User:

Site Name: Columbia VA Health Care System

Department: Mental Health

Department : Mental Health

Click on a section title to expand or collapse individual sections.
Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 2174
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Columbia VA Health Care System
Department: Mental Health
Address: 6439 Garners Ferry Rd.
Mental Health Department (116)
Columbia, South Carolina 29209
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 803-776-4000x4360
Fax:
Email: lyndsey.zoller@va.gov
Web Address: http://www.columbiasc.va.gov
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-internship-program/
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since: 11/25/2011
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Lyndsey Zoller
Chief Psychologist: Robert Howell
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 36
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/28/2024
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 3
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, Health Insurance, Licensing Exam Release Time, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): 11 Federal Holidays, 13 Annual Leave and 13 sick leave time accrued (4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave accrued every pay period).
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site
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: 11/05/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/08/2023
Tentative interview date: 1/10/2024
Interview process description:

All applicants will be notified by email if they will be offered an interview or not on or before 12/08/2023. Interview days will be on Wednesday 1/10/2024 and 1/17/2024 likely from 10am-4pm EST. These times may vary slightly. The interviews will only be offered virtually. The Interview day will include orientation to the program and introduction of faculty, individual interviews with staff, and a group meeting with current Interns.
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Nova Southeastern University Georgia State University Pepperdine University Chicago School of Professional Psychology University of Tennessee-Knoxville Tennessee State University Adler School of Professional Psychology University of South Carolina Regent 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: 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): 500
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 150
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 Not 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: Please find requirements at the following links: https://www.psychologytraining.va.gov/eligibility.asp; https://www.va.gov/oaa/TQCVL.asp; https://www.va.gov/OAA/onboarding/VHA_HPTsDrug-FreeWorkplaceOAA_HRA.pdf
Program Description

The APA Accredited Columbia VA Health Care System Psychology Intership program is a full time placement with a generalist approach to training.

Psychology Interns will complete one yearlong main rotation in General Outpatient Mental Health. Two six-month specialty rotations will also be selected from the listed choices: Trauma Recovery Program (TRP)-PTSD,  Serious Mental Illness (inpatient unit), and Suicide Prevention. Didactic trainings and other seminar series take place each week. Trainees are eligibile to receive training and certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). There are additional professional development opportunities avaiable to Interns throughout the training year.

For additional information please review our online brochure at: https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training-internship-program/

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family: Yes
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients: Yes
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: 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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Experience (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: Experience (21% to 30%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Cognitive Rehabilitation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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: Experience (21% to 30%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: 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: www.columbiasc.va.gov  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: 71 32 52 45 45 59 56
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 28 28 29 32 32 20
Total number of interns: 3 3 3 3 3 3
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 3 3 3 3 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs:
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs:
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs:
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 0
Consortium: 0
University Counseling Center: 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 3
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