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 the field, an open forum with the CEO of the American Psychological Association, Arthur C. Evans, and networking events like the Welcome Reception and the lively President’s Party. With opportunities to earn CE credits, explore emerging trends, and connect with peers, CPA 2025 truly embodied the spirit of collaboration and advancement in California psychology.
Among the standout presentations was the MHTC-led session titled “Enhancing Hybrid Models for Psychology Training”, delivered by a powerhouse team: Ana Zdravkovic, PhD, Supria Gill, PhD, Jennifer Thom, PhD, and Ren Hong, PhD. Held in a room of engaged clinicians, educators, and trainees, the presentation explored the evolving landscape of hybrid training models in health service psychology. The balance of in-person and virtual training were highlighted with examples from the Mental Health Training Program, Kaiser Permanente Counseling Centers, and Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences. The speakers engaged the audience with a dynamic slide deck that blended data, design, and storytelling to highlight:
- The progression of hybrid training programs
- Best practices in virtual and in-person supervision
- Programmatic innovations for hybrid learning
- The transformative role of Artificial Intelligence to enhance training
The presenters underscored the need for clinical supervisors to stay abreast of technological advances, develop trainee competence in in-person practices before shifting to virtual, and make efforts to have high contact at the start of a training year. The presentation not only reflected the presenters’ expertise but also their commitment to advancing the field through innovation and inclusivity. As hybrid models become increasingly central to psychology training, this session served as a beacon for what’s possible when technology, pedagogy, and clinical excellence converge.
MHTC is in a unique position to examine the impacts of hybrid training, pilot new formats of virtual learning, and build collaborative inquiry with trainees and supervisors. Two projects are currently taking place, with the plan to inform future state- and nationwide professional presentations. The Evaluation and Quality Improvement Lab is analyzing data from trainees about their experiences using an AI-enhanced training platform, specifically exploring factors pertaining to trainee confidence and competence. We are also gathering data about supervisors’ use of in-person supervision and virtual supervision, and the impact on trainee learning. If you would like to get involved in these investigative efforts, please reach out to Ana Zdravkovic: Ana.Zdravkovic@kp.org
Contributed by: Ana Zdravkovic, PhD
