VALB Postdoc Brochure 2025-2026

Updated July 11, 2024

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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