POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING IN ADULT SERVICES

Verdugo Mental Health: The Mother Organization
The Adult Services programs are among the many clinical programs operating under the umbrella of Verdugo Mental Health (VMH), a private, non-profit corporation that has been providing mental health services in Glendale and surrounding communities since 1957.

VMH is a major training institution. Its varied programs for adults and children offer training and supervision for a large number of MFT interns; psychology practicum students, interns and postdoctoral fellows; and social work interns.

Adult Services and Its Programs
Adult Services is a cluster of four interrelated programs: the Adult Outpatient Program, CalWORKs, the Dual Diagnosis program, and the Skills Building Institute. All services in the programs are funded by contracts with the L. A. County Department of Mental Health (DMH). The clients are mostly on Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program). As outlined below, postdoctoral fellows in the Adult Outpatient Program and CalWORKs provide services in more than one program.

Adult Outpatient Program

• Clients : Adult Outpatient Program clients represent a broad range of diagnoses and levels of functioning. They include the seriously and chronically mentally ill, including those with psychotic spectrum disorders and the more severe mood disorders. Other clients suffer from a major anxiety disorder or depression. Many clients present with a mixture of symptoms and more than one diagnosis.
• Program philosophy : The services offered derive from the program's philosophy, which is the psychosocial rehabilitation model of working with individuals who suffer from serious and persistent mental illness. This model does not aim for �cure� or remediation of the underlying causes of clients' problems, since in many cases there is a significant biological component to their condition. Instead, the purpose of the work is to help clients make the most of their lives by developing their skills. The work is client-centered in that the focus is on the client's own goals. There is an emphasis on building on client strengths, on integration into the community, and help with practical needs such as obtaining community services such as Social Security Disability Insurance. There is also recognition of the need to work with client's families to help them to help the client and to gain support for themselves.
• Services offered
  • Intake-evaluation interviews : functional assessment (of strengths, skills, capacities, etc.)
  • F unctional assessment, an appraisal of an individual's ability to function personally and in his or her community, including their family. It involves identifying the person's strengths and resources as well as the impairments that limit his or her functioning.
  • Crisis intervention/case coordination (including referrals for services the program cannot provide, such as longer-term individual psychotherapy. Referrals are also made for social services, housing, etc.) Crisis intervention is oriented primarily toward helping clients mobilize their resources and strengths to deal with the specific crisis situation. Since clients in this program are subject to recurring crises, individual contact with some clients is episodic rather than continuous.
  • Short-term, solution-focused individual therapy for the purpose of helping clients solve specific problems, work toward their goals, and develop relapse prevention plans.
  • Group and conjoint therapy , including family consultation, is a major mode of working with the clientele of this program. Some groups are process oriented, while the focus of others is structured, psycho-educational skills building. Still other groups engage the clients in creative activities. There are also groups for symptom management, anxiety reduction and dealing with depression. The program is currently running more than 14 groups. (See the next page for a partial listing.)
  • Clubhouse: There are two clubhouses, differentiated by either functioning level. Clubhouse programs comprise a number of skills-building activities, group and individual support.
  • Collateral contacts with family members or other significant support figures in the client's life are encouraged as a means of helping the family understand the nature of the client's illness and the client's specific problems in coping. Contacts with the family can be helpful to the client (for example, in regard to medication compliance and fostering the client's independence). The relationship with the families is a collaborative one; family members have valuable contributions to make because they can offer useful information regarding the client.
  • Medication Services: Most clients in the program are receiving medication services, either as their sole treatment or in conjunction with the psychosocial services they are engaged in. Services include evaluation for medication, prescription and monitoring of medications, and consultation with staff (including trainees and interns) regarding client medications. The medical staff welcomes collaboration with trainees, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, and their input about how clients are responding to their medications. You are also invited to sit in on the psychiatrists' meetings with clients if time is available.

Dual Diagnosis Program

• Clients : Dual Diagnosis Program clients carry diagnoses of both mental illness (of various severities) and substance abuse. Clients are accepted into the program only if they indicate some willingness to address substance abuse issues. Clients are referred from intake or when they are already receiving mental health services.
• P rogram philosophy: To treat both aspects of the dual disorders conjointly to substantially improve both conditions and enhance the clients' lives. The goal is to engage the client to become partners in the recovery process and to help them recognize that sobriety and stability are life-long processes.
• Services offered: In addition to the services listed below, personnel in this program are responsible for the training and education of the Adult Outpatient Program staff (including and trainees and interns) in the diagnosis and treatment of dually diagnosed clients.
  • Individual time-limited therapy: The goal of the therapy is to develop and monitor an individualized relapse prevention plan around the client's dual recovery concerns. Aspects of 12-step programs are explored and clients are encouraged to attend Dual Recovery Anonymous groups for additional support.
  • Group therapy (There are two groups: Early Recovery for those working toward sobriety, and, for those with more sobriety, a Relapse Prevention group.)
  • Prescribing and monitoring of psychotropic medications

CalWORKs

• Clients : CalWORKs (California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities to Kids) is a state government funded welfare-to-work program that provides services to welfare recipients with mental health problems that pose barriers to entering or returning to the work force. CalWORKs recipients are identified and referred by service providers at a number of county social service agencies. Referrals for eligible clients can also be made directly from the Adult Outpatient Program.
• Services offered : Weekly individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and medication services. The goal is to help clients attain a level of functioning that allows them to achieve self-sufficiency through employment.

Skills Building Institute

• Clients : They are severely and persistently disabled. They are also highly motivated and are thought to benefit from the specialized and rigorous nature of skills building training.
• Program philosophy : The program's structure can be likened to that of an academic institution . New classes are offered each quarter. The multi-level integrated structure of SBI classes provides clients with a template of important skills-sets. The extended nature of the training provides participants with a sense of movement (progress) over time as each learns how to practice the necessary skills for success in symptom and life management. Each step toward intermediate and long-term goal achievement at SBI is designed to increase client interest and motivation.
• Services offered : In addition to case coordination, academic advisement and medication services, SBI is organized as an academic institute with courses (groups) that are offered at lower and upper divisions, each course carrying a specific number of credits, or units. Courses are grouped into:
  • Coping Skills , e.g., Depression, Stress Management, Problem Solving, etc.
  • Life Skills, e.g., Money Management, Team Sports, Life on a Budget, etc.
  • Relational Skills , e.g., Etiquette, Communication Skills, etc.
  • Vocational Skills . This training involves clients in a variety of activities that can serve as a bridge to real-world jobs. SBI clients in the past, and hopefully in the future, operated an Espresso Bar and a small-wattage radio station. Clients may also serve as a volunteer cus- todian or an assistant to the Verdugo Mental Health maintenance man.

The Ethnic Mix of Clients
The clients are primarily Caucasian, including many who are Armenian (Glendale has a large Armenian population). Other Caucasian and non-Caucasian ethnicities (Mexican-American, Korean, etc.) are represented to a lesser extent. To the extent that we have the personnel to do it, we provide services to non-English speaking clients in their native languages.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship

Positions Open
Applicants may apply for one or both of the following fellowships:

• One full-time position in the CalWORKs Program
• Two full-time positions in the Adult Outpatient Program

Beginning and Ending Dates
All fellowships are full-time, 12-month appointments, starting September 4, 2007 and ending July 31, 2008. There is some flexibility in starting dates depending upon individual circumstances.

Weekly Time Commitment
All postdoctoral fellowships are full-time, meaning 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday. For the Adult Outpatient Program position, some time is devoted to co-leading Skills Building Institute groups. The CalWORKs fellow has some responsibilities in the Adult Outpatient Program.

Vacation
Two weeks. No vacation may be taken in the last month of the postdoctoral position. The Director of the Adult Outpatient Program must approve all vacation requests so that there are sufficient staff to carry on the program's work at all times.

A Typical Postdoctoral Week (Adult Outpatient Program)
Postdoctoral Fellows provide a full range of psychological services, including: rehabilitation, family support and consultation, group therapy, crisis intervention and stabilization, intake interviews, functional assessment, plan development and linking clients with outside resources. Other agency duties include: program development, interagency coordination of services for clients, presentations to staff and interns and supervision of psychology practicum students.

Direct Service

• Case Coordination: Postdoctoral fellows are assigned approximately 15 clients. Contact with the clients varies from once a month to weekly, depending on the needs of the individual client. A client in crisis will receive more attention than one who is stable.
• Clubhouse: Co-leads with staff and practicum students/interns one of the clubhouses.
• Co-leading groups in the Skills Building Institute (Refer to list above). If you have special interests, hobbies or skills, these may be integrated into one or more existing groups or can be the basis of forming a new group.)
• On-call responsibility (working hours only) : One full day or two half days a week. On-call responsibility entails being available for client crises, including walk-ins and telephone callers. Walk-in applicants are screened for their appropriateness for our program and given referrals if necessary.

Supervision given : One hour per week for each individual psychology practicum student supervised.

Supervision received : Two hours of individual supervision, one hour of group supervision, and one hour in the weekly meeting of supervisors.

Meetings

• Staff meeting: every other week.
• Practicum student/intern case presentations: every other week.
• Weekly supervisors meeting: discussion of supervisory problems and other matters relating to the training program.

Training
Optional : Weekly Adult Outpatient Program training seminar: Staff and outside speakers present on topics related to the psychosocial rehabilitation model. Postdoctoral fellows may be asked to make one or more presentations.

A Typical Postdoctoral Week (CalWorks)

Direct Service

• Weekly individual psychotherapy with CalWORKs clients.
• Co-leading CalWORKs and one Skills Building Institute group (Refer to list of groups above. If you have special interests, hobbies or skills, these may be integrated into one or more existing groups or can be the basis of forming a new group).
• Four hours of on-call responsibility (working hours only): On-call responsibility entails being available for client crises, including walk-ins and telephone callers. Walk-in applicants are screened for their appropriateness for our program and given referrals if necessary.
• Case management including linking clients to resources.
• Provide support and coverage as needed for other staff.

Supervision received : Two hours of individual and two hours of group supervision

Meetings

• Weekly staff meetings

Training
Optional : Weekly Adult Outpatient Program training seminar: Staff and outside speakers present on topics related to the psychosocial rehabilitation model. Postdoctoral fellows may be asked to make one or more presentations.

Salary
$24,000

Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision

Location
Adult Services is located in the Main Clinic Building of VMH, in eastern Glendale. It is close to a number of major freeways that provide convenient access to downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, and the West side of Los Angeles and its beaches.

Qualifications for the Position
Applicants must have graduated from a clinical psychology doctoral program, or be scheduled for graduation prior to the starting date of the postdoctoral position. Applicants must also have the amount and kind of supervised experience that will qualify the applicant for registration as a registered psychologist by the California Board of Psychology. Applicants should be highly energetic, flexible, and possess leadership qualities as well as a desire to learn. Good communication skills and a �team approach� orientation are also important.

The Registration Process in California
The California Board of Psychology requires that postdoctoral psychologists register with the Board as a �registered psychologist�. Registration requires that the applicant have at least 1500 hours of supervised experience that meets the Board criteria. If you have any doubt about whether your supervised experience qualifies, contact the Board of Psychology.

Once an application is submitted to the Board, the registration process may take as long as two months (fingerprints must be checked with the FBI). No psychological services may be performed until the application is approved. Since the application requires a passport-type picture and fingerprints, as well as other documentation, if you apply for a postdoctoral position and you are accepted, it is best to submit applications for registered psychologist status no less than two months in advance of the starting date of the fellowship.

Application Process
Please send a letter of interest, vita, three letters of recommendation, and names and telephone numbers of references of recent supervisors who are familiar with your clinical work to:

Tracy Phal, Psy.D.
Adult Outpatient Program Director
Verdugo Mental Health
1540 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205-1514

We will begin to review application materials at the beginning of March 2007 for positions beginning August 2007.

Contacting Adult Services
If you have any questions about our postdoctoral fellowship program, please contact Tracy Phal, Psy.D., at the above address or by telephone (818) 244-7257, or fax (818) 243-5431.

Verdugo Mental Health Administration

Lynn Brandstater, CEO

Jeff Smith, Psy.D., Chief Operations Officer

Chuck Gabbert, MBA, Special Projects Officer

Tracy Phal, Psy.D., Director of Adult Services and Adult Outpatient Program

Richard Ciasca, M.D., Medical Director

Sheryl Carlsen, MFT, Director, Dual Diagnosis Program

Pamela Toll, Ph.D., Program Manager, CalWORKs Program

George Eckart, Ph.D., Director, Skills Building Institute

Susanna Friedlander, Ph.D., Director of Training

Susan Eyraud, Director of Services and Admissions

Clinical Staff
Linda Brennan, MFT, Staff Therapist
Sara Fletcher, MSW, Staff Therapist
Kathleen Geary, M.A., Staff Therapist (MFT Intern)
Jennifer Horowitz, Ph.D., Staff Therapist (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Monique Jansma, MSW, Staff Therapist
Vardui Margaryan, RN, Psychiatric Nurse
Tiana Mondaca, Psy.D., Staff Therapist
Margot Nenzell, R.N., Psychiatric Nurse
Tiffany Reichert, Ph.D., Staff Therapist
Michele Renfrow, Psy.D., Staff Therapist (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Mariam Vanounts, M.A., Staff Therapist (MFT Intern)
Irena Westmoreland, M.D., Staff Psychiatrist

The address of the California Board of Psychology is: 1422 Howe Avenue, #22, Sacramento, CA 95825. The telephone number is (800) 633-2322. The web address is: www.psychboard.ca.gov. The Board's e-mail address is: [email protected]. E-mail is usually the most efficient way to communicate with the Board.