Application Criteria

Applicants to the Yale Department of Psychiatry Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology must meet all five admission criteria:

1. Enrolled in an APA or CPA accredited doctoral training program in clinical, counseling, or clinical and community psychology (neither the program nor the applicant may be on probation);
2. Has a minimum of 450 face-to-face* hours of assessment & intervention (combined) at the time of application (terminal masters hours count if the application indicates that these were verified by the doctoral program director of clinical training);
3. Has at least three years of graduate training at the time of application;
4. Has passed the comprehensive or qualifying exam by the time of application (unless such an exam is not required by the graduating program); and
5. Has an approved dissertation proposal by the time of application.

The program does not make exceptions to these criteria. Applications received from individuals who do not fully meet each of the criteria will not be considered. *Clinical services provided via Telehealth qualify as face-to-face hours with respect to criteria 2.

We welcome applications from international trainees. The program and department of psychiatry work collaboratively with the fellow and The Yale University Office of International Students & Scholars to support the placement.

The internship embraces a Scientist-Practitioner model in which theory and evidence routinely inform health service psychology practice. The elements of each prospective applicant’s training are assessed in totality to determine potential fit to the placement site for which the applicant has expressed interest. However, the program is most appropriate for and gives strong preference to students from graduate programs that have a Scientist-Practitioner or Clinical-Scientist training model.

It is the expectation that matched fellows will relocate to the State of Connecticut during their internship year. The faculty members want all fellows to be successful during the internship year. Experience has shown that those fellows who commute long distances typically have greater difficulty completing internship requirements and becoming full members of the internship class. Therefore, fellows are strongly encouraged to reside within a one-hour commuting distance of New Haven during the internship year. Individuals who are contemplating living farther away are discouraged from applying.

Virtual Visit Days

Individuals apply for one, and only one, placement within the program. Applications to multiple placements are not permitted. Once applications are reviewed, a selected number of individuals are invited to attend one of three Interview Days in early January. This is an opportunity for applicants to learn more about the program, meet with faculty and current fellows, and learn more about the training sites

Applicants will be informed by December 1 regarding their application status and whether they are invited to participate in an Interview Day.

In completing the application, please follow these specific instructions:

1. In the opening line of the cover letter, please state in bold the name of the Primary Placement (only one) and your Secondary Placement interests (if applicable), and the program number to which you are applying.
   
2. In the final line of the cover letter please state your preferences in rank order for the three Interview Days. The Interview Days for 2024 are: January 5th, 8th, and 12th. If one or more of the three dates is not possible, please make this clear.
   
3. Please include in your application two work samples: a treatment or case summary and a psychological evaluation report. There is no prescribed format for these samples.
4. Please include three references using the Standardized Reference Form.

The Yale Doctoral Internship in Clinical and Community Psychology requires an interview. All internship interviews are fully virtual. To support safe and equitable practices, and in keeping with national trainee feedback, on-site interviews will not be permitted, even if a prospective applicant lives within close range of the site. Candidates are advised to monitor the program website for updates regarding virtual interviews.

APPIC Match & Policies

The program participates in the APPIC match and complies with all APPIC policies. Visit the APPIC website for a comprehensive overview of the application and matching process. It is strongly recommended that all internship applicants subscribe to the APPIC Match-News List as early as possible in this process.

This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person in this training program will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.

Candidates apply by completing the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships (AAPI). The Application deadline is 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on November 1st. Applicants use the APPIC Internship Matching Program, operated by National Matching Services, Inc. to rank potential internship sites.

If you have any questions about the application process, submitted applications, or interview days, please contact Patrick Riley, Psychology Section Administrator, (203) 785-2090 or email Psychadmin@yale.edu.

Yale University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.