One of the primary goals of the internship program is for interns to demonstrate proficiency in at least one theoretical approach to psychotherapy. Graduates of our internship program are prepared to qualify for eventual employment as psychologists within the VA Healthcare System, which is the basis used by the VA to fund such training programs. Model Of Training The Psychology Internship Training Program at the Syracuse VAMC reflects a strong professional commitment to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical training and education. Accordingly, our goal for internship training, consistent with the scientist-practitioner aims and ideals, is to educate clinicians who are fully trained to provide psychological services on an independent basis and who demonstrate a commitment to an integration of clinical skills with the empirical foundation of psychological treatment. Additionally, we strongly adhere to a mentoring model of professional development to assist in the development of professional identity and occupational socialization, necessary to maturely engage in the complexities of clinical work.
All supervisors serve, informally, as such professional mentors and role models.