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Site Name: Western Kentucky Psychology Internship Consortium

Department: Western State Hospital

Department : Western State Hospital

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1310
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Western Kentucky Psychology Internship Consortium
Department: Western State Hospital
Address: Western State Hospital
2400 Russellville Road
Department of Psychology
Hopkinsville, Kentucky 42240
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 75 miles North of Nashville, TN
Phone: 270-889-2819
Fax: 270-885-5257
Email: Susan.Vaught@ky.gov
Web Address: http://www.wkpic.org
Brochure Website's Address: http://www.wkpic.org
Primary Agency Type: State/County/Other Public Hospital
Additional Agency Types:
  • State/County/Other Public Hospital
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Susan Vaught Ph.D.
Chief Psychologist: Susan Vaught Ph.D.
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 9
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 2
Position Information
Start Date: 09/01/2024
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: 34560
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: -
Fringe Benefits: Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): At the start of the program, interns have the opportunity to select other menu items for coverage, such as vision and life, for some additional cost. Six months into the internship, during annual sign-up, interns have the opportunity to add supplemental insurance policies such as disability, accident, cancer, long-term care, and others, again for additional cost. NOTE: Sick leave and vacation are bundled as Paid Time Off.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site A typical work day at Western State Hospital would include completing intake assessments on patients newly admitted to the hospital, participating in individual or group supervision, attending didactics as offered, conducting individual therapy for patients staying past 72 hours, conducting testing as needed and appropriate, and working on "background projects" such as blog articles and individual case studies. During the COVID-19 state of emergency, assessment, testing, and therapy services may be conducted in person, or depending on circumstance, via telephone and telehealth. Didactics and supervision are via online platforms such as Zoom, and case studies have been refocused to patients with full records in the electronic health record. During periods of surge, at the discretion of the internship director, interns may be directed to work from home or from their office within the hospital, though this may change at the direction of our Cabinet. Kentucky currently has a mask requirement for hospital settings. In-hospital work requires mask and eye protection when not in private office, and may require more PPE depending on circumstance. Interns will have the opportunity to fit-test for proper n95 assignment, and when pandemic conditions allow for safe on-unit work, interns will be offered this opportunity and provided with appropriate PPE. For the duration of the pandemic state of emergency in Kentucky, interns will not be compelled into face to face care. We continue a hybrid model of care, where interns will at times be in person and at times be virtual, depending on the health status of patients being served, and of interns, as well as the general risk level of the hospital and local area with respect to various pandemic/endemic contagious diseases. Please be advised that at this time, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and all relevant boosters recommended for healthcare workers, will be REQUIRED to work at Western State Hospital in any capacity, with no testing opt-out, beginning October 1, 2021. All approved vaccinations are readily available at no cost, locally. Depending on situation and availability, vaccination for COVID-19 and other common infectious diseases may also be available through WSH employee health. Additional paid eave will be provided per policy, for expected range of reactions to COVID-19 vaccination. Currently, vaccinated employees also receive additional paid leave for COVID-19 illness, and for quarantine periods if work-from-home is not an option at that time.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? 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: 11/28/2023 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are: Not Offered
A Virtual Interview is: Required
Interview notification date: 12/18/2023
Tentative interview date: 1/19/2024, 1/26/2024
Interview process description:

To be considered for interview, WKPIC requires 3 letters of reference, 2 of which must be from clinical supervisors. No supplemental materials required. 

 

Interviews will be virtual and focused on a matrix of skills, but it also behavioral in nature, allowing interns to discuss how they have approached training and clinical issues in the past, with 3-5 interviewers who actively supervise and educate interns in the program. Virtual tours of the training site will be provided on our website, and prospective interns will have unsupervised access to current interns by email, telephone, and virtual meetings if desired. Interviews typically take place at staggered times on the scheduled day, with prospective interns having some input into the times that work best for them. Each interview slot is around 60 minutes in duration. At this time, we plan to use Zoom as a primary platform. Time will be provided for question/answer, and current interns will be available virtually for private virtual meetings as well.

 

Interview dates are tentatively scheduled for January 13 & January 20, 2023. Make-up dates may be available on a case by case basis.

 

Please note:  We recognize that students may have had difficulty compiling practicum hours, depending on local practices and pandemic conditions during 2020-2022., and subsequent changes in facility staffings, policies, and practices. While our stated hours are preferred, we will not discard applications where potential interns or training directors note a lack of local opportunity to obtain hours. Each applicant who has not been able to meet the hours will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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 University, Chicago Tennessee State University Carlow University Vanderbilt University University of Indianapolis Fielding University Nova Southeastern University Western Kentucky University William James College Eastern Kentucky University Spalding 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: Yes
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): 400
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 100
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 Accepted
APA-Accredited Accepted
CPA-Accredited Accepted
PCSAS-Accredited Not Accepted
Non-Accredited Not Accepted
Ph.D Degree Accepted
Psy.D. Degree Accepted
Ed.D. Degree 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 note, once matched to our site, interns are required to pass a urine drug screen and background check prior to employment. Failure of the urine drug screen or background check will prohibit the intern from being hired. Due to current Kentucky state law and state policies, WKPIC prohibits the use of marijuana in ALL circumstances, and will refuse to hire students who tests positive for marijuana regardless of medical need, the presence of a prescription, or its legal status in your state. To pass a background check, interns can have no charges on their record, with the exception of minor traffic violations.
Program Description

Program training is for generalist psychologists with focus on an adult inpatient environment, and opportunities to work with people who have severe, persistent mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities (with dual diagnosis/mental illness), brain injury and neurological disorders, and issues related to aging. Geriatrics focus is possible after demonstration of basic competence.

 

WKPIC supports interns in providing services and receiving didactic instruction and supervision in person, via telehealth, and and via virtual platforms. Our goal is to offer interns a safe training situation that meets licensure requirements in most states. Onsite, appropriate PPE and sanitizing supplies will be provided as needed, and social distancing will be observed if currently suggested by the CDC for our area.

 

WKPIC continues to transition from a consortium model to a single-site model, and will undergo name change following our next site visit.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients:
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking: Yes
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Individual Therapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care:
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students :
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Experience (21% to 30%)
HIV/AIDS: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology:
Physical Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities: Experience (21% to 30%)
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: 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: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy:
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Experience (21% to 30%)
Supervision:
Research: Experience (21% to 30%)
Administration: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary:
Integrated health care - specialty:
Other:

Please note that while we offer Forensic experience (civil and criminal competence) this is not a forensic setting, and opportunities are dictated by referrals from the community.

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.wkpic.org  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: 44 31 46 42 47
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 34 28 34 34 36
Total number of interns: 4 4 3 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 3 2 3 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 2 0 1 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 2 3 3 4
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 2 4 3 3 2
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 2 0 0 1 2
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 5 13 18 N/A not considered due to pandemic N/A not considered strictly, due on ongoing deficits in training opportunities in some areas
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 125 32 64 N/A not considered due to pandemic N/A not considered strictly, due on ongoing deficits in training opportunities in some area
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: 1
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0
Psychiatric facility: 3
Correctional facility: 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0
School district/system: 0
Independent practice setting: 0
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0
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