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Site Name: VA San Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego

Department: Psychology Service

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Department : Psychology Service

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 9958
Program Type: Post Doctoral
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA San Diego Healthcare System/University of California, San Diego
Department: Psychology Service
Address: 3350 La Jolla Village Drive (116B)
San Diego, California 92161
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA
Distance from Major City: 0
Phone: 858-642-3883x
Fax:
Training Director Email: natalie.castriotta@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: http://www.sandiego.va.gov/careers/psychology_training.asp
Brochure Website's Address: http://www.sandiego.va.gov/docs/VASDHSPsychPostdoc.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Academic Health Center
  • Medical School
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 2011
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Postdoctoral Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Natalie Castriotta
Chief Psychologist: Neal Doran
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 50
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 20
Number of Non-Psychologist Staff/Faculty who Supervise Post-docs 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/09/2027
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 13
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 61661
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, 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
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: 12/01/2026 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:
The program uses the APPA Centralized Application Service: Yes
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/11/2026
Tentative interview date: 1/25/27, 1/26/27
Interview process description:

All interviews will be virtual via Zoom and will take place on 1/25/27 and 1/26/27. Selected applicants will be asked to choose one of the two interview dates to attend. Interviews will begin at 8am PST and will last until approximately 3pm PST.

Interview days include a program overview from training directors, informational meetings with rotation leaders, individual interviews with each supervisor from the selected rotation, individual interviews with the current postdoc from the selected rotation, and a Q&A panel with the current postdoc cohort.
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 VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS)/ University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a postdoctoral residency program in clinical psychology. In close affiliation with the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, the program offers 13 one-year positions. The training program uses a scientist practitioner model. Development, implementation, and dissemination of evidence-based research and practice are high priorities. For more information, go to:  Psychology Internship And Fellowship Programs | VA San Diego Health Care | Veterans Affairs

 There are 13 one-year positions available for the 2027-2028 training year (August 9th, 2027- August 4th, 2028) in each of the following emphasis areas:

  • Family Mental Health 
  • Geropsychology and Home-based Primary Care,
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Mental Health,
  • Mood, Anxiety, Trauma, and General Mental Helath (BHIP)
  • Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Serious Mental Illness (2 positions),
  • Psychosomatic and Behavioral Medicine (3 positions),
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (2 positions),
  • Substance Abuse Rehabilitation and Recovery (2 positions)

Training includes: 1] supervised clinical experiences with Veterans and families on interprofessional treatment teams at specific residential, outpatient and community clinics (~60-65% of time); 2] didactics (~15-20% of time); and 3] research/dissemination activities (~20% of time). Additionally, the program allows an opportunity for mentored supervision of psychology interns and practicum students, and formal presentations and lectures to academic, medical, and community audiences.

Postdoctoral Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: 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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Family Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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:
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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 : Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
HIV/AIDS: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Physical Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Learning Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Supervision: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Research: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Administration:
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: http://www.sandiego.va.gov/careers/psychology_training.asp  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 2024-2025 2025-2026 2026-2027
Number of Completed Applications: 40 58 41
Where did Former Postdoctoral Fellows Go (1st Placement)?
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Total Number of post-docs: 10 11 11 10
Still a Postdoctoral Fellow: 0 1 0
Academic teaching: 1 0 0 0
Community mental health center: 0 0 1 0
Consortium: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 2 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 6 3 5 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 3 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 3 1 1 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://www.va.gov/san-diego-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-and-fellowship-programs/
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