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Site Name: VA Medical Center, Salem

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 9104
Program Type: Post Doctoral
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Medical Center, Salem
Department: Psychology
Address: 1970 Roanoke Blvd. 116C
Salem, Virginia 24153
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: Next to Roanoke, VA
Phone: 540-982-2463x1285
Fax:
Email: esther.brahmstadt@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/salem-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/salem-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 2012
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Postdoctoral Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Esther Brahmstadt
Chief Psychologist: Brian Shenal
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 27
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Number of Non-Psychologist Staff/Faculty who Supervise Post-docs 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/12/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 5
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 52005
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above):
Brief description of the typical work day for a postdoc at this training site Postdocs primarily work in one emphasis area, under the supervision of a primary supervisor/mentor. A typical work day depends on the content area and ranges from assessment to specific interventions. Didactics and team consultation are typically included in each work day. Postdocs are also expected to leave work at 430pm to ensure adequate work/life balance.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Postdoctoral Application Process
Application Due Date: 01/01/2024 11:59 PM EST
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: University of Wyoming, University of Central Florida, Binghamton, University of Kansas, University of South Carolina, Yeshiva University, University of Baltimore- Maryland, JFK University, University of Alabama, University of Akron, Xavier University, Southern Illinois University, Yeshiva University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Texas A &M, Florida Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University
The program uses the APPA Centralized Application Service: Yes
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is:
Interview notification date: N/A
Tentative interview date: 01/18/2024, 01/23/2024, 01/25/24
Interview process description:

We require interviews but these will all be virtual. Likely virtual interview dates will be 1/18, 1/23, 1/25 for the Clinical Psychology Emphasis Areas. Interviews will include a meeting with the Director of Training. They will also include interviews with content area supervisory staff and a discussion with current trainees. Applicants are notified via email or phone and will be scheduled for an interview day. We normally have each applicant meet with three staff, though this may be adjusted this year to accommodate all virtual meetings.  Applications are reviewed and interviews are offered on a rolling basis.

 
Postdoctoral Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work in the US is Required No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada is Required: No
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Program Description

The Salem VAHCS clinical psychology program is recruiting for 5 full-time paid Postdoctoral Residency positions . These 1-year positions are with the following emphasis areas: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Primary Care-Mental Health Integration, Geropsychology (2 positions), and Substance Use Disorders.  For the 2024-2025 training year, we will not be offering the Clinical Neuropsychology or Anxiety & Depression/Evidence Based Psychotherapy positions we typically offer.

The Scientist-Practitioner model guides our psychology training programs. In addition, we use a Developmental approach. Our ideal is that of psychologists who are skilled in the understanding and application of clinical research and scientific methods to their practice. The majority of the clinical staff's primary theoretical orientation is Cognitive-Behavioral or Behavioral.  Residents' time is spent in clinical and testing duties (50%); research and/or program development (20%); providing supervision (5%); leadership project (5%); interprofessional treatment team participation and consultation (10%); and teaching, leadership, and didactic activities (10%).

Our residents are well trained AND well-supported. We believe in having a supportive and challenging learning environment where residents are encouraged to become even more exceptional in their skills. Our residents are well prepared for the job market and have been extremely successful in obtaining positions following residency. Our residents are also prepared to take on adminstrative, leadership, and supervisory roles following residency, often becoming leaders in our field.

A special focus of our residency is fostering the growth and integration of residents' personal and professional identities. We emphasize the need for balance in our lives. This results in our insistence on a 40-hour work week and encouraging our residents to pursue interests outside of psychology, such as recreation, exercise, family, and friendships. Professional identity development, especially in the areas of employment location and selection, is assisted by seminars about job searches, licensure, program development, mental health administration, and supervision. In addition, psychology staff are very open to providing informal assistance in these areas.

 

Postdoctoral Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban:
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Primary Care: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Experience (21% to 30%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Developmental Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Experience (21% to 30%)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Substance Use Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Experience (21% to 30%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research: Experience (21% to 30%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other:

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: https://www.va.gov/salem-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Postdoctoral Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024
Number of Completed Applications: 62 84 64 45 48 40 26
Where did Former Postdoctoral Fellows Go (1st Placement)?
2022-2023
Total Number of post-docs: 5
Still a Postdoctoral Fellow: 1
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 3
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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