Description

The University of New Mexico Hospitals is recruiting for a one-year psychology postdoctoral fellowship through the Addiction and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP). ASAP is a comprehensive outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program focused on treating high acuity complex individuals with substance use disorders and an array of co-occurring conditions using a harm reduction model. ASAP clients present with great diversity in their substance use histories, including use of alcohol, oral opioids and heroin, marijuana, stimulants, anxiolytic/sedative medications, inhalants, and various generations of designer drugs. The majority of our clients have co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, and personality disorders and are struggling with significant social problems. Of note, a history of trauma (with or without a PTSD diagnosis) is prevalent in our patient population and includes index events like childhood physical or sexual abuse, community and domestic violence exposure, and traumatic loss. The population served is diverse and often includes underserved and marginalized communities, and individuals experiencing homelessness, legal problems, interpersonal stressors and significant medical comorbidities. 

Located in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico, the fellowship is situated at the largest Academic Medical Center for the state, the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH). UNMH is an outstanding public, safety-net, academic medical system affiliated with the University of New Mexico and UNM’s School of Medicine. UNMH provides medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, and vision services to our diverse, complex, underserved communities in Bernalillo County and surrounding areas. The community we serve is 49.8% Hispanic/Latino and 4.8% Native American with numerous other ethnic minority groups represented. Approximately 80% of our patients are covered by Medicaid. The multiple clinical sites within UNMH’s Behavioral Health Clinical Services line also support two APA-accredited predoctoral clinical psychology internships and post-doctoral fellowship programs providing fellows with a rich learning environment. 

TRAINING STRUCTURE

Each fellow is accepted on an individual training plan tailored to the interests and career goals of the fellow. Training plans may include a mix of psychological assessment, psychotherapeutic modalities such as individual, family, or group therapy, consultation, program development / improvement, teaching, supervision training, staff meetings, and didactics. 

Fellows participate in 1 hour of formal training each week including a mental health didactic and Socratic seminar with their peers and other new employees, along with 2 hours of individual supervision. In reality, using a developmental approach, fellows receive much more supervision within the context of clinical work.  They present a professional topic during the clinic’s weekly didactic series and present patient cases during our Socratic seminar and clinic treatment team. Fellows assist with the supervision of at least one junior trainee (including cross disciplinary supervision) under the direction and oversight of their primary supervisor. Additionally, fellows complete a quality improvement or program development project. 

Some of the evidence-based approaches that our training has had available during the training year includes but is not limited to:

• Motivational Interviewing (MI) / Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
• Behavioral Activation
• Cognitive Behavioral Relapse Prevention
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Harm Reduction
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
• Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression (IPT-D)
• Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD
• Trauma Focused CBT (TFCBT)
• Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Seeking Safety
• Unified Protocol for Emotional Disorders (UP)
• Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

 SITE

We have one opening for the Addiction and Substance Abuse Program Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow hired within UNMH. Fellows will have the unique opportunity to learn and implement evidence-based treatments and best practices through direct clinical service to individuals in a reverse integrate care setting (i.e., counseling services are required for the majority of patients).  Fellows will gain experience providing assessment, intervention, and consultation to a wide array of comorbid psychological and medical conditions at UNMH. 

UNMH offers competitive salary and a generous benefits package. All fellows are admitted into the full-time training programs in August or September of the starting year through August of the next year. This is a full-time, in-person position and requires routine vaccinations, a health screen, and completion of all required trainings associated with employment at UNMH.

UNMH's Postdoctoral Training Program fulfills the licensure requirements for postdoctoral supervision in the jurisdiction of the program (New Mexico). We are committed to recruit, support and retain a diverse staff and therefore we encourage women and minority applicants.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Have received a Doctorate from an APA accredited graduate program in Clinical, Counseling, School, or Combined Psychology. Persons with a doctorate in another area of psychology who meet the APA criteria for re-specialization training in Clinical, Counseling, School, or Combined Psychology are also eligible.
• Documented experience in age-appropriate environment.
• Have completed an internship program accredited by the APA. The only exception regarding accreditation is for those who complete a new VA or other Federal internship that is not yet accredited. Please inquire if you the internship falls into this category.
• License-eligible in the State of New Mexico.
• CPR Certification for Healthcare/BLS Providers or for Professional Rescuers or must obtain within 30 days of start date of position.

HOW TO APPLY / APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applicants interested in learning more can contact Dr. Rachel Ward, Clinical Psychologist in ASAP at RNWard@salud.unm.edu. Applicants wishing to apply should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and 2 letters of reference to Dr. Kathryn Lenberg, Director of Integrated Behavioral Health Clinical Services and Training Director for Behavioral Health Clinical Services, at TrainingDirectorUNMH@salud.unm.edu by December 20. Notification for interview will be done by January 10. Candidates will be contacted by phone or email to set up a video conferencing interview with training and supervising psychologists involved in the fellowship training.

We look forward to your application and the many possibilities to expand your career!