Psychology Internship Program

The OFMHS Internship Program seeks to train interns for independent psychological practice by exposing them to a wide spectrum of patients with severe psychiatric disorders, fostering mentoring relationships with senior professionals, and integrating psychological practice with didactic learning.

Important dates and deadlines

Application deadline: Nov. 2, 2026

Interview notification: Nov. 18, 2026

Open house: Jan. 7, 2027 (in person); Jan. 13, 2027 (virtual)

Internship start date: Aug. 1, 2027

Accreditation

The doctoral internship program in clinical psychology at Western State Hospital is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.

The last APA accreditation site visit occurred in the fall of 2025. Questions related to the program's accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association

750 1st Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002-4242

(202) 336-5979

apaaccred@apa.com

Applications

All applications must be submitted to the Association of Psychology Post-Doctoral and Internship Centers. Applications should include:

  • APPIC application form;
  • Your current curriculum vitae;
  • Your graduate transcript;
  • Three letters of reference; and
  • One de-identified integrative psychological evaluation.

Contact Us

For questions about the internship program, application process, or interviews, contact Co-Director of Clinical Training Dr. Paula Bernhard at paula.bernhard@dshs.wa.gov or Dr. Emily Mackelprang at emily.mackelprang@dshs.wa.gov.

Watch stories about the internship program

Richard on being a forensic psychology mentor.
Mia on her personal motivations for pursuing forensic psychology.
Marilyn on the unique experience of training with DSHS.

Quick Links

Internship Brochure