Updated September 17 th , 2026
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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