Atascadero State Hospital offers clinical internships for students within the disciplines of Music Therapy and Recreation Therapy. These programs offer students opportunities to learn techniques and skills required of practicing therapists in the above disciplines in order to meet the professional standard of competency required by the respective professional organizations and universities. Atascadero State Hospital is a nationally-approved internship site for both of these disciplines, preparing students for certification/registration in their respective national or state professional organizations. The internship is designed to support the overall development of students and addresses entry-level performance responsibilities outlined by each discipline.

• Recreational Therapy Internship Program
• Music Therapy Internship Program

Facility:  State forensic psychiatric hospital.

Patient Population:  Approximately 1000 adult male court-committed and prison transferred patients including those committed as:
Incompetent to Stand Trial
Not Guilt By Reason of Insanity
Mentally Ill Inmates (Prison Transfers)
Mentally Disordered Offenders
Approximately 50% of patient population consists of culturally diverse patients.

Location:  Central California.  225 miles from San Francisco and Los Angeles and 15 miles from the coastline.  Near San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

Training Program:  APA accredited one-year full time clinical internship with broad-based experience and forensic emphasis.  The internship provides clinical experience with an emphasis in forensic psychology, psychotherapy and psychological assessment.   After a three-week orientation, interns participate in a full time three-month rotation on an admissions unit with an emphasis on clinical assessment.  Interns subsequently have two four-month rotations, working three days a week on treatment units providing individual and group treatment and participating as members of the interdisciplinary Wellness and Recovery Team.  Interns participate in an eight-month forensic rotation, working with the forensic services team 12 hours per week.  This rotation involves training in legal issues, forensic evaluation and forensic testimony.  The program also includes seminars, tutorials, a year-long individual differences and diversity mini-rotation, supervision, conferences, workshops, and field trips.  The staff of approximately 80 psychologists provide supervision.

Stipend and Benefits:  Approximately $40,000 with Employee Assistance Program benefits, health insurance, sick leave, vacation and holidays.

Housing:  Interns typically rent homes or apartments throughout San Luis Obispo County.  Some choose to be close to the hospital while others choose to commute from San Luis Obispo or from communities near the beach. 

Applicant Eligibility:  Enrolled in doctoral psychology program with at least 3 years of academic work and a minimum of 600 hours supervised doctoral level practicum clinical training.

Important Dates: 

November 1 - Application deadline
January (Friday afternoons) - Applicant Interviews
February - APPIC Match Selection
First Monday in August- Begin internship

Further information:  

            Emily Rosten, Ph.D.
            Psychology Internship Director
            Atascadero State Hospital
            P.O. Box 7001, Atascadero, CA  93423-7001 
Phone: (805) 468-2302  
Email:  erosten@ash.dmh.ca.gov   

 

Letter from the Internship Director

Clinical Psychology Internship Brochure