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Site Name: Torrance State Hospital

Department: Psychology

Program Information: Psychology

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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: 724-459-4486x
Fax:
Email: camvelazqu@pa.gov
Web Address:
Brochure Website's Address:
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 & Lead / Director: Camille Velazquez
Chief Psychologist: Danielle Adamsky
Number of Full-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 3
Number of Part-Time Licensed Doctoral Psychologists on Staff/Faculty 0
Position Information
Start Date: 08/23/2021
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: 30000
Part Time Annual Stipend for Next Class: 0
Fringe Benefits: Health Insurance, Sick Leave, Vacation
Other Fringe Benefits (not indicated above): All sick leave and annual time begins after working 750 hours with the state.
Brief description of the typical work day for an intern at this training site Interns will be assigned to a ward. It is difficult to describe as typical day in the internship. But most days interns report to the ward, help out in the milieu with crisis and consulting with staff and the treatment team. Run one group, see patients for individual therapy. During the assessment rotation especially and throughout the internship there will always be opportunity for psychological testing. Once a week the intern will attend treatment team where patients are seen to discuss their progress and discharge plans into the community are talked over with their counties. Supervision will also be offered (individual twice a week and group supervision once a week).
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: 01/04/2021 11:59 PM
Application Due Date Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
This program uses the AAPI: Yes, with additions
An onsite interview is:
  • Preferred
Interview notification date: 01/08/2021
Interview notification date time zone: Eastern Standard Time
Tentative interview date: 01/18/2021
Interview process description:

Interviewees will be contacted via email with a hard copied letter sent in the mail indicating that a phone call will be made to establish interview day and time.  Interviews will be conducted between 1/18/2021 and 2/05/2021 through on-site or phone.  When an applicant is particpating in an on-site 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 interested.  Phone interviews will be conducted in the same manner but over the phone. 
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: 500
Minimum Number of AAPI Assessment Hours: 50
Minimum Number of Years of Grad Training Required: 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: Please email camvelazqu@pa.gov for site's information.
Other Requirements: De-identified assessment report.
Program Description

Assessment Rotation

The intern spends four months completing in average two intake assessments per week. These assessments include a clinical interview, review of past evaluations and any information the community may have provided, psychological testing (I.Q., screeners for dementia, depression and anxiety, personality testing, and any other test that would be appropriate for the patient).

While on the assessment rotation, the intern will be assigned to a ward where he/she will assist the psychology staff on daily routine duties on the milieu and attend treatment team on a weekly basis. The intern will also have a caseload for individual therapy patients of at least three individuals.

Forensic Rotation

For four months, the intern will split their time between the Regional Forensic Psychiatric Center and the Sexual Responsibility Treatment Program (SRTP). During their time in the Forensic Psychiatric Center, the intern will be able to provide group and individual counseling and well as complete psychological testing to assist with any competency issues.

While at SRTP, the intern will provide group and individual therapy focusing on sexual offender specific programming. They are also expected to complete monthly reports for court, on the patient(s) they see for individual therapy. Psychosexual assessment and psychological assessments are also completed with appropriate supervision from licensed clinicians.

Personality Disorder Rotation

The intern will spend four month assigned to a ward, assist with milieu duties, and attend weekly treatment team. During this rotation, the focus will be on patients with personality disorders and evidence based treatments. Interns will be able to participate in group programming tailored for these patients such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, sexual offender specific programming, co-occurring disorder treatment (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, SMART Recovery, Motivational Interview). Interns will attend the DBT Consultation Team, which meets weekly for 90 minutes. They will also have a caseload of individual therapy patients, minimum one individual.

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

Internship Training Opportunities

Populations
Children:
Adolescents:
Adults: Yes
Family:
Older Adults: Yes
Inpatients: Yes
Outpatients:
Gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender: Yes
Ethnic minorities: Yes
Spanish-speaking: Yes
French-speaking:
Deaf/Hearing-impaired: Yes
Students:
International Students:
Rural: Yes
Urban: Yes
Low income: Yes
Homelessness: 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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
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: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Sports Psychology:
Rehabilitation Psychology: EXPERIENCE (21% to 30%)
Physical Disabilities:
Learning Disabilities:
Developmental Disabilities:
Assessment: Major Area of Study (50% or Greater)
Neuropsychology-Adult:
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
Number of Completed Applications: 25 10 12 12
Number of applicants invited for interviews: 25 10 12 7
Total number of interns: 3 1 3 1
Total number of interns from APA/CPA accredited programs: 2 1 3
Total number of interns from Ph.D. programs: 0
Total number of interns from Psy.D. programs: 3 1 3 1
Total number of interns from Ed.D. programs:
Number of interns that come from a Clinical Psychology program 1 3
Number of interns that come from a Counseling Psychology program
Number of interns that come from a School Psychology program
Range of integrated assessment reports: lowest number of reports written
Range of integrated assessment reports: highest number of reports written
Summary of Post Internship Employment Settings of Each Internship Class
2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020
Working on dissertation/Student: 1 1 1 2
Postdoctoral Fellow: 2 2 0 0
Community Mental Health Center: 1 0 0 0
Health Maintenance Organization: 0 0 0 0
Veteran's Affairs Medical Center: 0 0 0 0
Military Medical Center: 0 0 0 0
Private General Hospital: 0 0 0 0
General Hospital: 0 0 0 0
Other Medical Center: 0 0 0 0
Private Psychiatric Hospital: 1 0 0 0
State/County/Other Public Hospital: 1 1 1 0
Correctional Facility: 0 0 0 0
School District/System: 0 0 0 0
University Counseling Center: 0 0 0 0
University Teaching Faculty: 0 0 0 0
2 or 4 year Undergraduate Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0
Medical School: 0 0 0 0
Academic Non-Teaching Position: 0 0 0 0
Research Position: 0 0 0 0
Independent Practice: 0 1 0 1
Other (e.g. consulting): 0 0 0 0
Not Currently Employed: 0 1 0 2
Changed to Other Career Field: 0 0 0 0
Unknown: 0 0 0 0
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