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Postdoctoral Fellowship

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Overview

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides Postdoctoral Fellows with opportunities for advanced training in Health Service Psychology (HSP).  Over the course of the year, Postdoctoral Fellows continue to enhance and solidify the development of clinical skills required for professional practice in psychology.  These include:

  • Skills to effectively respond to crisis situations during 8-hour on-call coverage

  • Provide brief assessment and psychotherapy to diverse student population

  • Consult and collaborate with the interdisciplinary staff at CAPS and the campus community in meeting the needs of students. 

  • Enhance clinical skills and treatment interventions

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Program follows a developmental model that supports and builds on the knowledge Postdoctoral Fellows bring, and it provides opportunities to gain experience and training in multiple professional capacities. Postdoc Fellows build competencies, confidence, and skills throughout the year to prepare them for full-time practice in college mental health.

Postdoctoral Fellows provide 16-20 hours of clinical work per week. This includes weekly intakes and assessment, one 8-hour shift of on-call coverage that includes on-call emergency appointments, phone triage and consultation with the Stanford community.  Fellows will also provide time-limited, brief psychotherapy to Stanford students, have an opportunity to work with couples, group and two long-term, fee-paying students.

Postdoctoral Fellows receive two hours of Clinical Supervision, one hour of Specialty Supervision in their chosen specialty track, and one hour of Case Consultation per week. There will be quarterly evaluations with supervisors to monitor the development and readiness of Fellows. Supervisors provide ongoing feedback on Fellows’ strengths and areas of growth and provide regular feedback and evaluation of goals set for the training year. As professional autonomy increases, Postdoctoral Fellows graduate with developed competencies to practice as independent, professional psychologists.

Postdoctoral Fellows also attend two weekly staff meetings.  Please click on the for a sample schedule.

Additionally, CAPS provides Postdoctoral Fellows an opportunity to select a year-long specialized training: Gender and Sexual Identities Track, Mental Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Track (MHPRR) or Training Track.

Specialty Tracks

CAPS Gender and Sexual Identities Track

The Gender and Sexual Identities Track provides Fellows the opportunity to participate in a year-long specialized training experience on gender and sexual identities. Fellows will meet weekly for one hour of supervision with the specialty supervisor.  Fellows who select this track will work together with Dr. Inge Hansen and the rest of the Weiland Health Initiative team to:

1) Provide clinical services for the LGBTQ student community

2) Increase clinicians’ awareness and understanding of the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersecting identities

3) Create programs and activities that support the mental health and wellness of the LGBTQ student community

4) Foster dialogue within the larger Stanford community around issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersectionality

Fellows in this track will attend a regular Gender & Sexual Identities Consultation Group, and help to teach the 10-week Gender & Sexual Identities clinical rotation attended by the doctoral trainees.  Programs and activities that were offered during previous years of this track include:

  • Opening dialogue on campus regarding LGBTQ athletes

  • Creating and evaluating clinician training programs on gender and sexuality

  • Providing supervision for students who volunteer as HIV counselors

  • Participating in an LGBTQ field trip for doctoral trainees

  • Improving systems to support students who are transitioning genders during their college years.

For more information about the Weiland Health Initiative, please visit: http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/weiland

For more details about opportunities in the GSI track, please contact Dr. Hansen at ihansen@stanford.edu

CAPS Mental Health Promotion Track

The Mental Health Promotion Track provides Postdoctoral Fellows the opportunity to participate in a year-long specialized training experience in mental health promotion and risk reduction. Fellows will meet weekly for one hour of supervision with the specialty supervisor.  Fellows who select this track will work with Dr. Alejandro M Martinez and other colleagues to:

1) Co-teach a course in peer counseling and provide support and consultation to The Bridge Peer Counseling Center oncampus (http://stanfordbridge.wordpress.com/)

 2) Participate in training university and residence staff to better assess for safety and support students of concern

3) Serve as a liaison between CAPS and other departments on-campus in order to work together to promote the well-being of students

4) Develop and implement needs assessments and program evaluations of CAPS mental health promotion and risk reduction initiatives.

Programs and activities that were offered during the previous years of this track include

  1. Establishing a liaison relationship and providing psychological services at El Centro Chicano community center, Black Community Services Center, Native American Cultural Center, Women’s Community Center and Stanford School of Medicine.

  2. Conducting and presenting research on students identified as underserved by CAPS to various departments at Stanford (i.e. The First Generation Advisory Board)

  3. Developing and implementing a community-based stress management intervention program (Stress-Less @ Stanford)

  4. Participating in ACHA-NCHA research and analysis project of Stanford students.

For more details about the opportunities in the MHPRR track, please contact Dr. Martinez at a.martinez@stanford.edu

CAPS Training Track

The Training Track provides Postdoctoral Fellows the opportunity to learn about the coordination and management of an APA accredited training program from selection to orientation to planning and evaluation of the training program Fellow will meet weekly for one hour of supervision with the specialty supervisor.  Fellows who select this track will work with Dr. Mary Mendoza-Newman and other colleagues to:

  • Develop an understanding of intern development and learn to assess competencies required for successful completion of the internship.

  • Learn about the administration, management, and evaluation of a training program

  • Gain an understanding of the ethics and guidelines for training.

  • Develop skills involved in the selection process.

The Postdoctoral Fellows’ duties will include involvement in several projects throughout the year such as:

  • Participating in the Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral selection processes

  • Updating the website to reflect changes to the training program

  • Assisting with aspects of writing a self-study for reaccreditation

For more information about our Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship, please see the Postdoctoral Fellowship Training Manual.

Applying to the Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship

Qualifications

  • A completed doctoral degree (Ph.D. /Psy.D.) in clinical or counseling psychology from an accredited graduate program

  • The completion of an APA accredited internship.

  • Applicants must demonstrate strong interest and/or experience with college mental health, crisis intervention, brief therapy, consultation, working with diverse student populations, and an interest and experience in one of the specialized training areas mentioned above.

CAPS offers two full-time (40 hours per week), twelve month postdoctoral fellowship appointments beginning Monday, August 15, 2016 and ending Friday, August 11, 2017. The stipend for the fellowship is $38,000 for the year. This includes 4 weeks off, and a $250.00 educational allowance.  Currently, CAPS offers in addition to the $38,000 stipend, $2000 to be used towards the purchase of healthcare. Below are helpful websites that can help you determine your needs and preview different health insurance plans.

Covered California – For Individuals & Families

Provides a summary of California’s Health Care Exchange and online tools to help you learn more about Qualified Health Plans. It contains subside calculators, a listing of all health plans offered in each region and the ability to compare plan rates.
http://www.coveredca.com

AARP Health Law Answers

This site will allow users to input answers to questions such as age, gender, the number of people in his or her household to produce a report on how they will be covered.
http://healthlawanswers.aarp.org/

Khan Academy

This link provides a video tutorial of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or “Obamacare.” It covers specific aspects of the PPACA such as individual mandate, pre-existing conditions, insurance exchanges, and subsidieshttps://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/american-civics/v/ppaca--or--obamacare

Application Procedures

CAPS will be using the APPIC Psychology Postdoctoral Application (APPA), this year for postdoctoral applications.  To apply for our Postdoctoral Fellowship, the following information must be uploaded in the APPA CAS by Monday, January 5, 2016.  APPA CAS can be found at  https://appicpostdoc.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

  • A cover letter indicating your interests and goals for the Postdoctoral Fellowship year and how Stanford CAPS will help you achieve those goals. CLEARLY specify which track you are applying for.

  •  Brief response to three essay questions in the APPA about Brief Therapy, Diversity, and chosen Specialty Track.

  • A current vita reflecting all practicum work, predoctoral internship, and clinical training.

  • Three letters of reference (at least 2 from clinical supervisors familiar with your clinical work).

  •  A letter from your dissertation chair regarding your dissertation status and anticipated completion date.  If your dissertation chair is one of your three letters of recommendation, this information can be included in that letter

Please note that our application deadline is Monday, January 5, 2016 at 5 pm PST. In order for your application to be considered, all of your materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by this date.

Applicants will be notified by late January, 2016 of their application status.  Phone or Skype interviews will take place the first two weeks of February. 

We will make offers on March 7, 2016 at 9AM PST.  Once an offer is made to an applicant, the applicant may proceed with one of the following actions: accept the offer, decline the offer, or hold the offer for 30 minutes.  If the position is held, it is considered frozen and cannot be offered to any other candidate during that time period.  After 30 minutes, the applicant must either accept or decline, otherwise the offer is no longer valid.  Thus, it is very important that you thoughtfully consul about whether or not you would like to be at Counseling & Psychological Services for your postdoctoral fellowship year. You may call the Training Director 1 hour after notification begins to inquire about your status in the process. We notify all applicants once all of our positions have been filled. After an applicant and CAPS come to an agreement, a formal offer letter will be mailed to the applicant who will then formally accept the offer in writing.