Oregon State Hospital – Psychology Internship Program

The Oregon State Hospital – Psychology Internship Program (OSH-PIP) offers a one-year, full-time, approximately 2,000-hour internship program with 4 positions beginning August 15 of each year. At minimum, interns must accrue the number of hours required for licensure in the state of Oregon (1500) or any other state in which they intend to become licensed following internship if that number is greater. The training program is located on the Peter Courtney Salem Campus of the Oregon State Hospital. The annual intern stipend is $43,428.

All match offers are contingent on drug screening and a criminal background check. Drug Screening is required as OSH is also described as a drug and alcohol treatment facility. All non-prescription, controlled substances will be disqualifying. This list includes Amphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates – expanded Negative Phencyclidine, Marijuana and cannabis derivatives, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly), 6-Acetylmorphine and Oxycodone/Oxymorphone. Of note, marijuana/cannabis is on the list because it is listed as a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970 and considered illegal for use outside of FDA approved medications.

Criminal background checks are completed to decrease the risk to the vulnerable individuals OSH serves by screening individuals who will have access to or provide care at OSH. Information about potentially disqualifying offenses can be found through the Department Human Services and Oregon Health Authority websites, using the links below. In sum, all misdemeanor and felonies are potentially disqualifying while serious crimes (e.g., including crimes against person) may be permanently potentially disqualifying and require a weight test to be conducted by the Division of Human Services. Offenses or convictions that are classified as less than a misdemeanor, such as violations or infractions, are not potentially disqualifying.

Interns are considered full-time employees of OSH and receive all related employee benefits including paid time off (i.e., holidays, vacation, personal business, sick, maternity/paternity, educational leave); medical, dental, and vision insurance (including for family/dependents); optional insurance coverage (e.g., basic life insurance, term life, long-term care); flexible spending accounts; and retirement benefits.

Click below to access to our handbook for additional detailed information about our program including, but not limited to our training setting, training philosophy, rotation descriptions, related training plans, and corresponding supervisors; intern and program evaluation; specific training requirements; and OSH-PIP protocols.

The OSH-PIP program code for the APPIC match is 2322.

Oregon State Hospital Overview

Oregon State Hospital is the state’s primary state-run psychiatric facility for adults. The state hospital delivers high-quality inpatient psychiatric and medical care to patients through Forensic Psychiatric Services for patients who are judged Guilty Except for Insanity or Incompetent to Proceed to court, as well as Psychiatric Recovery Services for civilly committed patients.

Accreditation Status

OSH-PIP submitted our first self-study in December 2015. Our first site visit occurred on August 16 and 17, 2016. On November 15, 2016, OSH-PIP was awarded “accredited, on contingency” status with an initial date of accreditation of August 17, 2016. This date is applicable to all internship classes beginning with the 2015-2016 cohort. Our next site visit occurred in May 2023 (after COVID-related delays). In November 2023, APA reaffirmed OSH-PIP’s accreditation. Our next site visit is scheduled to occur in 2033.

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
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org

APPIC Membership Status

OSH-PIP is a member of APPIC and participates in the APPIC Match. 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.

Emphasis on Diverse Applicants

OSH-PIP welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. The training program believes that a diverse training environment contributes to the overall quality of the program. OSH-PIP provides equal opportunity to all prospective interns and does not discriminate because of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other factor that is irrelevant to success as a psychology intern. As noted above, applicants are individually evaluated in terms of quality of previous training, practicum experiences, and fit with the internship. If an applicant or intern requires accommodations, they should contact the internship Training Director(s) to initiate this process.

Program Core Values Statement

The Oregon State Hospital Psychology Internship Program (OSH-PIP) Internship Training Committee (ITC) values a collaborative, respectful, transparent, supportive, and flexible approach to internship training and supervision. Committee members work to facilitate psychological safety for interns and one another, with humility, kindness, and grace, especially when facing adversity. We serve as professional role models and engage in actions that promote interns’ acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies consistent with our training aims. Consistent with the developmental model, we meet interns where they are and support them in gaining competence. We work to ensure informal evaluation and feedback of interns is ongoing throughout the training year. It is our philosophy that providing such feedback in a collaborative manner serves to enhance the learning experience, reduce anxiety about evaluation, and avoid “surprises” at the time of more formal evaluations. In doing so, we strive to cultivate a safe space for interns to openly discuss with us the training and supervision they receive. The ITC aims to ensure that interns are afforded training that reflects an appreciation of diversity. Further, we ensure that all interns, including those from diverse backgrounds, are provided a supportive and encouraging learning environment. The ITC treats people with respect and dignity by striving to create and foster a supportive and understanding environment in which all individuals realize their maximum potential in a multicultural setting and in celebration of our differences.

Format of Training & Treatment Delivery at OSH

• OSH & OSH-PIP use Microsoft Teams for any video conferenced meetings.
• Interns can join some meetings via video conference (e.g., treatment team meetings, Risk Review, PSRB hearings).
• All intervention and assessment activities (i.e., Individual and group therapy, check-ins, testing) occur in person.
• Group Supervision and Didactics are in person.
• Individual supervision hours will be a combination of in-person and video conferencing.
• Interns are provided with VPN, OSH’s secure, remote, digital workspace, to complete ancillary tasks from home as appropriate. Typically interns opt to work from home one to two days per week.

Vaccination Mandate

As a mandatory public safety requirement, the Oregon State Hospital requires all staff, including psychology interns, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Proof of vaccination will be required. Your completed CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card will meet this requirement. You may, however, request a reasonable accommodation from the mandatory vaccination policy due to a qualifying disability or medical condition, or based on sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. Please contact Drs. Leeper and/or Robertson for any questions.

Contacting OSH-PIP

Any questions regarding OSH-PIP including about the application and interview process may be directed to the Co-Training Directors, Dr. Ericia Leeper (ERICIA.L.LEEPER@oha.oregon.gov) and Sarah Robertson, PsyD (Sarah.Robertson@oha.oregon.gov).