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Site Name: Lexington VA Health Care System

Department: Mental Health Service

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Department : Mental Health Service

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1312
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Lexington VA Health Care System
Department: Mental Health Service
Address: 1101 Veterans Drive (116A5 LD)
Lexington, Kentucky 40502
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 75 miles from both Cincinnati and Louisville
Phone: 859-233-4511x3327
Fax:
Training Director Email: EmilyR.Hamilton@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/lexington-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/files/2025-09/Lexington%20Psychology%20Internship%20Brochure%202026-2027.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 08/01/2003
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Emily Hamilton
Chief Psychologist: Sherry Autum McCane
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 51
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: 5
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 34739
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Comp Time , Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Life 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 Interns spend two days per week performing duties associated with their major rotations, one day per week performing duties associated with their minor rotations, one day focusing on EBPs only in either the mental health clinic or PTSD clinic, and Fridays in training-related activities, including one hour Group Supervision and a two hour Didactic Seminar. Activities and roles associated with major and minor rotations vary, but generally include individual and/or group psychotherapy, psychological assessment, documentation, and report writing, training, and supervision. Interns are required to obtain at least 1.5 hours individual face-to-face supervision per week on their major rotations and at least 0.5 hours individual face-to-fact supervision per week on their minor rotations. An additional hour of supervision on their minor and major rotations may occur through additional individual face-to-face supervision, multidisciplinary team activities, and/or supervision by a non-psychologist.
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?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: 11/02/2026 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are: Required
Interview notification date: 11/30/2026
Tentative interview date: 12/7/2026, 12/11/2026, 1/8/2027, 1/12/2027
Interview process description:

We conduct interviews between early December and mid-January. All interviews will be virtual. Interviews occur between 8:30 AM EST and 12:00PM EST. The interviews will include an overview of the internship, individual interviews with 2 different faculty members and opportunities for questions with our current intern without faculty present. 

We try to match the applicant with a faculty interviewer who supervises a rotation aligned with the applicant's interests, depending on schedules and circumstances.

Applicants likely to be granted an interview would have a combination of intervention and assessment totaling at least 500 hours.  We prefer to see at least 100 hours of assessment, but will consider applicants with fewer hours, depending on the strength of the rest of the application.

We update our internship brochure on August 1 of each year, so please refer to that document for more information. Please do not hesitate to e-mail if you have questions.

Link: https://www.va.gov/lexington-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/

 
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Adler School of Professional Psychology Albizu University American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy - Washington D.C. Argosy Hawaii Auburn University Ball State University Biola University Boston University Bowling Green State University Catholic University of America Duke University Fielding Institute Florida Institute of Technology Florida State University Fuller Seminary Georgia School of Professional Psychology, Argosy - Atlanta Hartford University Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois School of Professional Psychology Indiana State University Indiana University of Pennsylvania Kent State University Marshall University Memphis State University Michigan State University Northern Illinois University Notre Dame NOVA Southeastern University Oklahoma State University Pacific Graduate School of Psychology Palo Alto University Radford University Regent University Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Southern Illinois University Spalding University Temple University Texas A&M Texas Tech University Texas Women's University The Ohio State University University of South Carolina University of Cincinnati University of Denver University of Indianapolis University of Kansas University of Kentucky University of Louisville University of Memphis University of Miami University of Minnesota University of Missouri University of North Dakota University of North Carolina -- Wilmington University of South Carolina University of South Dakota University of South Florida University of Southern Mississippi University of Tennessee University of Tennessee - Knoxville University of Toledo University of Tulsa University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University West Virginia University Wright State University Xavier University
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 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: https://www.va.gov/lexington-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/ Eligibility information for VA Psychology Internships can be found at: https://www.va.gov/OAA/docs/2021HPTInstructionsv4.pdf
Program Description

The Lexington VA internship program utilizes the practitioner-scholar philosophy. The intership's experiences are intended to provide opportunities to practice and expand on previously learned skills, to develop new skills and to experience personal and professional growth. Our belief is that these objectives can best be achieved through comprehensive training based upon the following three principles:

1. Training in a breadth of clinical skills central to the practice of psychology.

2. Training emphasizing content areas relevant to the intern's career goals.

3. Training in the ethical and professional standards central to the practice of psychology. Interns will complete two 6 month major rotations and two 6 month minor rotations. 

 

Major Rotations

Outpatient Mental Health Clinic

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team (PCT)

Inpatient Specialty Psychology

Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP)

Outpatient Clinical Addiction Treatment Clinic (CATS)

 

Minor Rotations

Outpatient Mental Health Clinic

Outpatient Clinical Addiction Treatment Clinic (CATS)

Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PCMHI)

Geropsychology

Pain psychology

Psychological Assessment

Neuropsychology

Inpatient Speciality Psychology

 

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: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other: Military Veterans

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Crisis Intervention: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
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 : Exposure (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Women's Health: Exposure (1% to 20%)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Experience (21% to 30%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Assessment: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Anxiety Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Trauma/PTSD: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sexual Abuse: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Substance Use Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Forensics/Corrections: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sexual Offenders:
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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.va.gov/lexington-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/  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: 87 48 51 50 81 55 49 52 37
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 40 40 50 50 76 42 44 46 35
Total number of interns: 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 2 4 3 4 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 5 3 4 5 5 5 4 5 5
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 4 2 5 5 1 6 5 6 7
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 212 16 64 47 35 21 47 46 28
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0 0 2 0
Consortium: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 1 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 0 1 1
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 3 3 0 3
Psychiatric facility: 0 0 1 0
Correctional facility: 0 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 1 1 1 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data: https://dsva-vagov-prod-cms-files.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com/2026-06/Lexington%20VA%20Internship%20Admissions%2C%20Support%2C_eff%2006.05.2026.pdf
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