James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa Psychology ...



Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa, FL

Heather G. Belanger, PhD, ABPP Gregory Mauntel, Psy.D.

Psychology Training Director (116B) Assistant Training Director (116B)

13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33612 Tampa, FL 33612

PHONE: (813) 972-2000 ext 4757 PHONE: (813) 631-2523



Applications due: January 1

Accreditation Status

The Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tampa is not yet accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. An application for accreditation has been submitted and a site visit is scheduled for September 28 and 29, 2017.

Application & Selection Procedures

Eligibility:

1. United States citizen.

2. Obtained a doctoral degree from an APA or CPA accredited graduate program in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology or PCSAS accredited Clinical Science program. Persons with a doctorate in another area of psychology who meet the APA or CPA criteria for respecialization training in Clinical, Counseling, or Combined Psychology are also eligible.

3. Completed an APA or CPA-accredited psychology internship or a VA-sponsored internship.

4. For males -- have registered with the Selective Service System before age 26

5. Residents are subject to fingerprinting and background checks.

Application Materials:

1. A letter of interest outlining training goals for the postdoctoral residency year and detailing how this postdoctoral residency aligns with future career/professional goals. Applicants interested in our Trauma/TBI emphasis area should also include a rank order preference for the second rotation (i.e., PREP, Outpatient TBI) and a discussion linking their preference to future career/professional goals.

2. Curriculum Vita (CV) describing background, training and experience, a description of internship, and other scholarly activity and research,

3. A letter from the Internship Training Director describing the clinical experiences & overall performance of the applicant during the internship year. (Successful completion of an APA/CPA- accredited or VA-sponsored internship prior to the post-doc is required, and this letter should state if successful completion is expected.),

4. Some demonstration that the doctoral degree has been obtained from an APA/CPA/PCSAS accredited doctoral program or that the applicant will graduate prior to the beginning of the residency year (if all doctoral requirements are completed prior to the beginning of the post-doc, and the applicant will be awarded the doctoral degree within 4 months of the beginning of the post-doc, and the Graduate Training Director documents this in writing, then the applicant will be considered to have met this requirement),

5. Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an internship supervisor,

6. A brief (one paragraph minimum) statement detailing your experiences with and/or commitment to diversity (you will enter this paragraph on this website), and

7. Official copy of all graduate transcripts.

The deadline for completed applications is January 1

Earlier submissions are highly encouraged.

Submission:

All application materials, including the completed APPIC Psychology Postdoctoral Application (APPA CAS), must be submitted electronically via the APPIC site:



Please direct any program inquiries to:

Gregory Mauntel, PsyD

Assistant Training Director, Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral residency Programs

James A. Haley VA Hospital (116B)

13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33612

Phone: (813) 631-2523

E-mail: Gregory.Mauntel@

The application deadline is January 1, though earlier submissions are preferred. The application materials will be reviewed by the Assistant Training Director for completion. A selection committee will review and rank order all completed applications. At that point, the top candidates will be offered interviews (either in person or by telephone, applicant’s choice). Our interview date will be Friday, February 9, 2018. Initial offers will be extended per APPIC’s Postdoctoral Selection Guidelines () although reciprocal offers can be made prior to the uniform notification day. Open communication is encouraged, as is full understanding of APPIC’s guidelines.

We strongly encourage applications from candidates from underrepresented groups. The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Postdoctoral Residency Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data (This table was last updated on 1/17/2017)

|Postdoctoral Program Admissions |

|The aim of the Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Training Program is to promote advanced competencies in our residents such that |

|graduates are eligible for employment in public sector medical center settings specializing in the assessment and treatment of patient |

|populations with behavioral and mental health problems affecting their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Residents completing |

|the program should have solid foundational preparation to initiate ABPP certification in Clinical Psychology. We review applicants to our |

|program using the following criteria: therapy experience, assessment experience, letters of recommendation, motivation/professional |

|development, commitment to and/or experience/interest in diversity, and interview/match with our program. Ideally, we are looking for |

|individuals committed to the scientist practitioner model. The qualifications listed above in this brochure (see “Eligibility”) are required |

|of all applicants; applicants not meeting these qualifications will not be considered. |

|Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year |

|Annual Stipend/Salary for Residents |$42,310  |

|Program provides access to medical insurance for resident? |Yes |

| -Trainee contribution to cost required? |Yes |

| -Coverage of family member(s) available? |Yes |

| -Coverage of legally married partner available? |Yes |

| -Coverage of domestic partner available? |No |

|Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation) |13 (vacation and sick leave accrue at the rate of 4 hours every two |

| |weeks. This amounts to 13 vacation days and up to 13 sick days.) |

|In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require |Yes |

|extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to | |

|residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave? | |

|Other benefits |All Federal Holidays off, 5 days authorized absence for approved |

| |professional activities (e.g., conferences, workshops, etc.), eligible|

| |for life insurance benefits |

|Initial Post-Residency Positions |

|Total # Residents who are training in the program currently |5 |

|Total # Residents who were in the last 3 cohorts |9 |

|Total # From Last 3 Cohorts Working In: |Employed Positions: |

| -Veterans Affairs Medical Center |5 |

| -Private Practice |3 |

|Percentage From Last 3 Cohorts Who are Employed Full-Time |89% |

|Percentage From Last 3 Cohorts Who are Licensed |67% |

Psychology Setting

The entire Psychology Service consists of more than 90 doctoral level psychologists representing diverse theoretical orientations, clinical specialties, and areas of interest & expertise. Our Staff hold major leadership roles within clinical and research programs, and many are recognized as national experts and leaders within both VHA and national organizations. The Service also boasts several nationally recognized consultants and trainers for a host of VA Central Office Dissemination initiatives including PE, CPT, Chronic Pain, Interpersonal Therapy, and CBT for Depression. Many Staff psychologists have authored textbooks and written numerous professional articles. In addition, psychologists have served on national VHA Work Groups, Task Forces, and QUERIs. The staff is highly committed to the science of Psychology, values training, and the growth and development of trainees.

Our Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral residency currently offers three areas of emphasis – Clinical Health Psychology (1 position), Pain Psychology/Psycho-Oncology (2 positions) and PTSD/TBI (2 positions). Additionally, we have an APA-accredited Psychology Internship Program (8 positions), APA-Accredited Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Residency Program (4 positions), & APA-Accredited Postdoctoral Residency in Rehabilitation Psychology (2 positions).

Training Model and Program Philosophy

Our philosophy is that sound clinical practice is based on scientific research and empirical support. As such, our training model is the Scientist-Practitioner Model of Training -- research and scholarly activities inform and direct clinical practice, and clinical practice directs research questions and activities.

Program Aim & Objectives

The aim of the Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Training Program is to promote advanced competencies in our residents such that graduates are eligible for employment in public sector medical center settings specializing in the assessment and treatment of patient populations with behavioral and mental health problems affecting their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning.

The training is designed to prepare residents to practice as clinical psychologists.  As such, our training is based on competencies espoused by ABPP for clinical psychology.  Our population focus areas for our training program are very broad – health, pain/psycho-oncology, and trauma – and are consistent with VA areas of clinical need within psychology (consistent with our aim of training VA clinical psychologists) so our training provides population-specific focus but simultaneously generalist skills and competencies. Residents completing the residency program should have a solid foundation to initiate ABPP certification in Clinical Psychology.

The one-year residency program is scientist-practitioner based and is an integrated program of formal education and training through practice. The core domains for professionals delivering healthcare services identified by the American Psychological Association (APA) are addressed throughout the training program in the specific rotations, emphasis areas, and educational opportunities such as seminars and didactics. Our mission is to build upon core knowledge obtained in clinical graduate courses, practicum experiences, and internship and develop those abilities through application in the medical setting with particular application to special emphasis populations (i.e., health, pain/psycho-oncology, and trauma).

Core Competencies

Residents are expected to learn and demonstrate practice-level proficiency in: (1) professional values and behavior, (2) ethics & legal matters, (3) individual and cultural diversity, (4) diagnosis and assessment, (5) psychotherapeutic intervention, (6) relationships (7) research, (8) reflective practice/self-assessment/self-care, (9) communication & interpersonal skills, (10) consultation & interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills, (11) science and evidence-based practice, and (12) supervision.

Program Structure

There are three main training modalities to the postdoctoral residency year: clincal rotations, didactics/ seminars, and research. Most of the Resident's time (70%) is spent in the clinical rotation. Resident progress is formally evaluated using behaviorally-based competency evaluations. The competency ratings are based on how much supervision is required for the Resident to perform the task competently. In general, this rating scale is intended to reflect the developmental progression toward becoming an independent clinical psychologist. Midway and at the end of each rotation, and in the judgment of his/her supervisor and the Postdoctoral Training Subcommittee, the Resident must be assessed as satisfactorily progressing toward competence in each of the core areas (see Evaluation section on page 19).

STIPEND:

Yearly stipend: $42,310

Training Experiences

CLINICAL EXPERIENCES

I. Clinical Health Emphasis

The first 6 months of training are spent in Primary Care functioning as Behavioral Health Providers (BHPs) within the Primary Care Behavioral Health program (i.e., our version of Primary Care-Mental Health Integration) located at the newly designed Primary Care Annex and at the main campus of the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)/Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) Clinic is housed in a newly activated, state-of-the-art, 106,000 sq. ft. facility where over 600 patients are seen daily. The facility was designed from the ground up to enable co-located collaborative care and encourage communication between staff physicians, health psychologists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and peer support specialists. The Primary Care Annex represents the first primary care clinic in the VA to utilize an innovative dual-corridor clinic design that incorporates separate on-stage and off-stage work zones to facilitate interprofessional team-based care. Shared workspaces, teamwork support zones, and consult zone features also ensure that Residents in this setting are fully integrated in the patient-centered medical home.

Residents will conduct brief functional assessments and use shared decision-making to deliver time-limited, evidence-based interventions for a broad spectrum of mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use) and behavioral health concerns (i.e., obesity, diabetes, insomnia, chronic pain) that align with the patient’s preferences and cultural identification. While in Primary Care, Residents will be immersed in an environment of interprofessional collaboration as a vital member of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), which includes physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse-practitioners, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, and psychologists. Residents will collaborate with psychologists and PACT members in ongoing performance improvement activities related to identifying high risk patients, managing chronic illness, and evaluating PC-MHI provider productivity, model fidelity, consumer satisfaction, and clinical effectiveness.

The last 6 months of the postdoctoral year can be spent in up to 3 other specialty health psychology settings, depending on the goals of the trainee as expressed in their professional development plan. The aim is for the Resident to apply specific competencies gained in PACT (i.e., interprofessional collaboration, shared decision making, sustained relationships, and performance improvement) to specialty medical clinic settings. Each of the clinical experiences currently available are described below.

Primary Care-Behavioral Health (PCBH)

Primary Supervisors: Benjamin Lord, Ph.D., Katherine Leventhal, Ph.D., and Amanda Grossenbacher, Psy.D.

The philosophy of JAHVA’s PCBH program is one of “population-based care,” in which brief, problem-focused mental and behavioral health interventions are provided to a large number of veterans as part of their routine medical care. The goal is to provide increased access to services via Behavioral Health Providers (BHPs), who are embedded as part of integrated PACT teams. BHPs assess and treat conditions of mild to moderate severity, with the aim of early identification of symptoms and management within the primary care setting whenever possible. In addition, BHPs are responsible for delivering time-limited, evidence-based interventions for a broad spectrum of mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD education, substance use) and behavioral health concerns (e.g., eating habits, physical activity, sleep, treatment adherence) within the context of chronic health conditions. Referrals are generated from warm-hand offs, formal and informal “curbside” consultations, and positive screens (i.e., for depression, alcohol, substance use, and PTSD) on measures administered by nursing staff during the veteran's primary care visit. Initial appointments often take place in medical exam rooms.

Veterans are typically seen via 30-minute appointments, with an emphasis on brief, problem-focused, evidence-based care, and subsequently connected to specialty mental health clinics if longer-term treatment is warranted. Interventions are frequently educational/skills-based in nature, and emphasize self-management and at-home practice. Treatment approaches include motivational interviewing, behavioral approaches, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, problem-solving therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.

While on this rotation, Residents will receive intensive training in consulting and collaborating with intraprofessional teams. JAHVA’s interdisciplinary Primary Care Clinic (PCC) is housed in a state-of-the-art, newly activated, 106,000 sq. ft. facility where over 600 patients are seen daily. The PCC was designed from the ground up to enable co-located collaborative care and encourage communication between staff physicians, health psychologists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and peer support specialists. JAHVA’s PCC represents the first primary care clinic in the VA to utilize an innovative dual-corridor clinic design that incorporates separate on-stage and off-stage work zones to facilitate interprofessional team-based care. Shared workspaces, teamwork support zones, and consult zone features also ensure that Residents in this setting are fully integrated in the patient centered medical home.

Residents are involved in the following activities: 1) triaging warm hand-offs of PC-MHI patients to perform assessments including mental status, behavioral health status, substance use, functional status, neuropsychological screening, and psychiatric illness, 2) providing consultation to medical, nursing, pharmacy, social work and dietician staff about mental and behavioral health concerns, 3) delivering brief, evidence-based, goal-oriented interventions within 30-minute sessions, 4) delivering cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and problem-solving therapy (PST) group-based interventions for stress management and depressive/anxiety symptoms, 5) facilitating interdisciplinary Shared Medical Appointments for diabetes, 6) facilitating PACT team trainings on motivational interviewing and shared decision making, 7) supervising psychology interns and peer support specialists in primary care, 8) utilizing registries (e.g., Behavioral Health Lab) to track patient mood symptoms, 9) participating in daily PACT Teamlet Huddles, 10) participating in weekly PACT Team meetings and monthly Ambulatory Care Service meetings, 12) participating in PC-MHI performance improvement and program development tasks. A typical day for a Resident might include facilitation of a group, 5-7 scheduled appointments, and 2-4 walk-in appointments for behavioral health concerns.

Specific competencies include:

1. Acquire skills in functional assessment and implementation of brief, problem-focused and evidence-based interventions for individuals and groups in primary care, based upon a sophisticated knowledge of theory, culture/diversity, and science.

2. Function as a valued member of an interprofessional team to engage in brief curbside consultation and coordinate patient care. Provide clear and concise feedback to other professional providers regarding relevant assessment/treatment planning information through verbal communication, email, and/or report writing.

3. Make treatment recommendations relevant to the primary care patient based on a biopsychosocial model that considers diagnoses, social context, and medical conditions.

4. Develop collaborative and brief psychological treatment plans with an emphasis on self-management of the presenting problem. Demonstrate ability to triage patients to appropriate specialty mental health clinics when appropriate. Demonstrate ability to utilize registry-based care plans (e.g., Behavioral Health Lab) to track mood symptoms, deliver telehealth interventions, and supervise peer support specialists as part of care management.

5. Demonstrate competency in assessing risk factors and utilizing hospital procedures regarding suicidal/homicidal ideation as decided upon in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for JAHVA.

Transplant Clinic (TC)

Primary Supervisors: Vanessa Milsom, Ph.D. & Karen Nicholson, Ph.D.

Residents on this rotation will have the opportunity to be involved in formal psychological evaluation of pre-transplant candidates (kidney, liver, lung, and bone marrow) to assess readiness for organ transplantation. The Resident will also follow those patients post-operatively as necessary once they have returned to JAHVH. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Transplant Clinic. Residents are involved in the following activities: 1) evaluate psychiatric and substance use history, current mental and emotional stability, adherence history, corroborated assessment of social support, neuropsychological screen, as well as assessment of the patient’s understanding and acceptance of costs, 2) evaluate primary caregiver’s ability to support the patient’s adherence to medications and appointments, provide general assistance, and provide emotional support, 3) provide consultation and evaluation feedback to referral service staff about mental and behavioral health concerns, 4) deliver individual and family pre-transplant psychotherapy as indicated to assist with maintenance of sobriety, involvement in medical therapies, monitor psychotropic medications, address appropriate anxiety related to the waiting list process, and address death and dying for those denied transplant, 5) deliver individual and family post-transplant psychotherapy as indicated to assist with maintenance of sobriety, involvement in medical therapies, monitor psychotropic medications, address adherence concerns related to costs of immunosuppressive medications and repeat procedures, assist with diet/weight gain, address medication-induced mood disorders, and assist with transition to resuming work and coping with employer biases, 6) supervising psychology interns in Transplant Clinic.

Specific competencies include:

1. Acquire relevant medical and biopsychosocial knowledge of kidney, liver, lung, and bone marrow transplantation including contraindications, relative contraindications, and post-transplant considerations.

2. Engage in presurgical psychological screening using evidence-based assessment practices as available.

3. Acquire skills in implementing evidence-based interventions for individuals and families to help cope with chronic health problems and related biopsychosocial concerns.

4. Function as a valued member of an interprofessional medical specialty team to coordinate patient care and utilize clear and concise communication to convey information to team members.

5. Make treatment recommendations relevant to the transplant candidate and family based on diagnoses, social context, and medical condition.

6. Develop collaborative psychological treatment plans.

Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR)

Primary Supervisor: Vanessa Milsom, Ph.D.

The Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation program at JAHVA is housed within the Physical Medicine Service and has been in existence since 1986; over 1500 veterans have completed the program since its inception. It is one of 34 Cardiac Rehabilitation programs within the VHA and represents one of the most comprehensive with respect to interdisciplinary collaboration. Patients with known, or at high risk for, ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy of any etiology are candidates for the program. The goal of the program is to assist veterans to increase their physical fitness, reduce cardiac symptoms, improve health and quality of life, and reduce the risk of future cardiac events. JAHVA’s Cardiac Rehabilitation team includes a Medical Director (a Board Certified Cardiologist), a Program Director/Exercise Specialist (ABPTS Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist/Physical Therapist), a Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator, and a Health Psychologist. Veterans participate in a group-based 12-week intensive lifestyle intervention, with structured nutrition, physical activity and behavioral modification elements. Following a symptom limited stress test, veterans also attend weekly supervised exercise sessions, which guide the development of their individualized home-based activity plan. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Cardiac Rehabilitation. Residents will be responsible for 1) conducting psychological evaluations (i.e., to assess motivation and readiness for change, personality factors, cognitive functioning) of each veteran prior to enrollment to ensure appropriateness for the program, 2) leading weekly behavioral therapy groups, with a focus on identifying barriers to change, problem-solving, and improved coping, 3) providing individual psychotherapy for patients with comorbid mood disorders or other mental health concerns. Multidisciplinary program planning and participation in weekly case management meetings is an integral part of the Resident’s experience on the rotation. The Resident will also have the opportunity to contribute to IRB-approved research projects related to cardiac rehabilitation and 4) supervising psychology interns in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Specific competencies include:

1. Serve as a key member of the interdisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation Team, working in partnership with other providers to deliver lifestyle interventions and communicating relevant assessment and treatment information to staff.

2. Understand the genetic, psychosocial, and behavioral contributors to cardiac disease, with particular focus on the impact of stress, anger and depressive symptoms on cardiovascular health. Understand factors that can impact adaptation to illness and compliance with treatment regimens.

3. Acquire knowledge of evidence-based interventions to improve coping and quality of life among cardiac patients, including relaxation skills, emotion regulation strategies, and social support facilitation.

Oncology and Palliative Care

Primary Supervisor: Kristin Phillips, Ph.D.

Hematology & Oncology Clinics provide psychological services for patients being treated for hematological and oncological conditions in the outpatient oncology clinic, outpatient radiation therapy clinic, and at bedside for patients admitted to the main hospital. There are also opportunities for Residents to be involved in interdisciplinary research, which is encouraged. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Hematology & Oncology Clinics. Residents are provided opportunities for the following activities: 1) provide assessment and treatment of patients using individualand groupinterventions, 2) assess patient readiness for stem cell transplantation by formal evaluation and consultation with the interdisciplinary team, 3) assess and manage suicide risk among oncology patients, 4) provide consultation to medical, nursing, pharmacy, social work and nutrition staff about mental and behavioral health concerns, 5) attend interprofessional Tumor Board meetings, Palliative Care Consult Team Rounds, and Cancer Committee meetings to discuss patient care, 6) provide education on topics such as opioid use among cancer patients and psycho-oncology.

Specific competencies include:

1. Develop a basic understanding of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Guidelines and Commission on Cancer’s Standards for screening and intervening for distress in cancer patients.

2. Acquire relevant medical and biopsychosocial knowledge of cancer and cancer-related pain.

3. Provide individual, couple, group, and/or family interventions using cognitive behavioral, supportive-expressive, and end of life therapies as well as assisting patients and families in shared decision making about hospice and palliative care.

4. Demonstrate the ability to conduct pre-bone marrow/stem cell transplant mental health evaluations for transplantation candidates and provide recommendations about any psychological contraindications for transplant.

5. Assist team members to differentiate between disease-specific, medication-specific, and situational contributors to patient behavior.

6. Function as a valued member of an interprofessional medical specialty team to coordinate patient care using concise communication.

Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic (GILC)

Primary Supervisor: Karen Nicholson, Ph.D.

The GI\Liver Clinic provides psychological services for patients with newly diagnosed or chronic hepatitis C. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Gastrointestinal & Liver Clinic. Residents are involved in the following activities: 1) collaborate closely with specialty medicine team members including medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work to provide risk assessment, strategies to increase treatment adherence, and referral to appropriate mental health treatment programs as needed, 2) assess for pre-treatment relevant mood concerns, history of violence, suicidality, substance use, and likelihood to adhere to treatment, 3) provide brief treatment of depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and/or substance use as needed, 4) provide support to patients who are on Interferon within the context of the potential for significant physical and psychiatric side effects, 5) supervising psychology interns in GI\Liver Clinic.

Specific competencies include:

1. Function as a valued member of an interprofessional medical specialty team to coordinate patient care and utilize clear and concise communication to convey information to team members.

2. Acquire relevant medical and biopsychosocial knowledge of HCV, history of the HCV epidemic in the United States and specifically within the veteran population, HCV disease progression, as well as HCV risk factors, and barriers to medical care.

3. Engage in pre-treatment psychological screening using evidence-based assessment using knowledge of current HCV testing procedures, treatment options, common side effects, and barriers to medication adherence.

4. Provide brief evidence-based treatment of depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, and/or substance use using cognitive behavioral therapy.

5. Increased knowledge of the health behaviors of those who are already infected or at higher risk for infection for HCV, and issues specific to the treatment of patients who are co-infected with HIV and HCV.

Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine Service (PSMS)*

Primary Supervisor: Elizabeth Jenkins, Ph.D.

*Available only on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays

The Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine Service provides evaluation and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, parasomnias, restless legs syndrome, and other sleep disorders. The interprofessional team is comprised of members from Pulmonary, Psychology, and Nursing. There are also opportunities for Residents to be involved in interdisciplinary research, which is encouraged. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine Service. Residents are involved in the following activities: 1) provide assessment of primary sleep disorders, 2) collaborate with interprofessional team members on patient treatment plans, 3) provide individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, 4) provide individual interventions to increase continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence, 5) provide imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for reducing the frequency and intensity of nightmares, 6) supervising psychology interns in Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine Service.

Specific competencies include:

1. Acquire relevant psychiatric, physiologic and behavioral dimensions of primary sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome, primary insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, sleep bruxism, circadian rhythm disorders, and parasomnias.

2. Clarify differential diagnosis among various sleep disorders as poor sleep can be due to relatively straightforward insomnia or due to a complex interplay between several sleep, medical and psychiatric disorders.

3. Understand the common factors that impact CPAP adherence such as mask discomfort, nasal drying or irritation, intolerance of the pressure, and low motivation.

4. Understand the core components of CBT-I, which includes stimulus control, sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, and cognitive restructuring.

5. Understand the core components of IRT, which includes psychoeducation, mental imagery/imagining, exposure, and behavioral practice.

6. Collaborate with Pulmonary and Nursing team members to coordinate patient care and improve CPAP adherence.

Inpatient Consultation/Liaison (ICL)

Primary Supervisor: Karen Nicholson, Ph.D.

The ICL team provides timely, efficient mental health services to patients within inpatient medical settings, including Acute Medicine, Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units, and Rehabilitation Medicine, using a consultation/liaison model. ICL receives an estimated 10-15 new consults per week for psychiatric and/or psychosocial concerns, common referrals include difficulty adjusting to chronic illness, pain, or physical limitations, evaluation and management of psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, psychosis), amputations, delirium, difficulty with adherence to treatment regimens, failure/lack of motivation to engage in physical rehabilitation, grief/bereavement and family distress. Patients and families may also directly request services through their primary inpatient physician. Veterans are seen daily or weekly depending on length of stay, with an emphasis on acute rather than chronic issues. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Inpatient Consultation/Liaison (ICL). Residents will be responsible for 1) conducting diagnostic evaluations, assessing psychosocial concerns, administering neuropsychological screenings, and providing brief psychotherapy, 2) serving as liaisons between the medical team and patient/family to enhance communication and facilitate understanding when appropriate, and 3) connecting veterans with severe or chronic mental health concerns to outpatient mental health services following discharge to ensure continuity of care and 4) supervising psychology interns in Inpatient Consultation/Liaison (ICL).

Specific competencies include:

1. Engage in intraprofessional collaboration with Inpatient Psychiatry and Acute Medicine staff to communicate relevant assessment and treatment-planning information.

2. Clarify differential diagnosis among mood disorders, delirium, dementias, psychosis, and medical problems that mimic psychiatric disorders.

3. Gain familiarity with evidence-based interventions to assist veterans with psychosocial concerns commonly seen in inpatient medical settings, including adjustment to diagnoses, coping with health issues and physical limitations, and general health management (e.g., proactive information seeking, communication with health care providers, and enhancing treatment compliance).

consists of team a Board Certified Cardiologist, a Program Director/Exercise Specialist (ABPTS Cardiopulmonary Clinical Specialist/Physical Therapist), a Dietitian/Certified Diabetes Educator and the Health Psychologist. Multidisciplinary program planning and participation in weekly case management meetings is an integral part of the Resident’s experience.

Additional available experiences include:

Smoking Cessation Clinic (SCC)

The Smoking Cessation Clinic at JAHVA has been in existence since 1986 and provides evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological treatment for veterans interested in tobacco cessation. The interdisciplinary team is comprised of an internal medicine physician, health psychologist, and pharmacist. The program complements prevention and treatment initiatives through Primary Care by offering a weekly clinic at the Primary Care Annex (Thursday mornings), that veterans are able to access on a walk-in basis to receive nicotine replacement therapy and medication (i.e., Wellbutrin, Chantix). Behavioral therapy and relapse prevention groups are led by a health psychologist, who assists veterans with identifying triggers, developing successful quit plans, and managing stressors. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in Smoking Cessation Clinic. Residents on this rotation will 1) conduct brief targeted interviews to assess smoking history, reasons for and barriers to quitting, motivation, and strengths and skills related to quitting, 2) provide group-based behavioral and relapse prevention treatment for tobacco cessation, 3) work individually with veterans identified as likely to benefit from more intensive behavioral counseling, 4) provide psychoeducation and ongoing support to promote adherence to pharmacotherapy, 5) evaluate patients interested in Chantix for psychiatric stability, 6) provide consultation to physicians, nurses, and other staff on promotion of tobacco cessation and quit methods, 7) participate in development, promotion and dissemination of smoking cessation outreach efforts and monthly Health Promotion and Disease Prevention committee meetings and 8) supervising psychology interns in Smoking Cessation Clinic.

Specific competencies include:

1. Effectively interface and communicate with numerous disciplines including pharmacy, ambulatory care medicine, and psychology in an integrative and collaborative setting.

2. Acquire skills in engaging patients in Integrated Care for Smoking Cessation and other evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation.

3. Acquire a working knowledge of nicotine replacement methods and pharmacotherapy utilized in smoking cessation treatment.

4. Develop and execute collaborative combined behavioral and pharmacological treatment plans for tobacco cessation, including relapse prevention.

5. Understand the role of complicating psychosocial and biomedical factors in the process of and decisions related to smoking cessation.

MOVE! Weight Management Program (MOVE!)

Primary Supervisor: Vanessa Milsom, Ph.D.

JAHVA’s MOVE! Weight Management Program was established in 2004 and served as an initial pilot site prior to VHA-wide implementation. JAHVA has one of the largest MOVE! programs in the country and represents a truly interdisciplinary approach to care, with involvement from Nutrition & Food Services, Internal Medicine, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, Psychology, Physical Therapy, and Kinesiotherapy. The MOVE! umbrella encompasses both individual and group-based treatment options of varying length and intensity, with a stepped care approach used to connect veterans to the appropriate level of treatment depending on severity of obesity and presence of medical comorbidities. The MOVE! Intensive program involves a 16-week group-based lifestyle intervention, focusing on nutrition, increased physical activity, and behavioral modification, plus a year-long maintenance program. Veterans who successfully complete the MOVE! Intensive program are eligible to be considered for pharmacotherapy. The Resident will be supervised by an on-site staff psychologist in MOVE! Residents on this rotation will have the opportunity to 1) deliver MOVE! Orientation sessions, which provide an overview of all resources for overweight/obesity available at JAHVA, 2) conduct brief psychological screenings of veterans interested in enrolling in the program for binge eating, substance abuse concerns, and severe psychiatric illness, 3) co-lead multiple weekly MOVE! Intensive groups, including a group designed exclusively for female veterans, 4) connect appropriate veterans to the Weight Loss Medication clinic, 5) provide individual treatment for veterans enrolled in MOVE! with comorbid psychiatric concerns (e.g., binge eating), 6) participate in weekly team meetings, which focus on case review, and monthly administrative/research meetings, 7) deliver didactic trainings and presentations on overweight/obesity to relevant clinical staff and hospital stakeholders, 8) participate in program planning and evaluation, including expansion of MOVE! services to the Spinal Cord Injury and Mental Health Services, 9) contribute to ongoing IRB-approved research projects in overweight/obesity and diabetes and 10) supervising psychology interns in MOVE!

Specific competencies include:

1. Function as an integral member of the MOVE! interprofessional specialty team to coordinate patient care and utilize clear and concise communication to convey relevant treatment-planning information to team members.

2. Acquire understanding of the genetic, behavioral and environmental contributors to obesity, with particular focus on factors (i.e., psychiatric and medical comorbidities) that lead to high prevalence of obesity among veterans.

3. Knowledge of behavioral, pharmacological, and surgical treatment options for overweight/obesity, including the efficacy of interprofessional collaboration and sustained relationships (i.e., continuity of care) in the treatment of obesity.

4. Increased familiarity with U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 2012 recommendations and VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Screening and Management of Obesity.

5. Acquire understanding of the psychosocial consequences of obesity and the prevalence and impact of weight-based stigma in healthcare settings.

II. Pain Psychology/Psycho-Oncology Emphasis

Residents with this emphasis will gain exposure to the fundamentals of both pain management and psycho-oncology. Training is comprised of 6 months in our interdisciplinary Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Programs (CPRP Inpatient and Outpatient) and 6 months in Psycho-Oncology.  Participation in outpatient pain services will occur throughout the year.

The Pain Psychology Program includes the VA's national Trainer and lead manual author in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP), as well as multiple certified CBT-CP Consultants and Therapists. Psychologists in the program are national leaders in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychiatric comorbidities.  

During the training year, Residents will receive advanced training and supervision in the VA's evidence based psychotherapy for chronic pain, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP). The VA's CBT-CP Trainer, Jennifer L. Murphy, Ph.D., provides a workshop at the beginning of Residency and supervision follows throughout the year by recognized Consultants and Therapists, which leads to advanced proficiency status in CBT-CP. Please note, while there is no guarantee of certification in CBT-CP, staff will assist in facilitating an application for equivalency status following demonstration of competency and completion of postdoctoral residency.

Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP)

Primary Supervisors: Drs. Nicolle Angeli & Evangelia Banou

The Inpatient CPRP (I-CPRP) is an award-winning, CARF-accredited, comprehensive, interdisciplinary, 3-week, inpatient treatment program established in 1988 to help veterans with chronic pain cope with their condition. As it is the only program of its kind in the VA system, the inpatient program accepts veterans & active duty service members from all 50 states. The I-CPRP serves as the primary setting for training in chronic pain assessment, evaluation, and treatment.

The Outpatient CPRP (O-CPRP) is a CARF-accredited, comprehensive, interdisciplinary, outpatient treatment program. Many of the treatment components are similar to the inpatient program, but it differs in that the O-CPRP serves only local veterans who participate 3 days per week for 6 weeks. It provides an expanded perspective on how to deliver cognitive-behaviorally based pain rehabilitation on a structured outpatient basis.

Postdoctoral Residents in the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Programs serve as integral members of an interdisciplinary team comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and many others. Residents in the CPRP train in both treatment milieus, as well as in the outpatient medical pain clinics, and are involved in local & long distance chronic pain screening referrals, conducting intake assessments and evaluations, regular use of outcomes questionnaires and the MMPI, treatment planning with evaluation of individual goals, compliance monitoring for program requirements, regular individual psychotherapy, and weekly psychoeducational lectures. The sleep quality of program participants is also monitored each week through activity-monitoring software (i.e., actigraphy), and postdoctoral Residents assist with interpreting data and providing feedback to veterans.

Training Objectives:

1. Develop the skills necessary to be able to identify the presence of a chronic pain syndrome in an individual with chronic pain using observational, historical, and interview data. This may be achieved by completing outpatient or telephone screenings of applicants to the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program during the rotation.

2. Demonstrate the ability to use the MMPI-RF and selected pain instruments to identify any impediments to treatment and to develop a realistic rehabilitation plan. This may be demonstrated by writing assessment reports and including any major impediments to treatment, and providing recommendations regarding the best treatment approach based on the assessment data.

3. Develop a basic understanding of the pharmacology, physiology, and psychology of pain, along with an understanding of typical underlying medical conditions. This may be achieved by participating in pain patient staffings, observing physical medicinde and neurological evaluations, and completing readings.

4. Learn the principles associated with the cognitive-behavioral treatment of chronic pain through participating in indivdiual patient rounds, attending didactic seminars, leading or co-leading psychology group sessions, and completing assigned readings in the area of cognitive-behavioral pain treatment.

5. Demonstrate proficiency in consistency in applying behavioral principles and management to pain patients.

6. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with members of the clinical team, which includes professionals from a wide variety of medical disciplines (e.g., ARNP, DO, OT, PT, KT, RT). Communicate patient needs/issues in team meetings. Work with other disciplines to implement behavioral strategies for patient care.

Outpatient Pain Services

Primary Supervisor: Jill Klayman, Ph.D.

Pain psychologists at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital meet patient needs within the Stepped Care Model for chronic pain management. The first step consists of interventions based in Primary Care. The second step is for patients requiring assistance from pain specialists. The third step is designed for patients whose lives are severely disrupted by chronic pain, and consists of interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation. The Outpatient Pain service addresses patient needs in the first and second steps. Veterans within this population consist of outpatients who either do not necessitate intensive pain rehabilitation because their lives are not as severely disrupted or, conversely and more often, are not appropriate for intensive pain rehabilitation because they are not medically or psychologically stable enough to participate in such programming. Outpatient Pain Psychology often addresses treatment readiness to move appropriate patients up the continuum of care.  Although pain psychologists in the outpatient setting are not part of an interdisciplinary treatment team per se, multidisciplinary collaboration is essential and occurs regularly.

As part of the Outpatient Pain Psychology rotation, Residents will conduct comprehensive pain and mental health assessments, collaborate with patients and providers to identify treatment goals, and provide evidence-based behavioral medicine treatment to patients experiencing chronic non-malignant pain, both in individual and group formats. Residents will also learn to provide support and education to primary care and other medical staff in order to assist them in their efforts to address chronic pain, as well as help develop specific programming to promote chronic pain self-management. Participation in all components will offer the psychology Resident depth and breadth of training with this complex population.

Outpatient Pain Psychology Training Objectives:

1. Integrate observational, historical, and interview data to identify an appropriate plan of care when treating patients with chronic pain.

2. Demonstrate competency in the application of principles and strategies associated with evidence-based psychological treatments for chronic pain, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

3. Maintain or further develop a basic understanding of Chronic Pain Syndrome and treatment implications.

4. Understand the goals, challenges and needs of other disciplines (e.g., primary care physicians, physical therapists), communicate patients’ needs and make treatment recommendations to other healthcare team members as appropriate, and demonstrate professional identity by advocating that other providers adopt a biopsychosocial model of care when treating chronic pain.

Oncology and Palliative Care

Primary Supervisor: Kristin Phillips, Ph.D.

James A. Haley VA (JAHVA) aims to provide 5-star cancer care to Veterans, which includes identifying and addressing any psychological, behavioral, and social problems that interfere with their ability to participate fully in their health care and manage their illness. Veterans who are diagnosed with cancer are screened to identify their level of distress and current problems (e.g., pain, anxiety, depression, etc.).  As part of this rotation, Residents are provided opportunities for the following activities: 1) provide assessment and treatment of patients using individual and group interventions, 2) assess patient readiness for stem cell transplantation by formal evaluation and consultation with the interdisciplinary team, 3) assess and manage suicide risk among oncology patients, 4) provide consultation to medical, nursing, pharmacy, social work and nutrition staff about mental and behavioral health concerns, 5) attend interprofessional Tumor Board meetings, Palliative Care Consult Team Rounds, and Cancer Committee meetings to discuss patient care, 6) provide education on topics such as opioid use among cancer patients and psycho-oncology.

Training Objectives:

1. Develop a basic understanding of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Guidelines and Commission on Cancer’s Standards for screening and intervening for distress in cancer patients.

2. Acquire relevant medical and biopsychosocial knowledge of cancer and cancer-related pain.

3. Provide individual, couple, group, and/or family interventions using cognitive behavioral, supportive-expressive, and end of life therapies as well as assisting patients and families in shared decision making about hospice and palliative care.

4. Demonstrate the ability to conduct pre-bone marrow/stem cell transplant mental health evaluations for transplantation candidates and provide recommendations about any psychological contraindications for transplant.

5. Assist team members to differentiate between disease-specific, medication-specific, and situational contributors to patient behavior.

6. Function as a valued member of an interprofessional medical specialty team to coordinate patient care using concise communication.

III. Trauma Psychology Emphasis

The first 6 months of training are spent in the Trauma Recovery Program, where Residents will receive advanced training and supervision in evidence based treatments for PTSD including Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapies.  The last 6 months of the postdoctoral year are spent in one of two other settings: the Polytrauma Rehabilitation & Evaluation Program (PREP) or the Outpatient Polytrauma Clinic. Applicants should indicate which of these experiences are preferred and why in the application cover letter. In the case where both residents are requesting the same rotation, assignment will be based on Resident’s previous experiences, current skill development, and relevance to career goals. Each of the clinical experiences currently available are described below.

Trauma Recovery Programs (TRP)

Primary Supervisors. Gregory Mauntel, Psy.D.; Shannon Miles, Ph.D.

The TRP provides psychological services to male and female veterans who have suffered posttraumatic stress reactions incurred during their military service. The majority of our veterans developed these reactions in response to serving in warzone theatres including but not limited to World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War (Deserts Storm and Shield), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND). Research suggests veterans with warzone-related PTSD report high rates of suicidality, aggressive and impulsive behavior, and exhibit diverse psychological and functional impairment. This population of Veterans often present with comorbid diagnoses including depression, anxiety disorders, dissociative symptoms, substance use, chronic pain, and TBI. Patients seen in this program often present with a complex history of recurring traumatic experiences, sometimes early developmental and/or repetitive combat-related traumas.

Veterans receive comprehensive evaluations including: semi-structured interviews (e.g. Clinician Administered PTSD Scale); chart review; and self-report measures such as the Posttraumatic Checklist-Fifth Edition (PCL-5), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). If needed, standardized psychological tests such as the MMPI-2, PAI, and MCMI-III may be utilized to provide additional diagnostic clarification and to help rule out malingering, secondary gain, and other co-occurring diagnoses.

The PTSD clinic is a specialty clinic focused on recovery from PTSD. Clinical interventions offered on this rotation are consistent with evidence-based treatment approaches and influenced by current research, clinical expertise, and patient characteristics and values. Veterans who are in need of a more robust coping skillset prior to engaging in past-focused trauma therapy can participate in several evidence-based group psychotherapies, such as CBT Symptom Management; CBT Anger Management, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Pre-treatment Readiness Group, and STAIR. Motivational Interviewing is also often employed in conjunction with these skill groups to assist in treatment engagement. The goals of the groups within the PTSD clinic are to provide education and psychological coping skills to help veterans with PTSD improve their quality of life, better manage distressing symptoms, and prepare for engagement in trauma focused therapy. Veterans who complete these groups are either referred for more intensive therapy, transition to another skills group in preparation for trauma focused work, or are discharged from the clinic for follow-up care with other more appropriate services in the hospital.

For veterans with sufficient coping skills and current stability,  trauma focused treatment is offered. Trauma-processing is done through one of the three primary evidence-based treatments for PTSD: Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE; Foa, Hembree, & Rothbaum, 2007), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT; Resick & Schnicke 1996), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR; Shapiro, 1995; 2001).  PE, CPT, and EMDR are offered individually. CPT is also offered in a group format. Veterans may also elect to participate in In-Vivo Group. Also, veterans with significant guilt as part of their presentation may be offered Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction (TrIgR) as part of their treatment plan. After veterans have received maximum benefit from the PTSD clinic, they may be discharged or referred to the general mental health clinic or other specialty clinics for additional services.

Goals of Training Rotation:

Residents on this rotation will receive specialized training in the treatment of psychological conditions in both men and women that result from military trauma. Residents will conduct initial evaluations and CAPS-5 interviews, conduct psychological testing, co-lead clinic orientation, co-lead psychotherapy groups, and conduct individual psychotherapy. Training and exposure to both group and individually administered forms of intensive therapy will be provided. Additional experiences include the opportunity to attend relevant workshops and to participate in ongoing research in this clinic.

By the end of the rotation, it is anticipated that Residents will have the ability to:

1. Describe the theoretical underpinnings of PTSD and other psychological reactions relevant to the experience of warzone-related reactions and other types of traumatic exposure.

2. Conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations utilizing the CAPS and additional psychological testing when appropriate, and create relevant treatment recommendations based upon the results.

3. Residents will be able to provide education and rationale for care to veterans and their families.

4. Residents may conduct trauma-specific psychological testing and display essential understanding and competence in administering, scoring, report writing, and providing feedback of the results.

5. Write coherent and concise psychological reports and notes, while maintaining the dignity of the veteran and discussing sensitive issues such as, compensation and pension, appropriately.

6. Demonstrate proficiency in at least one form of trauma-specific, evidence-based psychotherapeutic intervention for PTSD (Prolonged Exposure and/or Cognitive-Processing Therapy; exposure to EMDR) with working knowledge, development, & application of others.

7. Lead or co-lead multiple PTSD-specific coping skills and trauma resilient track group(s).

8. Conduct additional individual psychotherapy & case management to meet patient/veteran needs.

9. Show through feedback and supervision an increased understanding of therapeutic process issues involved in working with traumatized populations, as well as, the effect of trauma treatment on the therapist and how to develop positive self-care in a trauma clinic.

Post-deployment Rehabilitation & Evaluation Program (PREP)

Primary Supervisor. Christina Thors, Ph.D.

The PREP program provides evaluation and rehabilitation services to Veterans diagnosed with mild to moderate TBI and comorbid polytrauma injuries. Patients admitted often present with a complex array of postconcussive symptoms, including chronic headaches, sleep problems, and in addition to post-deployment stress (PTSD, depression). Trainees will focus on cognitive-behavioral/behavioral techniques, including thorough clinical interview with an emphasis on understanding trauma index events, and an appropriate utilization of a variety of self-report mood and personality measures (PCL-C, PHQ-9, PAI, CAPS, etc.). Trainees will have the opportunity to participate in motivational enhancement groups, with focus of interventions on preparation for future psychological treatments. Individual psychotherapy may also be provided. Regardless of format, treatment philosophy is based on Prolonged Exposure for PTSD. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is also offered as a second option for patients. Trainees may also participate in co-tx with recreational therapy to reinforce importance of community reintegration and exposure to previously feared/avoided environments. By the end of this rotation, Residents will be able to:

1. Identify and describe common neurobehavioral and psychological syndromes (e.g., postconcussion syndrome, poor effort/malingering, somatization disorders, depression, PTSD) or clinical problems specific to these populations.

2. Function effectively as a consultant to other health care providers in relation to psychological, social, and emotional issues associated with these clinical populations.

3. Cite the major literature on common cognitive, behavioral, emotional, personality, and psychosocial issues related to these populations.

4. Demonstrate improved differential diagnostic skills, particularly in the accurate diagnosis of PTSD.

5. Learn motivational enhancement techniques to prepare patients for evidence-based PTSD treatment.

6. Learn how to adapt evidence based treatments to enhance outcomes with this population

Polytrauma Outpatient Clinic

Primary Supervisor: Lisa R. Rambaldo, PsyD

The outpatient Polytrauma clinic serves Veterans and Active Duty Service Members who have sustained mild to moderate/severe brain injury or have been diagnosed with a neurological condition that negatively impacts thought processes, behavior and/or emotions. The majority of Veterans and active duty service members treated in this clinic have been exposed to combat trauma, present with co-morbid psychological disorders related to war experiences or injury-related events and are transitioning from their military career to a civilian setting. These types of stressors often exacerbate the cognitive sequelae of traumatic brain injury. Treatment in the outpatient Polytrauma clinic includes trauma-focused treatment, but also incorporates other types of treatments aimed at reducing emotion dysregulation, improving relaxation response/decreasing hyperarousal, improving sleep, addressing anxiety that may be complicating progress in other treatments (e.g. vesitbular therapy), managing chronic headache and/or other chronic pain, implementing basic self-care strategies and healthy behaviors and increasing independence in daily activities. The psychologist also helps the Veteran to develop and implement plans for establishing meaningful roles in the community as well and a strong network of social support. The resident provides individual therapy and may provide group therapy when appropriate.

Cognitive deficits and other difficulties related to co-morbid psychological conditions not only impact Veterans’ recovery process but may negatively affect their ability to fully engage in other rehabilitative services. The resident will function as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team that includes physiatry, nursing, speech therapy, physical therapy including vestibular therapy, psychiatry and social work. Veterans are also referred for therapeutic recreation and vocational rehabilitation counseling when appropriate. The resident helps to conceptualize the nature of emotional, cognitive, personality, and psychosocial issues that may affect the individual's progress in rehabilitation services. Education may be offered to family members, as well, to support family coping and adjustment as well as education regarding posttraumatic stress disorder and brain injury. Trainees interested in developing new therapy/education groups relevant to this population will be considered, and there may be opportunity for other program-development activities. The length of the rotation is approximately 6 months.

By the end of the rotation, the resident will have:

1. Demonstrated ability to successfully conduct assessment of psychological trauma and identification of treatment needs in an outpatient polytrauma/brain injury patient population.

2. Demonstrated ability to recognize and identify barriers to full engagement in rehabilitative services for veterans with both polytraumatic injuries and co-morbid psychological conditions.

3. Demonstrated ability to recognize and identify barriers to full community reintegration for veterans with both polytraumatic injuries and co-morbid psychological conditions.

4. Learned how to adapt evidence based trauma treatments to enhance treatment outcomes with this population.

5. Learned motivational enhancement techniques to prepare patients for evidence-based PTSD treatment.

6. Demonstrated advanced ability in providing consultation to interdisciplinary treatment team members regarding the implications and/or management of cognitive, behavioral, or emotional status of patient.

SEMINARS

Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Seminar – General (required): Once monthly 1-hour didactic for all Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residents covering topics relevant to professional clinical psychology. Example topics include ICD-10, clinical issues in diversity, military culture, ethics & confidenitality, and self-care. This didactic format also ensures residents’ socialization into the profession, as well as providing for peer interaction and access to consultation.

Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Seminar – Emphasis Specific (required):

Clinical Health Emphasis: This 1-hour seminar meets weekly for the full year and is geared toward both trainees and staff with an interest in primary care, integrated medicine, and health psychology. Topics include brief assessment methods, treatments using modified EBPs, sleep difficulties, cardiovascular disease, Hepatitis C, interprofessional teams and shared decision-making, and so forth.

Pain Emphasis: This 1-hour pain didactic seminar meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month and encompasses pain and psycho-oncology specific research, clinical issues, and programmatic information. The seminar alternates among formal topic presentations on current issues in the treatments for cancer or pain, discussions of current literature and research, and clinical case conferences.

Trauma Emphasis: This 1-hour didactic meets at least twice monthly and is specifically developed for trainees and staff in this emphasis area. Past topics have included the neurobiology of PTSD, military sexual trauma, guilt & atrocities, CAPS 5 training, PTSD medication management, and treatment modifications in TBI populations.

Professional Development Seminar (required): Non-rotation specific issues related to professional development are discussed in this very interactive, once-monthly seminar attended by psychology postdoctoral Residents across all programs. Topics include culture and diversity, competency-based supervising, licensure issues/EPPP, board certification/ABPP, job searches and interviewing, negotiation skills for professional responsibilities such as salary, work/life balance, and the business of mental health.

Research

Research skills are an integral part of our program. Residents receive up to 8 hours per week of protected research time. At a minimum, residents are expected to participate in research/scholarly activity such that they present their project as a poster or platform presentation at a professional meeting, they submit it for review to a professional journal, or perform an in-depth quality improvement or program development project and formally present the results/conclusions to the Training Committee and relevant stakeholders.

Requirements for Completion

The postdoctoral training program requires one year of full-time training to be completed in no less than 12 months. Residents must complete 2080 hours of supervised on-duty time during the postdoctoral year.

To successfully complete the postdoctoral residency, Residents are expected to:

1) Competence: Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional psychological skill and competency; the majority of items within each competency domain evaluated at the end of the program must be rated at least a 6 (see “Evaluation Procedures” on page 19).

2) Didactic Training: Residents are expected to attend the Clinical Psychology Seminar and the Professional Development Seminar. Other seminars may include the Statistics/Research Methods Seminar, conferences or various seminars/lectures/ colloquia offered through the USF medical school (e.g., Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Neurology Rounds), Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer center, or other USF Departments such as Psychology, Gerontology, or Aging and Mental Health.

3) Research/Scholarly Work: Submit for review a poster, platform presentation, or article based on the research they have been conducting as part of this postdoctoral residency. Residents also may formally present the results/conclusions of an in-depth quality improvement or program development project to the Training Committee and relevant stakeholders. Literature review and statistical analyses must be part of each project. However, meta-analysis and systematic review (i.e., meeting Institute of Medicine standards [March, 2011], Cochrane Collaboration Handbook for Systematic Reviews, or PRISMA standards) of existing literature is acceptable.

4) 2080 Hours per Year: The postdoctoral training program requires one year of full-time training to be completed in no less than 12 months. Residents must complete 2080 hours of supervised on-duty time during the postdoctoral year. These hour requirements include absences from the use of annual leave, holidays, authorized absence, and sick leave.

5) Patient Contact: Average at least 14 hours/week in direct patient contact (i.e., “face-to-face” contact with patients or families for any type of group or individual therapy, psychological testing, assessment activities or patient education). Successful completion of the postdoctoral residency requires a minimum of 700 hours of direct patient contact (i.e., 700 of 2080hrs); this experience meets Florida psychology licensing requirements (i.e., at least 900 hours of activities related to direct client contact).

Administrative Policies and Procedures

We collect no personal information from you when you visit our website. If you are accepted as a Resident, some descriptive demographic information is collected and sent in a de-identified aggregate manner to the American Psychological Association as part of our annual reports for accreditation.

Although infrequent, differences may arise between a Resident and a Supervisor or another staff member which do not appear resolvable at that level. Should this occur, the following procedures are followed:

(refer to MH&BS Service SOP NO. 116ak-02):

(1) The Resident should request a meeting with the supervisor or staff member to attempt to work out the problem/disagreement. The supervisor will set a meeting within 2 working days of the request. It is expected that the majority of problems can be resolved at this level. However, if that fails:

(2) The Resident should request to meet with the Psychology Training Director and the Assistant Training Director of the program. A meeting is set within 2 working days to resolve the difficulty. In cases of disagreement with the Assistant Training Director, the Resident may address their case directly to the Psychology Training Director. In cases involving disagreement with the Psychology Training Director, the Resident may address their case directly to the Psychology Service Chief for appropriate action. If that fails:

(3) The Psychology Training Director, Assistant Training Director, Resident, and supervisor or staff member meet within 2 working days of Step 2. If a consensual solution is not possible

(4) The Resident, Psychology Service Chief, Psychology Training Director, and the Resident’s supervisor or staff member meet to resolve the problem within 5 working days of Step 3. If that fails:

(5) The issue will be brought before the Affiliations Subcommittee of the Continuing and Hospital Education Committee for resolution. This is the final step of the appeal process.

(6) In unusual and confidential instances, the Resident may address their case directly to the Psychology Service Chief and, if this fails, the Resident may proceed to Step 5.

EVALUATION PROCEDURES

Competency-Based Evaluation System: It is our intention that evaluation of residents’ progress be open, fair, and part of the learning process. Residents are involved in all phases of evaluation from the initial concurrence with training goals through the final evaluation. Ongoing feedback during supervisory sessions is presumed and residents should request clarification from supervisors if there is uncertainty.

To assist in our postdoctoral training and evaluation process, and to document the attainment of basic core competencies and outcomes, competency evaluations are conducted for the resident’s activities. The program utilizes a behaviorally-based model of evaluation with ratings based on the amount of supervision required for the resident to perform the task competently. In general, this rating scale (described below) is intended to reflect the developmental progression toward becoming an independent psychologist. Postdoctoral residents are expected to have the majority of items within each competency area be rated a “5” by the end of 6 months and a “6” by the end of the training year. The rating scale used in evaluation is below:

7 Competency demonstrated at a distinguished level, notably beyond what is typically observed by postdoctoral residents who have completed their residency. This is a rare rating that reflects collegial level of autonomy and proficiency at the expert level despite maintenance of required trainee role and expectations.

6 Competency demonstrated at independent, early-career level. Trainee is independent in all aspects of clinical activity. Trainee could function autonomously as an independent practitioner. While potentially licensed, supervision is maintained due to trainee status. Supervision devoted primarily to advanced, expert topics. Competency in all global competency areas at full VA psychology staff privilege level is maintained. THIS IS THE GOAL FOR THE END OF THE POSTDOCTORAL RESIDENCY (END OF LAST ROTATION) – THE MAJORITY OF ITEMS WITHIN EACH COMPETENCY DOMAIN WILL BE RATED AT THIS LEVEL

5 Competency attained in all but non-routine cases, though supervisor provides overall management of trainee’s activities. Trainee demonstrates increasing ease and integration of advanced skills and proficiency is emerging in routine cases or area of specialty interest. Supervision/consultation may be necessary in non-routine situations, though depth of supervision varies as clinical needs warrant. While the trainee may not possess the specific skill set required for independent practice in a specific rotation setting, this level represents the achievement of minimal competency for independent general psychological practice. THIS IS THE GOAL FOR THE RESIDENT’S COMPLETION OF THE FIRST 6 MONTHS – THE MAJORITY OF ITEMS WITHIN EACH COMPETENCY DOMAIN WILL BE RATED AT THIS LEVEL.

4 Basic skills are implemented with ease and more complex skills are emerging, particularly in a specialty area of interest. Trainee demonstrates emerging competency in routine cases. Routine supervision of most activities, though depth of supervision varies as clinical needs warrant.

3 Basic skills have been acquired and trainee implements them with increasing ease, but continues to require routine supervision of each activity.

2 Routine, and occasionally intensive, supervision is needed, particularly in unfamiliar training areas. Skills are becoming more familiar, but trainee needs assistance in implementing them. This rating may be possible at the beginning of a rotation in an area for which the resident has no prior exposure.

1 Most skills are new and trainee needs very intensive and close supervision. Requires remediation plan.

Residents receive a written evaluation from their rotation supervisor at the mid-point of each rotation and at the end of each rotation. The rotation mid-point evaluations are intended to be a progress report for residents to ensure they are aware of their supervisor’s perceptions and to help them focus on specific goals and areas of work for the second part of the rotation. Final rotation evaluations will also provide specific feedback and serve to help the resident develop as a professional. Residents also provide a written evaluation of each rotation and supervisor upon completion of the rotation. This and the supervisor’s evaluation of the resident are discussed by the resident and supervisor to facilitate mutual understanding and growth.

Upon completion of each rotation, copies of the resident’s and the supervisor’s final rotation evaluations are kept in the resident’s training file.

Training Staff

All members of the Psychology training staff have clinical responsibilities. In addition, they all serve in a variety of other professional roles. The following is a brief alphabetical listing and description of our clinical psychology training staff.

Nicolle Angeli, Ph.D., HSPP – Georgia State University, Clinical Psychology, 2010

Fellowship in Geriatrics & Mental Health, Primary Care Integration, Western NY Healthcare System

Clinical Psychologist, Inpatient Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program

Primary clinical interests: Chronic pain, women Veterans and chronic pain, comorbidities

Primary research interests: Pain treatment outcomes, comorbidities, treatment adherence

Evangelia Banou, Ph.D. – Kent State University, Clinical Psychology, 2007

Fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology, Pain and Psycho-oncology emphasis, University of Florida

Clinical Director, Outpatient Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program

Primary clinical interests: Chronic pain

Primary research interests: Chronic pain, pain treatment outcomes, assessment, opioid use, sleep

Heather G. Belanger, Ph.D., ABPP-Cn – University of South Florida, 2001

Psychology Training Director

Clinical Neuropsychologist, Traumatic Brain Injury Program

Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, USF

Clinical Interests: TBI, Assessment, Concussion, White Matter Injury, Healthcare Systems Issues

Rosario M. Falero, M.D., Ph.D. – University of Miami, Clinical Psychology, 2009

Fellowship in Behavioral Medicine in Primary Care, Harvard University

Clinical Psychologist Women’s Center - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

Primary clinical interests: Women’s issues, ACT in Primary Care

Primary research interests: Treatment Outcomes, Program Evaluation and Implementation

Amanda S. Grossenbacher, Psy.D. – Florida Institute of Technology, 2008

Clinical Psychologist, Women's Health Center

Primary Clinical Interests:  PTSD/Military Sexual Trauma, Gender-specific Issues and Treatment Strategies

Elizabeth A. Jenkins, Ph.D. – University of Miami, Clinical Psychology, 2001

Health Behavior Coordinator, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program

Primary clinical interests: MI, health promotion, disease prevention, sleep medicine

Primary research interests: Insomnia trtmnt, patient centered clinical care coaching/outcomes

Dawn Johnson, Ph.D. – Virginia Commonwealth University, 2003

Clinical Psychologist- Primary Care Mental Health Integration

Primary clinical interests: Smoking Cessation

Primary research interests: VA Quit Line and Integrated Smoking Cessation

Jill Klayman, Ph.D. – University of Connecticut, Clinical Psychology, 1994

Fellowship in Pain Psychology, University of Rochester, School of Medicine & Dentistry

Lead Clinical Psychologist, Outpatient Pain Services

Primary clinical interests: Chronic pain, adjustment to disability

Primary research interests: Chronic pain

Katherine Leventhal, Ph.D. –Kent State University

Clinical Psychologist and Rotation Supervisor, Primary Care Mental Health

Clinical interests: brief interventions for health-related behavior change

Benjamin D. Lord, Ph.D.  – Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015

Clinical Psychologist and Rotation Supervisor, Primary Care Behavioral Health

Primary clinical interests: hlth bx change; brief psychotx; existential issues in chronic disease mngmnt

Primary research interests: bereavement; primary care integration

Aaron Martin, Ph.D. – Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013

Fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology, VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Clinical Psychologist, Pain Program

Primary clinical interests: Chronic pain, PTSD, & Sleep

Primary research interests: relationship between pain/sleep, patient/provider communication re:pain care.

Gregory Mauntel, Psy.D.. – Spalding University, 2014

Assistant Training Director, Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Training Program

Clinical Psychologist and Rotation Supervisor, PTSD Clinic

Primary clinical interests: EBTs for trauma processing, traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Primary research interests: impact of EBTs on post-concussive symptoms in TBI patients

Shannon R. Miles, Ph.D. –The University of Tulsa. Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Training Program Psychologist and Rotation Supervisor in the PTSD clinic.

Primary clinical interests: Conducting PTSD evaluations, providing evidence based psychotherapies (EBP), and psychological testing. 

Primary research interests: Emotion regulation and aggression in Veterans with PTSD. Other research interest are improving initiation, engagement, and completion of EBP for PTSD.

Vanessa Milsom, Ph.D. – University of Florida, Clinical & Health Psychology, 2010

Fellowship in Obesity, Weight and Eating Research, Yale School of Medicine

Clinical Psychologist, Primary Care-Mental Health Integration program

Primary clinical interests: integrated primary care, weight management, eating disorders

Primary research interests: obesity, diabetes, health promotion, exercise

Jennifer Murphy, Ph.D. – Adelphi University, Clinical Psychology, 2005

Supervisory Psychologist, MHBS Pain Section

Clinical Director, Inpatient Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program

Primary clinical interests: Chronic Pain, opioid use/cessation

Primary research interests: opioid use/cessation, chronic pain in women veterans, CBT for chronic pain

Karen J. Nicholson, Ph.D. – University of South Florida, Clinical Psychology, 2000

Assistant Training Director, Internship Program

Clinical Psychologist, Inpatient Consultation & Liaison Service

Primary clinical interests: liver disease, intervention & management of chronic illness

Kristin Phillips, Ph.D. – University of Miami, Clinical Psychology (Health Track), 2009

Fellowship in Behavioral Oncology Education & Career Development, Moffitt Cancer Center

Clinical Psychologist, Cancer and Palliative Care Programs

Primary clinical interests: Psycho-Oncology, Cancer-related pain, End of life issues

Primary research interests: Interventions for improving quality of life outcomes

Lisa R. Rambaldo, PsyD – Wright State University, 2012

Clinical Psychologist and Rotation Supervisor, Outpatient Polytrauma Clinic

Primary clinical interests: EBTs for trauma, TBI, chronic pain. Integration of CNS downregulation practices (e.g. mindfulness, yoga, yoga nidra) in trauma treatment

Primary clinical interests: impact of mindfulness and compassion training on trauma and resiliency

Stacey Sandusky, Ph.D. – University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Clinical Psychology, 2010

Clinical Fellowship in Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Florida, Dept. of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation

Clinical Psychologist, Inpatient Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program

Primary clinical interests: Psychosocial recovery and reintegration of patients with chronic pain

Primary research interests: Interrelations among emotions, stress, & coping among chronic pain sufferers

Christina Thors, Ph.D.  – Fordham University, Clinical Psychology, 2000

Clinical Psychologist – Polytrauma Rehabilitation Program/TBI Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Certified VHA Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Certified Brain Injury Specialist

Clinical Interests:  PTSD, TBI, Intervention research

Rodney D. Vanderploeg, Ph.D., ABPP-Cn - Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, 1982

Psychology Supervisory Program Leader: Section of Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Neuropsychology

Clinical Neuropsychologist, Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury Program.

Clinical Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, USF

Clinical Interests: Neuropsychology, Traumatic Brain Injury, Cognitive Rehabilitation

Gregory K. Wolf, Psy.D. – Pepperdine University, 2005

Clinical Psychologist; Team Leader of the Trauma Recovery Programs

Prolonged Exposure Therapy; Trainer and Consultant for VHA National Training Program (NCPTSD)

Primary Clinical Interests: Evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD; Assessment, TBI related issues

Training Interests: Clinical Supervision; Dissemination Science; Assessment

Primary Research Interests: Effectiveness of evidence based psychotherapies with Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and TBI; Program Evaluation; Neurobiological Mechanisms of PTSD; Neuropsychology

Trainees

Our Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency began in the 2011-2012 training year with a single position in Pain. That said, we had previously boasted the Nation’s premier Postdoctoral Residency in Pain Psychology since 1999, which at that time was research-funded. During the 2014-2015 training year, the Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Program expanded by increasing our Pain positions from 1 to 2, and offering 2 new positions in a newly developed PTSD and comorbid TBI track. A year later, the Program expanded yet again with a new position in Clinical Health Psychology.

All of our Postdoctoral programs, including our sister Fellowships in Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, accept Residents from top universities throughout the country and a large percentage have gone on to hold VA psychologist positions.

Facility and Training Resources

The James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (Tampa VAMC), a JCAHO accredited hospital, is a 504 bed facility that provides comprehensive inpatient, primary, secondary, and tertiary care in medical, surgical, neurological, rehabilitation, and short-term psychiatric modalities, primary and specialized ambulatory care, and rehabilitation nursing home care through its nursing home care unit called Haley’s Cove Community Living Center.  It is the only VA medical center that has a dedicated ventilation unit for long-term care located in its 100 bed Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder Center. There is also an off-site domiciliary approximately 10 miles from the campus. The Tampa VA is one of the nation’s largest and most complex integrated medical facilities in the Veterans Health Administration. As a leader in rehabilitation care, the Tampa VAMC is CARF accredited in 20 programmatic areas.  Additionally, JAHVH was named a 2013 Joint Commission Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measures for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. JAHVH received several additional awards throughout FY15, including the VA’s National Center for Patient Safety Cornerstone Gold Award for the sixth year in a row.

Specialized programs are offered in treatment of chemical dependency, posttraumatic stress, comprehensive rehabilitation, and women’s health. In addition, the Tampa VAMC is one of the nation’s five Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (PRC), providing care for the most severely wounded active duty service members returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas. The Tampa VAMC also has established Centers of Excellence in Spinal Cord Dysfunction and Rehabilitation Medicine.  In addition, there is an HSR&D funded Research Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research with a robust research program and over $8 million in funding in 2016 and 50 active projects. There is an Outpatient Clinic (OPC) in New Port Richey and three Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Zephyrhills, Lakeland and Brooksville, FL; together these facilities serve four counties in Central Florida. 

The facility has a national reputation for excellence.  In both 1997 and 2010, the hospital was awarded the Robert W. Carey Award for quality. In 2000, we received a Merit Achievement for the President’s Quality Award.  These are the highest awards bestowed upon a VAMC. In 2001, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital was the first VA hospital nationwide to receive the Magnet Award — the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s national benchmark for quality nursing care. The facility achieved Magnet re-designation in 2005 and 2009 for all care delivery sites, including ambulatory care settings and nursing homes.

The Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program is an award winning, comprehensive, inpatient and outpatient chronic pain treatment program established in 1988 to help Veterans with chronic pain cope with their conditions. Since that time, we have evolved into a nationally known center for pain treatment, research and education. We have been designated a VA Clinical Program of Excellence for pain treatment, are a two-time winner of the American Pain Society Clinical Center of Excellence award, and our CARF-accredited residential program is unique as the only inpatient option within the VA system.

The medical center is affiliated with the University of South Florida (USF) and its College of Medicine.  The University of South Florida was awarded $458.5 million in contracts and grants in fiscal year 2016. USF is ranked 9th in the nation among public universities for granted U.S. patents and was ranked as the best college for Veterans in 2016. The medical center's dynamic and progressively expanding postgraduate teaching program encompasses most of the healthcare specialties. The hospital is connected both physically and functionally to the university. During FY14, the medical center trained over 1,200 students, including 455 medical residents. Residency training is provided in all major medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. The hospital is also a training site for medical, nursing (more than 400), and other health care professional students. Approved programs are conducted in Audiology and Speech Pathology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Nursing, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Psychiatry, Psychology, Radiology, Pathology, Social Work, and Urology.

The libraries of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital provide a wide range of evidence-based resources for Psychology staff, interns, and trainees.  Hospital librarians provide:

• Professional and prompt assistance, including expert research and bibliographic searching, reference assistance, instruction on database use, interlibrary loans, etc.

• More than 50 databases, including 9 directed specifically to the needs of mental health professionals (, PILOTS, Health & Psychosocial Instruments, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PsycBOOKS, PsycTESTS, Mental Measurements Yearbook, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection).

• Resources are IP-authenticated for immediate access on any VA networked computer. Remote access is provided using Athens authentication.

• The Medical Library has 3,400 print books and more than 20,000 ebooks. The Library also has unique collections of ebooks on PTSD and TBI.

• The Medical Library’s collection includes more than 7,000 print and electronic journals, including 13 ‘clinical psychology’ and 10 ‘mental health’ titles. 

• The Patient Library provides access to more than 7,000 consumer health education books and DVDs to assist clinicians in providing patient education and meeting informed consent guidelines. A small consumer health library, the PERC, is located at the Primary Care Annex (13515 Lake Terrace Lane, Tampa).

• The Medical Library is open 24/7 for staff and trainees. It has 12 computers, and is conveniently located near the cafeteria and auditorium of the main hospital.

The main library at the University of South Florida houses over 1,500,000 volumes including 4,900 journal subscriptions.  In addition, the USF College of Medicine library, which is directly across the street from the VA medical center, maintains over 88,000 books including over 1,400 journal subscriptions.  Literature searches and complete bibliographies with abstracts are available upon request.

Commonly used and essential tests and related materials are maintained by the rotation supervisors and are available to the resident for assessment of the veteran.  In addition, the residents maintain a smaller library of assessment instruments in their office that is solely for their use. In addition, many computerized assessments are available through the computerized medical record’s Mental Health Assistant (e.g., MMPI2, PAI, BDI2, etc).

The entire Psychology Service consists of more than 90 doctoral level psychologist representing diverse theoretical orientations, clinical specialties, and areas of interest & expertise.  Psychologists have major leadership roles within hospital clinical and research programs and have recognized national expertise and leadership within VHA as well as national psychology organizations.  Several psychologists in the Trauma Recovery Programs are nationally certified in evidence-based trauma interventions and some serve as Trainers and Consultants for the National Center for PTSD and VA Central Office Training Initiatives in Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression.  Psychologists with the Pain Psychology Program are recognized national leaders in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pain syndrome and conduct national trainings within the VHA on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain.  Staff psychologists have authored textbooks, written numerous professional articles, and helped to develop clinical programs.  In addition, psychologists have served on national VHA Work Groups, Task Forces, and QUERIs.  The staff is highly committed to the science of Psychology, values training, and the growth and development of trainees.

Local Information

The James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital is located in beautiful Tampa, Florida. Tampa is a growing metropolitan area which serves as the county seat of Hillsborough County and is the second most populous city in the state. The city is situated on the west coast of Central Florida, 266 miles northwest of Miami and 197 miles southwest of Jacksonville. With a population of over 1.2 million based on 2012 US census projections, Hillsborough County is composed of several residential, industrial, and agricultural communities which are interspersed with orange groves and cattle ranches. The climate is generally mild with an average annual temperature of 72 degrees. Freezing temperatures are rare, as are those of more than 92 degrees.

Because of its climate, opportunities for outdoor recreation activities abound. The coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay offer a broad spectrum of water sports – water skiing, swimming, deep-sea fishing, power boating, sailing, board sailing, and scuba diving. Freshwater fishing is also available in the numerous local lakes. Residents enjoy facilities and activities year-round because there is little change in the seasons. Golf is very popular locally and many public and private courses are available. For sports fans, there are seven major league baseball spring training camps within 20 miles of Tampa. The Tampa Bay area is also home to several professional sport franchises, including the Buccaneers, the Rays, the Lightning, and the Rowdies.

A variety of arts and cultural activities can be found in the Tampa Bay area. Because of Florida’s early history in the exploration of the “New World,” Tampa has a large population of Hispanic and Latino residents (23.1% of the population). The African-American population is also well represented. Events celebrating the heritage and contribution of various ethnic cultures to the area occur throughout the year. For example, the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, Festival del Sabor, Asia Fest, and the Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival are all popular annual events that highlight the region’s diversity.

The University of South Florida, located just across the street from the hospital, has an active and acclaimed drama and fine arts program. Film, dance, stage productions, and repertory companies are regular offerings of the Tampa Theatre and Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (both located in downtown Tampa) and the world-famous Asolo Theater (located approximately 50 miles south of Tampa, in Sarasota). Tampa has also become a popular stop for touring musicians. The Amphitheater, the Tampa Bay Times Forum, and the USF Sundome are popular venues for contemporary music and have hosted artists such as Journey, Yes, The Eagles, Dave Mathews Band, Counting Crows, Maroon 5, Elton John, Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Pink, Kanye West, Radiohead, U2, Imagine Dragons, and Coldplay to name a few. Across Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg is home to the Dale Chihuly glass museum, the Salvador Dali museum, which is the only exclusive museum of this artist’s works in the world, and the Mahaffey Theater.

Well-known tourist attractions also lie in close proximity to Tampa. Busch Gardens and Adventure Island Water Park are only 3 miles from the hospital. The various Disney World theme parks and Universal Studios are 75 miles east of Tampa in Orlando, and the Ringling Brothers Museum is located in Sarasota. Tampa itself is home to a world-class aquarium (the Florida Aquarium) in downtown Tampa Harbor and an award-winning zoo, Lowry Park Zoo.

The Tampa Bay area has numerous quality educational institutions including the University of South Florida with an enrollment of over 36,000 students and colleges in Architecture, Arts and Letters, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The University of Tampa, located in downtown Tampa, has an enrollment of about 2,500 students. Both Hillsborough County and neighboring Pinellas County have well-regarded community colleges. In addition to the higher educational facilities, there are excellent public, parochial, and technical school systems.

Selected Publications (Trainee and Staff Names are Bolded)

Anton, S.D., Manini, T.M., Milsom, V.A., Dubyak, P., Cesari, M., Cheng, J., Marsiske, M., Shorr, R.I.,

Pahor, M., Leeuwenburgh, C., & Perri, M.G. (2011). Effects of a weight loss plus exercise program on physical functioning in obese older African-American and Caucasian women.  Clinical Interventions in Aging, 6, 141-149. 

Blomquist, K.K., Milsom, V.A., Barnes, R.D., Boeka, A.G., White, M.A., Masheb, R.M., & Grilo, C.M.

(2012). Obese men and women with binge eating disorder: developmental trajectories of eating & weight-related behaviors and the metabolic syndrome. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 53, 1021-7.

Bosco, M.A., Gallinati, J.L., & Clark, M.E. (2013). Conceptualizing and treating comorbid chronic pain

and PTSD. Pain Research and Treatment, 2013, 1-10.

Bosco, M.A., Murphy, J., Clark, M.E. (2013). Chronic Pain and Traumatic Brain Injury in OEF/OIF

Veterans. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain; 53(9), 1518–1522.

Bosco, M.A., Murphy, J.L., Peters, W.E., & Clark, M.E.  (2015).  Post-deployment multi-symptom

disorder rehabilitation: An integrated approach to rehabilitation. Work: A Journal of Prevention,

Assessment & Rehabilitation; 50, pp 143-148.

Brown, J.D., Buscemi, J., Milsom, V., Malcolm, R., & O’Neil, P.M. (2016). Effects on cardiovascular risk factors of weight losses limited to 5-10%. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 6(3), 339-346.

Burker, E. J., Phillips, K. M., & Giza, M. (2012). Factors related to health locus of control among lung

transplant candidates. Clinical Transplantation, 26(5):748-54. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2012.01614.x.

Darnall, B.D., Scheman, J., Davin, S., Burns, J.W., Murphy, J.L., Wilson, A.C., Kerns, R.D., & Mackey,

S.C. (2016). Pain Psychology: A Global Needs Assessment and National Call to Action. Pain Medicine.17(2):250-63. doi:10.1093/pm/pnv095.

DiNapoli, E.A., Craine, M., Dougherty, P., Gentili, A., Kochersberger, G., Morone, N.E., Murphy, J.L.,

Rodakowski, J., Rodriguez, E., Thielke, S., Weiner, D.K. (2016). Deconstructing Low Back Pain in the Older Adult – Step by Step Evidence and Expert-Based Recommendations in Evaluation and Treatment: Maladaptive Coping. Pain Medicine. 17(1):64-73. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnv055.

Goedendorp, M. M., Andrykowski, M. A., Donovan, K. A., Jim, H. S., Phillips, K. M., Small, B. J.,

Laronga, C., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2012). Prolonged impact of chemotherapy on fatigue in breast cancer survivors: A longitudinal comparison with radiotherapy treated breast cancer survivors and non-cancer controls. Cancer, 118(15), 3833-41. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26226.

Griffin, J.M., Friedemann-Sánchez, G, Jensen, A.C., Taylor, B.C., Gravely, A., Clothier, B., Simon, A.B.,

Bangerter, A., Pickett, T., Thors, C., Ceperich, S., Poole, J., van Ryn, M. (2012). The invisible side of war: Families caring for US service members with traumatic brain injuries and polytrauma. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 27, 3-13.

Griffin, J.M., Friedemann-Sanchez, G., Jensen, A., Taylor, B., Gravely, A., Clothier, B., Phelan, S.,

Carlson, K., van Houtven, C., Ceperich, S., Pickett, T., Thors, C., vanRyn, M. (2010). Polytrauma and Blast Related Injuries:  Challenges for families after VA inpatient rehabilitation. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 25, 383-406.

Grilo, C.M., Milsom, V.A., Morgan, P.T., White, M.A. (2012). Night eating in obese treatment-seeking

Hispanic patients with and without binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45, 787-91.

Jacobsen, P. B., Phillips, K. M., Jim, H. S. L., Small, B. J., Faul, L. A., Meade, C. D., Thompson, L.,

Williams, C. C., Loftus, L. S., Fishman, M., & Wilson, R. W. (2013). Effects of self-directed stress management training and home-based exercise on quality of life in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology, 22(6), 1229-35. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3122.

Jim, H., Small, B., Hartman, S., Franzen, J., Millay, S., Phillips, K., Jacobsen, P. B., Booth-Jones, M. &

Pidala, J. (2012). Clinical predictors of cognitive function in adults treated with hematopoietic cell transplant. Cancer, 118(13), 3407-3416.

Jim, H. S., Jacobsen, P. B., Phillips, K. M., Wenham, R., Roberts, W., & Small, B. J. (2013). Lagged

relationships among sleep disturbances, fatigue, and depression during chemotherapy. Health Psychology, 32(7):768-74. DOI: 10.1037/a0031322.

Jim, H.S.L., Evans, B., Jeong, M., Gonzalez, B.D., Johnston, L.., Nelson, A.M., Kesler, S., Phillips, K.M.,

Barata, A., Pidala, J., & Palesh, O. (2014). Sleep Disruption in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: Prevalence, Severity, and Clinical Management. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Epub ahead of print 2014 Apr 18. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2014.04.010.

Jim, H.S.L., Park, J. Y., Permuth-Wey, J., Rincon, M. A., Phillips, K. M., Small, B. J., & Jacobsen P. B.

(2012). Genetic predictors of fatigue in prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 26(7):1030-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.03.001.

Jim, H.S.L., Phillips, K. M., Chait, S., Faul, L. A., Popa-McKiver, M. A., Lee, Y. H., Hussin, M. G.,

Jacobsen, P. B., & Small, B. J. (2012).  A meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in adult cancer survivors previously treated with standard-dose chemotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 30(29), 3578-87. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2011.39.5640.

Johnson, C. C., Phillips, K. M., Miller, S. N. (2017). Suicidal ideation among Veterans living with cancer. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(Suppl 1):S1–S2867 S1901.

Kisaalita, N.R., Hurley, R.W., Staud, R., Robinson, M.E. (2016). Placebo Use in Pain Management: A Placebo-Based Education Intervention Enhances Placebo Treatment Acceptability. J Pain, 17(2), 257-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2015.10.017

Madan, A., Archambeau, O.G., Milsom, V.A., Goldman, R.L., Borckardt, J.J., Grubaugh, A.L., Tuerk, P.,

& Frueh, B.C. (2012). More than black and white: Differences in predictors of obesity among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and European Americans. Obesity, 20, 1325-8.

Madan, A., White-Williams, C., Borckardt, J.J., Burker, E.J., Milsom, V.A., Pelic, C., Thurstin, A.H.

(2012). Beyond rose colored glasses: the adaptive role of depressive and anxious symptoms among individuals with heart failure who were evaluated for transplantation. Clinical Transplantation, 26, E223-31.

McGinty, H. L., Phillips, K. M., Jim, H. S., Cessna, J. M., Asvat, Y., Cases, M. G., Small, B. J., &

Jacobsen, P. B.  (2014). Cognitive functioning in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for

prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.  Support Care Cancer; 22:2271–2280. PMID:24859915. PMC Journal in Process – NIHMS 598974.

Miles, S. R., Smith, T. L., Maieritsch, K. P., & Ahearn, E. P. (2015). Fear of losing emotional control is associated with cognitive processing therapy outcomes in Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28, 1-4. doi: 10.1002/jts.22036.

Miles, S. R., Thompson, K. E., Stanley, M., & Kent, T.A. (2016). Single session emotion regulation skills training to reduce aggression in combat veterans: A clinical innovation case study. Psychological Services, 13, 170-177. doi: 10.1037/ser0000071.

Miles, S. R., & Thompson, K. E. (2016). Childhood trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in a "real world" veterans affairs clinic: Examining treatment preferences and dropout. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 8, 464-467.  doi: 10.1037/tra0000132.

Miles, S. R., Sharp, C., Tharp, A. T., Stanford, M. S., Stanley, M., Thompson, K. E., & Kent, T. A. (2017). Emotion dysregulation as an underlying mechanism of impulsive aggression: Reviewing empirical data to inform treatments for veterans who perpetrate violence. Aggression And Violent Behavior, doi:10.1016/j.avb.2017.01.017.

Miller, S. N., Monahan, C., Phillips, K. M., Agliata, D. & Gironda, R. J. (under review). Mental health utilization among Veterans at risk for suicide: Data from a Post-Deployment Clinic. Psychological Services.

Milsom, V.A., Malcolm, R.J., Johnson, G.E., Pechon, S.M., Gray, K.M., Miller-Kovach, K., Rost, S.L.,

O’Neil, P.M. (2014). Changes in cardiovascular risk factors with participation in a 12-week weight loss trial using a commercial format.  Eating Behaviors, 15, 68-71.

Milsom, V.A., Ross, K.M., & Perri, M.G. (2011).  Successful long-term weight loss maintenance in a rural

population.  Clinical Interventions in Aging, 6, 303-9.

Murphy, J.L., Clark, M.E., Dubyak, P.J., Sanders, S.H., & Brock, C.W. (2012). Implementing step

three: The components and importance of tertiary pain care. Federal Practitioner, 29(4), 4S-8S.

Murphy, J.L. & Clark, M.E. (2013). Prescription drug abuse in the military. In J. Barnett &

B. Moore (Eds.) Military Psychologists' Desk Reference, 269-74. Oxford University Press.

Murphy, J.L., Clark, M.E., & Banou, E. (2013). Opioid cessation and multidimensional outcomes

following interdisciplinary chronic pain treatment. Clinical Journal of Pain, 29(2), 109-117.

Murphy, J.L, McKellar, J.D., Raffa, S.D., Clark, M.E., Kerns, R.D., & Karlin, B.E. (2014). Cognitive

Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain Among Veterans: Therapist Manual. Washington, DC: U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs.

Murphy, J.L., Phillips, K.M., & Rafie, S. (2016). Sex differences between veterans participating in interdisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation. Special Topic: Transforming Pain Care in the Veterans Health Administration: Bridges from Theory and Research to Practice and Policy, Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 53(1), 83-94.

Perri, M.G., Limacher, M.C., von Castel-Roberts, K., Daniels, M.J., Durning, P.E., Janicke, D.M., Bobroff,

L.B., Radcliff, T.A., Milsom, V.A., Kim, C., & Martin, A.D. (2014). Comparative effectiveness of three doses of behavioral weight loss counseling: two-year findings from the Rural LITE Trial. Obesity, 22(11), 2293-2300.

Peterson, N.D., Middleton, K.R., Nackers, L.M., Medina, K.E., Milsom, V.A., & Perri, M.G. (2014). Dietary self-monitoring and long-term success with weight management. Obesity, 22(9), 1962-1967.

Phillips, K. M., Antoni, M. H., Carver, C. S., Lechner, S. C., Penedo, F. J., McCullough, M. E., Glück, S.,

Derhagopian, R., & Blomberg, B. B. (2011). Stress management skills and reductions in serum

cortisol across the year after surgery for non-metastatic breast cancer. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 35(6); 595-600. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-011-9398-3.

Phillips, K. M., & Brandon, T. H. (2004). Do psychologists adhere to the clinical practice guidelines for tobacco cessation? A survey of practitioners.  Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 25(3), 281-285.

Phillips, K. M., Burker, E. J., & White, H. (2011). The roles of social support and psychological distress in

lung transplant candidacy. Progress in Transplantation, 21(3), 200-206.

Phillips, K. M., Clark, M. E., Gironda, R. J., McGarity, S., Kerns, R., Elnitsky, C., Andresen, E. & Collins, R. (2016). Pain and Psychiatric Comorbidities among Two Groups of Iraq and Afghanistan Era Veterans. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 53(4), 413-432.

Phillips, K. M., Faul, L. A., Small, B. J., Jacobsen, P. B., Apte, S., & Jim, H. S. L. (2013). Comparing the

retrospective reports of fatigue using the Fatigue Severity Index to daily diary ratings in

women receiving chemotherapy for gynecologic cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom

Management, 46(2):282-288. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.08.008.

Phillips, K. M., Jim, H., Donovan, K. A., Pinder-Schenck, M. C., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2012).

Characteristics and correlates of sleep disturbances in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(2), 357-365. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-011-1106-z.

Phillips, K. M., Jim, H.S., Small, B. J., Laronga, C., Andrykowski, M. A., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2012).

Cognitive functioning after cancer treatment: A three-year longitudinal comparison of breast

cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy or radiation and non-cancer controls. Cancer,118(7),

1925-32. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26432.

Phillips, K. M., Jim, H.S L., Small, B. J., Tanvetyanon, T., Roberts, W. S., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2012).

Effects of self-directed stress management training and home-based exercise on stress

management skills in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Stress and Health, 28(5), 368-75.

DOI: 10.1002/smi.2450.

Phillips, K. M., McGinty, H., Cessna, J., Asvat, Y., Gonzalez, B., Cases, M. G., Small, B. J., Jacobsen, P.

B., Pidala, J., & Jim, H. S. L. (2013). A systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive

functioning in adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow

Transplantation, 48(10):1350-7. DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2013.61.

Phillips, K. M., McGinty, H. L., Gonzalez, B. D., Jim, H. L., Small, B. J., Minton, S., Andrykowski, M.A. &

Jacobsen, P.B. (2013). Factors associated with breast cancer worry three years after adjuvant

treatment. Psycho-Oncology, 22(4), 936-9. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3066.

Phillips, K. M., Pinilla-Ibarz, J., Sotomayor, E., Lee, M. R., Jim, H. S. L., Small, B. J., Sokol, L., Lancet ,

J., Tinsley, S., Sweet, K., Komrokji, R., & Jacobsen, P. B. (2013). Quality of life outcomes in

patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A controlled

comparison. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21, 1097–1103. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-012-1630-5.

Quiñones, A. R., Thielke, S. M., Clark, M. E., Phillips, K. M., Elnitsky, C., & Andresen, E. M. (2016). Validity of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in a Sample of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. SAGE Open Medicine, 4, 1-8. DOI: 10.1177/2050312116643906.

Reinhard, M. J., Wolf, G. K., Cozolino, L. J., Caldwell, A. (2010). Utilizing the MMPI to assess reported

cognitive disturbances and somatization as core features of complex PTSD. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 11, 1-16.

Rickel, K.A.., Milsom, V.A., DeBraganza, N., Murawski, M.E., Durning, P.E., & Perri, M.G. (2011). 

Response of African-American and Caucasian women in a rural setting to a lifestyle intervention for obesity.  Ethnicity and Disease, 21, 170-5.

Ross, K.M., Milsom, V.A., & Perri, M.G. (2009). The contributions of weight loss and increased physical fitness to improvements in health-related quality of life. Eating Behaviors, 10, 84-88.

Rossen, L.M., Milsom, V.A., Middleton, K.R., Daniels, M.J., & Perri, M.G. (2013). Benefits and risks of

weight loss treatment for older, obese women. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 157-66.

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