Supervisor Primary supervisor: Natalia Escobar Walsh, Ph.D.; Supervising psychologist faculty team: Lisa Campbell, Ph.D., Abigail Angkaw, Ph.D., Victoria Farrow, Ph.D., Paul Krebs, Ph.D., Stephanie Samph, Ph.D.
Facility VA South County PTSD Clinical Team – Mission Valley Clinic (Likely moving across the street to Rio Clinic in Fall 2021, exact date TBD. Rio Clinic address: 8989 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108-1605)
Address VA CBOC in Mission Valley
Phone 619-400-5197
Email Natalia.Walsh@va.gov
Placement Type VA outpatient clinic
Patient Type

Veterans with PTSD due to any trauma type (combat, sexual trauma, childhood, civilian, etc.) and occasionally other comorbidities (TBI, depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders); opportunity to work with Veteran diverse according to various identity markers (e.g., age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status).
Experience Type PTSD assessments and evidenced-based individual psychotherapy for PTSD. Training in Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and other evidence-based trauma-focused approaches is emphasized.
Number Of Students 1
Experience Necessary Familiarity with intakes, structured clinical interviews, and cognitive behavioral therapy preferred, but student will be trained to specific formats
Time Commitment 10 hours/week
Practicum Length Full year
Start Date 7/1/2021
Limiting Factors

During the COVID-19 Pandemic and until related social distancing restrictions are lifted by VASDHS and JDP training committee, all work will be conducted remotely. Students will receive access to remote VA network, will see all patients through VA virtual care platform, and meet with supervisor/attend meetings and didactics remotely. If restrictions are lifted during the training year, practicum responsibilities will take place at our VA Mission Valley CBOC clinic (parking available on site). Please note that it is likely that we will move to the VA San Diego Rio Clinic in Fall 2021 which is directly across the street from our current clinic site (please see address listed in “Facility” section above). Parking will also be available on site at this location.

Practicum responsibilities (intakes, individual therapy, and one-hour individual supervision with Dr. Walsh) can take place from 7:00am-4:30pm (Wednesday-Friday; Thursday/Friday strongly preferred; Fridays only from 7:30am-1pm).

Consultation: We have a Complex Trauma Consultation Meeting where our psychotherapists provide/receive peer consultation on challenging cases and engage in clinician self-care activities weekly on Fridays from 10am-11am (required). Our larger interdisciplinary team meeting with both psychotherapy and medical staff meets on Fridays 11am-12pm (optional but encouraged). PTSD didactic seminar is held weekly on Fridays 12-1pm (required).
Other Issues As described previously, primary goals for this position include developing expertise in the Clinician-Administered PTSD (CAPS) Scale, Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in a telehealth format during COVID 19 or in an in-person/hybrid format post-COVID 19.
Description Revised

03/23/2021