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Site Name: VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center

Department: Psychology Service (116B)

Department : Psychology Service (116B)

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1163
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center
Department: Psychology Service (116B)
Address: 16111 Plummer Street
North Hills, California 91343
Country: United States
Metro Area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 818-891-7711x32734
Fax: 818-895-5886
Email: alexis.kulick@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/sepulveda-ambulatory-care-center-psychology-training/#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: Alexis Kulick
Chief Psychologist: Joanna Rowles
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 26
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: 7
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, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): 11 Federal holidays; 13 days annual leave; 13 days sick leave. 5 days of Authorized Absence for off-site workshops/conferences or other professional activities.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site The tour of duty is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The schedule each day is different, but in a week, the intern is expected to engage in a minimum of 10 hours of direct patient care including: individual and group psychotherapy as well as intake and assessment activities. Interns receive 4 hours of supervision (2 hrs individual and 2 hrs group), 3+ hours of didactic training per week, and can elect to use 2 hours per week for DEI-related activities. Other professional activities include: interprofessional involvement and consultation, scoring assessment measures, documentation/report writing, attending team meetings, and engaging in some administrative and scheduling activities. The internship is designed to be 40 hours per week.
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: Preferred
Interview notification date: 12/08/2023
Tentative interview date: 1/6/23, 1/10/23, 1/12/23, 1/17/23
Interview process description:

Interviews will be held remotely using video technology on four days: 1/5, 1/9, 1/11, and 1/16/2024. The 5-6 hour open houses will include a group introduction to the supervisors and to the training program, a slide show of the campus, buildings, and office space, a meeting with the current interns, and individual interviews with staff members who are matched based on applicants’ stated interests.  It has always been our goal to make the interviews as comfortable as possible to provide an accurate representation of the collegial training environment at the Sepulveda VA. 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: AIU/CSPP-Los Angeles, AIU/CSPP-San Diego, Antioch-Seattle, Bowling Green State University, California Lutheran University, Catholic University of America, Clark University, Drexel University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Hofstra University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loma Linda University, Long Island University, Loyola University, Maryland, New York University (Counseling), Pacific University, Palo Alto University, Pepperdine University, PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, Roosevelt University, SDSU/UCSD JDP, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, St. Louis University, Suffolk University, Texas Tech University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Colorado, Denver, University of Houston, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign (Counseling), University of Massachusetts, Boston, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Southern California, The 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 start of internship
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 400
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 100
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable): 500
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 Not 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: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Trainee-Eligibility.pdf
Program Description

The Sepulveda VA Doctoral Internship training program is funded to support SEVEN full-time internship positions: five positions are in the General Track and two positions are in the Neuropsychology Track. The aim of the Sepulveda VA Doctoral Internship in Health Services Psychology is to prepare interns for successful entry into postdoctoral or entry-level professional positions in a broad range of medical and mental health settings. For the Neuropsychology Track interns, there is an additional aim to provide special emphasis training in neuropsychology that prepares them to meet the requisite competencies necessary to advance to a neuropsychology postdoctoral residency program. The internship program is based on the practitioner-scholar model; it provides a broad range of training opportunities and close supervision and competency-based training in a highly collegial setting. Our goal is to provide each intern with a breadth of training experiences in assessment, intervention, and consultation with a diverse selection of patients in medical and mental health settings. 

We emphasize training in Evidence-Based Therapy Modalities. Nearly all of our 22 training supervisors are VA certified in one or more evidence-based practice modalities. Training opportunities exist in the following areas: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Biofeedback; Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTi); Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD (CBCT); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, chronic pain, depression, insomnia, and substance use disorders; Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT); Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders Using Prolonged Exposure (COPE); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills; Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP); Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT); Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT); Integrative Health and Healing modalities (IHH); Interpersonal Therapy (IPT); Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP); Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and other Mindfulness approaches; Motivational Interviewing (MI); Problem Solving Therapy for Primary Care; Prolonged Exposure (PE); Reminiscence Therapy; Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR), among others.   

For the General Track interns, the program will include: three major rotations, on a trimester basis (20 hours/week), 2-3 year-long or half-year specialty electives (12 hours/week), didactic training (2-2.5 hours/week), and elective involvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities (2 hours/week).  We currently have five major rotations from which to choose: 1. Addictive Behaviors Clinic; 2. Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP); 3. Health Psychology: Behavioral Medicine; 4. Primary Care Mental Health Integration; and 5. Women’s Health Clinic. Interns can choose anywhere from 2 to 3 specialty electives throughout the year with a time commitment of 12 hours/week from the following: 1. ACT Seminar (6 months or full year); 2. Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic (6 months or full year); 3. Couples Therapy Clinic (full year); and 4. Trauma Recovery Services (full year).  

The Neuropsychology Track Interns will participate in a full-year clinical placement in the Outpatient Neuropsychology Clinic – 18 hours/week, and both interns will co-facilitate a Memory and Aging Group for the full year (2 hours). The interns will also participate in two additional six-month clinical placements in Geriatrics - 10 hours/week and in the Veterans Cognitive Assessment and Management Program (V-CAMP) - 10 hours/week. Each placement includes time for direct patient encounters, supervision, and administrative work/scoring/writing. The Neuropsychology Track Interns will also participate in six hours of didactics per week and will be offered elective involvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities (2 hours/week). 

Didactics for both the General and Neuropsychology tracks include: a monthly Clinical Research Seminar, a twice monthly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Seminar, a weekly Psychology Training Seminar, and a monthly Supervision Seminar.  For the Neuropsychology Track, there are additional weekly Neuropsychology and Neurobehavior didactics as well as participation in a Neuroanatomy Lecture Series. 

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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Experience (21% to 30%)
Primary Care: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
HIV/AIDS: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Learning Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Experience (21% to 30%)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sexual Abuse: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Forensics/Corrections: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Offenders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Geropsychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: Experience (21% to 30%)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Feminist Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Integrated health care - specialty: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Other:

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/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/  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: 134 142 109 168 94 133 128
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 53 49 47 56 55 69 71
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 7 7
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 7 7
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 3 5 2 2 2 3 5
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 1 4 4 4 4 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 6 6 6 6 7 7
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 3 7 4 3 4 2 2
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 30 57 30 13 11 65 121
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: 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 4
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 1
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 2
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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