Two of our postdoctoral positions will consist of a 6-month full-time (e.g. 8 hours per day), combined rotation for the PTSD-Integrated Recovery Program (PTSD-IRP) and the PTSD Center for Sexual Trauma Services (PTSD-CSTS) clinics as well as a 6-month full-time rotation in the Women's Clinic. Fellows will develop general clinical skills enabling them to work with a number of patient populations as well as special emphasis in gender-specific issues and empirically-based strategies in the treatment of women veterans with PTSD. Fellows will also work in the Women's Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Clinic, focusing on the assessment and treatment of women with a number of different presenting problems, including medical problems, interpersonal problems, and characterological issues.
Two other postdoctoral positions will consist of a 6-month full-time rotation in our Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP), and a 6-month full-time rotation in the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP). Fellows will develop general clinical skills enabling them to work with a number of patient populations as well as special emphasis in empirically-based substance abuse treatment. Fellows will also work in BHIP, providing therapeutic and assessment services for a wide variety of mental health diagnoses as well as adjunctive work regarding medical issues.
Postdoctoral fellows define goals to acquire additional training in empirically-based treatments including but not limited to Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Exposure and Response Prevention and Aceptance and Commitment Therapy. In all settings, the post-doctoral fellow will participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, serve as a consultant to both mental health and medical staff, develop expertise in assessments consistent with their assigned rotations, engage in the full range of clinical interventions with a focus on evidence-based practices, work on performance improvement initiatives, complete program evaluation and/or research activities, and provide education, training, and supervision as resources allow. In addition, Fellows are required to complete a research or program development project during their training year.
The fellowship program is excited to offer the option to add a minor rotation in Administrative Leadership. This minor rotation will promote the interests and development of Fellows who envision leadership roles within the general Mental Health Service line in their future career. Exposure to management and other service/facility roles as a VHA Psychologist (i.e., Section Chief, Director, ACOS, Program Manager/Admin Supervisor, Committee Chair, Assistant Training Director, Training Director) will occur. During the four hours per week, Fellows will have the option to shadow psychologists involved in such roles, familiarize themselves with mental health program requirements such as the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook, and learn about data management as well as policy and programmatic processes. Fellows can audit VISN, facility and service level committees. Fellows will have the opportunity to observe suicide and violence prevention medical record flagging meetings and participate in psychology training recruitment, selection, and orientation/onboarding activities.