Specialty Training
The specialty training offered through the Kaiser Permanente Regional Mental Health Training Program provides the opportunity for advanced training using evidence-based treatments and assessment. Our training programs allow for breadth and focused training with the opportunity for in-depth training in specialty areas. Our specialty training encompasses evidence-based practices with specific clinical diagnoses, minority-identifying populations, or therapeutic approaches. Specialty training involves a combination of didactic education, clinical work and mentorship to foster the knowledge and skills needed to provide effective and high-quality patient care.
The Trauma Treatment Training is focused on evidence-based treatment for adult patients who are diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The training is focused on treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).
Trainees who complete this track will receive specific training in the evaluation of trauma, as well as group and individual therapy. Monthly grand rounds/didactics and one hour of bi-weekly case consultation will be led by licensed staff and content experts. Diverse topics relevant to trauma treatment, such as diagnosing PTSD, evidence-based treatment modalities, medications related to treating PTSD, and vicarious trauma will be reviewed. In addition to creating trauma training opportunities, our team hosts an online library of trauma-related resources that we continue to build, including best practices reviews, relevant articles, online CE trainings, multi-media resources for patients, and trauma screening instruments.
The trauma specialization track is open to interested Postdoctoral Residents, Doctoral Interns, and Post Master’s Mental Health Fellows who are based in areas where there is local support for supervision focused on trauma treatment. To be eligible, trainees must be meeting all program requirements at the time of application and receive approval from their Training Director. Please inquire about whether these regional training opportunities are available at the site when speaking with your prospective Training Director.
This specialized bariatric training track focuses on multidisciplinary bariatric care and is concentrated at four Kaiser Permanente medical centers including Fresno, Richmond, South Sacramento, and South San Francisco. However, Postdoctoral Residents and Doctoral Interns across Northern California can participate in providing virtual bariatric assessments as well.
The bariatric surgery training program rotation offers psychology doctoral interns and postdoctoral residents an opportunity to gain experience about the bariatric surgery process, weight loss surgeries, criteria to qualify for bariatric surgery, and the lifestyle changes one must make before and after surgery. The trainees in this specialty program are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team (i.e., surgeons, registered dieticians, nurses, psychologists, medical assistants) who educate and support patients as they prepare for weight loss surgery. Interns and Residents gain experience and training in evaluating how mental health diagnoses and treatment, substance use, and support can play roles in surgery outcomes. Trainees receive weekly individual and group supervision.
The bariatric surgery process is an example of how psychologists bring a unique skill set to assessing if patients are ready and appropriate for a medical procedure. The Bariatric Department is one of several medical departments that benefit from having a psychologist involved in the evaluation and treatment process at Kaiser Permanente. To be eligible, trainees must be meeting all program requirements at the time of application and receive approval from their Training Director. Please inquire about whether these regional training opportunities are available at the site when speaking with your prospective Training Director.
This training opportunity is embedded in our OBGYN Departments, where our Health Psychology Service provides the supervised professional experience. There also are occasions for hands on training with infants and their parents in our collaborating Pediatrics departments. The MIR approach aims to ameliorate the intergenerational impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and to address the related predictable negative health consequences through early intervention. Consultation models, health psychology approaches, brief treatments, and psychoeducational groups are provided to patients in their preferred primary care settings. Our own short- and longer-term outcomes are under research and review, assisting with ongoing evidence-based programming decisions.
Didactic training by content experts is provided in infant attachment, childhood, adult & family development, OB-GYN, assessment and skill-building in resilience and coping, lifespan development, and ACEs with emphasis on early intervention, multicultural competency, and applications to health care. Collaboration on multidisciplinary teams through daily huddles, monthly medical department consultation, provision of continuing education, program evaluation, and team building.
The MIR track has limited availability and is open to interested Postdoctoral Residents and Doctoral Interns who are based in areas where there is local support for MIR supervision. To be eligible, trainees must be meeting all program requirements at the time of application and receive approval from their Training Director. Please inquire about whether these regional training opportunities are available at the site when speaking with your prospective Training Director.
This specialized training track for bilingual Spanish/English speaking trainees is available in several Kaiser clinics in Northern California and at the Kaiser Counseling Center (KPCC). The track is open to trainees at all levels, including premaster’s interns, practicum externs, postmaster’s fellows, doctoral interns and postdoctoral residents.
The bilingual track aims to increase cultural awareness through understanding diverse cultural needs, fostering sensitivity, and adapting interventions accordingly. Trainees receive linguistic and communication training in Spanish to develop fluency and integrating non-verbal cues in providing evidence-based therapeutic practices. In addition, trainees learn counseling techniques and skills for bilingual counseling, fostering empathy, and crisis intervention. Training is provided specific to ethical guidelines and legal aspects of bilingual counseling with precision.
Trainees receive supervised practice and clinical experience, gaining hands-on experience under expert guidance while serving diverse populations in individual and group counseling settings. Supervised professional experience is provided through individual and group supervision, as well as case consultation. Please inquire about whether these regional training opportunities are available at the site when speaking with your prospective Training Director.
