Internships and fellowships
The St. Cloud VA Health Care System provides training programs for students at the college, university, and postgraduate levels. Explore our training programs to find out about how we can help you start your career as a health care professional.
Internships and fellowships
Psychology Internship
The Doctoral Internship Program at St. Cloud VA Health Care System (VA HCS) is a generalist training program; and it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Psychological Association (APA). Our next site visit will be in 2024. Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be addressed to: APA, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242;
The program is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). Therefore, our program participates in the annual 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 from any intern applicant.
The Psychology Internship Brochure is available to download and print.
The Doctoral Internship Program in Health Service Psychology at St. Cloud VA HCS offers internships to US citizens who are pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or combined psychology from an APA- or CPA-accredited institution; or a Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)-accredited program in clinical science. The program accepts three interns per year. Applicants must demonstrate completion of at least 4 years of graduate coursework. Potential interns must have a minimum number of supervised graduate level pre-internship practicum experience hours to include 250 intervention and 50 assessment hours. Applicants must have completed their comprehensive examinations, proposed their dissertations (or equivalent), and be certified as ready for internship by their Director of Clinical Training.
Social work Internship
Social Work at The St. Cloud VA Healthcare System is proud to offer five social work internship positions to second-year Master's in Social Work (MSW) students seeking practical experience in healthcare settings. We have four openings within our Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) and one opening with our Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program.
MHRRTP Internship Details:
- Conduct diagnostic evaluations and biopsychosocial assessments.
- Provide individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing
- Engage in mental health case management services.
- Participate in a service delivery system that offers a continuum of care tailored to individuals with substance use disorders, mental health disorders, or co-occurring disorders.
- Collaborate closely with clinical supervisors to co-manage patient care ensuring continuity during absences.
HCHV Internship Details:
- Perform comprehensive mental health biopsychosocial assessments.
- Develop advanced generalist practice skills within a community-based setting.
- Utilize assessment tools such as SLUMS, GAD-7, PHQ-9, Columbia Scale; learn Motivational Interviewing and CBT approaches.
- Implement housing first strategies alongside clinical case management services.
- Work collaboratively within the VA system and with community partners addressing Veteran needs.
Interns can expect exposure to a diverse Veteran client population varying widely in age and cultural backgrounds. The complexity of cases includes an array of diagnoses such as mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, PTSD among others.
Educational components include:
- Interprofessional Collaborative Practice principles
- Weekly didactics covering DSM-5/Diagnostic Evaluations
- Person-centered treatment planning
- Various therapy modalities
- Recovery Model insights
- Suicide Prevention techniques
This placement suits proactive students eager to delve into a sophisticated healthcare environment dedicated to providing quality care for Veterans. It requires strong engagement skills for direct patient care along with meeting high standards for service quality and documentation. Openness and collaboration in supervision sessions are fundamental aspects of this learning experience. Join us at St. Cloud VA Healthcare System for an enriching internship that will broaden your skills and deepen your understanding of social work within the Veteran community.
The MSW Student Handbook is available to download and print.
Clinical Pastoral Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students, seasoned chaplains, and interfaith clergy into supervised encounters with persons seeking spiritual care. CPE serves as a part of preparation for parish ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching and counseling. A student’s learning contract may be focused toward integration of theological, psychological and pastoral insights into pastoral functioning for parish work. The contract also may be designed with a career goal of chaplaincy or pastoral counseling. CPE develops the capacity for the pastoral/spiritual care of individuals, families and systems.
Out of an intense involvement with persons in need and the feedback from peers, staff chaplain mentors and ACPE Certified Educators, students develop a new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs for whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, students gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, students develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.
CPE is designed for people at various stages of life, for example, clergy seeking to develop their skills as pastoral caregivers, military chaplains seeking specialized training in the hospital setting, and seminarians or lay people preparing for ordained ministry.
Learn more about Clinical Pastoral Education and commonly asked questions.
Program Description
We have six residency positions at the VA, two of which are second year specializations. The VA students may be civilians or Veterans. In addition, we accept up to six Extended Unit Interns, once per year, depending on interest. The CPE residents and interns rotate to different clinics and services within the St. Cloud VAHCS throughout the year.
The Chaplain Residents and Interns rotate to various services and clinics throughout the health care system, where clinical opportunities and on-site supervision are available to enhance the learning experience. Students in the program are considered part of the team and attend interdisciplinary team meetings on the unit where they are assigned. They work with staff chaplains who cosign their notes and offer clinical guidance and consultation. Services that the CPE students typically serve include:
Community Living Center (CLC), Outpatient Mental Health, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP), Acute Psychiatric Unit, Primary Care (Patient Aligned Care Team) & Urgent Care, Home Based Primary Care (HBPC), Home Based Memory Care (HBMC), Hospice & Palliative Care, Adult Day Health Care (ADHC), and Infusion clinic. Chaplain students also provide spirituality groups for Veterans addressing Grief & Loss, and Self-Forgiveness, along with individual counseling for veterans seeking mental health services.
CPE Program - Frequently Asked Questions
For more information about CPE program, please refer to VA St. Cloud's CPE Program-Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The St. Cloud VAHCS is accredited by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education to provide Level I/II, and Certified Educator CPE. For more information, contact ACPE; 55 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard, Suite 835, Atlanta, GA 30308. 404-320-1472.
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education
ACPE Application
Last updated: February 14, 2024