: Nathaniel Healy, PhD; Aviva Johns, PhD; Daniel Taule-Nadal, PsyD; Melissa Stewart-Buret, PsyD. The multidisciplinary PTSD team includes psychologists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, nurse- case managers, social workers, and program support assistants. The clinic serves Veterans from various conflicts, including Vietnam and OEF/OIF/OND, many with co-occurring SUD, TBI, or other disorders. Since 2025, services have expanded beyond combat Veterans. The program uses evidence-based, phase-based approaches tailored to each Veteran’s needs, offering treatments such as psychopharmacology, trauma-focused therapy (individual and group formats), supportive groups, introductory/coping skills groups, relaxation and stress management groups and additional adjunctive therapies. The 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), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET). Opportunities for individual work on 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 or PTSD/SUD groups. 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 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 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; CBT for SUD, CBT for insomnia, CPT, PE, PTSD. PCT, WET, intake evaluations, Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction (TrIGR), MET, PTSD Coping Skills, and interdisciplinary team consultation Fellows attend bi-monthly PTSD staff meetings and may potentially work one evening per week to meet increasing demand for services during evening hours. Other specific interests of the Fellow can be discussed, and the program will try to accommodate them. 5) Rehabilitation Psychology (Specialty Accredited, 2-Year) Supervisors: Sarah Brindle, PhD; David Kerner, PhD; Jennifer Kamar, PhD; Morgan Macaluso, PhD; Kristina Moncrieffe, PsyD; Jeffrey Shulze, PhD; Judy Su, PhD; Ashley Vaillancourt, PhD; Lina Vartan, PsyD; Laruen Wakabayashi, PsyD This two-year fellowship offers a Major Area of Study in Rehabilitation Psychology, meeting national training guidelines and APA standards for disability assessment and intervention including the Baltimore Conference Rehabilitation Psychology training guidelines and the APA’s Guidelines
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for Assessment and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities (2022). The program fulfills requirements for clinical psychology licensure and board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology. Fellows spend at least 80% of their time in supervised clinical care, with 50% dedicated to working with individuals with disabilities receiving rehabilitation services, and their families, and care teams. The Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology was granted Specialty Accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation in 2020. The next site will be held in 2028. Fellows gain expertise in 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. Fellows will work alongside their supervisors within a developmental model gradually gaining autonomy to practice independently. Specifically, at the beginning of the first year, Fellows are expected to be entry-level clinicians, demonstrating good generalist skills, and gradually achieve the level of skills, critical thinking, and judgment specifically within Rehabilitation Psychology competencies where supervision is not needed (but maintained due to training program requirements) and the focus becomes using supervision as consultation on complex cases and discussing advanced topics. Supervision methods may include direct observation, review of notes, audio/video, and 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. Fellows’ skill levels, interests, and goals are taken into account in the development of individualized training plans across the two years. Training activities are selected to address trainee skills and development needs, while allowing for increased experience in areas of strength as well as emerging interests. NOTE: This position may require Fellows to traverse long distances within the facility throughout the day as part of their regular duties. If you have mobility limitations or require reasonable accommodations to perform these functions, please inform the Training Director so that appropriate supports can be discussed and provided in accordance with VA policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Training Settings: Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) : Supervisors: Sarah Brindle, PhD; David Kerner, PhD; Jeffrey Shulze, PhD; Judy Su, PhD 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 wounds or motor vehicle accidents, 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
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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 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: Jennifer Kamar, PhD; Morgan Macaluso, PhD; Lina Vartan, PsyD
In 2026, the Long Beach VA opened a new 120-bed Community Living Center (CLC), a post-acute transitional care facility providing rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and inpatient residential hospice care. Veterans admitted to the CLC range from young adults to centenarians and often present with complex medical, psychiatric, cognitive, substance use, and psychosocial needs. Common reasons for admission include rehabilitation following illness, injury, surgery, amputation, cancer treatment, wound care, infections requiring IV antibiotics, deconditioning, respite care, long-term care placement, and end-of-life care. Psychologists are integral members of interdisciplinary teams that include physicians, nursing staff, social workers, pharmacists, chaplains, dietitians, and rehabilitation therapists. Psychology services are primarily delivered at bedside.
This rotation provides supervised clinical experiences tailored to each postdoctoral trainee's prior training and competency level. Training emphasizes understanding the diverse experiences of
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individuals with complex medical conditions, applying biopsychosocial and lifespan developmental perspectives to older adults, navigating ethical issues in inpatient care, collaborating effectively within interdisciplinary teams, and utilizing evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches. Trainees gain experience in interdisciplinary consultation; brief/problem-focused and comprehensive psychological, cognitive, behavioral, functional assessments; neuropsychological assessment in older adults with differential diagnosis of conditions such as delirium, dementia, and depression; decision-making capacity evaluations; adaptation of psychotherapy for older adults and bedside care; family and systems consultation; and behavioral interventions for Veterans with advanced dementia. Evidence-based practice opportunities primarily involve brief, problem- focused interventions drawing from ACT, CBT, MI, CPT, DBT skills, and dementia-care models. Training experiences are individualized to trainee interests and goals while providing exposure to serious illness, palliative and end-of-life care, dementia-related behavioral concerns, complex medical conditions, sensory and physical disabilities, and disability-affirming, person-centered care. Supervisors provide ongoing guidance and support throughout the rotation. Trainees are encouraged to approach unfamiliar experiences with curiosity and flexibility, building confidence and competence in caring for Veterans with complex medical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs. The goal is for trainees to leave the rotation feeling supported, more confident, and better prepared for interdisciplinary practice in medical settings.
Note: This is a fully onsite rotation, with limited telework available for non-patient-care activities based on program needs and supervisor approval.
Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC): Supervisor: Ashley A. Vaillancourt, PhD
The Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D., Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) is a 14-bed residential, inpatient rehabilitation program. It is one of only 13 VA Blind Rehabilitation Centers nationwide, creating a unique training environment. Our smaller unit feels intimate and dynamic, allowing close connection with each Veteran and offering rich interdisciplinary collaboration. Skills gained here are especially valuable for trainees interested in health, medical, or rehabilitation psychology. We primarily serve Veterans —and occasionally active-duty service members who are legally blind or have functional visual impairments. They are referred from across California and neighboring states, and travel is provided for admission. Patients range in age from their 20’s to over 100, though most patients are older veterans in their 60s to 90s. Vision loss is caused by a variety of conditions, including vascular and autoimmune disorders. A subset of Veterans presents with traumatic brain injuries or other neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, tumors). Cognitive, psychiatric, and substance-use conditions are common, and cognitive impairment is increasingly prevalent in our aging population. The comprehensive rehabilitation training program includes Blind Rehabilitation (Living Skills, Manual Skills, Orientation & Mobility, Visual Skills, Accessible
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Technologies), Medicine (Nurse Practitioner, Attending Physician), Nursing, Optometry, Recreation Therapy, Social Work, Dietary Services, and Audiology.
The psychologist and fellow collaborate closely with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized rehabilitation treatment plans. Psychology is highly valued and serves as a consulting resource across the program. Assessments are completed with a focus on adjustment to blindness, brief neuropsychological screening, and practical recommendations to inform rehabilitation planning. Interventions include disability-affirmative psychotherapy (individual and group), psychoeducation, stress-reduction/relaxation training, behavioral management, and family education. More comprehensive neuropsychology testing opportunities may be available depending on trainee interest, and clinical experiences are tailored whenever possible to align with training goals. Although most fellows do not ultimately work in blind rehabilitation, feedback consistently shows that skills gained here are highly transferable to complex medical and rehabilitation settings and strengthen clinical practice.
NOTE: This rotation requires trainees to be on-site and meet with Veteran at bedside. No teleworking/telehealth options available.
Medical Psychology/Consultation & Liaison (C&L) – Elective Rotation Supervisor: Kristina Moncrieffe, PsyD
The Medical Psychology Outpatient/Consultation and Liaison (C&L) inpatient elective rotation provides Fellows with the opportunity to work with Veterans experiencing psychological distress in the context of chronic medical conditions. Patient referrals come from a variety of medical teams in the VA, including internal medicine, oncology, orthopedics, cardiology, palliative/hospice care, transplant services, pulmonology, etc. The patient population is diverse with medical conditions such as recent amputations, cancer, stroke, heart attack, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), gastrointestinal conditions, and many others. Patient concerns are predominantly adjustment to illness or injury, coping with/processing terminal diagnoses, experiencing depression/anxiety in response to co-occurring medical conditions and surgeries, and managing complex treatment side effects. Fellows have the opportunity to provide pre-surgical transplant (kidney, lung, stem cell) mental health/cognitive evaluations on an outpatient basis. Fellows also have the opportunity to work as consultants to Acute Medicine teams doing exciting, fast-paced consult-liaison work with medical inpatients and their multidimensional care teams, consisting of physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, and chaplains. Opportunities through C&L include a balance of brief interventions, cognitive assessments, capacity evaluations, behavioral management, and interdisciplinary team consultation with a focus on assisting issues that are actively impacting patients’ hospital stay and discharge planning.
NOTE : A virtual schedule may be possible for the Medical Psychology Outpatient service if preferred for fellow. C&L Psychology Inpatient service requires Fellow to be on site.
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Hematology/Oncology – Elective Rotation Supervisor: Lauren Wakabayashi, PsyD
The Hematology/Oncology Service at VALB provides systemic therapies for Veterans diagnosed with cancer, along with management of other non-cancerous blood-related disorders. Mental Health Integration (MHI) is a part of the multidisciplinary approach (including social work, registered dietician services, chaplaincy, pharmacy and palliative treatment) to care for Veterans who receive a new diagnosis, change in prognosis or a recurrence, and for those in remission. Veterans are seen by MHI providers outpatient and while inpatient in the main medical center. We meet with Veteran’s in-person or through telehealth depending on their preference. We receive consults from not only hematology/oncology providers, but from other oncology/specialty providers throughout VALB. Fellows will be able to advance their skills in clinical health psychology by working with Veterans diagnosed with cancer. The fellow will evaluate and facilitate treatment based on the expressed needs of the Veteran related to mental health concerns due to cancer-related distress. Not only will fellows be able to conduct services in an outpatient setting, but there may also be the option to see individuals while they are admitted for care and/or while receiving treatment in the infusion clinic. These skills can be applied to not only cancer patients, but other medically complex patient populations. EBP opportunities include CBT, ACT, Meaning-Centered Therapy. This is not an assessment focused rotation, however, continued assessment for suicide risk (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale) and using screeners (e.g., PHQ-9 and GAD-7, etc.) at visits may be utilized.
NOTE : This rotation requires the fellow to be on campus for in-person clinical services.
6) Clinical Neuropsychology (Specialty Accredited, 2-Year) Supervisors: Spring Flores Johnson, PhD; Christine Kim, PhD; Erin Moniz, PhD, ABPP-CN The goal of the Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship is to provide training that will prepare a doctoral-level psychologist to function at an advanced level and independently as a licensed- and board-certification-eligible Clinical Neuropsychologist working with an adult population at a VA or other health care setting. The Neuropsychology Clinic provides neuropsychological assessment for Veterans across the adult lifespan with a range of referrals. Veterans have a broad range of injuries, disabilities, and chronic health conditions. These may include mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, other causes of dementia, encephalopathy, stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI), polytrauma, motor disorders, neuromuscular and autoimmune disorders, other CNS neurological disorders, and related disorders. Veterans often present with co-morbid history of mental health, substance abuse, and/or other medical conditions. Primary sources of referrals are primary care, neurology, psychiatry, and limited TBI rehabilitation.
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The Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship will refine assessment approaches through advanced clinical interviewing and standardized testing while considering the therapeutic utility for the Veteran. There is an emphasis placed on describing the patients’ cognitive strengths and weaknesses to better formulate tailored recommendations and treatment plans. We espouse a fixed-flexible approach to neuropsychological assessment which focuses more on cognitive domains than on specific tests per se. The specific tests will be chosen based on the characteristics of the patient and the referral question. Typically, tests of memory, attention, visual processing, language, executive function, psychomotor speed, psychological adjustment and symptom validity will be considered. Utility and empirical reasons for selecting other assessment approaches including fixed batteries, cognitive screenings, and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations including follow-up assessment that utilize reliable change indexes (RCIs) will also be provided. Upon completion, the Fellow will demonstrate advanced competency with standardized administration of tests, case conceptualization, and selection of appropriate measures based on their psychometric properties and available culturally appropriate norms. In addition, the Fellow will learn syndrome analysis approaches to interpretation that focuses on pattern and error analysis integrating information acquired from both normative and qualitative data. The Fellow will also demonstrate advanced competency in consultation with varied disciplines, providing feedback and education to patients, families, and referral sources when appropriate, and efficiently producing a consumer-oriented integrative report. The Fellow will have a variety of training opportunities and activities, some of which are required and others that are optional and somewhat customizable. Therapeutic application of neuropsychological information may be provided in a variety of ways. First, evaluations will often be followed by a meeting with the patient and possibly their family in order to review findings, better understand how the current results match the way the patient and family see the problems in real life and provide practical recommendations and referrals. While on the neuropsychological rotation, the Fellow will conduct on average two to three neuropsychological assessments per week, managing both test administration, developing a battery, and report writing. They will have at least two hours of individual supervision with licensed clinical neuropsychologists per week. They may also obtain clinical supervision experience with Neuropsychology Practicum Students or Interns. Fellows will attend the weekly Neuropsychology Seminar/Journal Club, Neuropsychology Case Conference, Functional Neuroanatomy Didactics, and participate in Fact-Finding exercises. They will be expected to present cases and didactic material at the Neuroanatomy Didactic, Neuropsychology Seminar, and Neuropsychology Case Conference. Involvement with scholarly activities is required. The clinic has general databases built or that may be expanded on. Fellows are encouraged to work on posters and/or papers for publication. Additional activities may include program development, preparation and presentation of novel projects, development of treatment protocols (e.g., SMART-CPT or CogSmart), and further development of existing projects. Past projects have included studying neuropsychological and neuroanatomical correlates of diabetes and kidney disease and evaluating the efficacy of a new group intervention for patients with co-occurring mTBI and PTSD.
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To address cultural competence training, fellows will work with Veterans from a variety of eras, including the Korean conflict, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve. The Veterans in this clinic range in age from 20s through their 90s. Fellows on this rotation will become familiar with special considerations in working with older adults with a variety of chronic health problems, disabilities, and neurologic and psychiatric conditions. Fellows will gain competence in understanding the barriers that older adults and people with disabilities face in seeking and receiving treatment, the role of neuropsychologists as advocates within the VA healthcare system and the way other identity variables, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, education level, SES, and cognitive status may intersect with aging and disability. The Fellow will also gain experience in understanding how diversity factors can affect neuropsychological test selection, administration, and interpretation and how such factors influence impressions and treatment recommendations. Further, there will be opportunities to discuss the intersectionality of diversity factors of the trainee, the supervisor, and the Veteran to better understand how these factors contribute to the overall level of care provided. This rotation requires trainees to be on site for testing and some rotations will require the fellow to be on-campus and perform face-to-face clinical work on most days; however, there may be some opportunities for remote/telework for a smaller percentage of the time.
Elective Neuropsychology – Rehabilitation Psychology Cross-Over Rotational Offerings
Two-year Postdoctoral Fellows within the specialty accredited Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Postdoctoral Training Programs have an elective opportunity to participate in cross-over training in the alternate training program (i.e., Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows in Neuropsychology and Neuropsychology Fellows in Rehabilitation Psychology) to enhance their postdoctoral training and promote competence in a closely related area of practice. Fellows are encouraged to discuss their interests in an elective rotation with the faculty in their respective specialty tracks and reach out to elective rotation supervisors as soon as feasible to discuss the Fellow’s clinical interests and how the elective rotation can best support their training goals.
Elective Neuropsychology Rotation Supervisors: Spring Flores Johnson, PhD; Christine Kim, PhD; Erin Moniz, PhD, ABBP- CN
Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows will have an elective opportunity to participate in the Neuropsychology Clinic that provides outpatient neuropsychological assessment for Veterans across the adult lifespan. Patient cases will be assigned based on training interest and identified areas of growth, with clinical supervisory oversight provided by one of the delegated neuropsychologists on staff. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment will focus on a fixed- flexible approach and tests will be chosen based on the characteristics of the patient and referral questions. The Rehabilitation Psychology Fellow will have the opportunity to engage in the test- selection, test administration utilizing standardized approaches and appropriate modifications, scoring, case conceptualization, and integrative report writing. Furthermore, Rehabilitation
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Psychology Fellows will have the opportunity to provide feedback and psychoeducation to referring providers, patients, and families as part of service provision. In conjunction with this elective opportunity, Rehabilitation Psychology Fellows may also elect to participate in Neuropsychology Seminar and Case Conference as well as the Functional Neuroanatomy Didactics. For additional details, please refer to full description under Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship – Specialty Accredited in program brochure. Elective Rehabilitation Psychology Rotation Supervisors: Sarah S. Brindle, PhD, Jennifer Kamar, PhD, Morgan Macaluso, PhD, Judy Su, PhD, Ashley Vaillancourt, PhD, Lina Vartan, PsyD, Neuropsychology Fellows will have an elective opportunity to participate in a diverse range of training opportunities across a variety of rehabilitation settings (i.e., Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders, Blind Rehabilitation Center and Community Living Center/Acute Rehabilitation Unit) including intervention and both in- and outpatient assessment. For additional details, please refer to full description under Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Method and Frequency of Evaluation
The overall goal of our Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship is to train psychologists who will be competent and skilled at creating and providing services in the community or VA system, and who are skilled in providing professional psychological services to a high-priority area of health care for Veterans. Postdoctoral Fellows are evaluated on General Competencies and Emphasis Competencies throughout the training year. The General Competencies are based on a range of required elements established by the APA’s Commission on Accreditation known as Standards of Accreditation. The Emphasis Competencies are elements unique to the Fellow’s emphasis area of training. Fellows are evaluated at four points throughout the year; mid-evaluations at 3-month and 9-month intervals and full evaluations at 6-month and 12-month intervals. Fellows working in two- year positions are also evaluated at the 15-, 18-, 21-, and 24-month intervals. Evaluation includes objective ratings and narrative feedback on competency items. An initial review of these competencies with the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at the beginning of the year helps clarify what the Fellow would like to emphasize, guide their choice of training opportunities and possibly help guide their selection of a Fellowship Project. The final review will assist us in determining the overall success of the VALBHCS Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Please see the section below on Requirements for Completion regarding additional information.
Requirements for Completion of Fellowship
Before Fellows start the program, their prior training experiences are carefully reviewed to identify areas of strength and needed growth. This process facilitates the development of an individualized training plan to meet the specific training needs of each Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow. Fellows
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are encouraged to expand their areas of clinical competence by using new treatment techniques from various theoretical orientations, and perhaps working with new patient populations, such as the severely mentally ill, dually diagnosed patients or primarily women.
It is expected that upon completion of the program, all Fellows will demonstrate advanced competence as defined by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
At the beginning of the training year, each Fellow will receive a Handbook for Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows that specifies the required competency elements within each domain. The Fellow is rated four times per year on all competency domains. Although many of the core competencies will be the same for Fellows in all emphasis areas, some competencies will apply only to Fellows in a specific emphasis area. To successfully complete the program, Fellows must complete the required supervised activities (as outlined in the ITP) and clinical hours, attend the required seminars/didactics, and complete/submit all required documentation (CA BOP paperwork, evaluation forms, SPE logs, etc.), and meet the established minimum levels of achievement (MLA) on each area of the General Competencies, Emphasis Competencies and Fellowship Project Outcome Evaluation Form (when applicable) by the end of the training program. All trainee forms and evaluations are stored either physically and/or digitally in private and secure locations. Digital files are kept in a private and secure folder that only the Directors of Psychology Training can access. Physical files are kept in a locked filling cabinet in the Director of Postdoctoral Training’s office.
Facility & Training Resources
Fellows are provided with a dedicated space and secure networked computers necessary for patient care and administrative responsibilities. If clinically appropriate, a secure VA laptop will be provided to provide the ability to telework. Fellows have access to the VA Medical Library services, including text databases such as Ovid, as well as VA Intranet and Internet resources for clinical work and research. Within the Psychology Department, there is a comprehensive Psychology Assessment Lab that has a wide variety of psychological assessment instruments and test scoring programs.
Administrative Policies
The leave policy of the Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is consistent with the national standard. Trainees accrue four hours of Annual Leave (LA) per pay period (about 13 days per year) and four hours of Sick Leave (LS) per pay period (about 13 days per year). Trainees must accrue these hours, as they will not be available during the first two weeks of training.
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Authorized Absence (LN): Authorized Absence (LN) 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. Nondiscrimination Policy: VA Long Beach HCS values your experience and background. We are an equal opportunity employer, and prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or status as a parent. We avoid any actions that would restrict program completion on grounds that are not relevant to success in training. In addition, we aim to foster a training environment that supports trainees in gaining greater competence in issues of diversity as they relate to patient care. Reasonable Accommodations: It is the policy of VA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Liability Protection for Trainees: When providing professional services at a VA healthcare facility, VA-sponsored trainees acting within the scope of their educational programs are protected from personal liability under the Federal Employees Liability Reform and Tort Compensation Act 28, U.S.C.2679 (b)-(d). Due Process: All Fellows are afforded the right to due process in matters of problem behavior and grievances. Due process procedures are outlined in the Handbook for Psychology Postdoctoral Fellows and reviewed with all Fellows during their first week at VA Long Beach Healthcare System. A copy of our due process policy is available on request and is in the Postdoctoral Fellowship Handbook that is provided at the beginning of the Fellowship.
Privacy policy: We collect no personal information from potential applicants who visit our website.
Self-Disclosure: We do not require Fellows to disclose personal information to their clinical supervisors except in cases where personal issues may be adversely affecting the Fellow's performance and such information is necessary in order to address these difficulties.
Training Faculty
BRINDLE, Sarah S., PhD Title: Program Manager Spinal Cord Injury Training Rotation: Rehabilitatoin Psychology E-mail address: sarah.brindle@va.gov Teaching/Training Interests: Rehabilitation Psychology; vicarious traumatization/burnout; issues relevant to new graduates (licensure, job seeking strategies)
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