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Site Name: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1599
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
Department: Psychology
Address: 500 Foothill Drive
Mental Health Administration
c/o Renn Sweeney BH-111
Salt Lake City, Utah 84148
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: Salt Lake City
Phone: 801-582-1565x2088
Fax:
Email: caroline.sweeney@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/salt-lake-city-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/salt-lake-city-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
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: Caroline Sweeney
Chief Psychologist: Edward Varra
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 42
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: 8
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:
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): 1. Additional leave may be approved for attendance at conferences, workshops, and other educational activities. 2. Health Insurance for spouses (including same sex spouses) and children. 3. Vision Insurance 5. Dental Insurance 6. Onsite daycare facility. 7. VA psychology trainees may quality for the child care subsidy program if they are VA paid, full-time, and combined family income qualifies. 8. Will work with you around maternity/paternity leave. 9. Transit Benefit 10. The US Government covers interns for malpractice under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns have two different rotations at any given time. In one week they devote 18-20 hours for elective rotations and 12-15 hours for core rotations (psychotherapy or assessment). A "typical" work day, depends entirely on which rotations the intern elects. An intern who opts for IPU and psychotherapy experience might spend their day like this: 8-9 Chart Review/Notes 9-10 IPU Morning Meeting with Patients 10-12 Morning Rounds (interdisciplinary team and patients brought in individually) 12 - 1 Lunch, email, and telephone 1:15-2:30 - Interpersonal Process Group 3-4 Individual Psychotherapy Patient Interns who opted for Medical Psychology and Assessment may spend their morning triaging consults and seeing patients on the inpatient medical floor with their afternoon spent doing a full assessment battery with an assessment referral case.
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: 12/01/2023 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: 01/09/2024, 01/17/2024
Interview process description:

Applicants are invited to interview by email. We begin interviews in January. Applicants are invited to interview by video or phone and interviews last about 60 minutes.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are not offering an option for in person interviews.  Interviews are conducted by 2-3 members of the selection committee and the Training Director/Associate Training Director.  During the interview applicants are asked to respond to general questions related to their prior experience, training, diversity, crisis intervention, and case vignettes.  Applicants invited to interview are also invited to a Virtual Open House in January to meet the clinical supervisors, current trainees and to learn more about the internship program.  Open Houses are tentatively scheduled for 1/11/23 and 1/18/23 (dates may change slightly). Please note that the open house is not required and is only for applicants we have invited to interview.

Ideally, applicants have completed at least three years of graduate course work and 400 direct contact hours in intervention and 100 hours in assessment. Applicants with hours less than that, particularly if due to changes caused by COVID, are still strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be certified as ready for internship by their Director of Training.

 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: In the past 3 years we have matched with students from the following programs: Georgia Southern, University of Kansas, Palo Alto University, Miami University, University of Nebraska, Idaho State, University of Missouri, University of South Dakota, Ball State, University of Montana, University of Iowa PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, Baylor University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Mississippi, University of Colorado, and University of Utah
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: Yes, by application deadline
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):
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable): n/a
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/salt-lake-city-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
Program Description

The VASLCHCS offers broadly-based, generalist training through supervised experience in providing treatment, assessment, and consultation/liaison in BOTH medical and mental health settings.

Interns will complete 5 total rotations. There are 2 Core Rotations--one in Psychotherapy and the other in Psychological Assessment.  Each core rotation lasts six months. In addition to the core rotations, interns will complete 3 elective rotations lasting 4 months each. 

This structure allows for both breadth and depth of clinical experiences, as well as exposure to a variety of treatment approaches and supervision. 

The six-month Psychotherapy placement provides interns with the opportunity to provide psychotherapy (individual and group) and receive exposure to Evidence Based Psychotherapy. Populations may include Veterans with combat-related PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma, Substance Use Disorders, Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Personality Disorders, and Serious and Persistent Mental Illness. The six month Psychological Assessment experience involves providing the full range of services associated with psychological, academic, and neuropsychological assessments (intake, testing, scoring, write-up, and feedback provision). Referrals for psychological assessments come from medical, mental health, and other specialty clinics requesting differential diagnosis and treatment planning. Assessments are closely supervised, with interns being exposed to a variety of styles and approaches to psychological assessment.

Elective rotations vary annually, we offer anywhere from 8-12 rotations, depending on supervisor availability.  Rotations may include:  Inpatient Psychiatry, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Primary Care Mental Healt Integration, Geropsychology, Addictions, Pain Psychology, Comorbid Substance Abuse & PTSD, and VITAL (OEF/OIF veteran outreach in college settings) and Complementarary and Inegrative Health, Mindfulness, Actute Crisis Team, etc.

Within these rotations, interns function as providers, consultants, and members of interprofessional teams. They are exposed to serious psychopathology and complex medical conditions, allowing them ample opportunity to put to use the diagnostic and treatment skills learned in their academic settings. Interns work closely with the Training Director to prioritize their preferences for rotations based on their training needs, and the Training Director assists the cohort in creating a plan for the rotations so that each intern can have their preferred rotations or identify suitable alternatives that meet their training goals.

Interns are encouraged to plan their year so they can develop the most fundamental competencies, deepen skills and experience in areas aligned with career goals, and to also try new things they may not have tried before.

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:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students: Yes
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other: 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: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: 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 : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Multicultural Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration:
Integrated health care - primary: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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/salt-lake-city-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: 114 89 94 84 114 103
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 52 47 46 41 50 68
Total number of interns: 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 7 7 7 7 7 5 7
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 1 1 1 1 3 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 6 6 5 4 8 6 7
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 2 3 4 0 2 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 10 12 10 6 4 0 4
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 92 31 42 41 45 17 26
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: 5
Psychiatric facility: 1
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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