Department : Mental Health Service

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1357
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Maine Healthcare System (formerly Togus VAMC)
Department: Mental Health Service
Address: VA Maine Healthcare System
1 VA Center (116B)
Augusta, Maine 04330
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 50 miles north of Portland, ME
Phone: 207-623-8411x6344
Fax: 207-621-6935
Email: Jennifer.Breslin@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/maine-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-program/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/maine-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-program/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Jennifer Breslin
Chief Psychologist: Christine Ramsay
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 17
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/01/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 3
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 33469
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Interns may be eligible for federal holidays throughout the calendar year. In addition, interns accrue 4 hours of sick leave and 4 hours of annual leave for each full two week pay period, for a total of between 96 and 104 hours of each during the year, optional health insurance, excellent fully staffed medical library with personal desktop access, athletic facilities and a pool on site, historical campus with 500 acres of spacious wooded grounds with streams, ponds and hiking trails
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site This depends on which rotation the intern is currently in, but in all rotations the day would be a combination of direct patient service, supervision, consultation, and training activities
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: 11/13/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 11/30/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/02/2024,01/04/2024,01/09/2024, 01/11/2024
Interview process description:

Interviews will take place on Tuesday, 01/02/2024; Thursday, 01/04/2024; Tuesday, 01/09/2024; and Thursday, 01/11/2024.  All interviews for the 2024-2025 training year will be virtual, with video interviews preferred over telephone interviews. 

Each virtual interview day will include:

- An opportunity to interview with at least two members of the Psychology Training Committee  - times will vary based on applicant time zone and rotations of interest.  Each interview will last 45 minutes.  

- An information/orientation session with the Psychology Training Committee.

- An opportunity to meet with current Psychology Interns for a Q&A session.

 

 

How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Chatham University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Vermont, University of Massachusetts, University of Wisconsin Madison, Nova Southeastern, Alliant University, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, University of Mississippi, University of Louisville, University of Vermont, George Fox University, University of South Dakota, Drexel University, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, University of North Texas. University of Alabama, University of Montana, Antioch University, Adler School of Professional Psychology, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Arizona School of Professional Psychology-Argosy, University of North Dakota, Pacific University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, William James College, Ball State University, California Lutheran University, Roberts Wesleyan College, and others
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 start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 300
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 Not 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: Checklist for Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) Training at VA Facilities: https://www.va.gov/OAA/TQCVL/2021HPTInstructionsFINALv2.pdf
Program Description

We offer and implement competency-based professional psychology training, within a rural psychology context, in accord with a scholar-practitioner model. Our goal is to train ethically grounded, culturally aware generalists who can thoughtfully apply empirically grounded psychological assessment, treatment, and consultation skills for the benefit of persons and organizations, particularly within a rural environment. Training consists of 2080 hours in 3 three-day four-month rotations and 1 one-day year-long rotation. Those rotations include outpatient therapy, PTSD treatments, neuropsychology, geropsychology, and an intensive outpatient ACT pain program.  Our psychology interns have the unique opportunity to serve those who have served our country in the military.   We are located on spacious wooded grounds five miles east of Augusta, the state capital of Maine.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations

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

Treatment Modalities

Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Primary Care: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other: May have an opportunity to supervise practicum students

Experience

Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Developmental Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Forensics/Corrections: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Offenders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision:
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty:
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/maine-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-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: 73 95 77 74 91 58
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 42 55 41 40 40 40
Total number of interns: 3 4 4 3 3 3
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 4 4 3 3 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 2 1 1 3 2
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 2 3 2 0 1
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 3 4 4 2 3 1
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 1 0 2
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 5 5 1 0 8 5
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written >120 177 74 27 85 45
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: 1
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 2
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0