MIRECC / CoE
VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention - Colorado
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Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention (Colorado)
Denver/Aurora, Colorado (APA-Accredited)
Our Colorado Site is Currently Accepting Applications
Our Colorado site is currently accepting applications for the APA-accredited Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment in Suicide Prevention. The training faculty currently accepting Fellows are Dr. Sean Barnes, Ph.D., and Dr. Bryann DeBeer, Ph.D.
Dr. Sean Barnes is accepting applications for a psychology postdoctoral Fellow. As part of the 2-year, APA-accredited Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention, Dr. Barnes’ Fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to Project New Day, a multisite efficacy trial comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Present Centered Therapy for optimizing recovery following suicidal crises. Candidates with training in ACT may also have the opportunity to gain hours toward licensure and receive advanced ACT training by serving as a study therapist. This is a unique opportunity for psychologists interested in clinical trials research, as well as the use of ACT to prevent suicide and assist clients in building meaningful vital lives.
Dr. Bryann DeBeer is seeking a Fellow for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s 2-year, APA-accredited Advance Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention. The Fellow would have several projects that they could be involved in. Dr. DeBeer Directs the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative, which is a national suicide prevention research center within the VA. As a part of this work, Dr. DeBeer and her colleagues have developed a novel Veteran suicide prevention learning collaborative that aids community agencies in building suicide prevention programs in their own organization. The Fellow would have the opportunity to be involved in these community building activities. Dr. DeBeer is also developing and testing three new interventions: 1) a lethal means safety intervention that involves a concerned significant other; 2) an intervention that provides brief therapy to Veterans who are at risk for suicide, yet ineligible for VA care; 3) an intervention that follows Veterans who are “dual-users” (e.g., receive both VA and community care). The Fellow may have opportunities to become involved in this clinical work. The Fellow would also have the ability to contribute to publications based on this research.
General inquiries regarding the Fellowship and application materials for the Colorado Fellowship position(s) may be e-mailed to Dr. Ryan Holliday at Ryan.Holliday@va.gov.
Application Deadline: Application materials are due by December 1, 2024.
Program Aims and Objectives
The mission of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC (Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center) Advanced Fellowship Program is to train psychologists to become outstanding clinicians and clinical researchers in the high priority area of mental health care for Veterans, with an emphasis on prevention of risky behaviors among Veterans/military service members.
The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program is a full-time, two-year program (equating to 2,080 hours per year). In terms of clinical care, Fellows engage in mental health service delivery, and assessment and interdisciplinary consultation with high priority populations frequently served at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. Fellows also interact with a wide range of Veterans through clinically informed research projects, including a Fellow-led project developed in conjunction with their Research Mentor. At the culmination of the Fellowship, each Fellow will have attained advanced practice competencies in the following areas: suicide risk assessment, clinical service delivery, professional interdisciplinary consultation, practice of evidence-based interventions, and research.
Individuals who complete the Fellowship will be prepared to:
- Think critically about and practice advanced evaluation and assessment skills and make sound clinical decisions based upon scholarly literature and best practices for evidence-based therapies and interventions.
- Design and implement research studies aimed at improving clinical care.
- Become leaders in the practice of Psychology, with an emphasis on Suicidology.
Training Manual and Stipend
The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Colorado Fellowship Brochure and Training Manual describe the program admission criteria, requirements, and policy with regard to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and VA employment. We also provide descriptions of the training model and mission, requirements for Fellowship completion, resources, methods and expectations for supervision, and a brief overview of relevant pre-employment administrative policies and procedures.
View the 2024 Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Psychology Fellowship Training Manual. [opens in new tab/window]
The VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) 2024-2025 Stipend for Psychologist (Fellow) are $58,334 (Post-Doc Fellow Year 1) and $61,487 (Post-Doc Fellow Year 2).
Accreditation Status
The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS), Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center Postdoctoral Residency Program is accredited in Health Services Psychology by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA-CoA). The Fellowship has been an APA-accredited program since 2013. The application for re-accreditation was approved in 2022 for a 10-year re-accreditation. The next site visit is scheduled for 2032.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
Email: apaacred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
This VA ECHCS Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Residency Program is a part of the APPIC Universal Psychology Postdoctoral Directory; however it is currently not a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).
Training Faculty
The Rocky Mountain MIRECC is home to nationally recognized clinical researchers and clinicians who supervise/mentor Fellows in research as well as the application of specialized knowledge to Veteran treatment and intervention. Each training faculty member is highly competent and credentialed, representing a strong array of clinical and research skills as well as expertise in our specialty areas. The training faculty currently accepting Fellows are Dr. Sean Barnes and Dr. Bryann DeBeer. General inquiries regarding the Fellowship and application materials for the Colorado Fellowship position(s) may be e-mailed to Dr. Ryan Holliday at Ryan.Holliday@va.gov.
Expand each Mentor below to learn more about their Area(s) of Expertise.
Clinical Trials, Implementation and Dissemination, Risk Assessment, Measure Development & Validation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Sean Barnes is accepting applications for a psychology postdoctoral Fellow. As part of the 2-year, APA-accredited Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention, Dr. Barnes’ fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to Project New Day, a multisite efficacy trial comparing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Present Centered Therapy for optimizing recovery following suicidal crises. Candidates with training in ACT may also have the opportunity to gain hours toward licensure and receive advanced ACT training by serving as a study therapist. This is a unique opportunity for psychologists interested in clinical trials research, as well as the use of ACT to prevent suicide and assist clients in building meaningful vital lives. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Clinical Trials
Rehabilitation, Trauma, Complementary & Integrative Health Approaches, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention
Contextual behavioral interventions (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Dialectical Behavior Therapy), Moral Injury, Shame
Dr. Bryann DeBeer is seeking a Fellow for the Rocky Mountain MIRECC’s 2-year, APA-accredited Advance Fellowship Program in Suicide Prevention. The Fellow would have several projects that they could be involved in. Dr. DeBeer Directs the VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry – Suicide Prevention Collaborative, which is a national suicide prevention research center within the VA. As a part of this work, Dr. DeBeer and her colleagues have developed a novel Veteran suicide prevention learning collaborative that aids community agencies in building suicide prevention programs in their own organization. The Fellow would have the opportunity to be involved in these community building activities. Dr. DeBeer is also developing and testing three new interventions: 1) a lethal means safety intervention that involves a concerned significant other; 2) an intervention that provides brief therapy to Veterans who are at risk for suicide, yet ineligible for VA care; 3) an intervention that follows Veterans who are “dual-users” (e.g., receive both VA and community care). The Fellow may have opportunities to become involved in this clinical work. The Fellow would also have the ability to contribute to publications based on this research. Suicide Prevention, PTSD, Clinical Trials, Community Care, Implementation and Dissemination, Patient Safety, Social Connectedness/Support
Clinical Trials, Health Services Research
Diversity and Gender Equity, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Implementation and Dissemination
Core Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Human Microbiome Connections to Mental Health, Microbiome of the Built Environment, Indoor Air Quality/Built Environment Connections to Mental Health
Diversity and Gender Equity, Implementation and Dissemination, Justice-Involved Veterans, Risk Assessment, Women Veterans
Clinical Practice Guidelines, Rehabilitation Research, Polytrauma
Implementation and Dissemination, Risk Assessment, Safety Planning
Diversity and Gender Equity, Health Services Research, Implementation and Dissemination, Risk Assessment, Women Veterans
Health Services Research, Risk Assessment, Lethal Means Safety
Neurobiological Underpinnings of Suicide Risk, Risk Assessment, Traumatic Brain Injury
Postdoctoral Residency Admissions, Support and Initial Placement Data
View the 2024 Postdoctoral Program Admissions and Placement Table. [opens in new tab/window]
Eligibility
- Failure to meet these qualifications could nullify an offer to an applicant.
- Completion of doctoral degree, including defense of dissertation, from an APA-accredited Clinical or Counseling Psychology program before the start date of the Fellowship (August-September).
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires that the applicant’s doctoral degree and internship be completed at programs accredited by the American Psychological Association.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Fingerprinting and background checks.
- Male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the draft by age 26.
- Applicants who are Veterans are also encouraged to apply.
- For Fellows living outside of the Denver area, housing options are available.
- VA conducts drug screening exams on randomly selected personnel as well as new employees.
- All Psychology Postdoctoral Residents, like all VA personnel and trainees in VA facilities, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive their annual Influenza shot or have an exemption filed (medical or religious) with the Designated Educational Officer.
- The VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Residency Program actively supports and is in full compliance with the spirit and principle of Affirmative Action in the recruitment and selection of psychology residents. As an equal opportunity training program, the residency welcomes and strongly encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disability, or other minority status.
Fellowship Residency Start Date
Anticipated start date is August 2025.
Applicant Checklist
Please submit one complete application consisting of the materials below in an e-mail to Ryan.Holliday@va.gov. Application materials are due by December 1, 2024.
- The Rocky Mountain MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program is committed to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion in our training program and selection process. In your application materials (e.g., letter of interest) you are invited and encouraged, if you feel comfortable, to make note of and/or discuss your self-identified cultural identities, including but not limited to those identities that are historically underrepresented in the field of psychology and/or research.
- A signed letter of interest that includes: career goals and how these align with the mission of the Rocky Mountain MIRECC; what clinical skills applicant would like to further hone during Fellowship, and; a description of how applicant’s pre-doctoral educational, clinical, and research experiences align well with the research program/area of emphasis of the applicant’s chosen faculty Mentor.
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A signed letter of completion or expected completion from academic and internship/residency programs.
- Three signed letters of recommendation.
- A work sample that highlights specific relevance to the identified emphasis area of the Mentor.
- A sample de-identified psychological assessment report focused on the assessment and/or management of mental health sequelae (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide risk).
Selection Procedures
We use a "goodness of fit" model in selecting Fellows and look for applicants whose training backgrounds and interests are consistent with the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention mission and the identified faculty Mentor’s area of research. Once candidates have forwarded the application packet, their materials are reviewed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention Psychology Fellowship Training Committee members. Applicants are pre-screened based on various criteria which includes:
- Breadth and depth of prior general clinical or counseling training.
- Quality of experience in areas relevant to the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention mission.
- Goodness of fit between the applicant’s professional goals and program training objectives.
- Goodness of fit between the applicant’s previous experience and identified Mentor’s research program.
- Quality and scope of research productivity as indicated by research projects, conference/poster presentations, publications, or other scholarly work.
- Ability to integrate/synthesize psychological data and make logical/meaningful recommendations as demonstrated in assessment report.
- Strength of letters of recommendation.
- A clear, thoughtful writing style in all application materials.
Qualified applicants who appear to be a "good fit" with our training program will be invited for an interview with our selection committee consisting of training leadership and training committee members. Interviews will take place generally in mid-January through mid-February. We will notify applicants when they are no longer under consideration.
Contact
Dr. Ryan Holliday
Director of Training
Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention
720-723-6573
Ryan.Holliday@va.gov
Last Updated 5 November 2024
