User:

Site Name: Saint Elizabeths Hospital

Department: Department of Psychology at Saint Elizabeths Hospital

Department : Department of Psychology at Saint Elizabeths Hospital

Click on a section title to expand or collapse individual sections.
Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1188
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Saint Elizabeths Hospital
Department: Department of Psychology at Saint Elizabeths Hospital
Address: 1100 Alabama Ave. SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20032
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 202-299-5762x
Fax: 202-561-6933
Email: carla.sterling@dc.gov
Web Address:
Brochure Website's Address: https://dbh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dmh/page_content/attachments/2024-2025%20Saint%20Elizabeths%20Hospital%20Psychology%20Internship%20Brochure%20-%208.24.23.pdf
Primary Agency Type: State/County/Other Public Hospital
Additional Agency Types:
  • State/County/Other Public Hospital
Member of APPIC since: 1973
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Carla Sterling
Chief Psychologist: Tara Mazzotta
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 22
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 1
Position Information
Start Date: 07/01/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 4
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 31593
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Annual and Sick Leave are each earned at the rate of four hours per pay period. Interns accrue 13 days of Annual and 13 days of Sick Leave per training year. There are also 12 paid holidays. Administrative Leave totaling up to 10 days is offered to each trainee to attend relevant conferences, continuing education programs, and dissertation defense. A total of $1000 is offered to per fiscal year to each trainee to attend training/learning experiences. Employees are eligible for Metro (D.C.'s public transportation system) benefits in the amount of $50 per month. Health insurance, dental and eye insurance, long and short disability is available to trainees, with trainees contributing to the cost. Coverage of family, including domestic partners and married spouses, is available. In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, the program allows for unpaid leave in excess of personal time off and sick leave, making efforts to work with the trainee to allow for completion of hours required. In the recent past, the District of Columbia added additional policies for time off due to COVID-19 related issues. Policies have changed in response to data related to the changing dynamics of the pandemic. Please contact the program director (carla.sterling@dc.gov) for the latest policies. Interns do not earn comp time or overtime.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Standard work hours for psychologists and trainees at Saint Elizabeths Hospital (SEH) are from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. On Fridays seminars start at 8:00 am, and interns may leave at 4:30. A typical workday for interns at the hospital consists of mornings spent engaged in major rotation / unit activities, including participation in unit rounds, community meetings, treatment planning, and individual therapeutic interactions with patients in the milieu. During afternoons, interns facilitate a variety of groups. Supervision meetings, individual therapy, and assessment sessions are scheduled throughout the day as needed. Likewise, time dedicated to optional minor rotation (Forensic Consult Service, Positive Behavioral Support, or Neuropsychology) clinical activities is scheduled throughout the week. Friday mornings are reserved for the intern didactic and seminar series, and interns often spend time on Friday afternoons engaged in clinical documentation and/or report writing.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum Students
Do Psychology Interns/Postdocs Have the Opportunity to Supervise Practicum Students?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: 11/01/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 11/22/2023
Tentative interview date: 12/01/2023, 12/08/2023, 12/15/2023, 1/05/2024
Interview process description:

After an initial review of the application packages, selected applicants will be invited for interview by November 22,2023.  Internship applicants who are no longer under consideration will be informed via e-mail by December 1, 2023.

INTERVIEW DATES AND LOCATION

Applicants invited for interviews will be contacted via email.  Internship interview appointments are offered during the week of December 1, 2023.  

We recognize that due to COVID-19, some applicants' practicum experiences, contact and assessment hours, and number of integrated reports completed may be lower than they would have otherwise. Please be assured we will take this into consideration when reviewing applications. If this is the case for you, please note that in your cover letter.  

Though we have historically invited applicants for onsite interviews, in consideration of cost and safety concerns due to the pandemic and hospital visitor restrictions, we will be conducting interviews virtually this year. Applicants will meet with the Director of Psychology Training for information about the program, and will then interview individually with several members of the training faculty. Applicants will also have an opportunity to meet privately with current interns. After interviewing, all applicants will have oportunities to contact additional members of the faculty, should they express an interest in doing so. Please contact seh.psychologytraining@dc.gov with any questions you may have. 

 

Saint Elizabeths Hospital agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Adelphi University/Derner School of Psychology American University Eastern Kentucky University Farleigh Dickinson University Fielding Graduate University Florida Institute of Technology Florida State University Fuller Theological Seminary George Fox University George Washington University Howard University James Madison University Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology Midwestern University Minnesota School of Professional Psychology Pacific Graduate School of Psychology Palo Alto University Pepperdine University Sam Houston State University The Chicago School of Professional Psychology The Wright Institute Texas A & M University University of Denver University of Hartford University of La Verne Wayne State University William James College Xavier University
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: No
If NOT a U.S. Citizen, Authorization to Work or to Engage in Practical Training (CPT or OPT) in the US is Required: Yes
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 start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 100
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
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: If you are matched for a position, you will be required to complete a DC 2000 government application form. Further, in accordance with D.C. Department of Behavioral Health's human resources policies, we require an employee physical examination with tuberculosis skin test, flu shot, pre-employment and random drug testing (including THC and opioids), and criminal background check with fingerprinting to be completed prior to coming on board at the hospital. The hospital requires COVID-19 testing prior to the start of employment. In the past year, the hospital required COVID-19 testing every week from the start of employment. This requirement has since been lifted. Finally, all employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Please contact seh.psychologytraining@dc.gov with any questions or concerns.
Program Description

Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., is a publicly funded inpatient psychiatric hospital, with approximately 290 beds distributed among 12 forensic and civil units. The hospital units include admissions (pretrial and civil admissions) and long term units. In our internship program, you will obtain training in working with a chronically and severely mentally ill minority population in a public mental health setting. Our training model is the Practitioner Apprenticeship Model, characterized by “learning by doing” and the refinement of clinical skills under the supervision of experienced practitioners. It is the philosophy of the training faculty that the internship program should encourage interns' exploration of areas of interest within the practice of psychology while building their generalist skills.

Trainees spend the majority of their time (75%) in service delivery. Trainees will have an opportunity to work with individuals who are voluntary, civilly committed, and those admitted by Court Order (for competency restoration and other forensic evaluations), as well as individuals adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI). 

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital has experienced changes in clinical service provision. Our interns and training staff have worked together to provide services to the people we treat in new and creative ways, including via telebehavioral health technologies. The class of 2022-2023 sucessfully completed all requirements and experiences to graduate as expected. We expect to continue to navigate and adapt treatment as the COVID-19 situation demands. 

Each intern completes two major rotations (approximately 16-20 hours per week) providing clinical services on patient care units. The rotations last 6 months, each spent on a unit in the hospital (6 months on an admissions/pretrial unit and 6 months on a long-term unit). Interns develop competencies in individual and group psychotherapy, milieu treatment, psychological assessment, multidisciplinary consultation, treatment planning, program evaluation, and clinical supervision.

The training program emphasizes interns' ongoing development of cultural awareness and humility, and interns participate in a process-oriented cultural humility/diversity seminar for the majority of the training year. Interns also participate in didactics and seminars during the training year, including seminars on forensics, individual and group therapy, assessment, ethics, supervision, and psychopharmacology. In addition to their major unit rotations, interns may select optional minor rotations with the Forensic Consult Service, Neurology Clinic, or with the Positive Behavioral Support team in order to obtain exposure to specialty clinical skills. 

Please email seh.psychologytraining@dc.gov if you have any questions or would like additional information. We look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients:
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students:
International Students:
Rural:
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Anxiety Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Offenders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: 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: 183 132 128 100 117 114
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 40 41 42 43 41 41
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 1 2 2 2 1 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 5 4 4 4 3 3
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 6 6 4 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 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 5 10 5 6 1 11
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 39 79 36 45 28 40
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 1
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
Back to the Search Page