The Division of Psychiatry at Geisinger Medical Center offers a one year predoctoral internship in clinical psychology. Geisinger Medical Center, a tertiary care center, serves a population of more than two million in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. In addition to the Geisinger Medical Center, the Geisinger Health System includes two community hospitals in Wilkes-Barre, an HMO, and multiple primary care sites throughout the region.

Educational opportunities available to physicians and allied health care professionals at Geisinger Medical Center include, in addition to the predoctoral internship in clinical psychology, postdoctoral fellowships in behavioral medicine and pediatric psychology, 15 medical residency programs, five medical fellowship programs and five schools of allied health education.

Geisinger Medical Center is located in Danville, PA–a three-hour drive from Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. The area surrounding Danville is a combination of small towns and farms. The region offers
pleasant uncrowded living, educational opportunities–there are three universities within 20 miles of Danville–and family activities such as theatre, boating, fishing, hiking and camping.

The Internship
Five interns are accepted into this one-year program conducted by the Division of Psychiatry. The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)1. For further information about our accreditation status contact the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation by calling 202.336.5979.

By focusing on broad training in clinical psychology, the internship primarily prepares interns for careers as practitioners in medical or applied practice settings. We adhere to the scientist-practitioner model of
psychological practice.

Clinical training experiences follow the apprentice model. Each intern is supervised by faculty members directly involved in providing clinical services to specific patient groups within the medical center. Interns function with a good deal of autonomy, assuming junior level staff responsibilities.

Participants in the program are expected to:

• Further develop basic clinical skills to begin independent practice
• Collaborate in the medical setting by learning about the medical culture, serving as interdisciplinary team members and consulting with physicians
• Work with culturally diverse groups and respect individual differences
• Apply clinical research skills in a clinical setting
• Uphold high standards of patient care and professional ethics
• Use scientific evidence to guide practice
• Advocate for the profession of psychology.

Interns expand their skills in the areas of assessment, psychotherapy, consultation and research. Clinical experiences are of primary importance in the internship with particular emphasis placed on learning behavior change methods for use with medical patients.  Faculty frequently uses the cognitive behavioral model in psychotherapy although other treatment methods with empirical support are encouraged.