The Salt Lake City VA Healthcare System Psychology Postdoctoral Program in Clinical Psychology was granted initial APA Accreditation in 2012. The Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Program has five fellows across three areas of emphasis: PTSD (PCT Team/Polytrauma/OEF, OIF, & OND Veterans), Health Psychology, and Addictions.
The PTSD track offers two resident positions with a focus on PTSD, Polytrauma, and readjustment strains for OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. Fellows typically split their time in the PTSD Clinic and the Polytrauma Clinic where they learn various assessments and train in advanced interventions (PE, CPT, ACT, etc.) for those with TBI histories as well as PTSD. The program aims to train the next generation of psychologists to work in VA healthcare.
The Health Psychology track offers 2 positions with which allow fellows the opportunity to develop advanced training skills in integrated behavioral medicine in inpatient and outpatient settings throughout the hospital. Fellows will work with inpatient medical teams, physical rehabilitation and medicine team, primary care mental helath integration (PC-MHI) teams, as well as other interdisciplinary medicine teams to address the Veteran’s healthcare needs through a collaborative approach with shared decision-making. Fellows will have opportunities to provide brief interventions, short-term counseling, assessment, facilitate interdisciplinary health behavior groups (i.e, CBT for chronic pain, Tobacco Cessation, etc.), and provide consultation and training for medical team members. Fellows may also elect to teach motivational internviewing skills to medical providers though the facility’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) program. Finally, fellows will have the opportunity to develop expertise in complementary areas of interest including geriatrics and rural populations. Fellows will work with the training director and supervisors to customize the training year to meet their individual needs, preferences, and abilities.
The Addictions track offers one position withing Addiction Treatment Services (ATS), which is compromised by Services for Outpatient Addiction Recovery (SOAR) and Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). Assessment, care coordination/case management, individual therapy, and group therapy will be part of a postdoctoral fellow’s training experience throughout the year and will include a focus on familiarity with the entire continuum of addiction care. The fellow will also provide consultation and develop in the role of a psychologist on interdisciplinary teams. The overall treatment philosophy in ATS is consistent with the recovery model and very much holds at the center a focus on improving Veterans’ quality of life. Veterans enter care with many different goals and expectations of treatment. We meet them where they are at, nonjudgmentally, and collaborate to develop beginning steps and throughout their recovery path.
Applications due 12/15/2023 with interviews likely offered the in mid to late January 2024. Thanks for your interest in our fellowship program!