Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas

Psychology Training Program Internship Application Process

Eligibility

To be eligible for internship, applicants must be doctoral candidates (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) enrolled in an APA approved counseling or clinical psychology program and must be United States citizens. Applicants should have completed a minimum of 600 total intervention and assessment practicum hours. Our internship observes all of the rules and policies set by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant. Current APPIC guidelines and applications are provided on the APPIC website (www.appic.org *). The internship year begins the first week in August.

Selection Process

All complete applications received by the deadline will be screened by the Psychology Training Committee, and approximately 40 applicants will be invited to interview. We seek applicants who have a solid foundation in assessment, intervention, and scientific inquiry. Specifically, applicants’ experience  with adult populations, familiarity with individual/group-based interventions, and scholarly pursuits in the form of scientific presentations and publications are considered. We also consider prior experience working in VA or medical settings. Overall, our selection criteria are based on a "goodness-of-fit" with our scholar-practitioner model, and we look for interns whose training and career goals match the training our program offers. All applicants will be informed of whether they will be invited for an interview no later than December 15. The MEDVAMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and the Psychology Training Program is committed to ensuring a range of diversity among our trainees. We select candidates representing different kinds of ethnic/racial backgrounds, sexual orientations, disabilities, geographic locations, and theoretical orientations.

Interview Process 

We encourage on-site interviews and typically do not conduct telephone interviews. Applicants with a disability who require accommodations for the application process or interview are encouraged to contact the Training Director to discuss their needs. We will make reasonable accommodations upon request. Interviews will take a half day and occur either in the morning or afternoon. They will include a brief meeting and orientation with the training leadership, interviews with three different psychology staff members, and learning about various rotation opportunities from supervisors over lunch. Interviews will be conducted on January 7^th, 11^th and 14^th and 18^th, 2013.

Application Procedures

1. A completed online AAPI (APPIC Application for Psychology Internships).
2. Letters of recommendation from three professionals familiar with your background (at least one must be from your academic advisor). We would like to hear from faculty members familiar with your academic preparation, as well as supervisors familiar with your clinical work.
3. All application materials must be submitted through the online AAPI and received by November 1st. No materials will be accepted by e-mail or US mail.

Position Information

The internship comprises a 12-month appointment offering 2080 hours of training. The current stipend is $27,029 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.

For further information, contact:

Mr. Carlos Torres, Jr.,
Psychology Training Program (116)
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 791-1414 ext. 3594
Carlos.Torres8@va.gov

Ellen J. Teng, Ph.D.
Director of Psychology Training