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Site Name: VA Medical Center, Battle Creek

Department: Psychology Service (116B)

Department : Psychology Service (116B)

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1361
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Medical Center, Battle Creek
Department: Psychology Service (116B)
Address: 5500 Armstrong Road
Battle Creek, Michigan 49037-7314
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 123 mi west of Detroit; 193 mi east of Chicago
Phone: 269-966-5600x35150
Fax: 269-223-5793
Email: jessica.kinkela@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/battle-creek-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/battle-creek-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
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: Jessica Kinkela
Chief Psychologist: Timothy DeJong
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 15
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: 5
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, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Guaranteed 5 days (paid absence) to engage in professional development. 11 Federal holidays; option to purchase dental/vision after 90 days.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Clinical hours are 8am-4:30pm Monday through Friday
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: 11/15/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/15/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/22/2023, 01/23/2023, 01/24/2023, 01/25/2023
Interview process description:

Only VIRTUAL interviews are offered. No in-person visits can be accomodated. 

Virtual format will involve an individual intern meeting with staff members as well as group  meetings with the training director and interns. 

1/22: PCT & C&P Track, Residential & MHC Track

1/23: PCMHI & Pain Track, PCMHI & Geropsychology track

1/24: Overflow

1/25: Neuropsychology Track

 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs:
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: No
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 0
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 0
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: https://www.va.gov/oaa/hpt-eligibility.asp
Program Description

PLEASE CHECK BACK AFTER SEPT 1 as information may change.  

Please see webpage: 

 

Battle Creek VAMC Psychology Internship program offers 5 tracks (5 positions total).

All tracks have the same aim: to develop competent health service psychologists who are ready to assume the responsibilities of an entry-level staff psychologist, such as at the VA-equivalent GS-11 level or advanced practice postdoctoral residency position.

Tracks are named after the rotation(s) the intern does during the first six months. Interns will select from a variety of electives from the second six months. Please visit our website or email the training director at jessica.kinkela@va.gov  for details. 

Neuropsychology (1 position)

July through December: Full time in neuropsychology clinic with two ABPP Board Certified Neuropsychologist supervisors. The Neuropsychology track does meet Div 40, Houston, and American Associate of Clinical Neuropsychology (boarding organization) requirements for internship in neuropsychology with at least 50% of the time spent in neuropsychology training. The second six months, interns engage in non-neuropsychology rotations of interest, including a therapy focused rotation. 

REQUIREMENTS for Neuropsychology Track:

  1. Apply ONLY to neuropsychology track. Those applying to more than one track with neuropsychology will not be considered for neuropsychology track but will be considered for the other tracks according to their merrits.
  2. Have at least 75 hours of individual adult therapy experience (Face to face or virtual individual intervention hours, not including support hours). 
  3. Significant prior neuropsychology practicum experiences (3 semesters minimum)
  4. Have history of neuropsychology focused scholarly activities such as dissertation topic, publications, or invited talks. 

PCMHI & Pain (1 position)

July-December 2 days of Primary Care-Mental Health Integration and 2 days of Pain Clinic rotations. The second six months will be with Primary Care-Mental Health Integration and an elective. 

PCMHI & Geropsychology (1 position)

July-December: 2 days of Primary Care-Mental Health Integration and 2 days of Geropsychology/Community Living Center rotation. The second six months will include electives that will include at least PCMHI, Pain, or Geriatric Assessment. 

 Residential & MHC (1 position)

July through December: Three days in PTSD-Residential Treatment Program and 1.5 days in outpatient mental health. The second half of the year interns can select electives including outpatient PTSD, Compensation and Pension, and others as available.

Residential & MHC track candidates most likely to get an interview have strong foundational work in trauma such as having done evidence based interventions for trauma during practicum. Those with prior VA experience in any clinical setting will be considered more strongly than those without any VA experience. 

 

PTSD & C&P (1 position)

July through December: three days in outpatient PTSD clinical team and 1.5 days in compensation and pension. The second half of the year interns can select electives which will include PTSD-RRTP and MHC as well as other rotations as available. 

Internship Training Opportunities

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

(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:
Group Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention:
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
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:
Supervision of Practicum students : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology:
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Other:

Practicum student selection occurs AFTER internship match, thus we are unable to promise the ability to supervise practicum students. For 2024-2025 we predict peer supervision experiences in PCMHI & Pain and PCMHI & Geropsychology tracks. 

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/battle-creek-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/  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: 82 83 83 70 70 66 101
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 48
Total number of interns: 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 3 2 4 3 3
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 3 1 2 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 5 4 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 1 1
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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100 >100
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: 2
Psychiatric facility: 0
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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