VAPIHCS Psychology Internship Admissions, Support, and Initial Placement Data

Updated August 31, 2017

Internship Program Admissions

Our selection criteria are based on a goodness-of-fit model. We look for interns whose academic background, clinical experience and personal characteristics give them the knowledge and skills necessary to function well in our internship setting. At the same time, we look for interns whose professional goals are well suited to the experiences we offer such that our setting would provide them with a productive internship experience.

The ideal candidate has demonstrated strengths in clinical work, academic preparation, personal characteristics related to the profession, and research productivity. The ideal candidate has the ability to function independently with initiative under appropriate supervision, with flexibility, maturity, good judgment, cultural sensitivity, and has interest in a generalist practioner-scholar training model. We prefer candidates with experience working with complex patients and problems, and who also have a passion for providing care to Veterans within a diverse cultural setting. In addition to these selection factors, we like to compose our incoming class with a variety of interns: from different kinds of programs; from different geographic areas; of different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. This approach is a reflection of our commitment to diversity in psychology.

The following are minimum number of hours of experience at the time of application:

 Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours: 400 hours

 Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours: 100 hours

The following are minimum requirements of applicants of the internship program:

 U.S. Citizen

 Completion of coursework and on track for completion of a doctoral degree in Counseling or Clinical Psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) accredited graduate program (prior to start date of internship program)

Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year

Annual Stipend: $26,193

Benefits: Interns are eligible to receive health, dental and life insurance coverage (a nominal contribution to cost is required). Interns accrue 13 days of vacation and 13 days of sick leave in addition to 10 Federal holidays. In addition, they are granted additional release time to attend professional conferences and programs in the same amount as other medical center staff. Interns are provided professional liability coverage by the Federal Tort Claims Act while on internship placements. In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, the program allows reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave. Updated August 31, 2017

Initial Post-Internship Positions

2014-2017

Total Number of Interns in Cohorts (2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017) = 18 Total Number of Interns not seeking employment due to returning to doctoral program to complete degree (dissertation) = 1

Setting Postdoctoral Employed Position Residency Community mental health center 1 NA Federally qualified health center NA NA Independent primary care facility/clinic NA NA University counseling center NA NA Veterans Affairs medical center 10 1 Military health center 1 NA Academic health center NA NA Other medical center or hospital 3 NA Psychiatric hospital NA NA Academic university/department NA NA Community college or other teaching setting NA NA Independent research institution NA NA Correctional facility NA NA School district/system NA NA Independent practice setting 1 NA Not currently employed 1 NA Changed to another field NA NA Other NA NA Unknown NA NA