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Site Name: VA St. Louis Health Care System

Department: Psychology Internship

Department : Psychology Internship

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1399
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA St. Louis Health Care System
Department: Psychology Internship
Address: VA St. Louis HCS
Psychology Service-116/JB
1 Jefferson Barracks Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63125-4199
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
St. Louis, MO-IL
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 314-652-4100x64625
Fax:
Email: lauren.mensie2@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/st-louis-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/st-louis-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/
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: Lauren Mensie
Chief Psychologist: Martina Ritchhart PhD
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 58
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 3
Position Information
Start Date: 07/15/2024
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: 34088
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): Our program structures the week to include time for the internship class to meet together for peer/professional development time. We offer 15 days of Authorized Absence for conference travel, dissertation proposal, and VA interviews (with the review and approval of MH department leadership). The St. Louis Metro area offers the best of both city and outdoor recreational activities. During your training year you might take in the Festival of Nations, the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, go to the zoo or art museum for free, and visit the one-of-a-kind City Museum. St. Louis is also home to the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, the St. Louis Blues hockey team, and St. Louis CITY SC soccer team. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and camping around the various national parks and recreation centers. There really is something for everyone in our community.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site A typical work day is from 8am-4:30pm. Rotations occur Mon-Tues and Wed-Thurs. Fridays are devoted to didactics, professional development time, and independent training activities which are tailored to help interns develop specific competencies in assessment, scholarly endeavors, and other projects of personal interest.
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: 12/15/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/12/2024, 01/19/2024, and 01/26/2024
Interview process description:

Applicants with at least 300 hours of direct service hours will be rated more highly when determining invitations for interviews. Please note that we will consider exceptions for applicants whose clinical hours and training experiences were impacted by the pandemic.

Interviews will be held virtually (no on-site interviews will be scheduled) January 12, 19, and 26th from 9:00am-3:30pm CST.  There will be ~15 applicants each day.  Our staff members look forward to this day - it's one of the highlights of our training year!  Mental health leadership provides an overview of training at our facility, our Cultural Competency Council and Practice Council Chairs discuss opportunities for trainees on their committees, and each supervisor provides a brief synopsis of the training opportunities they supervise. Intern candidates have the opportunity to ask specific questions about training in rotation/concentration areas.  Candidates then rotate through a combination of 2 individual interviews, 1 group activity, and a meeting with training council leadership.  The TD & ATDs provide a quick overview of how rotations are selected, typical work week, etc. followed by and opportunity for applicants to ask about the program specific to their own interests.  

For neuropsychology candidates, the virtual interview rotation includes individual interviews with the neuropsychology supervisors and residents.

For everyone, we conclude with a virtual group meeting with current interns (no staff) wherein candidates can ask the interns what their experiences have really been like, what to expect, etc. (we do not solicit info from our interns). 

Applicants are notified of interview invitations by e-mail by 12/15. Our brochure lists the e-mail addresses of our staff and we welcome additional questions about training opportunities before and, if necessary, after the interview dates.

We are proud of the training we provide and we pride ourselves on providing the most accurate description and assessment of our program. We're happy when our new interns tell us, "There are no surprises! It's really like you all described!"
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: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 300
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 50
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 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/st-louis-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/
Program Description

Our APA accredited internship at the VA St. Louis Health Care System is designed to offer interns with extensive experience in providing care to an adult veteran population with particular emphasis upon evidence-based treatments oriented within a recovery, rehabilitation, and wellness framework. Our health care system includes two main campuses and several community-based facilities within St. Louis and the surrounding metro areas. Nearly all of our training rotations offer experiences within multidisciplinary teams. The internship year is divided into two, 6 month semesters. Each semester consists of two rotations that run the entire 6 month period. Each rotation meets two days per week. The fifth day of each week (Friday) is dedicated to didactic trainings and dedicated time for independent training activities tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of interns.  Neuropsychology track interns spend their first semester of training in neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation clinics. Interns attend all of our Psychology Grand Rounds and Psychology Service meetings and many participate on psychology service councils (Cultural Competency Council, Practice Council) or hospital committees. Didactics include case presentations and intern-selected special topics. Enrichment seminars focus on instruction in 5 EBP therapy models, professional development, clinical supervision, and diversity seminar.

We have 5 general internship positions and 1 neuropsychology track position. We offer optional emphasis areas of training in Health Psychology and Geropsychology. Health psychology rotations include Spinal Cord Injury, Primary Care Mental Health Care Integration, Whole Health, Health Promotion/Disease Prevention, and Siteman Cancer Center (pending OAA approval for 2024-24 training year).  Geropsychology rotations include Community Living Center, Home Based Primary Care, Mental Health-Aging Recource Team, and Palliative Care.  We also offer rotations in the Trauma Recovery Program, Inpatient Mental Health, Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, Behavioral Health Integrated Program, and Domiciliary Care.  Each year there may be some additional opportunities available based upon staffing/availability. Our interns usually find ways to get additional training experiences based upon their interests. Please ask if there is an experience you do not see listed!

Our psychology staff works within a collegial environment where relationships and leadership are valued. Supervision is viewed to be a developmental process whereby interns are supported and challenged toward achieving benchmarks in competencies recommended by APA. All of our psychology supervisors are licensed doctoral psychologists.

We are looking for accomplished intern applicants who are enthusiastic about training within the VA system and providing care to veterans.  We are looking for applicants representing diverse backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives who are enthusiastic about working and living within our richly diverse St. Louis metropolitan community. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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 :
Other: Supervision of practicum students may be possible within specific rotations.

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Experience (21% to 30%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Physical Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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:
Sexual Offenders:
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:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research:
Administration:
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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/st-louis-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-programs/  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: 123 107 132 85 83 88 86
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych 48 general, 12 neuropsych
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 4 4 4 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
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 4 4 4 5 6 5
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 2 2 1 0 1
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
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written
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: 0
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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