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Site Name: VA Long Beach Healthcare System

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1129
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Department: Psychology
Address: MH/Psychology (06/116B)
5901 East Seventh Street
Long Beach, California 90822-5201
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City: About 25 miles south of LA
Phone: 562-619-9529
Fax:
Email: leela.farina@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/internship-program/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/internship-program/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Leela Farina
Chief Psychologist: Vanessa Hurwitz
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 41
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/29/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 6
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 38484
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): N/A
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Please see internship brochure for more details.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsNo
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?Yes
Is this program fully affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Is this program partially affiliated with one or more doctoral programs? No
Internship Application Process
Accepting Applicants: Yes
Application Due Date: 11/01/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/01/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/03/24, 01/05/24, 01/08/24, 01/10/24
Interview process description:

Interviews will be offered only via virtual format, even for local applicants. Interview day will last from approximately 8am until 1pm. The day will start with a general orientation by the Director of Training, followed by two 60-minute individual interviews with staff members (one structured interview with set questions and one unstructured interview). General track internship applicants will interview with two general staff psychologists. Neuropsychology track internship applicants will interview with a neuropsychologist in addition to another general psychology staff member. We will make every effort to match you with two of your top choices for staff interviewers involved in internship training. Following interviews, candidates will hear rotation presentations from staff using a virtual breakout session structure and then have a Q&A with our current interns.

The VA Long Beach doctoral internship program is invested in providing access for all people with disabilities and will provide accommodations if we are notified before the interviews. Reasonable accommodation requests for the interview process are readily entertained and expedited by the training faculty. 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD SD St JDP, George Washington U, Fuller, U Wisconsin, Arizona State U, SUNY Stony Brook, Binghamton, and Albany, Yeshiva Ferkauf, Kansas U, U Maryland, UM Baltimore CO, U Miami, U Missouri Kansas City, U Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis U, Southern Methodist, U Nevada Reno, Washington U, Syracuse U, Pepperdine U, Columbia U, U Iowa, U Utah, PGSP Stanford Consortium, Texas A&M, Harvard/Alliant CSPP-SF (re-specialization), Rosalind Franklin U, Rutgers U, Loma Linda U, Palo Alto U, Purdue U- W. Lafayette, U of Georgia, Radford U, Baylor U, Texas Tech U, Northwestern U, UC Denver, La Verne U, Seattle Pacific U, Rosemead School of Psychology, Midwestern University - Glendale, Alliant IU/CSPP-San Francisco, Wright Institute
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: Yes
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: No
Canadian Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a Canadian Citizen, Authorization to Work in Canada or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in Canada is Required: No
Masters Degree Required: No
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 450
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 100
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 3
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology Not Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Accepted
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree Accepted
This institution, department, internship, or postdoctoral program requires trainees to sign a statement about personal behavior and/or religious beliefs as a condition of admission and/or retention in the program: No
How to obtain text of statement:
Other Requirements: Please let us know in your cover letter in bold letters if you're applying to our single slot in the Neuropsychology track (general internship with special emphasis in neuropsychology) or one of the five slots available through the General track. You can only apply to one track. Also, please provide a statement about how our VA Long Beach internship would meet your training needs and further your career aspirations, including specific rotations you are interested in. Please see brochure, linked on website, for details about requirements, including selective service, vaccines, drug testing, and background checks.
Program Description

The VA Long Beach Doctoral Internship Program has been fully accredited by APA since 1980, with our next site visit in 2029. Our primary goal is to train interns to conduct an array of psychological services in a large VA healthcare system. We currently offer 6 fully-funded intern positions across two different tracks: One slot is designated for a Neuropsychology Track (112912), which offers general psychology training with a special emphasis in neuropsychology.  Our remaining seven slots will be for our General Track (112911), which follows our traditional model of broad-based training in multiple treatment settings. The generalist training that we provide reflects the population of our medical center and community clinics. We serve primarily adult veterans and some active military service personnel, the majority of whom are male but with a higher percentage of women in younger cohorts. We have been known for our behavioral health training as well as more traditional psychological services, with an increasingly strong emphasis on evidence-based treatments.  We accept both clinical and counseling students and no distinction is made between them concerning the content of training experiences.

We tailor our internship program to the specific needs and interests of each intern. During orientation week, all staff psychologists present to the interns and practicum students to explain what training experiences their rotation offers. With the advisement of the Training Director and intern preferences taken into account, interns are assigned rotations from different VA hospital clinics that blend their individual training needs and interests. Interns in the General Track will select four 6-month clinical rotations, with two rotations co-occurring in each half of the year.  Interns in the Neuropsychology Track will complete a year-long rotation in the neuropsychology clinic in addition to two 6-month general clinical rotations.  Our program follows an apprenticeship model, in which interns work closely with their supervisors. The degree of responsibility afforded the intern depends on their level of experience coming into each rotation, and ideally, increases over the course of the rotation as competency and skill increase.

In addition to clinical rotations, interns receive additional generalist training through several programmatic elements, including: (1) Didactic/Case Consultation Seminars with a focus on assessment, evidence-based therapies, provision of supervision, professional development, and diversity, (2) Conducting one comprehensive assessment battery and integrated testing report, (3) Providing supervision to practicum students on a general psychotherapy case, and (4) an Intern Research or Evaluation Project (optional). Our program also includes experiences to attend mental health grand rounds, journal club, and other rotation-specific didactic and interprofessional experiences. We offer up to 10 days of release time to attend VA postdoc interviews, one day for the defense of your dissertation, and another for graduation. 

There have been several temporary changes to our training as a result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and since March 2020, all trainees have the option of wokring virtually on VA laptops from home, and all have received additional training in providing telehealth.  Many interns are working hybrid remote/in-person schedules, depending on their assigned rotations, and supervisor and intern preferences.  Inpatient rotations typically require the intern to be on campus part-time from the start, in which case, trainees are able to choose whether or not they wish to be on those rotations based on their own risk/needs.  For interns working on campus, appropriate PPE is provided, and safety precautions are implemented according to hospital policy.  As this is an evolving and extended emergency situation, it is unclear how long the options of remote clinical work and supervision will remain available.  Trainees at VA Long Beach are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine here, if they have not already and wish to.

The training program brochure is located on our website: Internship Program | VA Long Beach Health Care | Veterans Affairs We recommend checking this website before you come to interview, as items in the brochure are updated often. Please email our acting Training Director Dr. Leela Farina at leela.farina@va.gov with questions that are not answered in the brochure.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Family Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Primary Care: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Experience (21% to 30%)
Other: Please note that the training experiences will differ depending on the individualized training plan and rotation selection of the intern.

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
HIV/AIDS: Experience (21% to 30%)
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Physical Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Learning Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Developmental Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Substance Use Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Forensics/Corrections: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Offenders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Multicultural Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Feminist Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Religion/Spirituality: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Experience (21% to 30%)
Supervision: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Research: Experience (21% to 30%)
Administration: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other:

Please note that the supervised experiences will differ depending on the individualized training plan and rotation selection of the intern. 

Additional information about training opportunities: Not all rotations or training experiences may be available as described in the APPIC Directory. Please consult the program's application materials or their website at: https://www.va.gov/long-beach-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/internship-program/  for a complete description of the training opportunities available at this training site. IF the site has not updated their information by August 1, feel free to contact the Training Director for additional information.

Summary of the Characteristics of the Specified Internship Class
2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024
Number of Completed Applications: 217 188 167 169 169 136 0
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 73 66 65 59 56 66 0
Total number of interns: 8 8 8 8 8 6 0
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 8 8 8 8 8 6
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 4 7 7 5 8 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 4 1 1 3 0 5
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 7 6 7 8 5
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 1 2 1 0 1
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 11 6 5 7 7 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 79 67 104 34 45 139
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 4
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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