ADULT TRACK – THUNDER BAY (2 positions)

The ADULT TRACK is offered jointly by SJCG and TBRHSC and 2 positions are being offered in the 2027-2028 cycle. 

Residents in the Adult Track complete two longitudinal six-month major rotations, one at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and one at St. Joseph's Care Group. This model fosters greater continuity of care, stronger supervisory relationships, and increased opportunities for skill development across assessment, intervention, consultation, and interprofessional practice.  It allows for residents to have opportunities to follow clients over time, and experience increased depth of training within interdisciplinary teams while still allowing flexibility to individualize learning experiences based on professional interests and training goals.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre ( 6 months)

Adult Mental Health Services

This six-month major rotation provides an integrated experience across the Adult Mental Health Inpatient Unit and the Brief Intervention Treatment Team (BITT). Together, these services offer residents exposure to the full continuum of acute adult mental health care—from inpatient assessment and stabilization through outpatient follow-up and evidence-based psychotherapy.

Residents develop competencies in assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, and transition planning while working collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams across both hospital settings.

Rotation Experiences

Assessments

• ·         Comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessments across a broad range of psychiatric presentations
• ·         Cognitive screening and assessment to support diagnostic clarification and treatment planning
• ·         Risk assessment and crisis formulation
• ·         Psychological case conceptualization across acute and outpatient settings

Interventions

• ·         Brief individual psychotherapy with adults experiencing acute and severe mental health concerns
• ·         Outpatient psychotherapy following hospital discharge

Experience with evidence-based interventions including:

• ·         Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
• ·         Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• ·         Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• ·         Mindfulness-based interventions
• ·         Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• ·         Facilitation and co-facilitation of psychoeducational and skills-based groups
• ·         Development of behavioural support plans for complex inpatient presentations
• ·         Discharge and transition planning to community mental health services

Consultation

Work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams including psychiatry, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, and psychology.

Participate in inpatient rounds and outpatient case consultation meetings.

Consult with hospital departments and community agencies to support continuity of care.

Supervision & Professional Development

Opportunity to supervise graduate practicum students (when appropriate).

Participate in Psychology Professional Practice meetings.

Attend hospital educational rounds and professional development seminars.

Opportunities to participate in Mental Health Awareness initiatives and quality improvement activities.

St. Joseph's Care Group (6 months)

Specialized Adult Mental Health Services

This rotation provides residents with the opportunity to develop advanced competencies within specialized adult mental health services at St. Joseph's Care Group. Based on resident learning goals and service availability, this experience may occur in:

• ·         Mental Health Rehabilitation
• ·         Mental Health Outpatient Program (MHOP)
• ·         Chronic Pain Management Program

or as a thoughtfully integrated experience across two of these services.

This flexibility allows residents to individualize their training while developing expertise in working with adults experiencing persistent and complex mental health concerns across rehabilitation, outpatient, and interdisciplinary health care settings.

Rotation Experiences

Depending on the selected service(s), residents may gain experience in:

Assessments

• ·         Comprehensive psychological and psychodiagnostic assessments
• ·         Personality, cognitive, intellectual, and psychopathology assessment
• ·         Functional assessment and treatment planning
• ·         Cognitive screening

Interventions

• ·         Individual psychotherapy with adults presenting with complex and persistent mental health conditions
• ·         Evidence-based interventions including CBT, DBT, ACT, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, trauma-focused therapies, and behavioural interventions
• ·         Development and implementation of behavioural support plans
• ·         Co-facilitation of manualized psychotherapy groups
• ·         Transition planning and coordination of ongoing community supports

Consultation

Participate as a member of interdisciplinary teams including psychiatry, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, kinesiology, social work, therapeutic recreation, medicine, and psychology.

Participate in clinical rounds and Psychology Professional Practice meetings.

Consultation with community providers and partner agencies to support continuity of care.

Professional Development

Opportunities for program development and quality improvement initiatives.

Participation in staff education and professional learning activities.

Potential opportunities to supervise graduate trainees and contribute to program evaluation.

MINOR EXPERIENCES:

Within each six month rotation, further opportunities may exist for exposure to health psychology experiences within the Complex Diabetes program, Bariatrics program when at TBRHSC and within the Eating Disorder Program at SJCG.  Additionally, there may be opportunities  For more information about the specifics of the work being done in each of the different services, please see the descriptions below.

HEALTH ROTATIONS:

Bariatrics

The Regional Bariatric Care Centre is an outpatient interdisciplinary program providing adults with comprehensive medical and surgical bariatric services.

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments: 

·         Pre-bariatric surgery psychological assessments

·         Cognitive screenings as needed

Interventions:

·         Individual and group psychotherapy to adults accessing bariatric services for a wide range of presenting concerns.

·         Gain experience with different therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based interventions.

·         Co-facilitate a CBT group for post-bariatric surgery patients.

·         Opportunity to co-facilitate (with social work) group behaviour modification/ education sessions for patients accessing medical bariatric services.

·         Opportunity to co-facilitate a recurring support group for pre- and post-bariatric surgery patients.

·         Opportunity to co-facilitate varied psychosocial psychoeducational sessions for post-bariatric patients.

Consultation:

·         Work within an interdisciplinary team (e.g., registered dietitians, registered kinesiologist, nursing, social work, medical internists, bariatric surgeons).

·         Participate in weekly team rounds.

·         Consultation with patients’ community mental health providers as needed to inform assessment or intervention.

Community Education:

·         Opportunity to participate in various education initiatives for patients, primary care, and allied health.

Additional Opportunities:

·         Opportunity for program development and continuous quality improvement.

·         Opportunity to serve as a member of the Project ECHO Ontario Bariatric Network hub team.

·         Opportunity to serve as a member of the Ontario Bariatric Network Mental Health Working Group.

Chronic Pain

The Chronic Pain Management Program is an outpatient interprofessional program serving adults with chronic pain living in Northwestern Ontario.

Clients access services through one of three streams:

·         The 6-week program (4 half days/week for 6 weeks) which includes group education classes, individual appointments with multiple disciplines, and daily movement

·         The PACE IT program (1 half day/week for 8 weeks) which includes group education classes and “micro groups” selected based on client interests

·         Individual clinician service requests

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments: 

·         Psychological assessments upon request

·         Cognitive screenings as needed

Interventions:

·         Individual psychotherapy to adults with chronic pain

·         Work through group programs could include addressing sleep, communication, distress, grief, role change, anxiety/depression, coping strategies, and supporting behaviour change

·         Work through individual service requests could include any of the above, plus PTSD/trauma is a common presentation

·         Gain experience with/exposure to different therapeutic modalities including CBT, “third-wave” interventions, and trauma-specific interventions such as EMDR

Consultation:

·         Work within an interprofessional team including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, kinesiology, social work, dietitian, therapeutic recreation, nursing, and medicine

·         Participate in weekly team rounds

·         Consultation with client’s community mental health providers as needed

Supervision:

·         Potential opportunity to supervise graduate students

Additional Opportunities:

·         Opportunity for program development and continuous quality improvement

·         Occasional opportunity to participate in presentations to the community

·         Opportunity to participate in Project ECHO: Chronic Pain & Opioid Stewardship

INPATIENT ROTATIONS:

Adult Mental Health – Acute Inpatient

Adult mental health is a 32 bed inpatient unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, providing comprehensive care to individuals experiencing acute mental health concerns.

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments:

·         Psychodiagnostic assessments with a wide range of mental health concerns

·         Cognitive assessment and screening

Interventions:

·         Brief individual psychotherapy to adolescents and adults (diverse populations, wide range of problem types). 

·         Gain experience with different therapeutic modalities, including CBT, mindfulness-based therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and DBT.

·         Developing behavioural plans to support client and unit needs.

·         Facilitation of daily DBT and mindfulness-based groups.

·         Connecting clients to outpatient resources.

Supervision:

·         Opportunity to supervise graduate students.  

Consultation:

·         Work closely with an interdisciplinary team (e.g., psychiatry, nursing, social work, etc.)

·         Participate in daily team rounds.

·         Consultation with other hospital departments and various community agencies.

Community Education:

·         Opportunity to be involved with various TBRHSC committees and initiatives (e.g., Mental Health Awareness Week committee).

Additional Opportunities:

·         Psychology team meetings.

·         Attend frequent Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre educational seminars and workshops.

Mental Health Rehabilitation Inpatient

Mental Health Rehabilitation Services provides a variety of psychological services on an inpatient basis to individuals with severe and complex mental health difficulties (primary admission criteria is psychosis).  The average length of stay for patients varies from 3-6 months duration. 

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments:

·         Psychodiagnostic assessments

·         Cognitive assessment and screening

Interventions:

·         Individual psychotherapy  (CBT, DBT, and BT)

·         Delivery of CBT for Psychosis - Group

·         Developing behavioural plans to support client and unit needs.

·         Transition planning and connecting clients to outpatient resources.

Supervision:

·         Opportunity to supervise graduate students.  

Consultation:

·         Work closely with an interdisciplinary team (e.g., psychiatry, nursing, social work, etc.)

·         Participate in rounds.

·         Consultation with other hospital departments and various community agencies.

Additional Opportunities:

·         Psychology team meetings.

OUTPATIENT ROTATIONS:

Brief Intervention Treatment Team (BITT)

The Brief Intervention Treatment Program (BITT) program is an outpatient interdisciplinary program that accepts referrals from the Adult Mental Health (inpatient) unit, the Emergency Department, and elsewhere within Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.  

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments:

·         Psychodiagnostic and cognitive assessments to support treatment planning

Interventions:

·         Individual psychotherapy to adolescents and adults

·         Gain experience with different therapeutic modalities including CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and DBT

·         Opportunity to co-facilitate a 15 week process group with psychology staff in the program.

Consultation:

·         Work with an interdisciplinary team (e.g., psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology)

·         Participate in weekly consultation meetings with Brief intervention Treatment team staff

Additional Opportunities:

·         Opportunity to participate as a member of the Mental Health Awareness Week committee to educate hospital staff on mental health issues and wellness.

·         Opportunity to attend staff meetings once a month.

Mental Health Outpatient Program

Mental Health Outpatient Program (MHOP) is an outpatient interdisciplinary program that accepts referrals for individuals 16 years of age or older from the community and surrounding area who are presenting with a variety of mental health diagnosis and symptom presentations.  

ROTATION EXPERIENCES

Assessments:

·         Psychological assessments (Personality, IQ, Cognitive, Psychopathology, Psychodiagnostic, etc) as the main referral question or to support treatment planning

Interventions:

·         Individual psychotherapy 

·         Co-lead at least one manualized evidenced based group (current groups being ran at MHOP include CBT for depression, anxiety, and psychosis, IPT for depression, and IPT for Postpartum, CPT )

Consultation:

·         Work with an interdisciplinary team (e.g., psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology)

·         Participate in Psychology Staff Professional Practice Meetings

Additional Opportunities:

·         Opportunity to attend staff meetings once a month.