Psychology
Practicum Extern

Kaiser Permanente Richmond has developed robust training programs since the 1990s. We have well-trained faculty and supervisors who enthusiastically choose to be part of the training program.

Other than psychology practicum externs, our site provides training for master’s level clinicians, post-doctoral candidates, and psychiatry residents. All our trainees, including our practicum externs are valued members of our team. Our staff collectively provides structure and support to help our trainees accomplish a successful training year. Former practicum externs have often been successful at securing internship and post-doctoral residency positions within the Kaiser Permanente system.

The culture of our clinic is compassionate, warm, and inviting. Our clinic is one of the first to launch evidence-based treatment tracks with a deep commitment to social justice, anti-racist practices, and equity in mental health care.

The adult team has various treatment tracks, each focusing on a specialty area, such as, PTSD, depression, perinatal wellness, anxiety, DBT team, crisis stabilization, couples therapy, community wellness, work stress recovery, etc. Our team also hosts multiple treatment groups, some are affiliated with the abovementioned treatment tracks and some groups are transdiagnostic. Examples of groups are: ACT group, CBT for depression/anxiety, REACH (behavioral activation), STAIR (trauma) group, Transitions (grounding skills), Wise Mind Skills group (DBT-informed), Mood group (Bipolar support group), Healing While Black, African American wellness group, CommuniTEA (BIPOC LGBRQIA+ support group).

Externs will also participate in our assessment and testing program where they will have the opportunity to complete 2-4 full assessment batteries and ADHD evaluations.

Highlights of our Practicum Program:

• Advanced training opportunities
• Group therapy
• Assessment & testing
• Long term and brief therapy cases
• Open door policy & inviting atmosphere
• Culturally responsive care
• Diverse patient population
• Weekly didactics
• Individual & group supervision
• Flexibility with creating a caseload that meets your training requirements and clinical interests
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration

In the adult generalist track, you will participate 1 primary treatment track depending on your interest & availability.

You will also have the option of carrying long term therapy cases (outside of those treatment tracks). Additionally, you will co-facilitate a group that is either related to your treatment track or a transdiagnostic group offered by our clinic. Lastly, you will complete assessment batteries and ADHD evaluation reports.

Primary Treatment Tracks (2023-2024):

• Please plan on being available to attend the treatment team meetings. Please indicate up to TWO tracks you are interested in on your cover letter.

Depression Track: The depression treatment track is for patients who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression. We provide weekly individual therapy using various modalities such as, CBT, ACT, IPT, and behavioral activation. Most of the patients in this track have co-morbid diagnoses that can be integrated into the treatment plan. Alongside the main depression track, practicum students will have the option to work with our perinatal wellness team to support patients with postpartum depression and anxiety.

Team Meeting: Tuesday 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Primary Treatment Tracks (2023-2024):

• Please plan on being available to attend the treatment team meetings. Please indicate up to TWO tracks you are interested in on your cover letter.

PTSD Track: The PTSD treatment track utilizes a phase-based approach. The phase 1 treatment program us focused on education and stabilization before patients can move on to trauma processing. Phase 1 treatment includes grounding skills, trauma education, STAIR, CBT, and DBT-informed skills. Phase 2 treatment includes CPT, PE, and EMDR. Practicum students will begin their training with phase 1 work and will likely have the option of learning CPT, PE, or EMDR depending on training opportunities and supervisor competency in these treatments.
Team Meeting: Thursday 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Primary Treatment Tracks (2023-2024):

• Please plan on being available to attend the treatment team meetings. Please indicate up to TWO tracks you are interested in on your cover letter.

Wellness Community Track: The Wellness Community program is designed for our patients who have tried other treatment tracks and evidence-based treatments but have not had significant symptom reduction.

The focus is on community building and on-going mental health support. Patients participate in the program for 6 months and they attend a weekly process group and have individual case management sessions. Patients have a diverse range of mental health diagnoses in this program and the focus is on community building. Practicum students will have the opportunity to practice different evidence-based treatments and get a breadth of experience with clinical presentations.
Team Meeting: Tuesday 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Primary Treatment Tracks (2023-2024):

• Please plan on being available to attend the treatment team meetings. Please indicate up to TWO tracks you are interested in on your cover letter.

La Clinica: La Clinica is a culturally and linguistically responsive mental healthcare program. It is also a consultation space for therapists who are providing bilingual therapy and work with the LatinX population.

This is an excellent opportunity for practicum students who conduct therapy in Spanish and they will be matched with a bilingual supervisor. Trainees will work with Spanish speaking patients who have a range of clinical diagnoses and depending on scheduling, will co-facilitate one Spanish speaking group.
Team Meeting: Tuesday 1:30 – 3:00 PM

Primary Treatment Tracks (2023-2024):

• Please plan on being available to attend the treatment team meetings. Please indicate up to TWO tracks you are interested in on your cover letter.

Collective Health for AAPI+ (CHA): Tuesday 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Affirmation for Your Ancestors (AFYA – Black providers): Wednesday 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Queer & Trans Coalition (QTC): Wednesday 2:30 – 3:30 PM

These groups are for provider support. NOT to be counted as your primary treatment track

• Direct Patient Care 8-13 hours (individual therapy, group therapy, assessment)
• Supervision 3-4 hours
• Didactics 2 hours
• Indirect patient care 5-7 hours
• Approximately 20 to 24 hours total
• Mandatory Program days: Wednesday, and the remaining days will depend on the treatment teams you will be working with

Practicum externs will have weekly didactics, examples of topics include Ethics & Law, PTSD Treatment – EMDR, PE, CPT, intergenerational trauma, Transgender & Nonbinary Care, cultural theory of suicide, psychopharmacology, etc. Externs will also be invited to regional seminars usually held on Tuesdays 1-4 PM. Externs may attend inter-departmental trainings and hospital grand rounds if their schedule permits.

Externs will also be invited to regional seminars. For examples, please refer to the Continuing Education Library

Externs may attend inter-departmental trainings and hospital grand rounds if their schedule permits.