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Site Name: Kansas City VA Medical Center

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2340
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Kansas City VA Medical Center
Department: Psychology
Address: 4801 Linwood Blvd
(MHC 116A3)
Kansas City, Missouri 64128
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Kansas City, MO-KS
Distance from Major City: 0
Phone: 816-861-4700x55320
Fax:
Email: Kristen.Davis-Durairaj@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/kansascity/
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: Kristen Davis-Durairaj
Chief Psychologist: Briget Lanktree
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 35
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
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: 33892
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above):
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site The psychology internship at KCVA offers a generalist training program what allows interns exposure to a variety of selected major rotations (general mental health, assessment, various health psychology rotations, serious mental illness, neuropsychology, etc), with elective minor rotations in a wide variety of areas. The tour of duty is Monday-Friday from 0800-1630. We offer slots for 3 interns and 2 postdoctoral fellows, creating a co-hort of 5. There are also several externs, allowing for opportunities for interns to provide supervision while also receiving weekly supervision support. Interns will receive weekly didactic trainings in addition to four expanded trainings in evidence-based therapies. Interns will also participate in weekly group supervision and peer supervision.
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: 11/12/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/08/2023
Tentative interview date: 01/16/2024, 01/17/2024, 01/18/2024
Interview process description:

Candidates who are selected for interviews for the Kansas City VA psychology internship will be notified via e-mail by 12/8/23.  Applicants who are not being considered for interviews will also be notified by e-mail by this same date.  Interviews will consist of three 25 to 30-minute individual interviews with 1-2 staff members in each interview. Candidates will be provided with a spreadsheet of optional days, times, and interviewers.  We will do our best to match you with any requested preferences in staff/rotation supervisors for the interviews.  Interview days are currently scheduled for January 16-18, 2024.   Candidates will also be invited to attend a virtual internship orientation session and a session to meet with primary supervisors to ask questions about rotations.  We will have 2-3 optional times to choose from for these additional sessions.  Candidates will also be provided with the option to meet with current interns in a non-evaluative capacity to ask questions about the program, as well a few options times to meet with the training director.  All interviews are offered virtually using Microsoft Teams to support safety protocols and to promote equity in regards to financial capabilities to travel.  Hospital tours with the Training Director will be considered upon request and will have no bearing on the internship interview and selection process. 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Wright State University Pacific Graduate School of Psychology University of Kansas University of Saint Thomas Illlinois School of Professional Psychology, Argosy-Chicago University of North Dakota University of Missouri Kansas City Palo Alto University Nova Southeastern University William James College Hofstra University John F. Kennedy University Auburn University Brigham Young University Loma Linda University Alliant International University-San Diego
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): 500
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 25
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable):
Accepted / Not-Accepted Program Types
Clinical Psychology Accepted
Counseling Psychology Accepted
School Psychology
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Accepted
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree
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: All information about requirements will be found in the Internship brochure posted on the following website: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/kansascity/
Program Description

The primary purpose of the psychology internship program is to provide an emphasis on both breadth and intensity of training that allows interns to have a solid, well-rounded training experience.  The philosophy of training at KCVA is best described as a "scholar-practitioner" model. The training experiences have a strong clinical focus. Knowledge and use of empirically supported processes and interventions and models of evidence-based practice are expected and encouraged in all aspects of the program.  The training program at the KCVA is a generalist program that utilizes a developmental approach to training.  We emphasize the importance of fostering cultural humility, knowledge, and sensitivity to improve patient and staff interactions.

 

Each intern will complete a rotation in the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) for 1 day/week over the training year.  The supervisor on the MHC rotation would be considered your primary supervisor, and they would provide a minimum of one hour of individual supervision/week.

 

Each intern will also choose two additional major rotation options: one for the first 6 months and one for the second 6 months.  These rotations will be for 16 hours. Each major rotation supervisor will provide a minimum of one hour of individual supervision/week.

 

Barring any unforeseen staffing changes, the following rotations will be offered for selection for the major rotation options (full descriptions of rotations are listed in the brochure):

  • Health Psychology Options (16 hrs/week for 6 months)
    • Mental Health Integration-Oncology
    • Primary Care-Mental Health Integration
    • Whole Health/Health Promotion-Disease Prevention
  • Serious Mental Illness Options (16 hrs/week for 6 months)
    • Acute Inpatient Psychiatry
    • Mental Health Intensive Case Management
    • Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center
  • Neuropsychology (16 hrs/week for 6 months)

 

Each intern will select two minor rotation options, each consisting of 4 hours/week: one for the first 6 months and one for the second 6 months. Each minor rotation will provide individual supervision for at least 30 minutes/week.

Barring any unforeseen staffing changes, the following rotations will be offered for selection for the minor rotation options:

  • Intern Created Minor (2nd 6 months)
  • Acute Inpatient Psychiatry
  • Administrative/Leadership (2nd 6 months)
  • Integrated Pain Clinic (2nd 6 months)
  • Mental Health Integration Oncology
  • Mental Health Intensive Case Management
  • Primary Care-Mental Health Integration
  • Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center
  • Substance use disorder Treatment Outpatient Program
  • Whole Health

 

All interns will participate in a half-day assessment rotation throughout the training year.  This rotation will emphasize personality, psychodiagnostic, and pre-surgical evaluation assessments, with focus on comprehensive testing batteries that include clinical interview, intellectual and cognitive screening, various personality measures, and other screening measures as needed.  The interns will receive practical and didactic training on specific instruments, including the MMPI-2/2-RF, MCMI-IV, PAI, and additional screeners.  This rotation will include weekly supervision (typically provided in a group supervision format with the other interns) that will at times be focused on didactic instruction for administering the various assessments provided through the Mental Health Clinic. Interns will complete 10 assessments throughout their training year, with opportunities to complete more than this based on trainee interest.

 

Other Training Requirements/Experiences:

-Interns will present on a therapy case and an assessment case to the full team of psychologists

-Interns will participate in a process improvement project of their choosing

-Interns will provide a didactic training on their dissertation/dissertation equivalency project

-Interns will receive weekly didactic trainings in a wide variety of areas

-Interns will receive expanded training in several EBPs: PE, CBT-I, CBT-CP, ACT-D

-Interns will participate in supervision didactics to improve their skills at providing supervision to externs

-Interns will engage in monthly multicultural journal club discussions, as well as two multicultural outings

-Interns will participate in group supervision combined with the postdoctoral fellows, and well as peer supervision

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: Veterans

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison:
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Long-term Psychotherapy:
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Women's Health:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities:
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Experience (21% to 30%)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Trauma/PTSD: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Abuse: Experience (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research:
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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.psychologytraining.va.gov/kansascity/  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: 14 35 36 51 34 32 63
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 12 17 18 22 27 24 49
Total number of interns: 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 1 2 0 1 2 2 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 0 2 1 0 0 2
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 1 1 2 2 0 1 2
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 1 1 0 0 2 1 0
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 32 7 0 0 3 10 1
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 50 56 5 7 41 115 54
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: 1
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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