Health Psychology (Bariatrics) Trainees will become part of the bariatric psychology team in the department of surgery. They will work directly with patients seeking bariatric surgery or have post-operative behavioral difficulties. Every patient meets with psychology at the beginning of the bariatric program to be evaluated for readiness and risk. A complete evaluation is then completed for clearance. In addition to evaluation, follow up health and behavior intervention is offered for a limited time focused on health behaviors. Trainees will gain experiences in brief and comprehensive psychological assessment, as well as brief intervention. Program development and research opportunities may also be available. Supervisor: Emmanuel Zamora, Psy.D., Neuropsychologist, Clinical Psychologist Adult Neuropsychology and Health Psychology: Trainees learn how to conduct neuropsychological assessment and treatment with Adolescents, Adults, and Geriatric populations. Patients present with various forms of cognitive conditions, often due to traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, hydrocephalus, tumors, and seizures. Trainees may be supervised in conducting psychotherapy, psychophysiological monitoring/biofeedback, and biopsychosocial assessment of individuals living with chronic pain, spinal cord and brain injuries, and other physical or neurological disabilities, and comorbid psychiatric and substance use conditions. Presurgical evaluation and intervention with bariatric patients may be an option. Research, teaching, and community activities are also available. Supervisor: Katie Denny, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, Board Certified Neuropsychologist; Jerry Chen, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist Pediatric Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology: Trainees learn to conduct comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations with pediatric patients ages 3-17. Training includes clinical interview, neuropsychological test administration and scoring, interpretation of data, integration of clinical data, clinical decision-making, report preparation, and explanation of evaluation results and recommendations to families. In addition, trainees are involved on the pediatric inpatient rehabilitation service and have the opportunity to develop skills in psychological evaluation, neuropsychological assessment, brief therapy, behavior management, and consultation with team members, community agencies, and schools. Supervisor: Lora DeCristoforo, Psy.D., Pediatric Neuropsychologist. Outpatient Neuropsychological Assessment: This rotation, located at UCDMC’s Spine Center, involves learning and providing neuropsychological assessment to pediatric (age 6+) and adult populations with diagnosed or suspected cognitive impairments. Trainees will learn comprehensive, flexible batteries, conduct clinical interviews, administer neurocognitive and psychological measures, write diagnostic reports, and provide feedback to patients and their families. Trainees will also learn how to conduct pre-surgical evaluations on patients referred by orthopedic and neurosurgeons in consideration of spine surgery or spinal cord stimulator implants. While this is primarily an outpatient assessment rotation, trainees will have the opportunity to learn adult pain evaluations and brief treatment involving cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques. Supervisor: Robin Timm, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist.

Practicum students work less hours and carry a smaller case load. They receive longer orientation and more coordinated provision of care in the presence of supervisor.

Our goal is for the students to learn to competently evaluate and treat patients with a history of neurological or physical disability and/or chronic illness or pain. Training addresses cognitive and psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and intervention, case presentation, cultural competence, consultation, and ethics. It is expected that students will complete approximately twenty to forty new patient assessments, depending on the rotations they complete. Students will provide individual, family and group therapy in varying amounts, depending again on the rotations. The importance of empirically supported treatment, assessment, and diagnosis is strongly emphasized.

Training/Clinical Services Offered:

Comments Regarding Theoretical Orientation of Staff