Office Location
Veronica Reis, PhD
4565 Ruffner Street, Suite 108
San Diego, CA 92111
858.268.9800 (voice)
858.268.9810 (fax)

Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa

E-Mail: healthpsyk@gmail.com

Services Offered
Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, Consulting

Age Specialty
Adults, Children, Elders

License Information:
CA PSY-21853
Practicing Since: 2008

Education
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 2000-May 2006
PhD, Counseling Psychology, APA-Accredited Program - 2006
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA - 1999
B.Sc., Psychobiology

Dissertation: Young Women & Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Age Differences across QoL Domains

Honors Thesis:
Health, Facial Attractiveness, & Brain Asymmetry: The Prettier, The Healthier

Internship Experience
Behavioral Medicine Staff Psychologist, San Diego VA Feb 08-Present
* Establish multidisciplinary PsychoSocial Oncology program. Provide screening and counseling for veterans diagnosed with cancer. Serve on Palliative Care Consult Team. Provide mental health screening and counseling in primary care setting at VA Outpatient Clinic for veterans with depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD within the context of health issues including: chronic pain, heart disease, Parkinson’s Disease, HIV, etc. Co-facilitate smoking cessation groups for veterans with comorbid mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Perform psychological evaluations and counseling for veterans being considered for Bariatric surgery. Co-facilitate weekly Behavioral Medicine seminar with 10 psychology trainees.

Research Associate, UCSD
*Conduct meta-analyses pertaining to health psychology issues such as heart disease, chronic pain, and cancer. Co-investigator on R01-funded study to examine differences in Heart Rate Variability for patients with chronic pain. Write IRB applications for study approval and potential funding.

Behavioral Medicine Psychology Post-Doc Fellow at San Diego VA
*Provide screening and counseling for veterans diagnosed with cancer. Establish multidisciplinary PsychoSocial Oncology program. Co-facilitate Smoking Cessation groups for veterans with mental illness and veterans in treatment for substance abuse. Provide mental health screening and counseling in primary care setting at VA Outpatient Clinic. Perform psychological evaluations for veterans being considered for Bariatric surgery.

Health Behavior Specialist at UCSD/San Diego VA
*Recruit participants for and conduct mental stress testing of participants for a UCSD study designed to better understand the “Neuroimmune Characteristics of Congestive Heart Failure and Depression.” Conducted collaborative research for publication including literature review and meta-analysis. Continue to co-develop training of and monthly meetings with SCI Peer Mentors.

Psychology Intern at UCSD/San Diego VA
*Provided assessment of and counseling for: chronic pain population at UCSD’s Chronic Pain & Palliative Care program (10 hrs/wk), inpatients of UCSD’s Regional Burn Center (12 hrs/wk), and inpatients at the San Diego VA’s Spinal Cord Injury Unit (20 hrs/wk). Co-facilitated groups for: veterans adjusting to spinal cord injury and patients living with chronic pain. Attended and presented cases weekly at multi-disciplinary Burn Unit and Spinal Cord Injury Unit rounds. Attended and presented cases monthly for chronic pain patients at Chronic Pain & Palliative Care rounds. Developed and implemented Spinal Cord Injury Peer Mentor Program with Drs. Muse and Casmar (both SCI Psychologists). Most commonly provided treatment for the following: adjustment to illness, injury, and chronic pain; PTSD; anxiety; and depression.

Behavioral Medicine Counselor at Downtown LA VA
*Developed and co-facilitated groups for veterans with the following issues: sleep disorders, living with chronic illness, weight management, and bereavement. Provided individual, face-to-face behavioral medicine therapy to 2-3 clients per week. Provided neuropsychological and PTSD assessment as needed.

Assessment Trainee at USC Disability Services
*Tested college students with suspected learning disabilities in order to determine eligibility for academic accommodations. Tests administered included: Screening Test for Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery, WAIS-III, Woodcock-Johnson III, WMS-III, TOVA, Bender-Gestalt, and Brown ADD Scales.

Practicum Supervisor at USC
*Provided group supervision to ten master’s students (2 groups of 5) once weekly for one semester. Students relayed case conceptualization verbally and brought in audiotape and videotape of sessions for discussion and feedback.

Mental Health Counselor at Kedren CMHC
*Provided individual, face-to-face therapy to a 34 year-old Latina with Schizoaffective Disorder and PTSD due to previous domestic violence. Participated in 3 hours of group supervision each week and watched and provided feedback for four other students’ sessions.

Mental Health Counselor at Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center
*Provided individual, face-to-face therapy to an average of six clients per week with a variety of backgrounds and issues. Also provided crisis counseling and completed intakes as needed.

Mental Health Counselor at CMHC
*Provided individual, face-to-face therapy to a white 40 year-old woman with PTSD due to domestic violence and alcohol abuse. Participated in 3 hours of group supervision each week and watched and provided feedback for nine other students’ sessions

Volunteer Experience
Patient Navigator for Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
*Provide one-on-one guidance for newly diagnosed cancer patients, helping them through each phase of treatment. Support provided via phone, email, and meeting in person.

Hospice Volunteer for Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
*Co-facilitated Bereavement Support Group for adults (mostly women) whose losses included spouses, friends, and adult children. Visited patients on the oncology ward of the hospital.

Reach-to-Recovery Volunteer for the American Cancer Society
*Meet with women shortly after undergoing surgery for breast cancer to answer questions and refer them to appropriate local resources.

Group Facilitator for Chronic Pain Support Group
*Facilitated Chronic Pain Support Group consisting of an average of 8 people (about half men, and half women). Most of the members were white and over 40. Causes of pain included car accidents, back injury, fibromyalgia, and migraines.

Honors and Awards
USC Rossier School of Education Scholarship Jan 2000
Highest Departmental Honors, UCLA Psychology Department Jun 1999
Class Valedictorian, Hartnell College Jun 1995

Professional Associations
California Psychological Association Since 2005
American Psycho-Oncology Society Since 2004
American Psychological Association 2000-2005

Leadership
Owner, Wongway Enterprises, Accounting Business Aug 00-Aug 05
President, Counseling Graduate Students, USC Jun 02-Dec 02
Student Support Chair, Counseling Graduate Students, USC Jun 01-May 02