The Citrus Health Network Psychology Doctoral Internship Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC).
Presently, Citrus is accepting six doctoral psychology interns each year. All internship slots are full-time and fully funded. The internship year begins on or just after July 1st, and all interns are expected to start on that date.
- Assessment experiences in a large community mental health center
- Treatment and evaluation in both primary care and behavioral health outpatient settings
- Outpatient psychotherapy
- Services provided to children, adolescents, adults, and families
- A multi-ethnic, largely Hispanic patient population
- A rich program of didactic seminars
Mission and Model
CHN Mission: Citrus Health Network is in the business of helping people.
Internship Training Model: Science informed by the literature
Training Aims and Philosophy
Citrus Health Network, Inc. has defined its training philosophy to reflect a “practitioner informed by the literature” orientation. By virtue of this orientation, we seek to train interns in a variety of entry level clinical skills, augmented by regular seminars in related subject areas, scientific colloquia, and reviews and discussions of relevant current and past literature.
Our basic training aims are as follows:
- Develop intern’s ability to integrate clinical theory and practice in the application of knowledge, assessment and clinical skills in the practice of psychology.
- To be aware of and respond to issues of cultural diversity.
- To foster intern’s sense of professionalism
Each of these training aims have several specific areas of competencies all with corresponding outcomes, prescribed activities, assessment criteria, and element requirements.
Citrus Health Network is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation for both a Doctoral Internship Program and a Postdoctoral Residency Program. In addition, the Internship training program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and observes all rules for intern selection as established by that organization. To apply, please register through www.appic.org.
For more information on the Citrus Health Network Psychology Doctoral Internship Program, click on the links below and please contact the Office of Education and Training at psychologyprogram@citrushealth.com.
Overview of Psychology Doctoral Internship Activities
Primary Care Psychology Rotation
The primary care psychology rotation includes experience with pediatrics, adults, and women’s health. It focuses on applying psychological knowledge and principles to common physical and mental health problems. The interns participate on a multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive care, patient evaluation and treatment, determining factors affecting health, and developing tailored therapies for individuals struggling with biopsychosocial stressors. In addition, interns work towards managing illness, psychological symptomatology, and improving overall quality of life. Further, the intern will have the opportunity to lead Wellness Groups in
CHN’s Children’s Crisis Unit, these groups are offered on an ongoing basis with topics focusing on stress management
and lifestyle modifications.
Site Supervisors:
Yunelis Vera, Psy.D.
Nina Marie Maspons, Psy.D.
Yoslaine Mesa-Jimenez, Psy.D.
Rotation Experience:
Six Months
Individual Therapy
Diagnostic Interviews
Screenings/Risk Assessments
Inpatient – Wellness Groups - Children & Adolescents
Setting/Patient Population:
Primary Care
Children/Adolescents and Adults
Outpatient & Inpatient
Outpatient Psychotherapy Rotation
The outpatient psychotherapy rotation offers psychotherapy, based primarily on a brief or short-term, psychoeducational and/or a maintenance approach. Interns make use of problem-focused, defense building and supportive psychotherapeutic strategies which may include the participation of family members when necessary and appropriate. Besides individual and family therapy, the outpatient psychotherapy rotation also offers a specific psycho-educational approach through group therapy for those patients who can benefit from more ongoing, long-term support and education in specifically identified areas.
In addition, interns will be provided the opportunity to rotate through our AES department for a day. Interns will conduct diagnostic interview assessments in a psychiatric emergency room to assess each client’s level of acuity or psychiatric status and to ensure the correct and appropriate disposition for client’s immediate and long-term needs. Additionally, they will be completing brief crisis interventions geared at reducing acute levels of psychological distress as well as assisting clients to regain a more adaptive level of functioning.
Site Supervisors:
Dolly Akel-Greer, Psy.D.
Madelyn Cabrera, Psy.D.
Stephanie Freiria-Montalvo, Psy.D.
Rotation Experience:
Six Months
Individual Therapy/Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Diagnostic Interviews
Crisis Interventions
Setting/Patient Population:
Outpatient Psychotherapy
Assessment and Emergency Services Department
Children/Adolescents, Adults, and Families
*Activities may change at the Training Director’s discretion
Psychological Testing Service
The goal of an intern’s experience in the psychological testing service is to develop the administration and interpretation skills necessary to conduct psychological and psychoeducational evaluations to formulate an appropriate diagnosis and make treatment recommendations. Interns will develop refined administration skills and increasing proficiency in interpretation of cognitive, academic, behavioral, developmental, and personality assessments.
Clinical Supervisor:
Dianne Rosen, Ph.D., ABPP
Psychological Testing Service:
12 months
Psychological Evaluations
Psycho-educational Evaluations
Setting/Patient Population:
Outpatient
Children, Adolescents, and some Young Adults
Seminars
In addition to the learning that occurs through supervised practice, interns at Citrus Health Network also benefit from an extensive array of structured seminar experiences. The internship program provides opportunities for didactic exposure to scientific literature and the discussion thereof, through several seminars.
Diagnostic Seminar
Psychotherapy Seminar
Primary Care Seminar
Psychological Testing Seminar
Mentoring Seminar
Multidisciplinary Grand Rounds: Primary Care and Behavioral Health Topics
For more detailed information on Internship activities, please refer to the Handbook.
Citrus Health Network is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Office of Accreditation and Program Consultation for both a Doctoral Internship Program and a Postdoctoral Residency Program. The Postdoctoral Residency program is the only accredited Postdoctoral Residency program in the nation to be based in a community mental health center. In addition, the entire training program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and observes all rules for intern and postdoctoral resident selection as established by that organization. To apply, please register through www.appic.org
Admission Process and Criteria for Doctoral Internship Program
Applicants representing cultural and individual diversity including but not limited to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and social economic status are encouraged to apply.
- Availability of Internship positions for the upcoming year will be made available through the APPIC website.
- Candidates interested in the Doctoral Internship must submit all of the following documents electronically to the Training Coordinator through the APPIC website in order to be considered for interviews by no later than December 1st:
- Completed APPI Application that includes:
- Cover Letter
- Director of Clinical Training Statement of Readiness
- Official Graduate Transcripts
- 3 Letters of Recommendation from Professional or Academic Sources
- Curriculum Vitae
- Verification of APA Accredited Graduate Program
- Copy of Master’s Degree or letter of equivalency
- Completed APPI Application that includes:
Incomplete packages will not be eligible for consideration for interviews.
- Practicum and academic requirements most appropriate for consideration:
- Psycho-educational testing experience with children and adolescents
- Experience working in a medical setting with adult and pediatric patients presenting with co-morbid medical and behavioral health conditions
- Outpatient psychotherapy experience, including individual , group , and family therapies with child, adolescent, and adult populations
- Experience with trauma patients, specifically trauma focused cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Working with diverse populations (includes age, cultural, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities) in a multi-disciplinary setting
- Diagnostic interviewing
- Spanish speakers preferred but not required
- Selected candidates will be offered a remote interview during the month of January.
- All interviewed applicants will be ranked through the APPIC Match System.
- On the day of the match the Internship Training Director will personally contact each of the matched Interns.
- Matched Interns will receive a formal offer letter to begin internship on July 1st of the same year.
- At the time of offer, the program will share with the matched applicants all policies related to the Internship Program including:
- Selection and Hiring Process for the Doctoral Psychology Interns
- Administrative and Financial Assistance for Psychology Training Programs
- Performance and Supervision Requirements for Psychology Doctoral Internship Program
- Graduate Psychology Education Grievances Policy
- Maintenance of Records for Psychology Training Programs
- Competency Evaluations for Doctoral Internship Program
- CHN Non-Discrimination Policy
- Graduate Psychology Education Committee (GPEC) Policy
- Program Evaluation Process for Graduate Psychology Education Committee
- Process for Completion and Tracking of Psychology Training Programs Anonymous Feedback Forms
- Reporting Time and Attendance for Psychology Training Programs
- Management of Supervision Logs for Psychology Training Programs
- Extended Leave Requests for Psychology Training Program Students
- Psychology Training Program Post Graduate Feedback Forms
Completion Requirements
A certificate of completion will be issued once all the following requirements have been met:
- All required center-wide trainings have been completed
- In-Vivo Evaluations will be conducted at the beginning and end of each rotation, Four times yearly.
- A minimum score of at least 4 out of 5 must be obtained on all In-Vivo post-rotation evaluations;
- A Mid-Year Evaluation will be conducted at mid-year
- An End Year Evaluation will be conducted at the end of the internship training year
- A minimum score of at least 4 out of 5 must be obtained on all competencies on the end-year evaluation
- Assigned testing batteries
- 70% attendance at all Seminars including excused absences.
- A minimum score of 70% on the Seminar Post Assessment
- All clinical documentation must be finalized
- All supervision logs must be submitted to the Education Office.
- Keys, laptops and all testing materials must be returned
Resources
For more information on the Citrus Health Network Psychology Doctoral Internship Program, please contact the Office of Education and Training at psychologyprogram@citrushealth.com.
For concerns or questions specific to the program's accreditation, please contact the Commission on Accreditation at:
Commission on Accreditation of
The American Psychological Association
750 First St, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: (202) 336-5979
TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123
Fax: (202) 336-5978
Email: apaaccred@apa.org.
Internship Admissions, Support and Initial Placement Data
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Date Program Tables are updated: August 31, 2022 | ||
Program Disclosures |
||
| Does the program or institution require students, trainees, and/or staff (faculty) to comply with specific policies or practices related to the institution’s affiliation or purpose? Such policies or practices may include, but are not limited to, admissions, hiring, retention policies, and/or requirements for completion that express mission and values? | _____ Yes
__XX___ No |
|
| If yes, provide website link (or content from brochure) where this specific information is presented: | ||
|
||
Internship Program Admissions |
|
| Briefly describe in narrative form important information to assist potential applicants in assessing their likely fit with your program. This description must be consistent with the program’s policies on intern selection and practicum and academic preparation requirements: | |
|
|
Does the program require that applicants have received a minimum number of hours of the following at time of application? If Yes, indicate how many: |
|||
|
Total Direct Contact Intervention Hours |
No |
|
Amount: N/A |
|
Total Direct Contact Assessment Hours |
No |
|
Amount: N/A |
| Describe any other required minimum criteria used to screen applicants: | |
|
Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year* |
||
|
Annual Stipend/Salary for Full-time Interns |
$36,000 |
|
|
Annual Stipend/Salary for Half-time Interns |
N/A |
|
|
Program provides access to medical insurance for intern? |
Yes |
|
|
If access to medical insurance is provided: |
|
|
|
Trainee contribution to cost required? |
No |
|
|
Coverage of family member(s) available? |
Yes |
|
|
Coverage of legally married partner available? |
Yes |
|
|
Coverage of domestic partner available? |
Yes |
|
|
Hours of Annual Paid Personal Time Off (PTO and/or Vacation) At CHN 80 hours of PTO includes vacation and sick leave. In addition, the intern receives 40 hours of Educational Leave |
120 |
|
|
Hours of Annual Paid Sick Leave - At CHN sick leave is included in the paid hours mentioned above |
0 |
|
|
In the event of medical conditions and/or family needs that require extended leave, does the program allow reasonable unpaid leave to interns/residents in excess of personal time off and sick leave? |
Yes |
|
|
Other Benefits (please describe): 80 Hours of Paid Time Off (includes vacation and sick leave); 40 Hours of Education Leave; 6 paid holidays a year; Limited Life Insurance and Dental Insurance provided at no additional cost. Vision plans available at a small cost to trainee. Citrus Health Network is a qualified site for the National Loan Repayment Program (more info at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loan-repayment/index.html ). |
||
|
*Note. Programs are not required by the Commission on Accreditation to provide all benefits listed in this table |
||
Initial Post-Internship Positions |
||
|
(Provide an Aggregated Tally for the Preceding 3 Cohorts) |
||
|
|
2019-2022 |
|
|
Total # of interns who were in the 3 cohorts |
18 |
|
|
Total # of interns who did not seek employment because they returned to their doctoral program/are completing doctoral degree |
1 |
|
|
|
PD |
EP |
|
Academic teaching |
1 |
0 |
|
Community mental health center |
5 |
0 |
|
Consortium |
0 |
0 |
|
University Counseling Center |
o |
0 |
|
Hospital/Medical Center |
2 |
0 |
|
Veterans Affairs Health Care System |
2 |
0 |
|
Psychiatric facility |
0 |
0 |
|
Correctional facility |
0 |
0 |
|
Health maintenance organization |
0 |
0 |
|
School district/system |
0 |
0 |
|
Independent practice setting |
5 |
0 |
|
Other |
2 |
0 |
|
Note: “PD” = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position. Each individual represented in this table should be counted only one time. For former trainees working in more than one setting, select the setting that represents their primary position. |
||
