VA Medical Center – Substance Abuse/Mental Illness (SAMI) Clinic

Students establish a training schedule that includes:

1) Co-facilitating integrated group therapy protocols for mental health and substance use disorders (i.e. CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention, Graduated Exposure, ACT, CPT, CBT-Insomnia)

2) Individual therapy (typically MI/CBT) based on trainee preference

3) Diagnostic clinical assessments (to differentiate substance-induced from independent psychiatric symptoms)

4) Weekly group supervision for addictions trainees; includes 16-week didactic seminar (Sep-Dec) that fulfills requirement for CA licensure

5) Weekly multidisciplinary team rounds

6) Individual supervision with primary supervisor

All therapy groups are on Tues/Wed/Thur during the late morning/afternoon (~11am-4pm); SAMI Team meets Tues from 10:30-12:00; Addictions Seminar on Wed 1-2 pm; supervision and individual therapy times flexible

This rotation offers a wide range of clinical opportunities working with veterans presenting with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. This practicum is an excellent training opportunity for psychology trainees to work in a VA specialty mental health clinic with a multidisciplinary treatment team. Practicum trainees who complete the year-long rotation in the SAMI Clinic are well-prepared for a wide range of future training/internship opportunities in mental health and SUD clinics within the VA system. Past JDP trainees include: April May, Taylor Bos, Tam Nguyen-Louie, Sheena Dev, Lisa Obermeit, Jessica Montoya.