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Psychology Training Programs

The St. Louis VA Health Care System Psychology Training Program offers Internships and Residency Positions

Internship Program

The predoctoral internship at the VA St. Louis Health Care System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The next site visit will be during the academic year 2027. The VA St. Louis Health Care System Psychology Training Program offers APA-accredited internships to U.S. citizens who are pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an APA-accredited, CPA-accredited, or PCSAS-accredited institution. To be considered, students must demonstrate completion of at least three years of graduate course work and a combined total of 1000 hours of practicum experience. Applicants with at least 300 direct service hours will be rated more highly when determining invitations for interviews. Please note that we will consider exceptions for applicants whose clinical hours and training experiences were impacted by the pandemic. Applicants must be certified as ready for internship by their Director of Training.

Postdoctoral Residency Program

The Postdoctoral Residency Program at the VA St. Louis Health Care System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. The next site visit will be during the academic year 2032.  The Postdoctoral residency program offers four Clinical Residency positions with different areas of focus.  The Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Psychotherapy and Assessment focus position offers training in evidence-based psychotherapy services delivered through both individual and group formats, to a wide range of diagnostic presentations in an outpatient mental health clinic. The Geropsychology focus position provides training in consultation, assessment, and evidence-based treatment to older adults across a breadth of interdisciplinary treatment settings (inpatient, outpatient, and in-home).  The Health Psychology focus residency position offers training in the provision of psychology services across a breadth of medical settings, including Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI).  The PTSD focus residency offers training in the treatment of military-related post-traumatic symptoms for all eras of service.  Finally, we also offer a two-year neuropsychology training program (see below for more information). Applicants must have completed all requirements of an APA-accredited, CPA-accredited, or PCSAS-accredited doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology, including successfully completing an APA-accredited or CPA-accredited internship, prior to the start date of postdoctoral training.

Clinical Neuropsychology Residency Program

The Clinical Neuropsychology Residency Program at the VA St. Louis Health Care System is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association as a specialty practice postdoctoral residency program in clinical neuropsychology.  We are currently “Accredited, Inactive” for the 2023-24 training year because no cohort was recruited, and we plan to return to active status for the 24-25 training year.   The next site visit will be during the academic year 2032. The residency is a two-year program. We have two positions, therefore, there is one training position open for each training year.

APA Accreditation

Any questions regarding the accreditation status of the St. Louis VA Health Care System psychology internship program or postdoctoral training program may be addressed to the APA Commission on Accreditation (CoA): Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation Education Directorate Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association 750 First Street NE Washington, D.C. 20002-4242 202-336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/ **

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Internship Application Due Date:

November 1, 2023

Postdoctoral Residency Application Due Dates:

Clinical Neuropsychology
December 4, 2023

Clinical Psychology with Evidence-Based Practice Psychotherapy Focus
January 1, 2024

Clinical Psychology with Geropsychology Focus
January 1, 2024

Clinical Psychology with Health Psychology Focus

January 1, 2024

Clinical Psychology with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Focus
January 1, 2024

Contact Us

Lauren Mensie, Ph.D.
Director of Psychology Training

Katherine Goedeker, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Psychology Training

#1 Jefferson Barracks Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63125
1-800-228-5459
ext. 66653