Welcome to the Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare.
The Departments of Counseling and Social Work at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and UT Health Science Center San Antonio are collaborating under HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education & Training (BHWET) to offer specialized training and clinical placements in integrated school, primary care, and community settings.
In 2017, the Department of Counseling was awarded BHWET funding to establish the Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare (PITCH). PEP expands these efforts through the inclusion of behavioral health trainees from three additional disciplines, diversified clinical sites, and extensive interprofessional education.
In 2021, the Department of Counseling was awarded an additional $1.6 million to continue expanding efforts to train counselors, social workers, school counselors, and psychologists for an additional 4 years.
PITCH at UTSA recently awarded HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Grant
The four-year interdisciplinary project is funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This partnership will guide close to 100 students from additional disciplines to provide real-time services in the local region.
Training Program
PITCH Expanded Providers (PEP) includes behavioral health trainees from four disciplines: clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), school counseling (SC), social work (SW), and clinical psychology (PSY). All trainees complete didactic and clinical training focused on serving adults, children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth. Additionally, all PEP trainees participate in ongoing interprofessional education workshops.
Additional training details by track are provided below:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
Twelve CMHC PEP trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP CMHC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters in integrated primary care or community-based settings. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements. PEP CMHC trainees also complete two elective courses (IBH-1 and IBH-2) and are eligible to earn a 12-hour graduate certificate in integrated behavioral healthcare.
School Counseling (SC)
Six PEP SC trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP SC trainees complete 12 hours of online learning modules focused on the role and functions of professional school counselors on integrated care teams. PEP SC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters at their home schools. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements.
Social Work (SW)
Four PEP SW trainees are selected through a competitive recruitment process each year. PEP SW trainees complete 12 hours of online learning modules focused on the role and functions of social workers on integrated care teams. PEP SC trainees complete two consecutive clinical rotation semesters at integrated community settings. Stipend support of $5,000/semester is dispersed following completion of all PEP requirements.
Clinical Psychology (PSY)
The two PEP PSY trainees will be part of the 1-year, 2000 hour, APA accredited Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Internship (Primary Care track) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Long School of Medicine at UT Health Science Center San Antonio. During the year-long internship, PEP trainees from the PSY discipline track will participate in one or two major rotations as well as several year-long clinical activities. Trainees will receive clinical training within the PCBH model across the lifespan.
The PEP Team is devoted to the interprofessional training of behavioral health professionals from four disciplines serving children, adolescents, and transition-aged youth in the San Antonio and surrounding areas.
PEP Team
Heather Trepal, Ph.D., LPC-S
PEP Project Director – University of Texas at San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the UTSA BHWET PEP project. Meets with key staff to monitor the implementation of each of the components and works collaboratively with all parties to assure maximum accountability, reliability, and validity for this project.
Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett, Ph.D, LPC-S
PEP Counseling Track Coordinator
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling tracks. Works collaboratively with the Project Director, PCBH Consultant, faculty, and site supervisors to coordinate site development and maintenance. Assumes primary responsibility for communication with the counseling faculty and supervisors, Project Director, and Evaluator.
Stacy Ogbeide, PsyD, ABPP, CSOWM
PCBH Consultant and Clinical Psychology Track Coordinator – UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Clinical Psychology (PSY) track and the Interprofessional Education Curriculum. Primarily responsible for providing consultation related to primary care behavioral health integration course development, trainee clinical training, site supervisor training, and primary care clinic team training for the UTSA BHWET PEP project but works collaboratively with Project Director.
Devon Jefferson, LCSW
Social Work Track, Coordinator – University of Texas at San Antonio
Primarily responsible for oversight of the development and coordination of the Social Work (SW) track. Works collaboratively with Project Director, faculty, and site supervisors to coordinate training coursework and site development and maintenance. She assumes primary responsibility for communication with the SW faculty and supervisors, Project Director, and Evaluator.
Mercedes Ingram, Ph.D., LPC
Evaluator – University Health
Primarily responsible for providing evaluation oversight for the UTSA BHWET PEP project but works collaboratively with Project Director, faculty, and site supervisors to evaluate the project. Assumes primary responsibility for using data to help address health disparities and to inform the continuous quality improvement process.
Swathi Weaver, MA, LPC-S
Graduate Research Assistant
The Graduate Research Assistant works closely with team members to play a supporting role in the PEP program.
Online Library
Recent Articles
Strengthening the Behavioral Health Workforce: Spotlight on PITCH
Integrated Primary Care Literature
For additional journal articles and resources for supervisors, visit the PITCH Dropbox.
Introduction to Integrated Primary Care
Robinson, P., & Reiter, J. (2016). Behavioral consultation and primary care: A guide to integrating services (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. Chapters 1 and 2
Vogel, M., Malcore, S., Illes, R., Rose, A., & Kirkpatrick, H. (2014). Integrated primary care: Why should you care and how to get started. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(2), 130-144.
Behavioral Health's Role in Primary Care
Robinson, P., & Reiter, J. (2016). Behavioral consultation and primary care: A guide to integrating
services (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. Chapters 3-5
Heath B, Wise R. P., & Reynolds K. A. (2013). Review and proposed standard framework for levels of integrated healthcare. Washington, DC: SAMHSAHRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions
Primary Care Patients & Behavioral Health
Robinson, P., & Reiter, J. (2016). Behavioral consultation and primary care: A guide to integrating services (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. Chapter 15
Kessler, R. (2009). Identifying and screening for psychological and comorbid medical and
psychological disorders in medical settings. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 253-267.>
Kohn-Wood, L., & Hooper, L. (2014). Cultural competency, cultural-tailored care, and the primary care setting: Possible solutions to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in mental health care. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(2), 173-188.
Integrated Primary Care Interventions
Robinson, P., & Reiter, J. (2016). Behavioral consultation and primary care: A guide to integrating services (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. Chapter 7
Bridges, A., Gregus, S., Rodriguez, J., Andrews, A., Villalobos, B., Pastrana, F., & Cavell, T. (2015). Diagnoses, intervention strategies, and rates of functional improvement in integrated behavioral health care patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(3), 590-601, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0038941
Hudgins, C., Rose, S., Fifield, P. Y., & Arnault, S. (2013). Navigating the legal and ethical foundations of informed consent and confidentiality in integrated primary care. Families, Systems, and Health, 31, 9-19.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Primary Care
Fisher, L., & Dickinson, W. P. (2014). Psychology and primary care: New collaborations for providing effective care for adults with chronic health conditions. American Psychologist, 69, 355-363.
Kalmakis, K., & Chandler, G. (2015). Health consequences of adverse childhood experiences: A systematic review. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27, 457-465.
Shay, L. A., & Lafata, J. E. (2015). Where is the evidence? A systematic review of shared decision making and patient outcomes. Medical Decision Making, 35, 114-131.
Depression Management in Primary Care
Thota, A. B., Sipe, T. A., Byard, G.J… (2012). Collaborative care to improve the management of depressive disorders: A community guide systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 42, 525-538.
DIAMOND Program, Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. (2010). A new direction in depression treatment in Minnesota. Psychiatric Services, 61, 1042-1044.
Perry, D. F., Nicholson, W. Christensen, A. L., & Riley, A. W. (2011). A public health approach to addressing perinatal depression. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 13, 5-13.
Bryan, C. J., Corso, K. A., Neal-Walden, T. A., & Rudd, M. D. (2009). Managing suicide risk in primary care: Practice recommendations for behavioral health consultants. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40, 148-155.
Anxiety Management in Primary Care
Roy-Byrne, P., Craske, M. G., Sullivan, G., Rose, R. D., Edlund, M. J., Lang, A. J., … Stein, M. B. et al. (2010). Delivery of evidence-based treatment for multiple anxiety disorders in primary care: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 30, 1921-1928.
Roy-Byrne, P. ., Veitengruber, J. P., Bystritsky, A., Edlund, M. J., Sullivan, G., Craske, M. G., … Stein, M. B.(2009). Brief intervention for anxiety in primary care. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 22, 175-186.
The professional training page has been created for the general public interested in integrated behavioral health. The training listed on this website contains a variety of documents and videos used in the PITCH program.
TexCHIP Symposium 2022
Symposium 2022 Workshop Summary
Primary Care Behavioral Health Workshop Documents
Treating Underserved Populations within Integrated Primary Care Behavioral Health Settings
Presented by Dr. Nida Emko | June 30, 2018
ACES in Primary Care
Presented by Dr. Stephanie Chapman | June 30, 2018
Primary Care Behavioral Health: Past, Present, Future
Presented by Dr. Deepu George | June 30, 2018
Preparing the Workforce for Primary Behavioral Health: Training and Workforce Challenges
Presented by Dr. Lisa Kearney | June 30, 2018
Additional Trainings
Clinical Supervision in Integrated Care
Presented by Dr. Stacy Ogbeide | March 10, 2018
Primary Behavioral Health Model
Presented by Dr. Stacy Ogbeide, Zeke Sanders, & Beverly Bernal | December 02, 2017
Role of Behavioral Health Consultant
Presented by Dr. Stacy Ogbeide | December 16, 2017
Upcoming conferences for PEP trainees
TBA
Community Partners
UTSA
UTHSCSA
HRSA
Contact Us
Please email the PITCH Expanded Providers (PEP) program with any questions you may have.
