User:

Site Name: VA Long Beach Healthcare System

Department: Department of Psychology (06/116B)

Back

Department : Department of Psychology (06/116B)

Click on a section title to expand or collapse individual sections.
Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 9924
Program Type: Post Doctoral
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Department: Department of Psychology (06/116B)
Address: 5901 E. 7th Street
(06/116B)
Long Beach, California 90822
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City: 25 miles
Phone: 562-826-8000x16365
Fax:
Training Director Email: spring.johnson@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/postdoctoral-fellowship-program/
Brochure Website's Address: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/1058709517/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 2010
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Postdoctoral Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Spring Johnson
Chief Psychologist:
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 60
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: 08/09/2027
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 9
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 63558
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Authorized Absence (AA) may be requested for off-site educational workshops/seminars, conferences, other approved training activities, and license examination. Up to 10 days can be requested by the Fellow throughout the training year. Requests for authorized absence are negotiated on a case-by-case basis between the Fellow, the Director of Postdoctoral Training, Executive Training Committee, and the Chief Psychologist. Fellows may combine authorized absence with annual leave if they wish.
Brief description of the typical work day for a postdoc at this training site A typical day for a postdoctoral fellow at our site would vary greatly between the different emphasis areas in which fellows have the opportunity to train and work.
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: 12/02/2026 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: Pepperdine University; Bowling Green University; University of Nevada, Reno; San Diego State University/University of California San Diego; Washington State University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; Palo Alto University; PGSP - Stanford Consortium; JFK University; Columbia University; Adelphi University; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Syracuse University; George Fox University; University of Miami; St. Louis University; University of Utah; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Hartford; Loma Linda University; Seattle Pacific University; Azusa Pacific University; Rosemead School of Psychology/Biola University; Arizona State University; Seton Hall University; Indiana State University; The Wright Institute; Fuller Theological Seminary; Florida Institute of Technology; Alliant International University, Los Angeles; University of Missouri - Saint Louis; Pennsylvania State University; University of Wisconsin - Madison; Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis; University of North Texas; University of La Verne; Purdue University; University of Georgia; Virginia Tech; Adler University
The program uses the APPA Centralized Application Service: No
Interview notification date: N/A
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

Interviews will take place by live video (or phone). The main objectives of our interviews are to get to know you as a person, explore your training goals, discuss our program as honestly and openly as possible, and get a feel for the “goodness of fit” between you and our training program.  In general, our postdoc interviews run about 4 hours on a single day (between 0800-1200 PST). Candidates meet the Director of Postdoctoral Training as a group, interview with emphasis-specific training supervisors individually and meet the current emphasis-specific postdoctoal fellow(s) individually. 

 NOTE: Neuropsychology applications are due 11/09/2026
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 Long Beach Healthcare System's Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is made up of generalist training and specialty training. The generalist training in Health Service Psychology is made up of three emphasis areas:

  • 1) Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (two positions)
  • 2) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (one position)
  • 3) Women’s Mental Health & Trauma (one position)

Specialty training is offered in Clinical Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology. Both of these specialty programs have a two-year position with recruitment for one Fellow in each area occurring every year.

The postdoctoral fellowship program was started in August 2008 and received initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in November 2012. Our Clinical program gained full re-accredidation in 2019 and the next site visit will be in 2029. The Commission on Accreditation granted specialty acceditation to our Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in 2018 and to our Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship Program in 2020.

Our training model is scientist-practitioner, with the theoretical orientations of the postdoctoral staff including a range from Cognitive Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment Therapies to psychodynamic approaches. Candidates that are interested in working in a large medical setting with a veteran population are encouraged to apply. The ultimate goal of the generalist program is to have fellows further hone their clincial skills while acquiring training in an emphasis area that matches their interests. We also encourage fellows to apply for and obtain state licensure during their programming in order to become independent practitioners across a variety of settings. VA Long Beach Healthcare System has a longstanding commitment to clinical training with an internship program that has been accredited for over 30 years and a more informal practicum program that has attracted outstanding clinical trainees from local programs. The Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program follows a policy of selecting the most qualified candidates and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes attempting to ensure an appropriate representation of individuals along many dimensions, including (but not limited to) gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnic/racial minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Please email Dr. Spring Flores Johnson, Director of Postdoctoral Training, at spring.johnson@va.gov with any questions.

 NOTE: Neuropsychology applications are due 11/09/2026

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: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural:
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

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

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary:
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/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/postdoctoral-fellowship-program/  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: 126 119 136 110 94 50 56 54
Where did Former Postdoctoral Fellows Go (1st Placement)?
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Total Number of post-docs: 8 2 6 6
Still a Postdoctoral Fellow: 2 2 6 2
Academic teaching: 0 0 0
Community mental health center: 0 0 0 1
Consortium: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1 1 2 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 4 1 0 3
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 0 0 1 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/postdoctoral-fellowship-program/
Back