KAISER PERMANENTE NORTH BAY CONSORTIUM

POSTDOCTORAL RESIDENCIES IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

The North Bay Consortium is a comprehensive program that is well-integrated into the Kaiser Permanente health care system. A total of 13 Clinical Psychology Residents are placed in local Departments of Psychiatry and Chemical Dependency. They are required to complete 40 hours per week over a 12-month period. One half of the residents’ time is spent providing direct services to clientele through individual, group, family, or couple therapy and conducting psychological assessments. In addition to the required two hours of individual supervision weekly by a licensed psychologist, residents also participate in two hours of group supervision, case conferences, team meetings, and weekly seminars. Residents are also encouraged to attend the monthly grand rounds for the general staff.

North Bay Consortium postdoctoral residents also attend weekly seminars held at the Kaiser Permanente, Petaluma, campus. Seminar topics are graduated and sequential, beginning with general skills such as Structuring the Intake, CDS, and Crisis Services, and then moving into more specific treatment overviews, such as for Dual Diagnosis, Bi-Polar, and ASD patients. To see the current seminar schedule for the North Bay Consortium, click here [xls].

At regular intervals throughout the training year, residents attend 4-hour seminars at the Oakland Regional site, along with postdocs training at other KP Northern California medical centers. Regional seminars focus on Best Practice Guidelines and include topics such as Ethics and the Law, Diversity, and Neuropsychology.

Mission and Training Model

The mission of Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers (KPMC) is to provide integrated, efficient, high-quality, evidence-based health care while supporting innovation and continuous quality improvement. The mission of the North Bay Consortium Postdoctoral Training Program is to provide residents with advanced training within this highly integrated, multidisciplinary healthcare system, in order to prepare them for dynamic roles as practicing psychologists in the healthcare system of the future. Residents train in collaboration with, and with guidance from, psychologists and physicians.

The North Bay Consortium Postdoctoral Training Program subscribes to the Practitioner-Scholar model of training. This model emphasizes the development of professional skills among practitioners who utilize the field's scientific knowledge (Evidence-Based Treatment) in their professional practice. The program is committed to training professional psychologists who are life-long learners dedicated to engaging in continuous education, scientific inquiry, and scholarly endeavors..

Santa Rosa, Department of Psychiatry

Department of Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente, Santa Rosa
401 Bicentennial Way
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95403

Director of Training: Sandra Seligson, Ph.D.
707-784-7685 E-Mail: sandra.seligson@kp.org

Santa Rosa is the northernmost clinic in the North Bay Consortium. It is located in the Sonoma County wine country about an hour and fifteen minutes north of San Francisco and about 45 minutes from the Pacific coast. The Postdoctoral Residency program at the Santa Rosa Department of Psychiatry offers four residency positions with specializations in adult or child/family treatment. Currently, the department includes 25 psychologists, 26 social workers, and 12 psychiatrists.

San Rafael, Department of Psychiatry and Chemical Dependency Services

Department of Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael
820 Las Gallinas Avenue
San Rafael CA 94903-3452

Co-Directors of Training:
Lindsay Kittredge, Ph.D.415-444-3033 E-Mail: lindsay.kittredge@kp.org
Stacey Nelson, Ph.D. 415-444-3017 E-Mail: stacey.a.nelson @kp.org

San Rafael, in Marin County, is located north of the Golden Gate Bridge and south of Santa Rosa. It encompasses much of the coast and the “wine country” and includes both suburban and semi-rural communities. The training program provides four residencies in Outpatient Psychiatry and two positions in Chemical Dependency Services. These residencies include clinical work with adults, children, and families. The professional staff consists of 17 psychologists, 9 psychiatrists, 5 licensed psychiatric social workers, and 4 psychiatric nurses.

Vallejo, Department of Psychiatry and Chemical Dependency

Department of Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente, Vallejo
1761 Broadway, Suite 100
Vallejo, CA. 95472

Interim Director of Training: Kathryn Wetzler, Psy.D.
707-645-2306 E-Mail: kathryn.wetzler@kp.org

Vallejo, located within the Northeast San Francisco Bay Region, is geographically positioned for easy drives to the urban areas of San Francisco and the East Bay Communities of Berkeley and Oakland. This site offers three postdoctoral residency positions, with rotations possible in Adult, Child and Family, Chemical Dependency and/or Behavioral Medicine Teams. The professional staff consists of 18 psychologists, 11 psychiatrists, 15 licensed psychiatric social workers, 3 Marriage and Family Therapists, and 3 psychiatric nurses.

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

The postdoctoral residency program at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers (KPMC) in Northern California has a long and intricate history. Nicholas Cummings, Ph.D., led the development of psychology within KPMC in the 1960’s. During the last fifteen years, under the leadership of Robin Dea, M.D., there has been a major movement to regionalize and standardize the mental health delivery system. It has since tripled in size. Several new treatment programs were developed under the initiative referred to as the “model of care”. As a result of this organizational maturation, the postdoctoral training program has grown increasingly organized and extensively supported by the KPMC.

Under the leadership of Lloyd Linford, PhD., we have made a commitment to evidenced-based treatments. To this end, departments throughout the region send specialists to meet regularly to develop Best Practice guidelines based on the most current research for major psychological disorders, such as: Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Eating Disorders. These guidelines are published in manuals which every department is expected to use in order to provide comprehensive and appropriate treatment. The Best Practices literature is made available to all residents and is considered part of overall curriculum of the residency program.

For a link to the Kaiser Permanente Best Practices Library, click here.

The program functions within the largest HMO in the United States. Each medical center provides a full range of services to thousands of patients. Health care, as envisioned by KPMC, is an integrated system. Providers from specialty areas such as pediatrics, internal medicine, neurology and psychology work together in a collaborative manner to provide integrated treatment. The postdoctoral residents train within this collaborative system and are seen as an integral part of the overall healthcare delivery system. Each medical center has psychologists working in various departments including Psychiatry, Chronic Pain, Chemical Dependency, and Behavioral Medicine.

The North Bay Consortium emerged in 2006 as one of 6 consortia. The Consortium system, now totaling 7, restructures the larger regional Bay Area post doctoral training program into sub regional medical centers that localize training and provide an integrated and comprehensive training cohort. One training director oversees the quality assurance of training in each consortium and site directors manage the specific training programs within their departments in Santa Rosa, San Rafael and Vallejo.

PROGRAM FACULTY

The program faculty includes licensed psychologists and board certified psychiatrists who lead seminars and conduct individual and group supervision. Each site is overseen by a Site Coordinator and the Consortium is led by a Consortium Director. Additional administrative guidance is provided by the Northern California Director of Training.

On Site Coordinators:

Each Site Coordinator develop residents schedules which includes supervision from the primary and delegated supervisors, group supervision for psych assessment, case conferences, on site staff meetings, etc. Site Coordinators assign department programs/groups that meet residents’ particular interests and training goals. Site Coordinators are responsible for data collection/documentation and record keeping of trainees in their program, as well as program design, development and evaluation. Site coordinators meet with supervisors once a week to discuss residents, program coordination, disseminate information, etc.

The Site Coordinators and the Consortium Director meet with the Northern California Director of Training on a monthly basis to coordinate the consortiums training seminars, problem solve and insure standardization of training. Topics of discussion include: program development/evaluation, maintenance of records, recruitment, and keeping up-to-date with the Board of Psychology, APPIC, and APA standards.

GOALS & OBJECTIVES:

Goal 1:

Professional Skills: To provide resident with a competency-based training program centered on the KPMC Evidence-Based Practices. During the training year, resident’s case load will increase in diversity and complexity of issues. Resident will have opportunities to participate in research and teaching.

Objectives	Competencies	Outcome Measurement Tools / Minimum Thresholds
A) Resident will carry a progressively larger caseload as the residency year proceeds, manage increasingly more complex cases, and see a broad range of clientele including individuals, families, and groups	A) Resident will demonstrate competency in dealing with a broad range of clientele, carrying a progressively larger caseload, and managing increasingly complex cases.	Proximal Outcomes: Resident Performance Evaluation: An overall rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year, in the Professional Skills competency areas (see Appendix E, page --, Resident Performance Evaluation) Distal Outcomes: Resident Program Survey: An average rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year, in the Professional Skills section (see Appendix F, page ---, Resident Program Survey).
B) Resident will treat individual clients, families, and groups by providing brief therapy.	B) Resident will demonstrate competency in providing brief therapy to individuals, families, and groups.
C) Resident will adhere to the Practitioner-Scholar Model by applying Evidence-Based Practice guidelines in their clinical practice.	C) Resident will demonstrate competency in applying Evidence-Based Practice to inform clinical practice.
D) Resident will participate in one research or program evaluation project.	D) Resident will present the results of their research or program evaluation to peers and staff.
E) Resident will review the literature on Evidence-Based Practice for a particular diagnosis or topic of interest.	E) Resident will present the results of their Evidence-Based Practice literature review to peers and/or staff.

Goal 2:

Sensitivity to Diversity: To train resident to treat clients of different socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic groups, religious backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations with sensitivity and cultural competence.

Objectives	Competencies	Outcome Measurement Tools / Minimum Thresholds
A) Resident will be provided with opportunities to work with clients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.	A) Resident will demonstrate competence in working with clients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.	Proximal Outcomes: Resident Performance Evaluation: An overall rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year in the Sensitivity to Diversity competency area. Distal Outcomes: Resident Program Survey: An average rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year in the Sensitivity to Diversity section.
B) Resident will address issues relevant to the treatment and assessment of individuals from diverse ethnic groups, religious backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.	B) Resident will demonstrate competence with and sensitivity to the issues relevant to the treatment and assessment of individuals from diverse ethnic groups, religious backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

Goal 3:

Assessment Skills: To enhance resident's proficiency in the use of assessment instruments for the purpose of evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

Objectives	Competencies	Outcome Measurement Tools / Minimum Thresholds
A) Resident will expand their working knowledge of the most prominently used psychological instruments, including their administration, scoring, and interpretation.	A) Resident will competently use psychological testing instruments, including their administration, scoring, and interpretation.	Proximal Outcomes: Resident Performance Evaluation: An overall rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year in the Assessment Skills competency area. Distal Outcomes: Resident Program Survey: An average rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year, in the Assessment Skills section.
B) Resident will complete a minimum of two integrated test batteries.	B) Resident will complete a minimum of two test reports that address referred questions and augment a more refined treatment plan for client.

Goal 4:

Professional Development: To provide resident with opportunities to function as a full member of multi-disciplinary treatment teams in order to increase his/her knowledge and handling of legal and ethical issues involved in the practice of professional psychology.

Objectives	Competencies	Outcome Measurement Tools / Minimum Thresholds
A) Resident will interact with health care professionals from other specialty areas, including psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, and internists.	A) Resident will competently use psychological testing instruments, including their administration, scoring, and interpretation.	Proximal Outcomes: Resident Performance Evaluation: An overall rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year in the Interdisciplinary Collaborations, Ethics, and Managing Personal Processes and Professional and Educational Goals competency areas. Distal Outcomes: Resident Program Survey: An average rating of 3 (on 5-point Likert scale) by the end of the residency year in the Interdisciplinary Collaborations, Ethics, and Managing Personal Processes and Professional and Educational Goals sections.
B) Resident will discuss the legal, ethical, and professional issues relevant to each clinical case they are assigned to, and function in a manner which is consistent with the highest ethical standards outlined by the APA.	B) Resident will demonstrate competency in discussing the legal, ethical, and professional issues relevant to each clinical case. These issues include but are not limited to personal boundaries, scope of practice, and confidentiality.
C) Resident will develop an understanding that further supervision and education are life-long, enriching experiences.	C) Resident will actively pursue educational and scholarly endeavors to keep current with the most recent research within their areas of interest. Resident will also continue to seek out supervision to refine and enhance their professional skills.

THE NORTH BAY

The Northern San Francisco Bay Region (North Bay) encompasses much of the Marin and Sonoma County coast, the “wine country”, and suburban as well as semi-rural communities. Our setting is geographically positioned for easy drives to the urban areas of San Francisco and the East Bay Communities of Berkeley and Oakland. The Golden Gate Bridge is a 30 minute drive, the North Coast is a 30-minute drive and the Sierra Nevada Mountains are a 3-hour drive. The clientele come primarily from Marin and Sonoma Counties and, to a smaller extent, San Francisco and Alameda Counties.

PATIENT POPULATION

The patient population consists of Kaiser Health Plan members possessing prepaid psychiatric benefits. Our members consist of a wide spectrum of primarily middle/working class adults, families, couples, and children. The patient population is ethnically diverse and exhibits a wide array of psychological and chemical dependency problems.

SERVICES

The Department of Psychiatry provides individual, group, couples, family, child and adolescent therapy, psychological testing, and psycho-educational programs such as stress reduction, couples communication, assertiveness, mindful meditation and other classes. Chemical dependency services include outpatient adult programs, as well as adolescent and family programs. Our department also provides an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that serves crisis patients and recently hospitalized individuals who or those who would otherwise be at risk for hospitalization. In addition, the department offers a wide range of therapy groups to address problems associated with stages of life (children to elders) and a variety of diagnostic specific groups such as Dialectic Behavioral Therapy, Mindful Mood Management and Job Stress. Members of the staff represent a variety of theoretical orientations ranging from psychodynamic to cognitive behavioral therapy.

THE TRAINING PROGRAM

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Our training philosophy is to foster clinical competence and professional identity through the mastery of basic and specialized skills. Our department stresses a commitment to a continuous reassessment, modification, and enrichment of therapy techniques. Residents are exposed to a unique and diverse community of clients. There is a clear emphasis on the role of the psychologist in a multi-cultural community, an outpatient setting and integrated with the medical center in providing quality health care to its members. Residents will be encouraged to become familiar with the demographic composition of the community in which our clients reside.

The Best Practices literature provides the foundation for the training program curriculum. This body of literature is comprised of well-researched treatment guidelines for various mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

The residency consists of three components:

Regular exposure, through active participation, to all facets of outpatient services.
Professional guidance through sessions of formal supervision, staff meetings and informal contacts with staff members.
Local training seminars, offered weekly, and regional seminars, offered on a regular basis throughout the training year.

EVALUATIONS

The primary supervisors are responsible for completing the resident’s evaluation in collaboration with the rest of the training staff. There are two evaluations, one mid-year and one at the end of the year. All efforts will be made to provide ongoing feedback to residents throughout the year. Residents will also have an opportunity to evaluate this program twice a year.

GRIEVANCES

Any problem which might arise should be addressed with the resident's primary supervisor. If the problem cannot be resolved, then this matter should be taken up by the Director of Training. A Policy and Procedures manual provides a lengthy description of grievances procedures.

APPLICANTS

We offer 13 postdoctoral residency positions with possible rotations based on preference on the Adult, Child and Family, Chemical Dependency, and/or Behavioral Medicine Teams.
We prefer candidates who come from an APA accredited school and require that they come from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. We prefer that residents come from APA or APPIC-approved internships. In the Bay Area, we accept applicants from internships approved by CAPIC (California Psychology Internship Council). All postdoctoral trainees are required to have completed their doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.) at a regionally accredited school before starting the postdoctoral training program. For additional information, please contact the site directors listed on the page for the medical center.

SALARY

Kaiser Permanente provides financial support for residents including stipends and heath care insurance through Direct Community Benefit Program and Psychiatry Department funds. Stipends are competitive with other training programs locally and nationally at $37,705 per year. For additional details, see http://residency.kp.org/ncal/psych/psychology.htm

HOW TO APPLY

All applications are due by January 15th for the training year beginning the following September. Interviews take place during the month of February. Notification day is coordinated with the other postdoctoral programs in California and occurs on a date in late February.

Each applicant must send a letter of intent, including date when doctoral training will be completed, along with current vita and three letters of recommendation to the training director(s) at site(s) of interest, using the address and contact information listed below. To learn more about a specific site, including application requirements, go to the site webpage by clicking on the left-hand menu bar at the top of this page.
Each applicant must also express their interest in one or more postdoctoral resident position(s) by following these steps:
Go to kaiserpermanentejobs.org
Create a job profile
Find the correct job listing(s) by selecting these parameters:

Area of interest: Behavioral/Mental Health - Other
State/City: California (Northern) – All
Job Type: Full-Time

Submit one resume per each listing you are interested in

If you are invited to be interviewed, you will be emailed a job application which you will need to print, fill out, and fax back to sender.

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