Accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1975, the internship program at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, or VTCC, provides robust training in a continuum of care for treating children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances and complex pediatric presentations. Up to four funded positions are available each year, with the program beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30.
Well known within the field of children’s mental health care, the VTCC is comprised of a diverse, dedicated staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, educators and occupational, recreational and art therapists. We provide acute inpatient therapy, pediatric consultation and medication management services for children, adolescents and their families.
Interns report an average workweek of 40-45 hours, with a minimum of 1,800 hours required for completion of the program.
Curriculum
Through exposure to a wide range of presenting problems in a diverse client population, our program provides each intern with the opportunity to develop professional skills and awareness of cultural and familial influences on children’s development. Interns are exposed to and receive supervision on implementing evidence-based treatment and assessment to address the health and psychological needs across our care continuum. Interns also gain a working knowledge of the varied service systems designed to address the needs of children and adolescents and their families and develop the skills to influence those systems on the child’s behalf.
Each intern is assigned a preceptor who serves as a primary support, providing supervision, mentoring and evaluation feedback throughout the year. Training occurs in multiple formats and multidisciplinary environments, with significant emphasis placed on effective functioning as a team member and adapting one’s approach to the clinical setting.
Interns will work as therapists on an integrated care team to provide intensive individual and family therapy, consult with psychiatrists regarding medication plans, develop specialty behavior management plans and strategies and develop and implement an effective treatment program and discharge plan.
Interns also provide group psychotherapy for acute unit patients three to four times a week, either independently or as a cofacilitator.
Interns serve as mental health consultants to various pediatric specialty clinics within the VCU Health System, currently to include:
Additional consultation-liaison services are being developed to include psychological services in the emergency department and pediatric units, as well as the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Ongoing evaluation and addition of opportunities for this rotation continues to evolve.
VTCC operates a large outpatient clinic serving children, adolescents and families from the Richmond area, offering a broad range of assessment and treatment services. Outpatient care reflects a family-focused philosophy emphasizing collaboration between the family and clinical staff.
Interns are expected to conduct approximately four outpatient sessions per week, providing individual and family therapy and case management services. This provides opportunities for longer-term treatment experience and exposure to a wider range of psychotherapy.
Comprehensive psychology evaluations: Referrals for psychological evaluations are managed by the Psychology Assessment Service and assigned to interns on a rotating basis. Interns receive weekly supervision in intellectual and personality assessment and conduct an average of one evaluation per month.
Brief acute inpatient assessments: When the acute inpatient team has a clinical question that assessment can assist with, we provide brief assessments to help guide the course of inpatient treatment and recommendations. The focus of these evaluations is to assist with case conceptualization or clarification of concerns that may be hindering treatment progress. Examples of appropriate referrals include:
- Degree of psychosis
- Malingering
- Autism spectrum screening
- Personality functioning
- Trauma symptoms
- Brief cognitive screening
A variety of didactic and experiential seminars are offered to interns at VTCC, including:
- Family therapy clinic and supervision
- Assessment seminars
- Multidisciplinary child mental health series
- Ethics seminars
- Introduction to cultural mental health
- Treatment of trauma
- Evidence-based therapy
- Psychopathology seminar
- Professional development and program director rounds
- Family of origin seminar
- Supervision retreat
- Psychopharmacology seminar
How to Apply
We participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers’ match program, and applications are available through National Matching Services. Interviews take place during January, with virtual interviews offered.
Applicants selected for the interview process are provided with a group overview of the program with the training director, two interviews with faculty members and postdoctoral fellow, a virtual tour of the facility, and a meet-and-greet with current interns.
For an updated version of the training internship brochure or any additional information, please contact:
Michele Cosby, PsyD
Director of Training
michele.cosby@vcuhealth.org
Internship Supervisors

Deborah Blackburn, Ph.D.

Deborah Blackburn, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry

Laura Caccavale, Ph.D.

Laura Caccavale, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry

Anh-Thuy Le, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology

Anh-Thuy Le, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor

Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology

Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor

Stella Lopez, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology

Stella Lopez, Ph.D.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor

Jennine Moritz, Ph.D.

Jennine Moritz, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry

Jennifer Rohan, Ph.D.

Jennifer Rohan, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry

Allison Baylor Williams, Ph.D.
Child Psychology

Allison Baylor Williams, Ph.D.
Child Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor

Anna Wright, Ph.D., L.C.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychology

Anna Wright, Ph.D., L.C.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Professor