Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory

Elements of quality clinically focused postdoctoral training

The training philosophy of the NMVAHCS Fellowship in Clinical Psychology is guided by the Scientist-Practitioner model.  The PTSD Emphasis area consists of two separate tracks, Residential and Outpatient, each of which selects one fellow per training year. 

PTSD Outpatient Track: The majority of the fellows’ clinical time will be spent in the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT). The PCT is comprised of psychologists and two social workers, all of whom specialize in providing evidence-based assessment and psychotherapy for veterans with PTSD. The fellow in this program will be trained in conducting comprehensive mental health assessments for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, evidence-based psychotherapy, particularly Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and provision of consultation to other programs within the Behavioral Health Care Line regarding patients experiencing PTSD. 

Specific activities include:

• Full psychosocial and diagnostic assessments, including use of the CAPS-5
• Provision of evidence-based therapy, including PE and CPT
• Delivery of brief psychoeducational groups including Motivational Interviewing for enhancing motivation to engage in PTSD treatment
• Treatment of comorbid PTSD and substance use disorders
• Family education groups
• Delivery of DBT-based skills groups
• Opportunities for program evaluation and development
• Participation in PTSD program journal-club PTSD 

Residential Track: Fellows’ primary clinical setting will be the Substance Abuse, Trauma, and Rehabilitation Residence (STARR), a 24 bed unit that treats male and female veterans who have co-occurring post-trauma issues and recent or current substance use disorders. Fellows will be expected to serve as a fully-functioning member of an interprofessional team consisting of staff and other trainees from psychology, psychiatry, medicine, social work, and nursing. Fellows will gain experience with providing specialized psychotherapies for PTSD and SUD-related issues, assessment of psychiatrically-complex patients to determine appropriateness for admission, and consultation with other professions regarding patients’ course of treatment and discharge planning. 

Specific activities include: 

• Provision of evidence-based psychotherapy for SUD and PTSD, including Prolonged-Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Provision of psychological assessment for diagnostic clarification and determination of appropriateness for residential treatment
• Co-facilitation of residential group programming
• 'Behavioral health consultation within the residential milieu setting, including facilitation of team-based interventions targeting problematic patient behaviors
• Involvement in program evaluation and program development
• Provision of supervision to other psychology trainees
• Involvement in administrative activities within the residential unit and/or psychology training programs
• Opportunities to participate in multi-day trainings in Cognitive Process Therapy and Motivational Interviewing from national VA trainers
• Coordination of PTSD program journal-club

Fellows are expected to use up to 20% of their time in program development or program evaluation activities. Research time can substitute for this if a fellow has a well-defined research project that could be completed within the fellowship year. Evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are taught and our faculty includes national trainers for several EBP rollouts within the VA. Intelligent consumption of research and a hypothesis-testing approach to clinical work is taught through supervision and didactic activities. 

There are two aims of the program:

1. Prepare fellows for eventual leadership roles in a broad variety of interprofessional settings, with a specific focus on the knowledge and skills required for success in complex healthcare settings. 
2. Produce residents who demonstrate advanced competence in the field of clinical psychology. 

Training is structured around two levels of competency: advanced areas competency required of all programs at the postdoctoral level and program specific competencies that cut across all of our postdoctoral fellowships. 

Postdoctoral fellows will participate in a range professional activities and opportunities, including professional development seminars, program evaluation seminar, and a supervision of supervision group that includes both didactics and opportunities for consultation. Fellows will participate in multiple supervision and teaching activities: all fellows will have the opportunity to supervise practicum students and/or psychology interns and will give a Grand Rounds presentation to other trainees and to staff. Finally, fellows are encouraged to obtain licensure prior to the end of the training year. The program provides support for licensure by providing shared study materials, regularly checking in on progress within seminars and individual meetings, and providing time for EPPP preparation. In addition, we aim to prepare fellows for eventual board certification in clinical psychology or other ABPP specialty areas depending on the fellow’s focus. 

We consider our training in cultural and individual diversity to be a particular strength of the program. We follow the Reflective Local Practice model (Sandeen, Moore, & Swanda, 2018). This model emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in order to gain self-understanding in the service of lifelong cultural growth; familiarity with one’s local community and cultures; and incorporating this knowledge to clinical practice. Personal self-disclosure by fellows is encouraged in order to facilitate our goals of increasing cultural awareness regarding self and others. Thus, fellows may be invited to share aspects of their background that have shaped their world view in important ways. This is voluntary although encouraged, and takes place within the context of individual supervisory relationships and in the fellowship cohort during postdoc seminars. The psychology training program also has a workgroup focused on implementing aspects of reflective local practice throughout the training program and training community. This workgroup aims to foster a work environment that includes all social identities and draws upon strengths and works against barriers of marginalization. It is represented by core values of creating a welcoming and responsive environment that grows and changes with an evolving culture; by attending and responding to these values, we strive to provide culturally responsive and just care to an increasingly diverse population.  Altogether, we have APA accredited fellowships in clinical psychology in SMI, PTSD, and family, as well as clinical health psychology fellowships across emphasis areas of health and sleep. Fellows across these different emphasis areas attend seminars together, providing a cohort aspect to the fellowship program. For more information on the training program, please view our brochure and additional information on our website: