Valley Health Systems

Doctoral Internship in Psychology

The doctoral internship in psychology is a crucial year of training. For some, it may be the last formal training experience. For others, an internship helps solidify a clinical foundation upon which they continue to build through postdoctoral training. Whether interns graduate and pursue independent licensure or seek postdoctoral positions, the internship year serves a formative purpose. It is a year to build fluency and specificity with the competencies needed for a career as a health service psychologist. The Doctoral Internship in Psychology at Valley Health Systems aims to prepare psychologists for entry-level practice in health service psychology.

Mission and Aims of the Program

The internship program is part of the Behavioral Health Department at Valley Health Systems, and as part of an integrated healthcare system, behavioral health providers are involved throughout the organization. Therefore, the internship program offers training in multiple roles and clinics within an integrated primary care system. We provide quality, evidence-based care through a breadth of services such as Behavioral Health Consultants working within the primary care clinics, Medication Assisted Treatment Programs for addiction treatment, psychiatry and psychiatric consultation services, psychological assessment, general outpatient psychotherapy, and specialized evidence-based interventions such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. The Internship in Psychology aims to prepare psychologists for entry-level practice in health service psychology. The program exposes interns to a variety of roles that psychologists serve in integrated settings. These roles include providing clinical services, participating in quality improvement efforts, and assisting with outreach efforts. Furthermore, the program supports the development of interns’ identity as a psychologist, by fostering an understanding of current trends in the field, advocacy responsibilities of psychologists, and readiness for leadership opportunities.

Accreditation Status

This program is not APA Accredited. The program is an APPIC member (#2424).

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Doctoral Internship in Psychology Procedure Manual

Doctoral Internship in Psychology Internship Brochure 2022-2023

Contact Information for Director of Training

Rebecca Denning, Psy.D. ABPP
Section Chief and Director of Training
Department of Behavioral Health
Valley Health Systems, Inc.
rdenning@valleyhealth.org