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Training Programs in Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology 

The original Ottawa Hospital Training Programs are housed at the General Campus, the Civic Campus, and The Rehabilitation Centre of The Ottawa Hospital. The Ottawa Hospital Training Programs in clinical psychology and neuropsychology are accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as Psychology and as Neuropsychology predoctoral clinical internships, respectively.

Overview

Professional training is one of the mandates of TOH. The training priority of Psychology at TOH is the full-time predoctoral internship. The Ottawa Hospital Clinical Training Programs in Psychology provide generalist predoctoral training in health care psychology to prepare interns for autonomous practice as professional psychologists. Staff at TOH are committed to the scientist-practitioner model and strongly believe that the consumption and practice of research promotes clinical excellence, and that clinical practice informs scientific endeavors.

The programs draw on the diverse and specialized clinical opportunities afforded by a nationally recognized tertiary care setting. Interns gain experience in assessment, intervention, consultation, program development and evaluation, teaching and research within the specialized clinical units served by Psychology. Emphasis is placed on the personal development and professional socialization to facilitate effective interaction with other psychologists, health care professionals and, particularly, interdisciplinary teams.

The core curriculum of the training program is made up of clinical rotation experiences, a long-term individual psychotherapy case, a group therapy experience, seminar series, individual and group supervision, and clinical research. This provides interns with a breadth of experience and training as clinical psychologists.

Prerequisites

Predoctoral intern applicants should have completed most of their graduate level education in a recognized clinical psychology program and a minimum of 500 hours of practicum training (direct service) in Clinical Psychology (for those wishing to apply for the Psychology internship) or in Clinical Neuropsychology (for those applying for the Neuropsychology internship). As services are provided in both English and French, facility in both languages is an asset but is not required.

Interns are required to provide proof of liability insurance coverage before they can see patients. Interns may contact McFarlan-Rowlands toll free at 1-877-679-5440 to obtain information on the national professional liability insurance plan. As a member of the Canadian Psychological Associaton, the Professional Liability Insurance Program is offered as a benefit. In addition, interns will be required to present proof of updated immunizations, and a police check.

Applicants to the programs are ranked according to several criteria including, and in no particular order:

1. The match between an applicant’s clinical training interests and our internship program;
2. The breadth and depth of an applicant’s psycho-diagnostic and/or neuropsychological diagnostic assessment training and his/her psychotherapy and/or rehabilitation training experience;
3. Applicant’s practicum experiences in hospital-based settings and experiences working with multi-disciplinary teams;
4. Reference letters from clinical supervisors;
5. Impressions of the applicant’s suitability and match with our internship based on the interview;
6. Applicant’s clinical research experience and/or interests, as well as their progress towards completion of their Ph.D. dissertation;

The program subscribes to the CCPPP principles regarding preparation for internship in terms of the number and nature of practicum hours and status of dissertation research. Specifically, although a minimum of 500 practicum hours (direct time) is needed to apply, please note that applicants are not rated based on the “raw number of practicum hours” reported on APPIC application forms. Once the minimum number of practicum hours is achieved, quality and depth of practicum training is more relevant that total quantity of hours.

Applicants are required to have had their dissertation approved prior to applying for internship. However, applicants who are more likely to actually submit or defend their thesis prior to commencing the internship will, all other things being equal, be ranked more highly and likely to get more out of their internship.

Stipends

Five full-time predoctoral interns, (4 in clinical psychology and 1 in clinical neuropsychology) are each funded at $30,000. CDN annually, with a $250.00 allowance for educational conferences, and 3 weeks vacation.

Application Procedure

The training program is a member of the Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs (CCPPP) and the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centres (APPIC), and it adheres to APPIC policy regarding internship offers and acceptances. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility solicit, accept or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.

This internship is participating in the APPIC Internship Matching Program. All applicants must register with the National Matching Services and/ or APPIC to be considered for this internship.

Interested applicants should send:

1. A completed the online APPIC application form;
2. A completed TOH Psychology Internship Application Form submitted online with the APPIC application;
3. A Verification form signed by the University Training Director attesting to the applicant's readiness for an internship.
4. 3 letters of reference.
5. Graduate transcripts.
6. C.V.

Applications are made to the Clinical Psychology (Track 1: Mental Health-Rehabilitation Psychology, or Track 2: Health Psychology-Rehabilitation Psychology) and/or the Clinical Neuropsychology (Track 3) programs. Preferences for Services within Tracks can be made on the application form. Each Track has an APPIC number as follows:

• Track 1: Mental Health. Rehabilitation Psychology – APPIC #181713
• Track 2: Health Psychology. Rehabilitation Psychology - APPIC #181714
• Track 3: Clinical Neuropsychology – APPIC #181712.

Dates

Completed applications must be received no later than November 13, 2009. All interview notifications are made by December 1, 2009. Arrangements for either on site or telephone interviews will be made. As noted on our Internship Application Form, interviews of applicants for the 2010-2011 training year will be scheduled on December 17, 18 and 21, 2009, and January 8, 11 and 15, 2010.

Privacy

In accordance with federal privacy legislation - Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act - we are committed to collecting only the information required to process your application. This information is secured within Psychology at TOH and is shared only with those individuals involved in the evaluation of your internship application. Files of applicants not matched with the TOH program are destroyed within six months of Match Day. Files of applicants matched to our program will be available only to those involved in your supervision and training including your rotation supervisors, Co-Directors and Coordinators of Clinical Training, relevant administrative support staff, the Chief of Psychology, and relevant staff of the Human Resources Department at TOH.

Please return application and supporting documents to:

Dr. Laura Rees and Dr. Kerri Ritchie
Co-Directors of Training
Department of Psychology
The Ottawa Hospital - General Campus
501 Smyth Road, Suite 7300
Ottawa ON K1H 8L6
Tel: 613-737-8039
Fax: 613- 737-8895
Email: psychology@ottawahospital.on.ca