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Site Name: G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center

Department: Psychology

Department : Psychology

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2407
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center
Department: Psychology
Address: 1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave.
Mental Health 116A1
Jackson, Mississippi 39216
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 185 miles north of New Orleans, LA; 210 miles south of Memphis, TN; 235 miles west of Birmingham, AL
Phone: 601-342-4471x56220
Fax:
Training Director Email: Alexander.Rakhshan@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/jackson/
Brochure Website's Address: http://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Jackson-Internship.docx
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 12/12/2016
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Alexander Rakhshan
Chief Psychologist: Randy Burke
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 13
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/14/2025
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: 33469
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): vision insurance
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Psychology interns have time devoted to three main activities: clinical rotation (28-31 hours/week), supervision (4 hours/week), and didactics (2 hours/week). Interns can request up to 3 hours/week to engage in a professional leadership activity during the second and third rotation.
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: 12/06/2024 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are: Required
Interview notification date: 12/13/2024
Tentative interview date: N/A
Interview process description:

 Interviews consist of meetings with 3 members of faculty, alongside a brief meeting with the director of clinical training. Interviews are conducted via a performance-based interviewing format. During the day, applicants will also have the opportunity to speak with current interns regarding their training experience, as well as answer any relevant questions. Expected commitment for interview date will be roughly 08:30 up to 14:30 CST. 

 

 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Jackson State University Adler University Chicago School of Professional Development University of Indianapolis Rosalind Franklin University Mississippi State University Louisiana State University University of North Dakota 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: 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):
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Minimum Number of Combined Intervention and Assessment Hours (if applicable):
Does your program require applicants to submit supplemental materials (i.e., an assessment report and/or a case/treatment summary): No
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required (if applicable): 4
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: Must be a U.S. Citizen, submit to vaccination requirements, and pass background fingerprinting
Program Description

Program Mission

The mission of the internship program is to develop psychologists who will serve as future leaders in health service psychology. To this end, we seek to provide interns with the clinical and leadership skills that will enable them to be competitive health service psychologists and program managers.

As the number of professions involved in mental health care expands and there is a greater emphasis on cost-efficiency, the future for doctoral-level psychologists will increasingly be in academic and leadership roles, with a reduced role in front-line care. Our program strives to train psychologists who possess strong clinical abilities to deliver care in an effective and efficient manner, along with supervision and consultation skills to train psychology trainees as well as other professionals, and the leadership skills to influence professional practice and policies.

Program Model

Our program is based on a scientist-practitioner model emphasizing empirically grounded theory and practice of cognitive-behavioral assessment and therapy.  A wide range of opportunities with interdisciplinary teams, performance improvement projects, and supervision are available to develop a systems perspective as well as leadership, teaching, and managerial skills.

Training opportunities are available across multiple levels of care including general outpatient clinics, specialty teams, and residential programs for PTSD and Substance Use Disorder.  In addition to serving the local metropolitan area, our facility serves a rural population throughout Mississippi and parts of Louisiana and Alabama. Telehealth is a rapidly growing treatment modality, delivered to Veterans at CBOCs and in their homes.

Program Structure

Psychology interns have time devoted to three main activities: clinical rotation, supervision, and didactics. Interns can request time (up to 4 hours/week) for professional leadership activities during the second and third rotation. 

Clinical Rotations

Clinical rotations are four months. Current rotations include: Addictive Disorders Treatment Program, Primary Care-Mental Health Integration, Neuropsychology, Inpatient Mental Healthand Trauma Recovery. Part time rotations are available in pain management and disruptive behavior prevention.

Didactics

Interns will spend 2 hours a week in didactics. This will include a combination of didactic seminars, discussion hours, and intern presentations.  Our program provides didactics which focus on profession-wide competencies, career development, personal and financial development, and leadership development.

Diversity and Diversity Training

Our internship program recognizes, values, and encourages diversity. Diversity strengthens our services, enriches learning, and broadens the perspectives of the training class. Our internship program follows principles of inclusion, respect, tolerance, and acceptance. Our program will not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital/parental status, and political affiliation.

We encourage students who are passionate about working with underserved populations and determining ways to improve reach and effectiveness of mental health services in underserved populations, particularly African-American and rural populations, to apply to our program.

Training in cultural and individual diversity is an essential component of our program. Please see program brochure for more information on diversity training and a list of didactics focusing on individual and cultural diversity.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired:
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other:

(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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy:
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders:
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities:
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Anxiety Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Trauma/PTSD: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Abuse: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
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:
Research:
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: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/jackson/  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 2024-2025
Number of Completed Applications: 41 75 76 50 96 15 18 27
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 29 38 43 33 38 13 17 23
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 4 4 4 2 1 1 1 2
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 3
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 1 30 10 0 3 0 0 8
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 75 19 91 86 60 35 30 85
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0 0
Consortium: 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 1 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 2 2
Psychiatric facility: 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0
School district/system: 0 0
Independent practice setting: 1 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 1
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: http://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/docs/Jackson-Internship.docx
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