Training Directors: Assunta Vitti, Ph.D
Please feel free to e-mail: Assunta.Vitti@va.gov with any questions.
VA Hudson Valley HCS, with campuses at Montrose and Castle Point, NY, offers a fully-accredited APA internship in Clinical and Counseling Psychology.(Contact APA, Commission on Acreditation, (202) 336-5979 for further information, or write: Commission on Accreditation, American Psychological Assoc., 750 First St.,NE,Washington D.C. 20002.) As one of the largest psychiatric facilities in the VA, HVHCS offers opportunities to work with diverse populations in a variety of clinical settings. In addition, the hospital's location enables interns to take advantage of a rich array of educational and cultural opportunities available in tbe NYC area.
The Internship Training Program’s aim is train Interns in the achievement of the nine Profession-wide competency areas necessary for proficient practice as an early career psychologist. The Program thus provides interns with the necessary training opportunities to build upon their already existing competencies and support them in their progression toward proficiency.
The competencies areas are :
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Research
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Ethical and legal standards
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Individual and cultural diversity
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Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
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Communication and interpersonal skills
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Assessment
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Intervention
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Supervision
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Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills
Each of the above competencies are achieved through engagement in multiple training opportunities. Clinical experiences and educational activities throughout the training year assist interns in achieving these standards. Progression toward such achievement is evaluated with feedback provided to interns on a regular basis.
Clinical opportunities***Major Rotations (2 rotations; three or six months in duration):Interns are assigned to three Major Rotations throughout the year. These rotations take place on the PTSD residential unit. While one track focuses on Substance Abuse, the 2nd track's focus is PTSD. Interns spend approximately two-thirds of their week fulfilling responsibilities in these placements. Each Intern will be provided a Supervisor to supervise experiences on these units. ***Supplemental Rotations (6 or 12 months in duration): The intern will also be involved in one or more Supplemental Rotations that are estimated to occupy about eight hours each week (7 hrs-clinical, 1 hour-supervision). These may include Neuropsychology, Evidence-Based Treatments (DBT, CPT, CBT-I), Primary Care, Outpatient Mental Health (Group/Individual therapy) and Geriatric/Extended Care and Palliative/Hospice Care. These experiences may be combined based upon Intern’s preference or in order to ensure a comprehensive training experience. Each Intern will be provided a Supervisor to supervise these training experiences. ***Assessment: Interns are expected to complete a minimum of 10 comprehensive assessment reports during the internship year. A completed report will be due at the end of each month, September (sample data provided) through June. ***Didactics: The Internship Training Program offers numerous weekly seminars. Offerings include regular seminars in psychodiagnostic testing and group psychotherapy case conferences. An overview of neuropsychology is offered throughout the year as well as a seminar on use of the Rorschach. A variety of other seminar are offered including: treatment of newer era Veterans, evidenced based treatment.