User:

Site Name: Torrance State Hospital

Department: Psychology

Back

Department : Psychology

Click on a section title to expand or collapse individual sections.
Member Site Information
APPIC Member Number: 1546
Program Type: Internship
Membership Type: Full Membership
Site: Torrance State Hospital
Department: Psychology
Address: P. O. Box 111
Torrance, Pennsylvania 15779-0111
Country: United States
Metro Area: Not Applicable
Pittsburgh, PA
Distance from Major City: 45 miles East of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Phone: 724-675-2110x
Fax:
Training Director Email: c-sgoldstr@pa.gov
Co-Training Director Email:
Web Address:
Brochure Website's Address: http://appic.org
Primary Agency Type: State/County/Other Public Hospital
Additional Agency Types:
  • State/County/Other Public Hospital
Member of APPIC since:
Accreditation
APA Accreditation Not Accredited
CPA Accreditation Not Accredited
Internship Staff/Faculty Information
Training Director: Sheri Goldstrohm
Chief Psychologist: Sheri Goldstrohm
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 4
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 07/20/2026
Funded
Number of Full Time Slots Expected Next Class: 3
Number of Part Time Slots Expected Next Class: 0
Stipend
Full Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 32877
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Comp Time , Health Insurance, Professional Development Time, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): All sick leave and annual time begins after working 750 hours with the Commonwealth.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns will have the opportunity to participate in three four-month rotations: Civil Inpatient Program, Forensic Program, Sexual Responsibility Treatment Program (SRTP). Interns assigned to the civil rotation will lead/co-lead psychotherapeutic groups, conduct admissions assessments, create treatment plans, and will have a caseload of individual psychotherapy cases. During the Forensic rotation, interns will have the opportunity to evaluate competency to stand trial as well as conduct group psychotherapy related to assessing and establishing competency. During the SRTP rotation, interns will have the opportunity to learn about sex offender assessment, as well as facilitate group and individual treatment. On all rotations, interns will work within a multidisciplinary treatment team and will gain experience in clinical consultation with other disciplines. All interns are expected to complete at least five full assessment batteries and reports. Interns will participate in individual and group supervision. Interns will attend didactic trainings pertaining to working with the SPMI populations, psychological assessment, as well as forensic assessment.
Does this site have practicum psychology students on site? Yes
Doctoral Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
Masters Psychology Practicum StudentsYes
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: 12/13/2025 11:59 PM EST
Interview notification date: 12/20/2025
Tentative interview date: 01/05/25- 01/09/25
Interview process description:

The deadline for submitting applications to the Torrance State Hospital Psychology Internship Program will be 11:59pm EST on 12/13/2025.  Interviews will be scheduled upon receipt and review of internship application. Interviewees will be contacted via email indicating that a phone call will be made to establish interview day and time. When an applicant is particpating in either an on-site  or virtual interview, they will meet with the interview panel of three psychology staff for approximately one hour to answer questions and then will meet with our current interns to ask any questions in a confidential manner.  A tour of the grounds will be provided to those who are interviewing in-person and are interested.
How to obtain application info: Email the Program
Preferred method of contacting the program: Email the Program
We have matched with interns from these programs:
Internship Applicant Requirements
US Citizenship Required: No
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: Yes, by application deadline
Comprehensive Exams Passed: Yes, by application deadline
Dissertation Proposal Approved: Yes, by start of internship
Dissertation Defended: No
Minimum Number of AAPI Intervention Hours (if applicable): 500
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours (if applicable): 50
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): Yes
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 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: De-identified assessment report.
Program Description

The internship program at Torrance State Hospital (TSH) provides comprehensive clinical training with a primary focus on treatment and assessment of persons who are identified as severely and persistently mentally ill (SPMI). The patients have been diagnosed with a wide range of disorders including but not limited to Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders, Personality Disorders, Bipolar and Related Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders, and Neurocognitive Disorders.

Given the extent of our unique setting, we offer three internship rotations. The program provides sequential training within a format of three four-month rotations, combined with year-long mandatory group therapy, individual therapy, and assessment components. Interns rotate through each of the placements within the larger umbrella of TSH: Civil Commitment Program, Regional Forensic Psychiatric Center (RFPC), and Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program (SRTP).

Interns learn specialized psychotherapeutic methods applicable to these unique clinical populations.  Clinical training includes specific services such as drug and alcohol treatment for co-occurring disorders (COD), admission processes, sex offender specific treatment strategies, as well as forensic evaluations and competency restoration.

Civil Program Rotation.  While on this rotation, interns are assigned to a treatment ward and are a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team.  Interns conduct intake assessments include a clinical interview, review of past records, and psychological testing (I.Q., screeners for dementia, depression and anxiety, personality testing, and other clinically indicated tests). Interns also have a caseload of individual therapy patients and participate in group programming tailored to the patient population.  Interns have the opportunity to learn and consult with The Beck Institute on Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R).  

Forensic Rotation.  During this rotation, interns provide group and individual counseling and well as complete psychological testing to assist with competency issues.  Treatment goals for forensic patients typically include facilitating competency restoration and preparing patients for court hearings, while simultaneously offering treatment to address psychiatric illnesses.

Sexual Responsibility and Treatment Program Rotation.  On this rotation, interns provide group and individual therapy focusing on sexual offender specific programming. Interns are also expected to complete monthly reports for court on the patients that they see for individual therapy. Psychosexual assessment and psychological assessments are also completed with appropriate supervision from licensed clinicians.

Every effort is made to tailor the rotations to the individual intern’s needs and interests. Additional training experiences (i.e. intellectual disabilities, geriatric patient experience, forensic psychology, neuropsychology) can be provided in areas other than the assigned rotations based on the intern and/or specific program needs.

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Infants:
Toddlers:
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients:
LGBTQ+: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking:
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
People without housing: Yes
Other:

(training opportunities continued)

Treatment Modalities
Assessment: Experience (21% to 30%)
Individual Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Couples Therapy:
Family Therapy:
Group Therapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Community Intervention: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Consultation/Liaison: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Crisis Intervention: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Brief Psychotherapy: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Long-term Psychotherapy: Experience (21% to 30%)
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:
HIV/AIDS:
Eating Disorders: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Sexual Disorders: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: Experience (21% to 30%)
Physical Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Assessment: Emphasis (31% to 49%)
Neuropsychology-Adult: Exposure (1% to 20%)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sexual Offenders: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Geropsychology: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Pediatrics:
School:
Counseling: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Vocational/Career Development:
Multicultural Therapy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Feminist Therapy:
Religion/Spirituality:
Empirically-Supported Treatments: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Public Policy/Advocacy: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Program Development/Evaluation: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Supervision: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Research: Exposure (1% to 20%)
Administration:
Integrated health care - primary:
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: 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 2025-2026
Number of Completed Applications: 25 10 12 12 14 15 6 6 13
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 25 10 12 7 14 15 6 6 13
Total number of interns: 3 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 3
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 2 1 3 2 2 1 3 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0 1 0 0 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 3 3
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs: 0 0 0 0
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 1 3 1 1 0 0 2
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program 1 1 1 3 1
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program 0 0 0 0
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written 0 8
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written 16 13
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class (1st Placement)
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
Academic teaching:
Community mental health center: 1 0 0
Consortium: 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0
Hospital/Medical Center: 0 0 0
Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 0 0 0
Psychiatric facility: 0 1 2
Correctional facility: 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0
School district/system: 0 0 0
Independent practice setting: 1 0 1
Other (Academic Psychology Department): 0 0 0
Link to Program's Trainee Admissions, Support, and Outcome Data:
Back