Updated July 11, 2024
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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