Psychology Services
Psychologists work in many of Central Virginia VA Health Care System's mental health and medical programs, including both inpatient and outpatient clinics. Psychologists provide assessments and a variety of psychological therapies for individuals, couples, and families. The Central Virginia VA Health Care System has three APA-accredited psychology training programs. Psychology training primarily occurs at the McGuire VA Medical Center located in Richmond, Virginia.
Doctoral Internship Program
The doctoral internship at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The next site visit will be during the fall of 2027.
Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Candidates for internship must meet VA eligibility requirements (found here) and must be approved for internship by their schools. Further, candidates should anticipate that they would complete all doctoral requirements by the end of the internship. No applicants from programs awarding degrees in areas other than psychology will be accepted.
Internship APPIC Match Number Information:
General Track
206911
Health and Medical Psychology
206912
Neuropsychology
206913
Interprofessional Geropsychology
206914
Internship Applications Due:
November 1, 2023
Download the Brochure:
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Rehabilitation Psychology
The two-year Rehabilitation Psychology postdoctoral fellowship at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The next site visit was originally scheduled for 2023; due to Covid-19, APA modified this date to 2025 and extended full accreditation status.
Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
All applicants must meet VA eligibility requirements (found here) prior to the start of the fellowship. As a desire to work with a Veteran population is required, practicum or internship at a VHA facility is encouraged, but not mandatory. Given the specialty training in Rehabilitation Psychology, clinical experiences in this area are highly recommended.
We expect to offer one position for the 2024-2026 cycle and will adhere to the Common Hold Date (CHD) of February 26, 2024.
Rehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Applications Due:
December 15, 2023
Download the Brochure:
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC)
The MIRECC Psychology Fellowship at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The next site visit is expected in 2022.
Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Description:
What is the Goal of the Fellowship Program?
The MIRECC/CoE VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT) at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) trains health service psychologists to become leading clinical researchers in high priority areas of mental health. Over the course of the two-year program, Fellows receive intensive mentoring and didactics in clinical research competencies such as grant writing, research design, and ethics while receiving supervised clinical training in cutting-edge treatments and programs. A special emphasis of the fellowship program is to train Fellows to conduct translational research that brings basic science to clinical practice.
Through our partnership with the CVHCS Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship, Psychology Fellows seeking board certification may develop a training plan that fulfills eligibility requirements for board certification in Rehabilitation Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).
Who are We?
We are a two-year, research-oriented (75% research, 25% clinical) psychology post-doctoral fellowship at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) in Richmond, Virginia (i.e., the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center). We are one of the 25 VA MIRECC/CoE VA Advanced Fellowship Programs in Mental Illness Research and Treatment (MIRT) and are affiliated with the Mid-Atlantic (VISN 6) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), whose mission is to develop and apply scientific knowledge and best practices to enhance post-deployment mental health and wellness for our Nation's Veterans and their families. We collaborate with our academic affiliate, Virginia Commonwealth University, to expand training and mentorship opportunities for our Fellows.
What are the Program’s Guiding Principles?
The structure and activities of the program are designed to meet the guidelines established by the American Psychological Association and the VA Guidelines for Postdoctoral Programs. Our program is based on a scientist-practitioner model of training and, as such, provides a foundation for our Fellows to develop as health service psychologists who (1) utilize evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) within the context of evidence-based medicine (EBM), (2) critically evaluate the research literature to inform treatment, and (3) engage in clinical research to enhance health care. More information about the VA MIRECC Advanced Fellowship Program can be found at https://www.mirecc.va.gov/mirecc_fellowship.asp.
What are the Core Research Areas and Mentorship Opportunities?
Fellows develop a career-building research program through work with a mentor, selected from: rehabilitation research (Drs. McDonald and Trost), traumatic brain injury (TBI; Drs. Klyce, Perrin, and Walker), neuroscience and substance use (Drs. Bjork and Reisweber), PTSD (Dr. Amstadter), and health disparities (Drs. Perrin and Trost). Fellows may also collaborate with investigators at VCU and across the Mid-Atlantic MIRECC to learn specific skills, join writing teams, and access other resources that are useful for career development. More information about our research training and our mentor biosketches can be found under the Research Training Activities and Research Advisors and Mentors subsections, respectively.
What is the Approach to Training?
Over the course of the program, Fellows receive intensive mentoring and didactics in clinical research competencies such as grant writing, research design, and ethics while receiving supervised clinical training in cutting-edge treatments and programs. In collaboration with research mentors and the Fellowship Director, Fellows develop an individualized Learning Plan which includes organized, experiential, and sequential learning experiences in research, clinical service, and education during each year of the fellowship based on the goals and objectives of the program and the Fellow. The Learning Plan allows Fellows to tailor their learning experiences in order to best meet their individual training needs, while also providing sufficient structure to help ensure successful completion of training goals. Fellows are expected to develop and implement a research pilot project, publish and present findings, and utilize the latest technology for educational activities and clinical service delivery.
We expect to offer 1 position for the 2024-2026 training cycle.
Central Virginia VA MIRECC Fellowship Applications Due:
Applications are accepted and reviewed, and candidates will be interviewed, on a rolling basis, starting October 1st with priority consideration ending December 1st. If you would like to submit an application after December 1st, please contact the Fellowship Director to learn whether applications are still being accepted. The position(s) will remain open until filled. Please see the instructions for submitting an application in the MIRECC Fellowship Brochure.
Download the Brochure:
Program Contacts:
Psychology Training Program
Psychology Section (116B)
Mental Health Service
1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23249
Internship:
Thomas Campbell, Ph.D., ABPP-RP
Director, Psychology Training
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Rehabilitation Psychology:
Suzzette Chopin, Ph.D., ABPP-RP
Director, Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Rehabilitation Psychology
Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC):
Scott D. McDonald, Ph.D.
Director, Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC)