FSAP Postdoctoral Training Program

Questions? Contact Faculty & Staff Assistance Program

Overview

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program has trained postdoctoral fellows and prepared them for licensure as clinical psychologists since 1995. Our program offers a unique opportunity for postdocs to refine their short-term counseling and coaching skills.

Training program details

FSAP postdoctoral fellows function as integral members of our clinical team. Their primary duties include intake assessment, brief psychotherapy, crisis intervention, psychological first aid and critical incident debriefing, and referral services with individual clients. In addition, trainees learn skills specialized for employee assistance program (EAP) work, including psycho-educational presentations to the UCSF community (e.g., workshops on resilience, communication, emotional intelligence, stress management, mindfulness, etc.) and organizational consulting services to management and UCSF departments. Other duties include participation in clinical training and supervision (averaging 4-8 hours a week) and facilitation of two 8-week courses on mindfulness self-compassion offered to employees (on hold until further notice due to COVID-19).

The one-year training program consists of clinical activity, didactics, supervision and mentorship, and provides 1,500+ hours of supervised experience toward licensure. A stipend of approximately $62,000, medical plan, vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays are provided for the training year. Fellows are eligible for vision and dental benefits after six months. Pre-licensure coursework is provided through online training with the exception of the substance abuse pre-licensure requirement.

Program components

Clinical theory & technique

Didactics are held weekly and covers topics specific to EAP settings and professional development. Clinical staff and outside speakers/clinicians present on topics relevant to brief clinical work. Topics include mindfulness, grief counseling, solution-focused therapy, threat management, critical incident debriefing and psychological first aid.  

In-services

Referral and collaboration with other UCSF departments is a key element to our work in an EAP setting. Each month, representatives from various departments come and speak with us about their services and how they help UCSF employees. Examples of in-services include the UCSF Police Department, Disability Management, and Office of Diversity and Outreach.  

Journal Club

Journal Club is a monthly meeting of clinical staff and trainees which helps us to keep abreast of new developments in research and clinical practice. Trainees lead thoughtful discussions on clinically relevant research on topics such as emotional intelligence, stress management, and organizational interventions services.  

Supervision

On a weekly basis, postdoctoral fellows receive both individual and group supervision from members of the clinical staff with expertise in various clinical domains such as threat assessment, brief interpersonal psychotherapy and substance abuse. More than 1,500 supervised professional experience hours will be obtained during the course of the fellowship.  

Process group

Process group is held weekly and provides space for trainees to consult and get support from clinical staff and one another regarding the handling of complex cases, dealing with countertransference reactions, and professional development.  

Pre-licensure coursework

Pre-licensure coursework is provided through online training with the exception of the substance abuse pre-licensure requirement. 

Requirements

  • PhD or PsyD in psychology from an accredited program (if you are ABD, you will need to wait to apply until your degree is conferred, or provide proof that your degree will be conferred before the start of the postdoc)  
  • Practicum experience primarily with adult populations
  • Experience and/or strong interest in organizational, leadership, and group psychology 
  • Letter of interest/cover letter
  • Current CV
  • Three current professional letters of recommendation on institutional letterhead

All work currently is conducted remotely using a HIPAA-compliant platform. The date to return to in-person operations is unknown but can change at any moment. Therefore, fellows must live within commuting distance if offered the position (see physical address below). Fellows will be provided laptops and equipment for remote work. Must have a private/confidential space to work. Interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

How to apply

*The 2022 application cycle is now closed*

FSAP employs three postdoctoral fellows yearly. Fellows start on a staggered schedule at the beginning of February, June, and October of each year.

Application Deadline: CLOSED

Contact

Physical Office Location:

3333 California St., Suite 293

San Francisco, CA 94143                         

FSAP Training Director: Ana Dolatabadi, Psy.D., M.A.

Email:  [email protected]