It is with great pride and heartfelt appreciation that we present the 2026 Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Awards Newsletter. Now in its second year, this publication offers an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary dedication, compassion,…

What started as a riot turned into a revolution. The first LGBTQ Pride Parade occurred in 1970 in New York to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising. It is now recognized as the catalyst for gay, lesbian,…

The MHTP Evaluation and Quality Improvement (EQI) Lab is pleased to highlight a new project examining treatment dropout in Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—a critical issue in the real-world delivery of evidence-based care. This study is…

Claudine Ronquillo, APCC (she/her), is a dedicated mental health professional and graduate of Palo Alto University, where she earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her journey into the mental health field is deeply rooted in personal…

Maryam R. Hafezi, Psy.D. is the Senior Manager of the Northern California Regional Associate Program (RAP) within Kaiser Permanente’s Regional Mental Health Training Collaborative, where she leads program strategy, supervision quality, and interdisciplinary workforce development. Her leadership comes full circle…

A tube of ChapStick may seem insignificant, but for one of my patients it once represented germs, illness, and fear. When he picked it up without hesitation, the shift in the room was remarkable. Moments like this illustrate why our…

The Regional Associate Program (RAP), led by Dr. Maryam Hafezi, is a cornerstone of the Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC), thoughtfully designed to cultivate confident, capable, and well‑supported mental health clinicians across our medical centers. RAP delivers high‑quality, structured clinical…

The KP Community Project centered around Denim Day 2025, an annual event held each April to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The origin of Denim Day stems from a 1999 Italian court case where a rape conviction was overturned…

Sara Wadhwa, MS, a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University, approaches her work with a guiding question - how do individuals make meaning of their suffering, and how does that meaning shape experiences of distress and pathways…

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Evaluation & Quality Improvement Lab is pleased to highlight one of its newest program evaluation initiatives: an evaluation of the Cognitive Symptom Management & Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART) group offered within the Diablo Service Area…

The Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) offers a robust lineup of continuing education seminars throughout the training year to enrich learning for our trainees and MHTC staff. These sessions are also open—free of charge—to Kaiser Permanente clinical staff as part…

In November of 2025, MHTC's Clinical Supervisors spent an incredible four days at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 2025 Annual Convention in New Orleans! The year’s theme was—“Bridging the Divide: Promoting Rigorous Science and Inclusive, Affirming Therapies”—set…

In summer 2025, staff and advanced trainees in the KP Mental Health Training Program collaborated on a rich, seven‑week early training experience, providing a full-time KP Launch Summer Internship for 16 high school and three college students across three MHTP…

Mentoring plays a vital role in fostering personal and professional growth through the intentional sharing of knowledge, skills, and lived experience. Through structured guidance, encouragement, and professional networking, mentors support mentees in building confidence, navigating career pathways, and achieving their…

Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) is uniquely strengthened by having an EMDRIA‑approved trainer on faculty—such as Patrizia Meunier, LMFT. This credential is held by only about 230 clinicians nationwide, making it a rare and highly respected distinction in…

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our 2026 Journal Club Presentations, starting this January and running through early August! This marks the second year of our highly popular Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) initiative, designed to advance the APA’s…

We are proud to share that our very own Dr. Kathryn Wetzler, PsyD, Dr. Jennifer Thom, PhD, and Dr. Supria Gill, PhD, leaders of our NCAL Mental Health Training Collaborative, have all been recently recognized as Culture of Health Champion Managers at Kaiser Permanente by achieving one of the highest scores on the 2025 People Pulse Culture of Health Index.

The Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) entered 2025 with momentum, and the year unfolded into one of our most transformative yet. More than 350 trainees—from pre‑master’s to postdoctoral levels—completed their training in the Mental Health Training Program and Counseling Centers, engaging in high quality didactic training, completing community volunteer projects and contributing directly to patient care.

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is excited to announce that two of our independent doctoral internship programs and one doctoral internship consortium have recently achieved accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA)*. The newly accredited San Rafael doctoral internship…

The annual California Psychological Association 2025 Convention, held at the scenic Westin Long Beach from September 11–14, was a vibrant showcase of innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership in the field of psychology. Attendees enjoyed transformative educational sessions by leaders in…

As a second-year doctoral student at Palo Alto University, Lindsay Jamieson brings a personal passion for neuropsychological assessment and existential therapy to her practicum with the Mental Health Training Program. Inspired by her own experience with a head injury in…

The Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) is honored to welcome our newest cohort of mental health trainees to the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Program. As you begin this important chapter in your professional journey, we are excited…

We are proud to share an exciting evolution in our work: the Mental Health Training Program is now officially the Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC). This name reflects our expanded mission to address the critical shortage of clinicians and brings…

At the heart of the Mental Health Training Collaborative (MHTC) is a team of highly skilled Clinical Supervisors whose dedication and expertise are essential to the success of both our trainees and the program as a whole.

Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) proudly participated as a Tier 3 Sponsor at the APA 2025 Convention, one of the most influential gatherings in the field of psychology. Held in Denver and virtually, this year’s event brought together…

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is proud to kick off its expanded curriculum for the 2025–2026 training year! This year’s enhancements include a more comprehensive didactic series and an increased number of specialty trainings, all designed to elevate the…

Program Growth: From Trainee to Staff The Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program has successfully wrapped up another impactful training year. For the 2024–2025 cycle, we saw a record number of trainees complete the program. Notably, in 2024 92.6% of…

This year marks the inaugural Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Awards, created to honor some of the truly outstanding individuals who make our program so impactful.

Jennifer A. Clear, MA, brings exceptional depth, resilience, and cultural humility to her role as a doctoral intern in the Kaiser Permanente Counseling Center (KPCC). She is part of the first cohort of CAPIC doctoral interns at the KPCC and…

The Mental Health Training Program has launched an exciting new initiative this year—the Journal Club. Designed to ease the burden on local clinics while meeting the Research and Program Evaluation requirements set by the American Psychological Association, this program brings…

Implicit bias—also referred to as unconscious bias—encompasses the automatic attitudes and beliefs that influence how individuals perceive and interact with others, often without conscious awareness. Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, expressions of these biases that manifest through language, behavior, or…

EQI Lab Researchers Shine at SCOPE Symposium Trainee researchers in the Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) Evaluation and Quality Improvement (EQI) Lab recently made their debut at Kaiser Permanente’s esteemed annual Scholarly Cross-residency Output & Presentation Extravaganza (SCOPE). Partnering with…

Kaiser Permanente’s Bilingual Spanish-English Specialty Program has been awarded the esteemed 2025 Apple Award, recognizing the organization's dedication to excellence in education and innovation in mental health training. The Apple Awards are part of Kaiser Permanente’s annual recognition initiative, celebrating…

This month the NCAL Kaiser Mental Health Training Program is excited to highlight the work of Scott Charlton, LMFT. As a Clinical Supervisor at the KP Counseling Center, Scott has been instrumental in implementing evidence-based therapies that make meaningful differences…

Kaiser Permanente’s Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) stands as the largest non-governmental training program in the United States, a testament to our unwavering commitment to mental health education and professional development. Our program's reputation continues to flourish, as evidenced by…

It is rare for a day at the clinic to be marked by such exuberance, but receiving a secure message from my patient filled me with joy. My first patient treated with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) had sent…

Since the early months of the training year, participants in NCAL MHTP’s Bilingual Training Program have been meeting for two hours each week to engage in didactic sessions on modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy,…

Ren Hong, PhD (he/him), a psychologist with a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology, has made significant strides in the mental health field. Currently, he is leading pre-practicum training for the January 2025 Allied school cohort in the Counseling Center, providing…

The Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for advanced mental health training. The program remains committed to addressing the growing need for comprehensive training for master’s and doctorate-level…

For the fourth consecutive year, the Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) has been proud to host a community mentoring program in collaboration with Dozier Libbey Medical High School in Antioch. This initiative, under the guidance of JEDI Officer Dr. Chinue…

In September 2024, the Mental Health Training Program launched comprehensive and uniform didactics training for nearly 400 trainees at the premasters, postmasters, predoctoral and postdoctoral levels in over 21 Northern California medical centers and the Kaiser Permanente Counseling Center. One…

Beginning in January, the KP Counseling Center onboarded its newest cohort from the KP School of Allied Health Sciences. We are excited to train and mentor these students on becoming the next generation of psychotherapists. This group of 40 premaster's…

Kaiser Permanente continues to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, especially during the holiday. In service areas like Santa Clara County and greater San Jose, staff show their commitment to service, compassion, and equity through various partnerships and events during…

This year, MHTP launched the Gender Health Competency Training (GHCT), a 6-month long didactic and case consult series that will produce post-master's level trainees that are competent in the fundamentals of gender-affirming, inclusive and culturally responsive care for Kaiser’s gender-diverse…

The MHTP is excited to share our astonishing accomplishments from this past year.  In 2024, MHTP hosted the largest number of trainees in the program’s history.  Over 350 pre-master's, post-master's, predoctoral, and post-doctoral trainees came through our training program in…

Over the past few years, MHTP has invested in expanding its training programs for doctoral internship. These expansion efforts have involved growing the size of existing internship programs as well as launching new ones. This coordinated effort between MHTP and…

MHTP launched a new Resource Center website in Spring of 2024. The MHTP Resource Center website provides mental health trainees with a comprehensive introduction to Kaiser Permanente and the Northern California Mental Health Training Programs and Counseling Centers. All mental…

The ABCT 2024 conference in Philadelphia was an unforgettable experience for Dr. Ana Zdravkovic and Dr. Joanne Lam. The dynamic duo not only immersed themselves in the wealth of knowledge shared at the conference but also took the opportunity to…

The Mental Health Training Program is excited to announce that our continuing education programs have been approved for sponsorship by the American Psychological Association (APA)! After the start of the new year, our live regional speaker presentations as well as…

This month, we are doing something a little different and spotlighting our own Wellness Liaison team! We wanted to introduce the faces behind the Wellness Liaisons, share more about what we do, and talk about why this work is so…

This month the NCAL Kaiser Mental Health Training Program is honored to highlight the exciting work and amazing career of Patrizia Meunier, MA, PhD (she/her).  Dr. Meunier's early excellent academic success during high school earned her a university scholarship and…

The MHTP is excited to showcase one of our new specialty training programs. The Bilingual Specialty Training commenced on October 17th, welcoming 19 trainees. This program offers a significant opportunity for future clinicians across various educational levels, including Doctorate, Postmaster,…

We are thrilled and proud to introduce our six JEDI TLs (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Trainee-Liaisons) for the 2024-25 year. We encourage all MHTP trainees to connect with any or all of them to discuss ideas, questions, or concerns…

Starting in January 2025, the Northern California Mental Health Training program will offer Masters-level trainees the opportunity to join the Gender Health Competency Training. This 6-month long didactic series will cover topics such as gender health fundamentals, the rich history…

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is offering an innovative new training specialty in evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Starting this year trainees at the post-master’s, doctoral intern, and postdoctoral resident levels will be able to apply to…

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is thrilled to spotlight long-time supervisor in the South Sacramento/Elk Grove region, Marc Becker, Psy.D. (he/him), nominated by training director Jarrett Takayama, Psy.D. (he/him). Dr. Becker began his Kaiser Permanente journey in 2002 as…

One of the richest opportunities to enhance the mental health training experience in the EID space is now available. Every year the Mental Health Training Department solicits applications to serve as one of our “Justice, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EID)…

The Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program proudly served as a Tier 3 sponsor at the APA 2024 conference held in Seattle, WA, from August 8 to August 10. The event attracted a total of 8,431 in-person attendees, along with…

The NCAL Mental Health Training Program is excited to welcome all of 2024-2025 mental health trainees to Kaiser Permanente! The MHTP has a robust and exciting program for clinical psychology externs, interns, and post-doctoral residents, as well as post masters'…

The Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is embarking on a new adventure this fall.  When psychology trainees arrive to start their training year, they will have the opportunity to join the Evaluation and Quality Improvement (EQI) Psychology Lab. Psychology Doctoral…

Staff and advanced trainees in the KP Mental Health Training Program recently completed a successful and fun seven weeks working with fourteen high school students and six college students in four different KP Launch Summer Internship sites in June and…

This month, the Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is pleased to spotlight one of our incredible training directors and supervisors in the Northern California region, Joanne Lam, Psy.D. (she/her). Dr. Lam has been a key member in the launch of…

This month the Kaiser NCAL Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) is proud to announce a recent research publication by our Director, Dr. Kathryn Wetzler and MHTP contributor, Dr. Shay Loftus. Dr. Loftus, Dr. Kathryn Wetzler, and Michael Skolnik LCSW were…

The Mental Health and Wellness Department at Kaiser Permanente (KP) Santa Rosa celebrated this PRIDE month with enthusiasm and dedication, thanks to the efforts of the Culturally Responsive Care and Inclusivity committee. The committee organized a series of events, including…

Over the past few years, the Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) and Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) officers have sponsored a mentoring program for local high school students in the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD). In 2024,…

The San Juan Unified School District’s Family and Community Engagement Department recognizes its “Most Valued Partners” during the Spring Families Matter Conference. The event honors organizations that are committed to engaging and connecting with students, families, and staff throughout the…

This month the NCAL Kaiser Mental Health Training Program is very excited to highlight the pioneering work of Matthew Holland, PsyD (he/him).  Dr. Holland comes from a multi-ethnic background (Mexican/Okinawan/English) with a multi-cultural upbringing. He states that “balancing multiple perspective…

As Father's Day approaches, it is time to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of modern parenting: millennial dads. Gone are the days of distant and detached father figures; today's dads are rewriting the script with their unwavering presence,…

The MHTP team is excited to share that we are bringing MATCH-ADTC (Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems) to our training programs in the 2024-2025 training year! MATCH-ADTC is a redesign of evidence-based…

Dr. Jennifer Gershen, Psy.D. is not just a clinical psychologist at Kaiser Permanente – Santa Rosa; she is a visionary leader and compassionate mentor. She has dedicated her career at Kaiser to transforming the landscape of mental health training. With…

The Northern California Mental Health Training Program has the privilege of highlighting another member of our dedicated Clinical Supervisor team, Veronica Ochoa, LCSW (she, hers, ella). As a clinical supervisor, Ms. Ochoa brings a wealth of experience and knowledge including…

Promoting and upholding JEDI values takes work and intentionality. We highlight the work of Dr. Amy Orecchio, Manager at Kaiser Richmond, who shares essential values and leadership styles that inspire MHTP trainees to further expand the implementation and reach of…

While searching for services or programs that represent exemplars of culturally informed care, our MHTP JEDI Trainee Liaison, Jacky Fuentes, came across a culturally responsive trauma track in Richmond. In this article, Jacky describes this very special track and its…

Entering a new work environment can at times feel lonely and overwhelming. Fostering a sense of community is essential for people to be successful in their careers and maintain progress towards future goals. Kaiser Permanente offers the opportunity to become…

Our MHTP training sites offer a vast array of rich training experiences for trainees each year. However, sometimes trainees experience something so helpful during the training year that they want to share it with the entire training community. This was…

This month we are very excited to spotlight another member of the Northern California Mental Health Training Program team in the Clinical Supervisor role, Adryan Caron, LMFT (she/her). Ms. Caron completed her bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Barbara with a…

The Culturally Responsive Care and Inclusivity (CRCI) committee of Kaiser, Santa Rosa, hosted Lunar New Year celebrations in February. The gatherings brought together colleagues of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds to celebrate and deepen each other’s knowledge and appreciation for…

You are invited! You MUST register to attend: https://na.eventscloud.com/ehome/784474 Friday, April 19, 2024 9:00 AM - 3:35 PM Claremont Club & Spa - A Fairmont Hotel, Berkeley, CA Please bring your KP cellphone. Please see CEU information for LCSWs and…

Are you interested in learning more about treating trauma using evidence-based practices? If so, there are several on demand trainings available in the MHTP CE Library that feature expert speakers on the topic. Offerings in MHTP CE Library and live…

As 2024 begins, we are honored to highlight the newest Clinical Supervisor with the Regional Mental Health Training Program, Ana Zdravkovic, PsyD (she/hers). Dr. Zdravkovic initially came to Kaiser in 2012 as a postdoctoral resident in Walnut Creek after completing…

Génesis Peña (she/her/ella) is a Post-Master’s Fellow in the Napa Solano Service Area who works with adults, children, and bilingual patients on the Spanish Treatment Track. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University Monterey Bay with…

We are so delighted and proud to introduce to you all to our five MHTP JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Trainee-Liaisons for the 2023-24 year. We encourage all trainees to reach out to any one or more of them throughout this training year with ideas, questions, or concerns regarding JEDI issues.

This year the NCAL Mental Health Training Program was a proud sponsor of the student social hour at the National Latinx Psychological Association 2023 Conference, facilitating conversation and connection! One of the highlights of the conference itself was current doctoral…

This month the NCAL Kaiser Mental Health Training Program has the honor of highlighting the dedication of Emilio Licea III, PsyD (he/him). Dr. Licea currently works as the Training Program Manager, as well as the Postdoctoral Training Director, Predoctoral Internship…

The Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Programs (MHTP) is excited to highlight former trainee and current co-Training Director Amanda Devane, PhD (she/her) and share her contributions to the Napa-Solano trauma track, one of the cutting-edge treatment options for KP patients…

The 2023-2024 year has some exciting changes for the NCAL Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program (MHTP)! This year we are proud to host our largest training cohort ever with trainees spanning across 17 disciplines and tracks, working and learning…

The NCAL Kaiser Mental Health Training Program is very excited to highlight the fabulous work of Anna K. Morita, Psy.D. (she/her).  Dr. Morita is the Training Director of the Northern California Neuropsychology Training Consortium, as well as a manager and…

Each year the EID Team at the Mental Health Training Program selects a few interested and well qualified trainees to serve as Liaisons between the EID team and the region's trainees.  Liaisons represent trainee needs and experiences, contribute to existing…

The Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Training Program (MHTP) would like to introduce Director of Mental Health Training for the Diablo Service Area (DSA), Margot Green, PhD (she/her) whose local roles include East Bay Consortium Postdoctoral Training Director, Training Director for…

National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans. The month-long observance begins on September 15, the anniversaries of independence for several Central American countries, and…

MHTP welcomes incoming cohort and the beginning of great training year!

Supporting the next generation of mental health professionals

Dr. Myron Hays brings a wealth of experience to MHTP and the Central Bay Consortium

Dr. Carisha Kelsey shares how a research internship led to an unexpected career path

Dr. Dawn Hasemann collaborates with MHTP to create training on Problem Solving Therapy

Roseville Training Director began journey as MHTP practicum extern

KP Launch introduces Bay Area high school students to careers in mental health

How one program is providing specialized training to meet an important need

Xi Chen brings a passion for integrative health and the ability to provide therapy services in Cantonese

Pediatric Postdoctoral Resident Dr. Rana Tanios discusses her passion for working with youth and how her background has shaped her practice