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Site Name: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System

Department: Mental Health Service (116)

Program Information: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System - Mental Health Service (116)

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1439
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System
Department: Mental Health Service (116)
Address: 975 Kirman Avenue
Reno, Nevada 89502-2597
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Distance from Major City: 180 miles east of San Francisco, CA
Phone: 775-326-2920x6581
Fax: 775-337-2223
Email: john.wyma@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/sierra-nevada-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-program/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/files/2021-09/Psychology%20Internship%20Brochure%202021-22%20Final.pdf
Primary Agency Type: Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Additional Agency Types:
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director & Lead / Director: John Wyma
Chief Psychologist: Katherine McKenzie
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 26
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/01/2022
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: 26735
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Dissertation Release Time, Dental Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): Federal holidays
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Each rotation is different, but the majority of the rotation workday is spent interacting with patients and treatment team members and documenting patient care activities in the VA record keeping system (CPRS), with one day each week (Wednesday) being devoted to didactic seminars, Journal Club, our Diversity Seminar series, supervision training, and group supervision. The normal federal workday schedule runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. Clinical days (M, Tu, Th, F) will also include scheduled team or unit meetings, case consultation, scheduled individual supervision, and unscheduled supervision contacts.
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: 11/01/2022 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are:
  • Not Offered
  • Virtual
Interview notification date: 11/18/2022
Tentative interview date: 01/05/2023,01/12/2023
Interview process description:

Applicants will be notified by email if invited for an interview. Depending on restrictions imposed by the facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and conditions as we approach the end of the year, we are planning on scheduling two interview dates, January 5 and January 12, 2023. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

Interview Day activities begin with an informal virtual welcome event with our staff psychologists. The remainder of the morning will consist of informational meetings with the program Training Director, rotation psychologists, and the current intern class. Current interns will provide more information on the program from the trainee perspective. After lunch. applicants will participate in two individual 50-minute interviews conducted by one psychologist and possibly one current intern. Telephone interviews will be arranged in the event that applicants are unable to participate in video interviews. Interviews will include general questions about the candidate's professional interests and previous training experiences, as well as a case discussion to evaluate the applicant's case conceptualization, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning skills. A question and answer time concludes the day. Requests to talk with specific staff are certainly welcome.
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Pacific University, University of Notre Dame, La Salle University, Alliant/CSPP (San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego), University of Nevada (Reno and Las Vegas), PGSP-Stanford Consortium, Rosemead School of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Brigham Young University, Biola University, Northern Illinois University, University of Mississippi, Fielding Institute, The Wright Institute, and others (see our website).
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): 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 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: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with United States Selective Service before they can be employed or trained in VA. All applicants must provide consent for random drug testing, though initial drug testing is not currently being required of new trainees. COVID-19 vaccination and annual flu vaccination has been required of VA employees and trainees and will likely continue, federal exceptions to these requirements being for medical or religious reasons. See our brochure for updated information. Applicants will also need to complete an application packet for federal service once selected for internship, giving authorization for required background checks and random substance/drug testing, and other forms required of all new federal appointments.
Program Description

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System works from a generalist, scholar-practitioner model internship that includes rotations in outpatient mental health and in-patient medical/surgical/rehab health care settings.  Anticipated rotations include Mental Health Clinic; Behavioral Medicine Consultation and Liaison Service; PTSD Clinical Team; Addiction Disorders Treatment Program; Neuropsychological Assessment; Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program; Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic; Geropsychology and Home Based Primary Care; Mental Health Inpatient Unit; and Mental Health Leadership and Administration.  Other activities include our weekly didactics series; Journal Club; monthly seminars on diversity, military culture, and psychological assessment; a Diversity Project; individual and group supervision; and faculty mentor program. An optional long-term project, toward which up to 4 hours a week can be devoted, allows interns to build their skills in specific desired areas, to gain more experience in evidence-based interventions, to pursue research interests, or to develop further skill under the supervision of an expert in a given area.

Our Vision: 

“To prepare our psychology interns for long-term success in health service psychology.”  

Our Aims:

1. To develop in our interns strong core generalist skills in health service psychology through competency-based supervised training.

2. To prepare interns to function competently within an integrated health care system, particularly the Veterans Health Administration.

3. To support our interns in preparing for the next step in their professional careers.

 

Because we are a smaller program, we are able to offer our interns a degree of flexibility often not possible in larger programs. To a large extent, interns are able to fashion individualized training plans that allow them to pursue their areas of professional interest while also growing in each of the program's required competencies. We pride ourselves in offering a personalized training experience with the opportunity to develop close professional relationships with members of many health and mental health care disciplines. Because of the high quality of our program, our internship graduates have consistently been selected for prestigious post-doctoral residencies and full-time employment. Several of our former graduates have stayed or returned to become staff psychologists.

 

 

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
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: US Military Veterans

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
Individual Therapy: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
Couples Therapy: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Group Therapy: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Community Intervention: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Crisis Intervention: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Brief Psychotherapy: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Long-term Psychotherapy: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Cognitive Rehabilitation:
Primary Care: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Evidenced Based Practice: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
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: 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: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Neuropsychology-Child:
Serious Mental Illness: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Anxiety Disorders: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
Trauma/PTSD: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Sexual Abuse: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Substance Use Disorders: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Forensics/Corrections:
Sexual Offenders:
Geropsychology: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: EMPHASIS (31% to 49%)
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: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Supervision: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Research: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Administration: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Integrated health care - specialty: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
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/sierra-nevada-health-care/work-with-us/internships-and-fellowships/psychology-internship-program/  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
Number of Completed Applications: 59 64 61 47 51 87
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 36 56 35 26 45 46
Total number of interns: 4 4 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 4 4 4 4 4 4
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 2 1 2 3 1 1
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 3 2 1 3 3
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 4 4 4 4 4 4
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 0 3 8 12 7 6
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 27 36 32 137 91 22
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022
Working on dissertation/Student: 0 0 1 0 1 0
Postdoctoral Fellow: 4 4 3 3 3 4
Community Mental Health Center: 0 0 1 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center: 0 2 3 2 2 1
Military Medical Center: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Private General Hospital: 0 2 0 0 1 0
General Hospital: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Other Medical Center: 0 0 0 0 0 2
Private Psychiatric Hospital: 0 0 0 0 0 0
State/County/Other Public Hospital: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Correctional Facility: 0 0 0 0 0 0
School District/System: 0 0 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 1 0 1
University Teaching Faculty: 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 or 4 year Undergraduate Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Medical School: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Academic Non-Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Research Position: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Independent Practice: 0 0 0 0 1 0
Other (e.g. consulting): 0 0 0 0 0 0
Not Currently Employed: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Changed to Other Career Field: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown: 0 0 0 0 0 0
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