The Ancora Psychiatric Hospital (APH) Clinical Psychology Internship Program has been training interns since 1970 and has been APA-accredited since 2000. The program is designed to provide a well-rounded, diverse training experience in the treatment and assessment of individuals with serious and persistent mental illnesses, equipping students with the skills needed to function as entry-level psychologists in similar settings. The program helps interns develop competencies in psychotherapy, assessment, consultation and interdisciplinary healthcare, the application of research, professional conduct and attitudes, professional communication and interpersonal behavior, ethics/legal matters, and individual and cultural diversity. Interns should expect a balance of clinical work, supervision, and didactic training within an environment that is both encouraging and challenging.

To promote the greatest breadth and depth of experience, the intern’s schedule generally includes 2-2.5 days of therapy training and 2-2.5 day of assessment training at APH and two days per month in didactic training. The didactic training may be at APH, offsite or online.

Primary Placement: Interns receive psychotherapy training two and a half days per week and psychodiagnostic training two days per week. Interns change psychotherapy supervisors after six months. We currently have supervisors in the hospital’s four service divisions: Admissions/Acute Care, Extended Care, Geriatric-Psychiatric Care, and Forensic Care Services.  Interns complete testing batteries with patients from the hospital’s 14 inpatient units. 

Didactic Training: Twice a month, interns participate in the New Jersey Department of Human Services Professional Staff and Psychology Intern Colloquium Series. Additionally, APH provides a variety of seminars.