Psychology Training Program Predoctoral Internship Program

The Psychology Practice within the Mental Health Care Line at the MEDVAMC offers an internship for students in APA accredited graduate clinical and counseling psychology programs. The goal of the Psychology Internship Program is to prepare interns for the practice of professional psychology in a variety of settings with a particular emphasis on preparation for VA and other medical/institutional settings. It is our mission to assist interns, not only in the acquisition of a range of professional skills, but in the development of a professional identity and role. Our philosophy reflects a scholar/practitioner model with the goal of providing interns with the most up-to-date knowledge, skill, and interventions for a rapidly changing health care arena. Training is dedicated to a quest for scholarly inquiry and professional problem solving, with supervisors serving as mentors to the interns.

The patient population at the MEDVAMC is quite diverse, reflecting the rich diversity of Houston and the large catchment area of VISN 16. Patients come from various cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, range from young to older adults, and have varied psychiatric and physical disabilities. Thus, a major goal of the Psychology Practice internship program is to help interns enhance their awareness, appreciation, and understanding of diversity issues related to patient care, and allow interns ample opportunities to work with patients from various backgrounds. A wide selection of rotations, opportunities to work in outpatient and inpatient units and to conduct individual and group psychotherapy, weekly training seminars, close supervision, case conferences and unit staff meetings, and regularly scheduled mental health and hospital-wide conferences help interns gain the skills necessary to work effectively with diverse patient populations. Opportunities are also available for interns to participate in ongoing research or to initiate a research project.

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and the University of Texas Health Science Center are located a few blocks from the VA Medical Center. Each institution conducts its own training program in psychology, offering practice and internship level clinical experience. Both institutions participate with the VA Medical Center in inter-institutional seminars and training programs.

The MEDVAMC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages persons of diverse backgrounds of all types to apply to the psychology internship program. Although interns entering the VA program are under no obligation, many do take employment with the VA for their first Post Doctoral staff affiliation. The internship comprises a 12-month appointment offering 2080 hours of training. The current stipend is $25,716 rendered in 26 bimonthly payments. Benefits include 10 federal holidays, plus sick and annual leave accrual totaling 26 days for the year and reasonably priced medical insurance.  Interns also may have up to five paid days per year granted to attend relevant professional conferences and approved educational activities.