Doctoral Internship – Vallejo/Vacaville
The Kaiser Permanente Napa-Solano service area, first established in Vallejo in 1945, has steadily grown to serve 312,000 members, spanning an area stretching from the Carquinez Bridge, north to Vacaville and Dixon, and through the Napa Valley to Calistoga and Benicia. Vallejo and Vacaville both reside within Solano County in between San Francisco and Sacramento providing easy access to both cities as well as to nearby wine country in Napa County. There is also easy access to beautiful outdoor spaces in local and state parks as well as being within a 2-hour drive of the beach and Sierra mountains. In addition to being some of the most affordable places to live in the Bay Area, Vallejo and Vacaville are some of the more diverse places in the country. The ethnic diversity of the patient population is broad and includes Latino/a, African American, Pacific Islander, Asian, Caucasian, and those of other backgrounds.
The Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, rebuilt in 2010, is comprised of a 267-bed hospital and large outpatient medical office complex offering a range of primary care and specialty services. The hospital houses the renowned Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Center, which provides state-of-the-art rehabilitation services to members throughout Northern California. Kaiser Permanente Vallejo provides services to a large Medi-Cal population and functions much like a county hospital.
The Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center was opened in 2009 and provides comprehensive medical services in addition to being the county’s only Level II trauma center and the home of a specialty neurosurgery center. Psychiatry services are located within the Vacaville Medical Center.
Program Curriculum
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
The Kaiser Permanente Napa-Solano Internship in Health Service Psychology is located in Northern Bay Area California in Solano and Napa Counties. The Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center is located in the city of Vallejo which is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse cities in the United States. In addition, approximately 34% of Vallejo residents are speakers of a non-English language, higher than the 21% national average. Kaiser Permanente is an option for Medi-Cal coverage in the county, so our medical center is able to provide mental health services across the socioeconomic spectrum. We are fortunate to be situated in this diverse community and benefit from Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to cultural sensitivity in all aspects of patient care.
The Napa-Solano Internship is committed to nurturing and integrating diversity training into all aspects of our doctoral internship by:
- Providing interns with opportunities to work with diverse patients who represent various aspects of diversity, including age, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, values, and lifestyle
- Placing a high value on interns’ willingness to engage in self-reflection and learning and supporting the exploration of attitudes, beliefs, and therapeutic postures that could have a negative impact on clinical interactions
- Maintaining a consistent focus in clinical supervision on expanding interns’ multicultural awareness and competence in the provision of psychotherapeutic services and by providing guidance, suggestions, and resources on topics related to diversity
- Providing formal in-person or online training on diversity topics such as discovering and mitigating unconscious bias, respecting every voice, and cultivating a sense of inclusion and belonging in the workplace
- Encouraging interns to participate in the Regional Mental Health Training Program Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee’s advanced trainings on topics related to cultural sensitivity and competence alongside a forum to reflect on and discuss their varied experiences in a safe environment
Importantly, the Napa-Solano Internship’s commitment to diversity is not solely demonstrated through aspects of the clinical training, it is also reflected in the recruitment and hiring of their staff. For Kaiser Permanente, diversity is a high priority in the recruitment and retention of service providers. All recruitment and hiring for psychologists are done by the medical centers, each of which follow Kaiser Permanente guidelines for diversity recruitment.
Didactic Training (Including regional trainings and local didactics)
Regularly scheduled weekly didactic seminars are organized and administered by the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Mental Health Training Program*. Interns are required to attend the two-hour weekly seminar, which focuses on aspects of clinical practice that the interns may not regularly encounter.
Diversity issues are always integrated into seminar presentations. Seminar topics include Frontiers in Trauma Treatment; Advanced Risk Assessment; Updates in Substance Abuse Research & Treatment; Advancements in Psychopharmacology; Cognitive Processing Therapy; Technology and Mental Health; Trans/Nonbinary Mental Health; Building a Better Brain through Exercise, Nutrition, Sleep and Stress Management; and Self-Compassion.
The KPNC Mental Health Training Program also sponsors professional training courses for continuing professional development. These courses and presentations are offered at select times during the year for all KPNC mental health trainees and medical center staff. The KPNC Mental Health Training Program brings in national experts and keynote speakers on a variety of cutting-edge topics in mental health treatment and research. Interns are expected to attend all MHTP Speaker Series seminars*. Current seminar schedules and a list of speakers and topics can be found on the KPNC Mental Health Training Programs website. In addition, many of these lectures are recorded and available on this website under the Continuing Education Seminar Library.
*All MHTP seminars are delivered using distance education technologies. Registration and meeting links via the host virtual platforms are required for entrance into online seminars. There are no fees associated with MHTP seminars, and intern privacy is prioritized at all times.
Seminars and Meetings (Including professional development seminar, department team meetings, FIC Case Consultation, etc)
Doctoral interns are expected to attend weekly team staff meetings and case consultation. During case consultation, interns practice creating a working hypothesis for a diagnosis and treatment plan and learn how to incorporate Feedback Informed Care (FIC) and symptom management in their plan. Additionally, interns learn how to align their patient’s cultural background and values system with their treatment plan.
Supervision
| All doctoral interns are supervised by licensed psychologists and are assigned to a primary and secondary supervisor. These two clinical supervisors meet with their assigned intern one hour per week for individual face-to-face supervision, for a total of two hours of individual supervision per week.
The primary and secondary supervisor in each training rotation is responsible for supervising the direct delivery of clinical services. The primary supervisor takes the lead role in developing the intern’s learning plan, monitoring their progress, and evaluating their training schedule. The primary supervisor is also responsible for supervising the intern’s clinical work and completing quarterly evaluations after gathering input from the other delegated supervisors and staff who have worked with the intern. Doctoral interns are also provided with weekly clinical group supervision and group supervision for psychological assessment. During clinical group supervision, interns learn how to conceptualize treatment plans and frame interventions through a cultural framework that considers age, gender identity, race and ethnicity, family systems, socioeconomic status, work and school history, and other cultural factors. Interns also gain experience presenting clinical cases, as well as giving and receiving peer feedback. These feedback interactions help interns to develop both collegial and supervisory aspects of their professional identities as psychologists. Assessment group supervision provides support for interns gaining proficiency conducting psychological evaluations. During assessment group supervision, interns have an opportunity to discuss several aspects of the assessment process, including how to interpret test results, formulate clinical impressions, and plan patient feedback. |
Community Partnership Program
Reflecting Kaiser Permanente’s core commitment to mental health and wellness in our communities, each doctoral intern will spend at least 32 hours during their training year on a Community Partnership Project that focuses on improving mental health in the local community beyond Kaiser Permanente patient membership.
The goal of this project is to provide outreach to underserved populations in the community to promote healthy behaviors. Anchors for this project include developing alliances with individuals and/or systems to improve the lives of those served; providing education and training based on the empirical literature; collecting, analyzing, and presenting relevant outcome data to partnership stakeholders.
Psychological Assessment
All doctoral interns complete psychological testing as part of the internship training program. During the training year, interns further their knowledge about test battery design, administration of various tests and measures, interpretation and integration of test results, and communication of test results. Opportunities exist for interns to develop proficiency in specialty ADHD evaluations and Adult ASD evaluations. Interns primarily receive assessment training support in a group supervision format with additional modalities of support available as needed.
Research Training
Each doctoral intern will participate in the MHTP Journal Club.
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Tracks and Rotations
Adult Outpatient Mental Health Rotation
The internship program offers rotations in three areas: Adult Outpatient Mental Health, Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Behavioral Medicine Services (BMS). Each intern will have the opportunity to complete a 12-month rotation in the Adult Outpatient Mental Health track and two 6-month rotations in IOP and BMS over the course of the training year.
The Adult Outpatient Mental Health track offers opportunities in intake assessments, individual therapy, group therapy, and ADHD screening. Interns are assigned cases from the broad and diverse patient population served by the clinic, with referrals addressing mental health needs related to mood disorders, personality disorders, trauma, aging, adjustment, crisis, work or life stress, neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, bipolar spectrum disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, and dissociative disorders.
Interns will evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders based on DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria. They will also learn to collaborate with patients in developing treatment plans and gain proficiency in using evidence-based interventions within a feedback-informed care framework.
Doctoral interns will receive individual and group supervision focused on case formulation and treatment planning. Within this rotation, interns will receive training in both individual psychotherapy and group treatment. Training in evidence-based individual treatment will consist of providing individual therapy. Training in evidence-based group treatment will include co-facilitating groups under the supervision of licensed therapists.
The Adult Outpatient Mental Health team is an interdisciplinary team that includes multiple psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, primary care physicians, and therapists. Team members
are open to collaboration to support the delivery of integrated, patient-centered care. The outpatient team also includes therapists with specialized training and experience in areas such as trauma, eating disorders, intimate partner violence, severe and persistent mental illness, and various evidence-based treatments.
6-Month Mini-Rotations
In addition to the core rotations, we offer optional 6-month mini-rotations. Interns may participate in up to one mini-rotation, which typically occurs during the second half of the training year. The exception is the Family Medicine Residency rotation, which occurs during the intern’s BMS rotation.
Mini-rotations provide specialized training in the treatment of specific diagnoses and opportunities to work as part of interdisciplinary teams. Participation is optional and is not required to successfully complete the training year. Mini-rotations are not guaranteed and are contingent upon the intern remaining in good standing and receiving prior approval from the Training Directors before applying.
Specialty Training Programs
In addition to the mini-rotations, the regional Mental Health Training Program offers optional specialty training opportunities in the following areas:
• Health Psychology
• Trauma-focused EMDR
• Trauma-focused PE/WET
• Trauma-focused CPT
• Bariatric Assessment
• Implementation Science
These specialty training opportunities provide additional specialized training and are not required to successfully complete the training year. Participation is not guaranteed and is contingent upon the intern remaining in good standing and receiving prior approval from the Training Directors before applying.
Specialty training opportunities are highly competitive, and availability is limited. Approval to apply does not guarantee selection or participation.
Participation in Additional Training Opportunities
Because interns must maintain adequate time and focus on their core training requirements and primary rotations, participation in additional training opportunities is limited. During the training year, interns may participate in no more than one optional mini-rotation or specialty training program.
Interns interested in pursuing a mini-rotation or specialty training opportunity are encouraged to discuss their interests and eligibility with the Training Directors in advance. Participation is subject to program availability, the intern’s standing in the program, prior approval, and the specific requirements of the training opportunity.
Behavioral Medicine Services (BMS) Rotation
The internship program offers rotations in three areas: Adult Outpatient Mental Health, Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Behavioral Medicine Services (BMS). Each intern will have the opportunity to complete a 12-month rotation in the Adult Outpatient Mental Health track and two 6-month rotations in IOP and BMS over the course of the training year.
In the Behavioral Medicine Services (BMS) rotation, doctoral interns receive comprehensive training in health service psychology while working in a medical setting as part of a close-knit interdisciplinary team. Interns work in the Kaiser Vallejo and Vacaville Medical Offices, embedded in primary care or the women’s health clinic, where they receive referrals from physicians to assess patients for possible mental health concerns.
Referrals come from the broad and diverse patient population served by the medical offices and address mental health needs related to depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, somatic symptom disorders, aging, adjustment disorders, work or life stress, and sleep disorders. Interns will evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders based on DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria.
Doctoral interns receive both individual and group supervision focused on case formulation and treatment planning. Training includes individual, short-term psychotherapy, with an emphasis on focused, evidence-based interventions. Interns will develop treatment plans, learn to communicate those plans effectively to patients and members of the interdisciplinary team, and utilize evidence-based interventions within a feedback-informed care model.
An additional responsibility within the BMS rotation is conducting brief cognitive screenings using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Referrals for cognitive screening typically come from primary care physicians (PCPs) or neurologists when there are concerns regarding a patient’s cognitive functioning. Interns will administer and score the MoCA, provide appropriate feedback, and communicate relevant findings with the referring provider as part of the interdisciplinary care team.
The Behavioral Medicine Services team is a collaborative and cohesive group that regularly coordinates care with physicians, OB/GYNs, pharmacists, and ancillary staff to provide integrated patient care. The BMS model allows for warm handoffs from physicians for patients who may be ambivalent about engaging in treatment orwho may benefit from brief behavioral health interventions. Although BMS providers are dispersed across different medical offices, they maintain close communication and collaboration through department staff meetings, team huddles, and ongoing consultation.
This rotation requires autonomy and flexibility in fast-paced medical settings. Candidates with interest and experience in working in general mental health as well as behavioral medicine and medical settings are preferred.
Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Rotation
The internship program offers rotations in three areas: Adult Outpatient Mental Health, Adult Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and Behavioral Medicine Services (BMS). Each intern will have the opportunity to complete a 12-month rotation in the Adult Outpatient Mental Health track and two 6-month rotations in IOP and BMS over the course of the training year.
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides treatment to adult patients presenting with chronic and acute conditions in need of a higher level of care. IOP serves as a two-week step-down program for patients who were recently psychiatrically hospitalized or patients who need intensive support due to increased symptom severity and acute risk factors. Patients attend the program multiple times per week and receive group therapy, psychiatric medication consultation, and individual therapy. Interns are assigned cases from a diverse population, with mental health needs relating to depression, personality disorders, trauma, life crises, work stress, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and bipolar spectrum disorders.
Doctoral interns will provide evidence-based group therapy. Training in evidence-based group treatment will consist of co-facilitating groups under the supervision of licensed Adult Intensive Outpatient therapists. The rotation also involves twice daily meetings and consultation within a small, tight-knit, interdisciplinary treatment team. During this rotation, interns will carry a smaller caseload and focus a considerable part of their clinical time working with patients on short-term, crisis stabilization. This rotation broadens and deepens clinical skills across all diagnoses and with a very diverse group of patients, all while working closely with a supportive group of colleagues.
Panic and Anxiety Comprehensive Treatment (PACT) Mini-Rotation
This is an optional 6-month mini rotation in which trainees will provide exposure therapy to patients with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder. The PACT team is a small close-knit team. Trainees who complete this rotation would do so as part of their Adult Outpatient rotation and be embedded with the PACT team. Trainees will be provided 2-4 individual patients to work with. Trainees will attend the PACT team meeting, shadow staff as they provide care, and be trained in the treatment protocol. No prior experience is needed to participate in this rotation.
Trauma Mini-Rotation
This is an optional 6-month mini rotation in which trainees will provide Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE) to patients diagnosed with PTSD. The rotation is offered as part of the Adult Outpatient rotation. Trainees will attend the weekly staff consultation hour and will be assigned 2-4 patients for individual therapy. Prior experience providing CPT or PE is preferred but not required.
Family Medicine Residency Clinic Mini-Rotation
This optional mini-rotation entails coming in person once a month on a Friday to the Family Medicine Residency Clinic in the Vallejo Medical Center. You will be providing on-the-spot consultation and support to the family medicine residents on their behavioral medicine cases. In addition, trainees will present on a topic of their choice to the residents. This mini-rotation is done in conjunction with your behavioral medicine rotation and is 6 months.
Uplift Mini-Rotation
This is an optional 6-month mini rotation in which trainees will provide structured treatment for mood disorders utilizing the Unified Protocol adaption. The Uplift team is a small close-knit team. Trainees who complete this rotation would do so as part of their Adult Outpatient rotation and be embedded with the Uplift team. Trainees will be provided 2-4 individual patients to work with. Patients must be seen every other week. Trainees will attend the Uplift team meeting, shadow staff as they provide care, and be trained in the treatment protocol. No prior experience is needed to participate in this rotation.
Schedule
Weekly 40-hour Schedule
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