APPIC

Member Site Information

APPIC Member Number:	1138
Program Type:	Internship
Membership Type:	Full Membership
Site:	VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center
Department:	Psychology Department (116B)
Address:	Building 401, Room A241 11301 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90073-1003
Country:	United States
Metro Area:	Not Applicable Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA MSA
Distance from Major City:
Phone:	310-268-3680
Fax:
Training Director Email:	Kaitlyn.Young@va.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address:	https://www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-training/
Brochure Website's Address:	https://www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/west-los-angeles-healthcare-center-psychology-training/#internship-program
Primary Agency Type:	Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
Member of APPIC since:

Accreditation

APA Accreditation	Accredited
CPA Accreditation	Not Accredited

Internship Staff/Faculty Information

Training Director:	Kaitlyn YoungSciortino
Chief Psychologist:	Joanna Rowles
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty	69
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty	8

Position Information

Start Date:	07/13/2026

	Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class:	8
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class:	0

	Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class:	39913
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):	Research time; 5 days of educational leave time; 11 Federal holidays; 13 days of vacation leave; 13 days of sick leave

Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site	The work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, consistent with the VA's work hours. There are no weekend or on-call hours. The typical workday schedule varies by rotation, and is described in our internship brochure. Seminars are held midday on Mondays and on Wednesday afternoons. Scheduling of research hours is at the discretion of the primary supervisor.

Does this site have practicum psychology students on site?	Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum Students	Yes
Masters Psychology Practicum Students	No
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:	11/01/2025 11:59 PM EST
A Virtual Interview are:	Required
Interview notification date:	12/15/2025
Tentative interview date:	1/6/26, 1/8/26, 1/13/26, 1/15/26
Interview process description:	Applicants who are invited for interviews are notified by email by December 15, 2024. Interviews will be conducted via a virtual platform. Our tentative Open House/Interview dates are January 6, January 8, January 13, and January 15, 2026. Applicants will sign up for an interview date once they are contacted by the Director of Training. The interview day will consist of a virtual Open House, during which time applicants will meet with the Director of Training, training supervisors from the different rotations, and the current intern class. Applicants will also receive a virtual tour of our facility. Following the Open House, each applicant will participate in two thirty-minute interviews.
How to obtain application info:	Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program:	Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs:	Alliant International University/CSPP-San Diego; American University; Azusa Pacific University; DePaul University; Duquesne University; Emory University; Florida State University; Fordham University; Fuller Graduate School of Psychology; George Mason University; George Washington University; Georgia State University; Loma Linda University; Loyola University of Chicago; Pacific Graduate School of Psychology; Palo Alto University; Pepperdine University; PGSP - Stanford Psy.D. Consortium; San Diego State University/University of California at San Diego Joint Doctoral Program; Seattle Pacific University; Temple University; University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa; University at Albany, SUNY; University of Arizona; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Colorado - Colorado Springs; University of Florida; University of Houston; University of Illinois at Chicago; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Kansas; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Miami; University of Michigan; University of Missouri, St. Louis; University of Nebraska, Lincoln; University of Nevada, Reno; University of Notre Dame; University of Oregon, Counseling Program; University of Rhode Island; University of Southern California; University of Victoria; University of Wyoming; Vanderbilt University; Washington University in St. Louis; Wayne State University; Washington State University, Yale University; Yeshiva 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 start of internship
Dissertation Proposal Approved:	Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Defended:	No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable):	400
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable):	100
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):	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/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/west-los-angeles-healthcare-center-psychology-training/#internship-program

Program Description

The APA-accredited Psychology internship Program at the West LA VA provides broad and general training based on the scientist-practitioner model, and emphasizes practice informed by scientifically-based research. The aim of the program is to prepare interns for successful entry into postdoctoral or entry-level professional positions, particularly in VA Medical Centers or academic medical centers, and eventual licensure. We accept applications from students who are enrolled and in good standing at doctoral programs in clinical or counseling psychology accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), doctoral programs in Clinical Science accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), or an APA or CPA-accredited respecialization training program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.

The internship is geared to provide direct clinical experience with adult U.S. military Veterans in outpatient and inpatient mental health and medical settings. This full-tme, 12-month program begins on July 13, 2026 and is organized into three approximately 17-week clinical rotations. There are 8 internship positions, with 5 positions in the General Track and 3 that are funded through Geropsychology. Interns in the Geropsychology track complete two of their three rotations in geriatrics (Geropsychology and Geriatric Medicine). Major rotations include: Behavioral Health; the Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program; Geriatric Medicine; Geropsychology; Neuropsychology; Anxiety Disorders Clinic; the Substance Use Disorders Outpatient Program; and the Trauma Programs.

Selection of rotations is based on the intern's interests, goals, and gaps in training. In addition to the three clinical rotations, interns participate in a year-long psychotherapy placement. The psychotherapy placement is designed to provide interns with a more intensive training experience within a particular treatment model or orientation with patients who present with more complex problems. Interns are required to treat two ongoing patients in the psychotherapy placement. A single "case" may be year-long treatment of one individual, an ongoing group, or a series of individual patients who may benefit from more prolonged, but not year-long treatment.

There are rich opportunities for education and research. A weekly Intern Seminar, a monthly seminar on Evidence-Based Psychotherapy, and a monthly seminar on clinical supervision are offered during the year. The monthly Geropsychology Journal Club is required for interns in the Geropsychology Track and optional for those in the General Track. In addition to these required didactics, there are many additional learning opportunities, including a weekly Trauma seminar, a weekly Neuropsychology seminar through the Sepulveda VA, a weekly Pain Lecture Series, Psychology Department workshops, GLA/VA-sponsored events, and rotation-specific rounds, lectures, and conferences. Interns are required to become involved in a research or other scholarly project consistent with their interests.

Interns are allotted a maxium of four hours of research time per week. While completion of the VA research project is to be the primary use of the intern’s research time, research hours may also be used for any outside research, including completion of the dissertation, preparation of manuscripts or presentations, or work on other research projects. Research hours must be taken on site.

Awareness and understanding of diversity and individual differences are crucial to professional development, practice, and research, and we strive to integrate these into every aspect of our training program. Our model for practicing diversity includes awareness of one’s own beliefs, assumptions, values and socio-cultural identity, awareness of and sensitivity to others’, and a working understanding of how these intersect in the therapeutic relationship and institutional environment. The training program is committed to helping trainees cultivate cultural humility, while expanding upon their skills in providing culturally responsive care to various patient populations across WLA. Additionally, the training program actively supports trainees to develop competencies related to advocacy within the larger healthcare system. Please see our program brochure for additional details.

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:
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:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy:	Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Community Intervention:
Consultation/Liaison:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention:	Experience (21% to 30%)
Brief Psychotherapy:	Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Long-term Psychotherapy:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
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:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities:	Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Anxiety Disorders:	Experience (21% to 30%)
Trauma/PTSD:	Experience (21% to 30%)
Sexual Abuse:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Substance Use Disorders:	Experience (21% to 30%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Geropsychology:	Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration:	Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary:
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/greater-los-angeles-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
Number of Completed Applications:	174	182	160	169	158	142	156	139
Number of applicants invited for interviews:	65	65	64	63	66	70	72	74
Total number of interns:	8	8	7	8	8	9	8	8
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs:	8	8	7	8	8	9	8	8
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs:	7	7	5	6	8	8	8	7
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs:	1	1	2	2	0	1	0	1
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs:				0	0	0	0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program	8	7	7	8	8	9	8	8
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program		1		0	0	0	0	0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program				0	0	0	0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written	4	7	7	5	3	3	2	1
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written	60	43	193	42	58	115	114	61

Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)

	2022-2023	2023-2024	2024-2025
Academic teaching:	2	2
Community mental health center:	0	0	0
Consortium:	0	0	0
University Counseling Center:	0	0	0
Hospital/Medical Center:	3	1	0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System:	3	4	0
Psychiatric facility:	0	0	0
Correctional facility:	0	0	0
Health Maintenance Organization:	0	0	0
School district/system:	0	0	0
Independent practice setting:	1	1	0
Other (Academic Psychology Department):	0	0	0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data:		https://www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/west-los-angeles-healthcare-center-psychology-training/

Department : Psychology Department (116B)

Populations

Treatment Modalities

Experience