Postdoctoral Psychology at Kaiser Permanente
South Sacramento
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
7300 WYNDAM DRIVE
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95823
(916) 525-6100
POSTDOCTORAL RESIDENCY IN PSYCHOLOGY
The Department of Psychiatry has four postdoctoral residency positions in the Outpatient Program: One is full time in the Adult Outpatient Program; two are half time in Behavioral Medicine and half time in Adult Outpatient; the third is a full time position in the Child & Adolescent Outpatient Program. In each position the resident has some input on the structure and focus for the training year, especially in identifying competency goals.
THE SETTING
Sacramento
The greater Sacramento area (city/county) has a population of one and a half million people. The area is located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, in the Sacramento valley, an easy day trip from the ocean, San Francisco, or the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Outdoor activities are popular, esp. from April to November, when the weather is warm and dry. Cost of living is moderate for California communities.
Patient Population
Our medical center is located in the south area of the county, between central Sacramento and Elk Grove. We have 180,000 members covered in our area; the Kaiser programs in Sacramento cover approximately 30% of the residents of the county. We are one of two large medial centers, and there are five sub centers scattered about the area. The diversity of the south area is reflected in our patient population: Caucasian = 42%; Hispanic = 23%; Asian = 21%; African-American = 13%; Native-American = 1%.
The Staff
Most of the staff in the department are full time. There are 14 psychiatrists, 21 psychologists, 21 licensed clinical social workers, 12 marriage and family therapists, and 6 psychiatric nurses. A triage team does telephone and face-to-face screening and assigns patients to regular or urgent intake appointments.
Services
The department offers outpatient therapy to adults, couples, families, and children. The therapy coverage for most Kaiser members is focused, brief treatment, although patients with severe and chronic problems have access to ongoing services. Treatment for many diagnostic groups is informed by Best Practice guidelines, developed and periodically updated by regional work groups. Patients are encouraged to participate in classes and groups that are offered for most problem areas. A treatment “package” often includes a combination of individual, group, classes, and possibly medication. Intensive Outpatient (“day treatment”), Alcohol and Drug treatment, Eating Disorders, and Dialectic Behavior Programs provide more intensive, focused options for treatment.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM
General Principles
The postdoctoral program is intended to lay the foundation for
clinical competence sufficient for independent functioning in the
practice of clinical psychology and for a well-founded professional
identity. In addition, residents get direct and indirect instruction
on how to function in a multi-disciplinary team.
In practice, the resident is expected to handle evaluations and
treatment for a wide range of outpatient problems, with guidance
and supervision from a primary supervisor and secondary supervisors.
Most residents have contact with more than 100 outpatients over
the training year and have experience co-leading or leading groups
and psycho-educational classes.
Supervision
Coordination of supervision, schedules, training assignments, and administration issues is the responsibility of the Postdoctoral Residency Training Director. The “primary supervisor” is responsible for the supervision of the resident’s clinical work. Each resident works, as a registered psychological assistant, with the Board of Psychology, under the primary supervisor’s license. Each patient seen by the resident is informed at the time of telephone contact, and then before being seen, in writing, of the professional status of the resident. The primary supervisor provides at least two hours of face-to-face supervision a week and is available by telephone throughout the work week. One hour of group supervision is provided by the Training Director. Additional supervisors and/or a weekly case conference adds up to an hour of supervision for every ten hours worked.
Seminars
Residents attend a weekly two hour seminar where psychologists and other staff present on topics relevant to clinical practice. On a regular basis, the residents travel to the Bay Area for an afternoon workshop on Best Practice topics, such as panic treatment, depression treatment, DBT etc. Workshop presenters are usually well known experts in their specialty.
Evaluations
Evaluations are based on goal attainment on goals set by each resident at the beginning of the year and ratings of skills and competencies, primarily by the primary supervisor. Resident’s goals are reviewed and rated in quarterly meetings with the resident, the resident’s supervisors, and the Training Director. Mid -year and at the end of the year a regional “Resident Performance Evaluation” is completed by the primary supervisor.
Grievance Procedure
At the time of orientation, residents complete a supervision agreement contract which sets out expectations and terms of continuance and termination. This serves as a reference for any disagreements that may arise. Residents are encouraged to work out conflicts with supervisors with the supervisor. Problems in interactions with staff may be discussed with the primary supervisor and the Training Director, and, if necessary, the Department Chief.
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 address and contact information listed below.
- 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.
Apply To:
Department of Psychiatry
Kaiser Permanente, South Sacramento
7300 Wyndham Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95823
Interim Director of Training: Jennifer Salib, Ph.D.
916 525-6244 E-Mail: Jennifer.c.salib@kp.org