Mission

To develop world-class clinical psychology professionals who are dedicated Army officers, skilled psychologists, and effective leaders.

Vision

To be a premier clinical psychology training program within the military, known for producing highly competent, ethical, and compassionate officers who are leaders in the field of psychological health. We aspire to set the standard for excellence in military behavioral health, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and unwavering support to the mental wellness of our service members and their families.

Aims

Excellence in Training

Provide rigorous and comprehensive training in clinical psychology, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to deliver high quality care and support to military personnel and their families.

Leadership Development

Cultivate leadership skills in our trainees, empowering them to take on significant roles within the military and contribute to the advancement of psychological services.

Research and Innovation

Promote and support research initiatives that advance the understanding of military-specific behavioral health issues and contribute to the development of innovative treatment approaches.

Comprehensive Support

Ensure holistic support for service members and their families, addressing their mental, emotional, and social needs through evidence-based practices.

Ethical Practices: instill a strong sense of ethical responsibility and professional integrity in all trainees, fostering a commitment to the highest standards of practice.

Continuous Improvement: commit to ongoing evaluation and improvement of out training programs adapt to the evolving needs of the military community and field of psychology.

Many didactic opportunities are available to interns throughout the training year. Fridays are reserved for required didactics and case conferences. Didactic trainings are grouped under the following topic areas: Assessment, Therapeutic Intervention, Ethics, Cultural Diversity, Professional development, and Psychopharmacology. There are also periodic faculty and intern case conferences. In addition, interns may attend workshops offered by internship programs from Wilford Hall Medical Center, the South Texas Veteran's Health Care System, or the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Throughout the training year, workshops on various topics are presented by notable researchers and clinicians in their respective fields of psychology. These workshops are typically one to two days in length, and attendance is required.

Supervision

Interns will be supervised by staff members throughout the training year. A licensed psychologist is available whenever an intern is providing services to a patient. Each rotation has a primary supervisor who is responsible for overall coordination of the intern's work. Interns will have a minimum of two hours of individual supervision per week with many more opportunities for informal supervision.

Core Experience

The core rotations for the program consist of four three-month rotations. These rotations are three days each week (Monday – Wednesday). Interns are required to participate in a Campus Behavioral Health Service rotation, Neuropsychology rotation, and Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic rotation. Interns indicate preference for the fourth, elective rotation between the Child and Family Behavioral Health or the Clinical Health Psychology rotations. Interns participate in the Evidenced Based Care rotation every Thursday and Friday throughout the year.

Campus Behavioral Health Service Rotation (three months)

The Campus Behavioral Health Service serves young active duty service members who are trainees at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence and the Medical Education Training Campus. Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston is the home of the MEDCoE and METC, meaning all enlisted soldiers, sailors, and airmen assigned to medical specialties receive their initial job training at this post. The majority of these soldiers arrive at Fort Sam Houston immediately after basic training and many are dealing with issues related to adjusting to the military environment, homesickness, and academic problems.

Neuropsychology Rotation (three months)

The Neuropsychology Clinic provides neuropsychological evaluations for active duty service members and medically-retired service members who are returning for repeat evaluation. This population consists primarily of young adults. Both male and female patients are seen, but there is a predominance of male patients. During this rotation, interns will learn to conduct brief cognitive screenings as well as a more comprehensive battery that includes both cognitive and psychological evaluation.

Adult Outpatient Rotation (three months)

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic provides psychological evaluation and treatment services to active duty service members. In contrast to the CBHS, where the patient population consists of young trainees who have come into the Army fairly recently, the Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic provides services to service members who have been working in their field of service in the Army. Interns on this rotation will learn how to work with service members on a variety of issues they face in the military. They will also learn how to conduct targeted care and military-specific assessments, a critical skill to achieve as a military psychologist.

Evidenced Based Care Rotation (one year)

The evidenced-based care rotation provides interns with the opportunity to provide evidenced based therapeutic intervention consistent with the DOD/VA Clinical Practice Guidelines. A focus of this rotation will be treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and other combat or operational stress reactions, such as sleep problems, nightmares, panic, and other anxiety related disorders. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to work with patients with other mood disorders or behavioral health issues, such as major depression, adjustment disorders, family problems, etc. Specific evidence-based treatments to be covered during the internship year include Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, CBT for Nightmares and Treatment for Traumatic Stress Disorders.

Lifespan Clinical Assessment Rotation (three months)

The Lifespan Clinical Assessment rotation provides students with experience conducting clinical assessment with children, adolescents, and adults. During this rotation students will have the opportunity to conduct neurodevelopmental assessments, psychiatric diagnostic clarification, and some specialty evaluations. Interns may also work with an interdisciplinary team to develop treatment plans and coordinate care based on assessment outcomes.

Clinical Health Psychology Rotation (three months)

The Clinical Health Psychology Service rotation provides specialized services to patients with acute or chronic medical conditions, as well as stress management, relaxation training and prevention services for all patient populations. Specific services include: consultation and assessment; individual, family, and group psychotherapy; pain management; stress management and relaxation training; biofeedback; and psycho-educational health programs.

Military Orientation

Two-week duration at the start of the program.

• Military Officer Expectations
• Military Leader Competencies
• Ready and Resilient Performance Center
• Military Unique Ethical Concerns in Behavioral Health
• Military Specific Psychological Evaluation
• Health Psychology: Chronic Health issues in the Military
• Suicide Response Planning in the Military
• Self-care during internship
• Cultural Aspects of Psychological Treatment in the Military

Didactics

• Officer Evaluation Reports and Career Planning/Development
• Unit Needs Assessment
• Psychological Testing in the Military
• Primary Care Behavioral Health
• Holistic Health and Fitness
• Psychopharmacology in the Military
• Briefs from various military unique resources: Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care, Family Advocacy, Public Health Nursing, Armed Forces Wellness Center, Vogel Resiliency Center, Pastoral Care

Service-Specific Training

• Army, DOD, and DHA training required In accordance with Army AR 350-1, to include the Army DOD Transgender Policy

Trainees will be required to complete training in the following evidence-based protocols:

• Cognitive Processing Therapy
• Prolonged Exposure
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares

Our institution provides areas of medical simulation to enhance and augment graduate medical education programs by integrating simulation-based curriculum. The clinical psychology internship program has established a simulation curriculum for trainees that focuses on the following areas: psychology intakes, targeted care, safety planning, hospitalizations, briefing command on high-risk service members, and conducting unit needs assessments. The goals of our simulation curriculum include:

• Provide hands-on learning through practical experience and confidence building
• Enhance trainee’s competencies through developing skill proficiency and standardized training.
• Provide immediate performance feedback through real-time assessment and reflective learning.

Our leadership curriculum is designed to cultivate military leader competencies through an in-depth focus on critical thinking, career development and profession, and ethical decision making. We explore various leadership styles, providing a comprehensive understanding of how different approaches can be effectively applied in the military setting. Additionally, our program includes detailed briefs on essential leadership qualities, ensuring that our trainees are well-equipped to lead with integrity and expertise.

Joint Base San Antonio’s multiple military treatment facilities provide a robust platform for medical and psychological research. Within BAMC’s Department of Behavioral Health Education Division is a Research and Program Development section that oversees the department’s participation in approximately 40 research projects including collaborations with agencies such as the;

• National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience
• U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity
• Henry Jackson Foundation
• University of Colorado

Interns are encouraged to participate in research and scholarly activity. They will have the opportunity to work with the Chief of Research and Program Development during their internship year with the program director’s endorsement. To further support scholarly activity, the program provides funding for travel and registration for interns to present scholarly work at one local or national conference.

Our program is dedicated to regularly assessing and refining our curriculum, incorporating student and faculty feedback, and staying informed of the latest advancements and competencies in psychology and military leadership. Additionally, all interns complete Quality Improvement and Patient Safety training.

Our program prioritizes comprehensive professional development to empower future leaders in military psychology. We offer a variety of development opportunities for interns to engage in depending on their individual and personal goals.

Brooke Army Medical Center

For the 2025-2026 Class.

Application Deadline

Nov. 25, 2024. Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship application must be complete with all additional materials downloaded. All applicants will be military applicants going through the central Army selection process. Applicants will be offered a virtual interview. The online AAPI, including confirmation of approved proposal for dissertation, must be submitted prior to application deadline. Applicants will work with an U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence recruiter in meeting military application requirements. All complete applications submitted by the deadline will be considered once received with interview notification on a rolling basis, no later than Nov. 30 2024.

Virtual Interview Dates

Dec. 4-5, 2024.

Number of Anticipated Positions

Six (no civilian positions available, all interns will become commissioned Army officers)

The SAUSHEC Army Clinical Psychology Internship Program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers and follows all APPIC policies and procedures for intern selection.

• Our program selects interns through the APPIC Match.
• Only those candidates who participate in the APPIC Match can be matched to our internship program.

Qualified applicants will come from APA approved Clinical or Counseling Psychology doctoral programs. Applicants must be citizens of the United States. Applicants must have passed comprehensive examinations by the application deadline and must have the dissertation proposal approved by the application deadline. Interns will be active-duty Army officers, and must therefore meet criteria for active duty in the Army (such as physical fitness requirements) in addition to the other requirements for the internship. Applicants are selected through the APPIC match, but must also be selected for service in the Army through an Army Board Selection Process.

• Please see the APPIC page for important details regarding military internships: https://www.appic.org/Internships/Match/About-The-APPIC-Match/Military-internships
• To begin the process of entering active duty, candidates should contact their local Army Health Care Recruiters at www.goarmy.com or 1-800-USA-ARMY.

Applicants can download an APPIC Applicant Agreement from the Matching Program website, through the APPIC website, or request that an Agreement be mailed to them by contacting National Matching Services Inc at:

P.O. Box 1208
Lewiston, NY 14092-8208

Telephone: 716-282-4013

Fax: 716-282-0611

Applicants will apply directly to the Army Clinical Internship Psychology Programs through an Army Health Care recruiter. The APPI packet and other materials listed below will be submitted directly through the Army Health Care Recruiter and will be forwarded to an Army Psychology Internship Selection Board which will include Directors of Training of the individual Army internship programs. Applicants should also submit materials directly to our program through the online APPI application. HPSP scholarship students are required to rank all four of the Army sites on the APPIC Match List. Candidates who have no commitment to Army service prior to Match Day are encouraged to rank all four Army sites, but are under no obligation to do so, and may list only the sites to which they would like to apply.

Any interested graduate student is encouraged to contact the Department of Behavioral Health Internship Training Director to learn more about applying to this program and the overall Army Psychology system.

After the initial AAPI applications are reviewed, candidates will be contacted to coordinate interviews. In person and virtual interviews will be conducted by invitation only on the dates found in the beginning of this section. For candidates not able to attend the invitational interview day, alternate virtual interviewing of applicants may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. The Army Psychology Internship Selection Board usually meets in January of the training year. The Board will review candidate application packets and discuss applicant qualifications. Final selections will be made using the APPIC match process. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information for any intern applicant.

1. Completed APPIC Application for Psychology Internship form. Copies of this form may be downloaded from the forms page or from Program Training Directors.
2. Vita or resume outlining educational and employment experiences.
3. Letter of interest.
4. Official transcripts of graduate work.
5. Certification of Internship Eligibility (included in the AAPI form) completed by your academic Training Director.
6. Three letters of reference.

Salary and Benefits

The doctoral internship year is projected to begin at the start of October, with orientation occurring late September. Most interns will attend the Direct Commissioning Course and/or the Basic Officer Leadership Course prior to internship. Once students have received their orders to come on active duty, the Army will cover travel, moving, and military training expenses. The internship is a full-time, 12-month experience. Military interns are paid at the rank of Army Captain O-3, with annual salary plus allowances starting at $90,050. Interns also receive all military benefits and allowances, which include health and dental care for interns and their family members; paid annual leave, sick leave and federal holidays; and use of on-post facilities. Other benefits include dissertation release time, paid attendance at local workshops, and the opportunity to attend seminars presented by nationally known speakers at SAUSHEC.

Health Professions Scholarship Program

HPSP is available to assist undergraduate and graduate students with the cost of school. For information on this program, please go to the Army HPSP website.

Clinical psychology interns will have the opportunity to train paraprofessional and other students in various departments within SAUSHEC, US Army Medical Center of Excellence, and Medical Education Training Campus. These activities are embedded within rotations and didactic trainings.

• Clinical psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Psychopharmacology
• Organizational Psychology
• Operational Psychology
• Aeromedical Psychology
• Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Psychology

Each incoming intern will be assigned a mentor from the senior internship class to provide them with guidance and support as they transition on to active duty at Joint Base San Antonio. Each intern is also provided with a resident supervisor during their Evidence-Based-Therapy rotation as part of a “triad” supervision model. We also encourage students to seek out mentorship both within and outside the program in order to foster a diverse support network and enhance each student’s personal and professional growth.

Central to our program’s mission is promoting a psychologically safe space and preventing burnout. We aim to create an environment where psychology interns feel valued, supported, and able to express themselves without fear of judgment. Our program includes regular check-ins, mentorship opportunities, team-building events, morale days, and workshops on resilience and self-care. Our program’s wellbeing initiatives emphasize the importance of self-care and the utilization of installation resources, such as the Military Family Readiness Center, Vogel Resilience Center, and Armed Forces Wellness Center.

Students can also join the BAMC or SAUSHEC wellness committees, allowing them to actively promote wellness within the hospital and graduate medical education, contributing to a supportive and resilient community.

Additionally, we aim to promote well-being by committing to individual diversity and non-discrimination. We value all employees, students, and patients by embracing their diverse talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our goal is to provide a holistic approach to prepare our interns to serve a diverse population with sensitivity and excellence, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive professional community.

Diversity components are thoughtfully integrated into CPIP didactics, weekly seminars, supervision sessions, and peer to peer discussions where we explore multicultural competencies, address biases, and discuss strategies to ensure we are providing inclusive care. Our goal is to develop students into leaders and advocates for diversity issues so they can promote unit cohesion and effectiveness by leveraging diverse perspectives and strengths, ultimately contributing to a more robust and adaptive organization. Students can also volunteer to be council members on BAMC’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion executive council or SAUSHEC’s DEI committee.