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 of the key changes to MHTP for this training year is the standardization of didactics across all of our various training sites. By unifying the curriculum and supporting processes, the didactics program aims to provide consistent, cohesive, and comprehensive training for all trainees. Additionally, the program has introduced a streamlined approach to data collection and reporting on didactics outcomes. Trainee attendance and didactics evaluations are systemically captured, making it easier to track progress and gather necessary data for program accreditation and improvement purposes.
A significant amount of effort has been put into developing the curriculum for the didactic program. Dedicated collaborative workgroups have been instrumental in this process, with MHTP clinical supervisors partnering with MHTP leadership to ensure comprehensive and evidence-based curriculum for these series across all trainee levels:
- Foundations
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Electives (Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Unified Protocol, Modular Approach to Therapy for Children, Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
The didactics instructors have been bringing the didactics curriculum to life, utilizing their blend of skills and clinical experiences to facilitate invaluable learning and insights for trainees. Their dedication and expertise are key to the program’s success and to the development of highly skilled future mental health professionals.
Following the spirit of learning, the program is actively evaluating feedback from trainees and instructors to identify areas for improvement. This process is crucial for determining opportunities for refinement and ensuring that the program continues to evolve and meet the needs of its participants, as well as accreditation standards. The insights gained this year will be used to enhance and optimize curriculum and processes for the next training year.
Contributed by: Hayley Ho, PMP
