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Site Name: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Department: Behavioral Health

Program Information: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System - Behavioral Health

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Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1543
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Department: Behavioral Health
Address: Behavioral Health 116A-U
University Drive C
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15240-1001
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Pittsburgh, PA
Distance from Major City:
Phone: 412-360-1290x
Fax: 412-360-2994x
Email: Bernadette.Pasquale@va.gov
Web Address: https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/work-with-us/internships-fellowships/psychology-internships-and-fellowships/
Brochure Website's Address: https://www.va.gov/pittsburgh-health-care/work-with-us/internships-fellowships/psychology-internships-and-fellowships/
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 & Lead / Director: Bernadette Pasquale
Chief Psychologist: Christopher Watson
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 45
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/31/2023
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 6
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 27080
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): 11 federal holidays; 13 personal days; 13 sick days
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns spend the day engaged in a variety of activities, including clinical work and related activities, didactic seminars, and supervision. Clinical work includes assessment and psychotherapy, consultation, team meetings, documentation, and scholarly reading related to clinical experiences.
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?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: 11/06/2022 11:59 PM EST
Interviews at this site are:
  • Virtual
Interview notification date: 11/23/2022
Tentative interview date: 12/08/2022; 12/16/2022; 01/09/2023; 01/20/2023
Interview process description:

Selected applicants are contacted by email and invited to interview with us. All interviews will be virtual and interviews are required.   No on-site interviews or open houses will be offered.  Virtual interviews are one full day in duration and consist of overview of the training program by Director of Clinical Training, rotation stations, individual interviews with supervisors, and informal discussion with current interns.  Interview format will be more thoroughly explained on our website and in the interview notification email.
How to obtain application info: Visit Website
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs: Variety of programs: clinical and counseling Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs across the country.
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: No
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 300
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 50
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:
Program Description

Our program offers 3 tracks: general psychology (4 slots), neuropsychology (1 slot), and geropsychology (1 slot).  The Neuropsychology track is appropriate for applicants with prior neuropsychology training who wish to pursue board certification in neuropsychology; neuropsychology applicants should only apply to the neuropsychology track.  The geropsychology track is appropriate for applicants with an identified interest in geropsychology training with aspirations for a geropsychology fellowship/board certification; these applicants could apply to both the geropsychology and general tracks as geropsychology rotations are also available in the general track.  Interns complete three 4-month rotations with the opportunity to pursue a one-day per week elective rotation. There are rotation options in a variety of clinics, including PCMHI, geropsychology, neuropsychology, trauma, substance use disorders, psychosis, and general mental health.  EBP's are emphasized.  Interns also participate in several weekly didactic programs, to include case conference, D-group, intern seminar series, and journal clubs.  Emphasis is placed on diversity training with a monthly multicultural seminar, monthly multicultural reflection series, monthly DEI huddle, and opportunity to participate as members of the Diversity subcommittee.  Our progarm website more fully describes our tracks and training experiences.

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:
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention:
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:
Cognitive Rehabilitation: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Primary Care: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidenced Based Practice: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Evidence Based Research:
Supervision of Practicum students : EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Experience
Health Psychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Women's Health: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders:
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Physical Disabilities: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Learning Disabilities:
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: 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:
Sexual Offenders:
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:
Supervision: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Research: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Administration: EXPOSURE (1% to 20%)
Integrated health care - primary: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Integrated health care - specialty:
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/pittsburgh-health-care/work-with-us/internships-fellowships/psychology-internships-and-fellowships/  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: 139 171 142 129 149 150
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 57 58 60 59 57 58
Total number of interns: 6 6 6 6 6 6
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 6 6 6 6 6 6
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 4 4 5 5 5 5
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 2 2 1 1 1 1
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 6 5 6 5 5 5
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 0 1 0 1 1 1
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 6 3 4 4 6 4
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 68 79 72 52 58 50
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 0 0 0 0
Postdoctoral Fellow: 6 4 6 5 5 4
Community Mental Health Center: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center: 4 4 6 4 3 3
Military Medical Center: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Private General Hospital: 0 0 0 0 0 0
General Hospital: 0 0 0 1 0 0
Other Medical Center: 0 1 0 1 1 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 0 0 0
University Teaching Faculty: 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 or 4 year Undergraduate Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Medical School: 1 0 0 0 0 0
Academic Non-Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0 0 0
Research Position: 1 0 0 0 1 0
Independent Practice: 0 1 0 0 1 0
Other (e.g. consulting): 0 0 0 0 0 1
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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