Our internship program for students in the final stages of their Ph.D. in Clinical or Counselling Psychology received full (seven-year) re-accreditation from the Canadian Psychological Association in late 2007. We take two interns per year, with an annual stipend of $27,500.

Our 12-month program supports the goals and objectives of the scientist-practitioner model of training for clinical psychologists, with a focus on work with adults. Training focuses on acquiring and redefining the necessary skills and outlook to be a competent psychological practitioner in today’s mental health environment. Interns receive training in core clinical skills (assessment, therapy, consultation) with an adult psychiatric population. All interns are required to do a six-month major rotation in Adult Mental Health. In addition, interns have the opportunity to expand their range of skills and breadth of training by receiving training with specialty practice issues (e.g., forensics, neuropsychology, dual diagnosis, shared care, supervision, early psychosis).

Interns are exposed to multidisciplinary treatment teams and are expected to become active members on the teams in which they serve, providing direct service, multidisciplinary consultation, and education to staff and clients. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of presenting problems and professional roles that psychologists encounter in a mental health care system. Consequently, training experiences are structured to provide maximum exposure to a variety of therapeutic and assessment issues through contact with the diverse range of clients that utilize psychological services in the Capital District Mental Health Program.

Clinical case conferences, small group seminars, and in-depth supervision foster the development of interns’ effective clinical skills, professionalism, and individual style. Interns also develop an appreciation of the complex ethical, legal and social issues faced by psychologists working in an adult mental health field. In sum, we provide interns with opportunities to learn and develop a solid core of clinical skills, some specialty skills, exposure to a variety of populations and presenting populations and the chance to apply their acquired skills in a wide variety of clinical psychology areas.

The internship is structured as a full-time training commitment for twelve consecutive months. Interns are expected to complete two six-month Major rotations. All interns must complete a major rotation in Adult Mental Health, and a second major rotation in one of the following:

• Forensic Psychology (inpatient rehabilitation and/or outpatient sex offender)
• Neuropsychology
• Eating Disorders

In consultation with the Internship Director and potential supervisor(s), interns may be permitted to select one minor rotation (approximately one day per week for six months) in each half of their internship year (a maximum of two minor rotations in one year). Potential minor rotations include:

• Clinical Supervision (depending on the availability of graduate students to supervise)
• Clinical Program Evaluation
• Long-term Psychotherapy
• Neuropsychology, Eating Disorders, Inpatient Forensic, or Sexual Offenders assessment/treatment (whichever one(s) are not selected as a major rotation at any point in the internship)
• Shared Care Mental Health (at East Hants/Windsor, if available).
• Early Psychosis
• Seniors' Mental Health 

Our interns have a solid record of moving on to careers they find desirable, ranging from full-time clinical work in public and/or private practice settings to academia.

Please view our brochure to learn more details about the program. We abide by Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) application and matching regulations.

Deadline for applications is November 15 for the following September.

Please contact Dr. Paul Freeman , Director of Training, for more information.

Graduate Clinical Practica

Psychologists at our sites regularly accept psychology practicum students from graduate programs in clinical psychology. Please feel free to contact Dr. Paul Freeman if you are curious about practicum training opportunities at a site within the Capital Health Mental Health Program.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities may be available to undergraduate and graduate Psychology students interested in gaining such experience. To obtain more information about availability of these opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Paul Freeman

Internship Brochure

Last Updated: 8/18/2009 1:13:15 PM