Clinical Psychologist

Kaiser Medical Center, Union City

Private Practice, Alameda

Michael Torres, Psy.D

1. How many years of education do you need after high school? - 4 years of College/Bachelor’s

Degree: UCLA- 2 years of Master’s Degree in

Organizational Psychology: Cal State Long Beach

- 4 years of Doctoral Program: California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP)

2. Why did you choose this job? I wanted to help people in the healthcare/medical field. I recall how difficult my teenage years were, up to 25 in fact, and felt I could connect that experience with the issues confronting each new generation of teens.

3. Do you have any interesting stories about your job? - I’ve been punched- I’ve been in a psych unit riot- I’ve restrained a kid while he was launching spinning jump kicks at staff.

4. What is a typical work day like? - I start work usually about 10 am with a new Intake interview with a parent only. We discuss the problems facing the family and come up with a treatment plan. I then meet with up to 8 different kids/families per day and discuss issues ranging from ADHD to suicidal depression, drug abuse, sexual abuse, divorce, and being gay (just some examples).- One evening per week I lead a Teen Depression Group with 8-15 kids. We discuss depression and anxiety, coping skills and life as a teenager. We also spend a lot of time laughing and cracking jokes.- In between each patient and group I type chart notes for every patient contact. I also talk to patients on the phone, parents and even teachers and school counselors – about the things we are working on in therapy.

- I have 14 people in my private practice; Thursday and Friday back to back with an hour break for lunch. My private practice schedule is different than my Kaiser schedule: My hours on Thursdays are 3 pm to 8 pm, and Fridays 11 am – 6 pm.- In my private practice, I see teens, adults and couples in Alameda. I usually see people every other week and weekly. I have seen people for 2-3 sessions for a quick psychiatric evaluation (ADHD for school assistance, Depression/Anxiety screenings for extra school services) all the way up to every week for 6-8 years in a few cases.

5. How has this job changed you? What have you learned? - I have learned and/or been reminded that the issues I struggled with as a teen are much the same as issues today’s teens struggle with (freedom, self-esteem, love, sadness, rage, right from wrong, breaking away from parents, loyalty, and challenging authority).- The job has revealed to me how easily it is for a young person to end-up feeling miserable as a result of making poor choices during the teen years. I have also become more aware and have made peace with mistakes I made as a teen and young adult, as I use these “failures” as examples for teens on what NOT to do. Most of my wisdom comes from my failures not my successes.

- The job shapes how I experience people in public settings. I tend to see various forms of suffering everywhere, which can cause a pit in my stomach or moments of quiet rage. I unfortunately can judge people harshly: for example when I see a parent being verbally abusive to their kid at the checkout stand. My level of compassion has also expanded: for example when I see a clearly mentally challenged young person walking down the street with his/her Special Ed classmates.

6. What prerequisites are needed for your program? - I have my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology - Can also work with a Master’s Degree in Social Work (LCSW) or Marriage/Family Therapy (MFT)- Experience working with children, teens, and families.

7. How is your job different from others in the field?- Working at Kaiser we work within a comprehensive medical system, so we communicate and collaborate with your regular doctor and other medical specialties. We have a substantial support staff including receptionists, medical assistants, psychiatrists, chartroom staff, chemical dependency team, and health education programs.

- At Kaiser we also use an online computer charting system called Health Connect where you entire medical record is kept, so we can see what’s going on in Pediatrics, the Lab, your XRays, the ER and anywhere else in the Kaiser system of care.

- We get paid better than any other large mental health system in the Bay Area/California (the prison system may pay better?).

- Most Kaiser members are working, while in many other public mental health agencies services are provided for free or at very low-cost to address the needs of people living with little/No income.

- In my private practice I can see people once week (different than Kaiser – every 3-4 weeks) if needed. I am the boss in my private practice which is essentially a small business. My private practice relies on positive word of mouth to generate my patients, while the Kaiser system itself supplies the patients.

8. What do you like about your job? - Hanging-out with young and interesting people all day long who are trying to improve their lives.- It keeps me young.- I feel I am contributing to society.- I get paid well.- I have fun most every day, so it doesn’t feel like “work”.

9. What do you dislike about your job? - Charting - Making phone calls- Working with difficult parents- Being told what to do (Kaiser rules/policies/regulations)

10. What is your most memorable moment? - #1: I led a Teen Depression Group last Spring (2013)

of about 21 kids who kept coming back to every session (of 8) and volunteered to discuss the traumas that occurred in their lives. The group was so tight, bonded, cool and honest. Everyone participated fully and with great courage and respect. It was deeply emotional and most memorable.

- #2: I brought my parents into a session with a young man who was choosing drugs and a thug-lifestyle instead of family and health. They talked with him about losing a son to drugs and crime, hoping to make an impression on him that I could not.

11. Is certification/licensure required?

- Once you finish your degree program (PsyD, PhD, MFT or LCSW) you must complete 3000 hours of clinical experience before sitting for the licensing exams. There is a national exam (225 multiple choice questions) and then one state exam (100 questions on case example, ethics and California laws governing the field of mental health).

12. What is your work day like?

- As mentioned in question #4, I see several patients per day in both my Kaiser and private practice.

- My Kaiser days = 10 am – 8 pm Mon-Wed

- Private Practice = Thursday 3 – pm Friday 11 am – 6 pm.

13. How many hours do you work per day? - See #12

14. What personality traits do you need for this job?

- Humility (set your own ego aside; recognize you are not always right)- Be Funny- Self-examined (know your own issues)- Compassionate- Authentic (must be prepared to be yourself)- Positive Self-Esteem/Confident

15. If you weren’t in the medical field, what else do you see yourself doing?

- High School Teacher- Human Rights Lawyer- Animal Welfare/Protection

16. What college/university did you attend?- 4 years of college Bachelor’s Degree

in Psychology: UCLA- 2 years for Master’s Degree in

Organizational Psychology: Cal State Long Beach

- 4 years for Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Alameda

17. What classes did you take? - Bachelor’s Degree (4 years): General Education Courses (English, Math, Biology, Sociology, Anthropology, Physics, Chemistry)- Psychology Major Courses: Intro to

Psychology; Abnormal Psych; Developmental Psych; Research Methods; Neuropsych; Cognitive Psych

- Developmental Disabilities (Minor)

- Master’s Program (2 years): Advanced Statistics; Psychological Assessment; Organizational Psych; Human Factors; Thesis Project – “The relationship between level of moral development and leadership style.”

- Doctoral Program (4 years): Child Psychotherapy; Psychopathology; Family Therapy; Chicano/Latino Psychology; Psycho-diagnostic Assessment; Existential Psychology; Dissertation Project –“The validation of the Profile of Mood States in an Adolescent Inpatient Population.”

18. What is your dream job? - What I am doing now, with the same pay, but only working 30 hours/week.

19. What challenges do you face with your job? - Burnout

- poor self-care (not taking vacation/time-off, working too many hours, not balancing work/personal life…)- taking your work home- taking out your personal frustrations on your patients- cutting yourself-off emotionally from the work and becoming robot-like.- becoming too attached to patients and their problems

- Savior Complex- believing You alone can save everyone)

20. What advice would you give students who are interested in this field? - Make the most of your high school experience (academics, teacher/mentors, activities, sports, arts)- Make the most of this time in your life - Only engage in healthy friendships - Treat your body with great respect (exercise, eat good food, no sodas, eat breakfast, wait a while to have sex, get 9 hours of sleep…)

- Don’t do drugs/alcohol – preserve your brain - Volunteer with special populations (Special Olympics, homeless, animal shelter, church, hospitals…)- Develop healthy habits (art, writing, music, exercise, cooking, reading, poetry, martial arts, sports, meditation)

- Consider talk therapy for yourself if you struggle with depression, anxiety, trauma, a medical problem, and/or any serious stress in your life.

- Learn Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog or Arabic

- Get Real: Take Your Life Seriously.

- A “What the F “ attitude will prepare you to say, “Can I take your order…would you like fries with that?”

21. What is it like working with pts?- Have you ever had a great conversation with someone?

- Have you ever laughed, cried, felt your heart sink, felt tremendous rage, and endless compassion for a 45 minute period?

- It is a great example of truly being in the moment

- Noticing body language, breathe, eyes, rate of speech, choice of words, the rise and fall of different emotions and bodily sensations, seeing how a person sees Self and Others, problem solves, reveals their heart, and views life.

- The reverse is true as well – in terms of noticing all these things for myself as well, and then crafting useful words and non-verbal language to support and help the patient.