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Site Name: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

Department: Psychology Internship Program

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Department : Psychology Internship Program

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1112
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
Department: Psychology Internship Program
Address: Director of Psychology Training
Mental Health (11-116)
3601 S. Sixth Ave.
Tucson, Arizona 85723
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 116 miles southeast of Phoenix, AZ
Phone: 520-667-7543
Fax:
Training Director Email: kelly.obert2@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: https://www.tucson.va.gov/careers/PsychologyTraining/Psychology_Training.asp
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/southern-arizona-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since: 1973
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Kelly Obert
Chief Psychologist: Kelly Obert
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 37
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 1
Position Information
Start Date: 07/12/2027
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: 35398
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): Access to VA online psychology training opportunities; local CPT and PE didactic training and consultation
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns work a 40 hour work week. We offer two, six month training periods in which interns may choose one full time rotation (four days per week) or two part time rotations (two days per week). Our rotations offer a full array of training experiences at various levels of care (brief intervention, traditional outpatient, specialty outpatient/IOP, residential, and inpatient). Please see our brochure for additional information on rotations. Additionally, interns attend group supervision and didactic training weekly as well as a mentor meeting monthly. Two hours of professional development time are provided each week.
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: 11/06/2026 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are: Required
Interview notification date: 12/11/2026
Tentative interview date: 1/6/27; 1/7/27; 1/12/27; 1/13/27
Interview process description:

The Selection Process:  Upon receipt of an application, the Director of Training conducts a preliminary review for completeness.  Intern selection involves the entire psychology staff.  The applicant is expected to have a strong theoretical background that is based upon the scientific foundation of clinical psychology.  They are also expected to be able to communicate well in written and oral forms, have experience in individual and group therapies, integrated psychological assessments, and overall experiences that fit well with this VA medical center program.  The psychology training staff review applications using a scoring guide and offer interviews to strong applicants.  Applicants will be notified by December 11, 2026 via e-mail, whether they will be offered an interview.  Virtual interviews will be offered on four dates in early January 2027. during the hal day interview, applicants are scheduled in two 30-minute individual sessions, with two different staff members.  Interveiews will also include an overview of the program, a meeting with the current interns, and a meeting with current training staff.  This allows determination for a good “fit” for both applicant goals and the program’s format.  Accommodations (telephonic interviews) are made for applicants that are unable to access video teleconferencing. On site tours are available by request.  

*Please include your top three rotation choices and your preferred interview dates to your cover letter.* 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: 2026-27 Fielding University 2026-27 Midwestern Phoenix 2026-27 Alliant Sacramento 2026-27 Fuller Theological Seminary 2025-26 North Florida University 2025-26 Fielding University 2025-26 Northern Arizona University 2025-26 University of Connecticut 2024-25 Palo Alto University 2024-25 Fielding Graduate University 2024-25 Northern Arizona University 2024-25 Xavier University 2023-24 University of Memphis 2023-24 Northern Arizona University 2023-24 Carlos Abizu University 2023-24 Pacific University 2022-23 Palo Alto University 2022-23 Fielding Graduate University 2022-23 University of Arizona 2022-23 New Mexico State University 2021-22 Palo Alto University 2021-22 University of Montana 2021-22 University of Colorado 2021-22 Clark University 2020-21 Pacific University School of Graduate Psychology 2020-21 Catholic University of America 2020-21 Central Michigan University 2020-21 University of Southern Mississippi 2019-20 Carlos Albizu University-Miami 2019-20 Carlos Albizu University-San Juan 2019-20 Alliant/CSPP-Los Angeles 2019-20 Tennessee State University 2018-19 Adler University-Chicago 2018-19 University of Arizona 2018-19 Alliant IU/CSPP-San Francisco 2018-19 Roosevelt University 2017-2018 Wayne State University 2017-2018 University of Kansas 2017-2018 Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology 2017-2018 University of Utah 2016-2017 University of North Texas 2016-2017 Marquette University 2016-2017 Pepperdine University 2016-2017 Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
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 ranking deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by ranking 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): 500
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): 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: 1. Total of 500 hours of combined intervention/assessment prior to start of internship 2. Completion of at least 5 integrated testing reports using at least one objective personality measure with adults
Program Description

The internship strongly emphasizes empirically supported treatments.  Rotations offered include:

  • Acute Psychology (Inpatient Mental Health Clinic)
  • IBCT/Couples
  • Outpatient Mental Health (which may include PSTD and/or Military Sexual Trauma)
  • PTSD Clinic
  • MST Program
  • Primary Care-Mental Health Integration
  • Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program-PTSD or PTSD/Substance Abuse
  • Southwest Blind Rehabilitaton
  • Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program
  • Polytrauma 

Supplemental experiences are offered in: LGBTQ+ with participation in the Transgender e-consult committee and Neuropsychology. Additional suppliemental experiences may be available depending on intern interest. 

Interns attend weekly didactics on topics including intevention, assessment, professional development, and ethics.  Interns further develop their assessment abilities through completing assessments on their rotations, as well as in additional settings when available (e.g., assessments related to bariatric surgery, transplants, choclear implants) with support from weekly assessment group supervision. Professional development time is provided weekly for dissertation completion and/or program development projects.  Interns meet with a non-evaluative psychologist mentor monthly to address professional development. Supplemental educational opportunities are announced as available throughout the training year.  In the past, these activities have included umbrella supervsion of a social work intern, program development projects, and adminitrative experiences.

Please see the brochure for a complete description of the rotations and program offerings.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: 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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Crisis Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS:
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:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Anxiety Disorders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling:
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Feminist Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Religion/Spirituality: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy:
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research:
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: https://www.tucson.va.gov/careers/PsychologyTraining/Psychology_Training.asp   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 2025-2026 2026-2027
Number of Completed Applications: 74 52 144 65 44 65 50 63 63 64
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 42 40 40 44 18 37 21 27 24 25
Total number of interns: 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 3 1 3 3 4 4 1 1 3 2
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 1 3 1 1 0 0 3 3 1 2
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 2 4 3 3 4 3 4 4 4 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 8 1 0 6 5 4 3 3 2
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 131 12 40 56 23 45 53 63 115
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Academic teaching: 0 1
Community mental health center: 0 0 0 0
Consortium: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 1 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 3 3 2 4
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 0 0
Correctional facility: 0 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 0 0 1 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://www.va.gov/southern-arizona-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/
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