MIRECC / CoE

The PSR Fellowship in the Durham VA Health Care System (VAHCS) is a clinical training program that focuses on the practice of psychosocial rehabilitation and the treatment of substance use disorders. Fellows complete rotations in three core clinics: the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM), and the Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Clinic. The clinically-oriented program is intended for individuals seeking to become highly-trained clinicians, and often leaders, in helping health care systems emphasize functional capability, rehabilitation, and recovery. Diversity and cultural competence is considered integral to effective clinical work as well as the training experience more broadly; diversity is emphasized in various ways, including in didactics, clinical supervision, and the opportunity for a fellow to be paired with a diversity mentor. We are located in Durham, N.C., part of the Triangle region also including Raleigh and Chapel Hill. This is a vibrant, diverse, growing metropolitan region surrounded by natural beauty. The area boasts top-of-the-line music and theatre scenes, high-level sports, plentiful gardens, parks, and performance venues, as well as a thriving academic and research community (e.g., Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State, N.C. Central) with abundant employment opportunities.

The Fellowship Alums

Zoey Bezanson, OTR/L

Fellowship Class of 2025 - 2026

Professional Interests:As an occupational therapy fellow in the PSR Fellowship at VA, I hope to provide recovery-oriented, evlidence-based, and individualized care to Veterans with substance use disorders and severe mental illness (SMI). My work will emphasize collaborating with Veterans to identify and engage in meaningful occupations that bring structure to daily life, enhace well-being, and foster a sense of purpose. My professional interests include bringing greater awareness to sensory processing and interoception skills. By fostering Veterans' understanding of their interal and external sensory experiences, I hope to enhance their ability to navigate daily activities, personal relationships, and environments with greater agency and resilience.

Katelyn Blincoe, MSW, LCSWA

Fellowship Class of 2025 - 2026

Professional Interests:.Providing trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based care to Veterans living with severe mental illness (SMI) and substance use challenges. My work focuses on supporting recovery, resilience, and reintegration by promoting each Veteran's unique goals, values, and strengths.  Through collaborative, recovery-oriented interventions, I aim to empower Veterans to build meaningful lives in alignment with their personal aspirations and to foster hope within the context of their recovery journey.

Thomas McDonald, LCSW-A, MSW

Fellowship Class of 2025 - 2026

Professional Interests: Providing care to individuals experiencing chronic illness and severe mental illness (SMI); Reducing social stigma around SMI; Utilizing behavioral pain management; Grief -focused care following critical incidents; Neurodegenerative illness and disability support; Mitigating substance dependence and exploring adaptive coping mechanisms; Promoting and tailoring individual wellness practices; Engaging in client-centered, humanistic approaches.

Katherine (Katie) Senn, MSW, LCSWA

Fellowship Class of 2024 - 2025

Professional Interests:Trauma-informed, strengths-based, person-centered, recovery-oriented, and whole health care. The intersection of substance use, spirituality, and trauma. Harm reduction practices. The Ecological Systems Theory, especially in considering advocacy efforts.