Trends in Predoctoral Internship Training Programs in Forensic Settings Based on 2008 APPIC Directory
Survey
Peggy Hicks1, Jose Vega1, Jessica Espinoza1, Kimberly Dionysus1, Karen Farr1, Lori Jenness2, J.G. Vega III3
1Colorado
Mental Health Institute- Pueblo
Vista Youth Services- Pueblo
3Colorado State University- Pueblo
2Sol
Objective:
To explore common attributes of predoctoral internship
programs in state hospitals and correctional facilities.
Site
Hospital
Correctional
Community
Health
Consortium
Other
Methods:
•Collected survey data from 54 sites who identified
forensic/ corrections as a major area of specialty.
•Obtained frequencies for program makeup and student
demographics.
Results:
•The majority of responding sites work with an adult
inpatient male population.
•71% were accredited at some level.
•The majority of sites received 81-101+ applications a
year.
•interview 21-31 applicants a year.
•55% of sites provide interns with time to work on
their dissertation.
•Sites accepted 100% PhD, 87% PsyD, and 33% EdD.
•Majority of sites have 2-6 interns each year.
Discussion:
•Majority of Intern positions were filled through the
match, few were filled through clearinghouse.
•Majority of sites offer 2-4 rotations throughout the
internship year.
•There was a low level of racial diversity among
training supervisors and interns.
•Most sites reported using behavioral models of
therapy and offer extra training.
•Scientist-practitioner model and Practitioner-Scholar
are the two most represented training models.
•At least three accounts of interns being let go due to
ethical violations.
Limitations:
•Not every survey item was answered by each site.
•Results come from a small sample.
•There was missing data.
•Sample may not be an accurate representation of
sites since the survey was voluntary.