The psychology internship at the Wilmington VAMC is not yet accredited by the American Psychology Association; however, has been authorized for an APA site visit. Consequent to ongoing delays caused by the pandemic, our site visit cycle is projected to be in Winter 2023 [January-May]. Graduates of this internship program prior to accreditation are eligible to apply for postdoctoral fellowship positions and employment within the VA.
The mission of the Wilmington VA Medical Center’s Psychology Internship Program is to develop competent psychologists dedicated to delivering proficient, ethical, evidenced-based psychological treatment. Our graduates will demonstrate strong professional and leadership skills in the provision of clinical treatment in a multitude of settings.
The Psychology Internship Program is based on a practitioner-scholar model of professional psychology. Interns are trained to utilize critical thinking and analytical skills in applying empirical knowledge and relevant theoretical frameworks to the veterans they are treating. The training model provides supervised experiences in professional skills that are sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity. The internship prepares interns to function as generalists within a medical center setting, with opportunities to develop skills in specialty areas. We expect our graduates to provide comprehensive assessments of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional problems, to deliver a wide variety of therapeutic interventions tailored to the needs of various clinical settings, to function effectively as consultants in health care settings and as members of treatment teams, and to practice in a highly ethical and professional manner, acknowledging cultural and individual differences and using scientific literature to inform clinical decisions
Treatment is provided by interdisciplinary teams with a biopsychosocial model as an overarching framework. Consideration of psychological and social functioning in addition to biology improves the understanding of health and disease, as well as the ability of the team to align with and assist veterans. As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team designed to treat the whole person, interns learn about the perspectives and contributions of other professionals.
The training program is committed to the provision of recovery-oriented care that maximizes individual strength, promotes human dignity, and values individual difference. The Wilmington VA Behavioral Health Services strives to empower veterans through education regarding their diagnosis and treatment options. Veterans are treated as educated consumers and work collaboratively with the treatment team to develop an individualized treatment plan that reflects their readiness, needs, and values.