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Site Name: Northern Arizona VA Health Care System

Department: Mental Health Behavioral Science Service Line

Department : Mental Health Behavioral Science Service Line

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2210
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Northern Arizona VA Health Care System
Department: Mental Health Behavioral Science Service Line
Address: 500 N Hwy 89
Stop 116
Prescott, Arizona 86313
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 100
Phone: 928-445-4860x2712
Fax:
Email: Thor.Johansen@va.gov
Web Address: http://Internships And Fellowships | VA Northern Arizona Health Care | Veterans Affairs
Brochure Website's Address:
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: Thor Johansen
Chief Psychologist: Carin Grzelak
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 14
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 1
Position Information
Start Date: 07/15/2024
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: Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Interns can take up to 5 days of Authorized Absence for dissertation defense, graduation, interviews, attendance at conferences with prior approval and assuming they have enough hours to successfully complete the internship.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns will spend their days engaged in a range of activities to include individual therapy, group therapy, interdisciplinary team meetings, supervision, and support activities. On a typical day, an intern might have 2-3 individual patients and a group session with time for note writing. Early on in the year they could also shadow other providers or their supervisor in clinical activities. Specific activities vary significantly depending on the placement. The COVID 19 Pandemic created uncertainty and a need for flexibility and creativity in meeting our training program needs. NAVAHCS has been proactive and transparent in our response to the pandemic. We have also been fortunate. As a small hospital in a small town, we have had much less exposure to COVID, but have still taken safety seriously. We initially shifted much of our care to telehealth modalities and are now re-open to face-to-face. While we cannot predict what 2024-25 will bring, our expectation is to be able to continue to provide a high quality training experience while keeping safety as our priority.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? No
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: 11/20/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are:
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/18/2023
Tentative interview date: 1/12/2024
Interview process description:

NAVAHCS Psychology Internship offers three internship slots.  Applications are due by 11/20/2023 Invitations for interview will be sent out by 12/18/23.   We will be conducting virtual open houses and interviews in January 2024. Interns who are interested in visiting our facility/site are invited to do this on their own accord after our faculty have completed all interviews and rankings. We will make arrangements to meet with you in-person. In-person visits will have no effect on rankings. We offer this purely as a chance to see our site and the area. Prescott is very different from Phoenix and Tucson, and we like having the opportunity to show it off. 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Visit Website
We have matched with interns from these programs: University of South Dakota, Alliant International University in Fresno, in San Francisco, and in San Diego, Arizona School of Professional Psychology (Argosy), Minnesota School of Professional Psychology - Twin Cities (Argosy), Adler School of Professional Psychology, University of Colorado-Boulder, Argosy Southern California, University of Utah, Seattle Pacific University, Carlos Albizu University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Los Angeles, Palo Alto University, Antioch University, Wright Institute, Fielding Graduate University, Fuller Theological Seminary, California Lutheran University, Loma Linda University, Midwestern University
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 application deadline
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):
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: Applicants must be enrolled and in good standing in an APA, CPA, PCSAS accredited clinical or counseling psychology program and be approved for internship status by graduate program training director. Applicants are required to have completed their comprehensive examinations, and to have proposed their dissertation to be considered for interview or ranking. Preference will go to applicants with well-balanced training including both assessment and intervention. Applicants will be evaluated individually on their clinical experiences, academic performance, research background, and clinical interests. Preference will be given to applicants with interests that match with the rural emphasis, generalist training, multidisciplinary experience, and Scholar-Practitioner model of training as stated in NAVAHCS training aims. As an equal opportunity training program, the internship welcomes and strongly encourages applications from qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, physical or mental disability, language, culture, or religion. Eligibility Requirements for VA training are as follows: 1. U.S. citizenship. VA is unable to consider applications from anyone who is not currently a U.S. citizen. Verification of citizenship is required following selection. All interns and fellows must complete a Certification of Citizenship in the United States prior to beginning VA training. 2. A male applicant born after 12/31/1959 must have registered for the draft by age 26 to be eligible for any US government employment, including selection as a paid VA trainee. Male applicants must sign a pre-appointment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration before they can be processed into a training program. Exceptions can be granted only by the US Office of Personnel Management; exceptions are very rarely granted. 3. Interns and Fellows are subject to fingerprinting and background checks. Match result and selection decisions are contingent on passing these screens. 4. VA training occurs in a health care setting. Some of the patients served by VA are elderly or infirm, and could succumb to common illnesses like influenza. It is important to be able to document that your vaccinations are up to date and that you have been screened for active tuberculosis prior to starting your training at VA or other hospitals. Securing a statement from university student health center, your regular health provider, or an urgent care clinic can expedite your appointment. Additionally, maintaining a current flu vaccination and being vaccinated for COVID 19 during the training year (or taking additional preventative measures to limit patient exposure to the flu) will be required. Please discuss this with the program training director after you have matched and well before to your start date to facilitate your onboarding
Program Description

NAVAHCS Psychology Internship strives to provide a psychologically safe, supportive environment using a developmental approach to supervision in which trainees can cultivate a professional identity as a generalist psychologist, grounded in the competencies put forth by APA.  In the context of a rural VA hospital, interns will be trained as practitioners in a biopsychosocial model of care with a holistic understanding of ethics and diversity.  An emphasis will be placed on working with Veterans in a rural setting.  Practice will focus on a whole person approach in interdisciplinary settings, developing skills and an appreciation for ongoing professional development and service to our nation’s Veterans.

The Psychology Internship at NAVAHCS has been designed to provide psychological training which is broad-based and generalist in nature. The training will emphasize applications and experience in the provision of assessment and therapeutic interventions in both rural and traditional healthcare settings. Our goal is to assist interns in their professional development and their commitment to the delivery of effective, timely, and quality care to a culturally and diagnostically diverse population. The Internship follows the Scholar-Practitioner model, building on interns’ understanding of research and evidence based practice.

The NAVAHCS Psychology Internship is a one year experience at a VA Hospital which runs from mid July to mid July and that consists of two six-month major rotations and three four-month minor rotations.  Placements for major rotations include the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Integrative Medicine Pain and Complementary Treatment, and the PTSD Clinical Team. Minor rotations include Assessment, the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program, the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, and Leadership and Mental Health Administration.  Interns will engage in individual and group therapy as well as participate on interdisciplinary teams, develop programming, provide consultation, and assessment.

 

 

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: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
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:
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Experience (21% to 30%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Experience (21% to 30%)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Abuse: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision:
Research:
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Experience (21% to 30%)
Integrated health care - specialty: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Internships And Fellowships | VA Northern Arizona Health Care | Veterans Affairs  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: 67 56 47 49 44 54
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 30 30 29 27 29 30
Total number of interns: 3 3 3 3 4 3
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 3 3 3 4 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 2 1 0 1 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 1 2 3 3 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 3 2 3 3 4 3
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 1 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 14 8 4 7 1 13
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 72 10 63 26 75 15
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: 3
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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