Predoctoral Psychology Internship Overview

The predoctoral psychology internship program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1998. Additional information about the accreditation process can be obtained from: 

• American Psychological Association's Committee on Accreditation
  750 First St. NE
  Washington DC, 20002-4242
  202-336-5979

This internship is listed and follows the guidelines of the Association of Postdoctoral and Internship Centers in Psychology (APPIC). Additional information about APPIC or internship applications can be obtained from:

• APPIC
  10 "G" St. NE
  Washington, DC, 20002
   202-589-0600

Sharp HealthCare's APPIC Program Number is 115311.

For questions regarding internship, please contact the clinical training director, Marc G. Murphy, PhD, ABPP, at marc.murphy@sharp.com or call 858-836-8420.

About Sharp HealthCare
Sharp HealthCare is San Diego’s largest health care organization and the city’s largest employer outside the military. Sharp HealthCare was conferred the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2007. The organization is a private, not-for-profit organization operated by a local board of directors. It offers complete health care to a large part of the San Diego population through a network of hospitals, clinics and physician organizations. Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital is the largest private free-standing psychiatric hospital in California and Sharp Grossmont is the largest full service hospital in the region.

San Diego is the ninth largest city in the United States and is rich in recreational, cultural and educational resources. Major universities such as the University of California at San Diego and San Diego State University are all within a few miles of Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. Additionally, the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University offers a professional school model for clinical training of psychologists while San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego have joined forces to offer a scientist/practitioner model doctoral training program.

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital and Internship Overview
The internship program offers clinical psychology training on six rotations at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. 

The internship at Sharp HealthCare exists to provide psychologists-in-training a year long, in-depth experience on a variety of acute care inpatient hospital units as well as partial hospitalization programs for patients across the age and developmental span from child and adolescents to adults and seniors.

The hospital has a large interdisciplinary staff and works with patients from a team approach. Psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, activity therapists, nurses and other mental health professionals work cooperatively to treat patients. Psychologists and psychology interns are valued members of the treatment team and are looked to for clinical leadership and direction. A collegial relationship exists amongst members of various disciplines.

The hospital is a 150-bed, free-standing, psychiatric hospital located in the heart of San Diego. The hospital operates from two buildings on attractively appointed grounds and is located adjacent to the newly expanded Sharp Memorial Hospital (an acute-care hospital), Sharp Memorial Rehabilitation Center, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion and Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group.

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital is the largest and oldest psychiatric hospital in San Diego and under Sharp HealthCare has become the largest provider of behavioral health services in San Diego. Sharp HealthCare provides mental health care in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. The hospital provides inpatient mental health care on a number of discrete units ranging from young children to seniors.

Outpatient services include partial day treatment and intensive outpatient programs. Sharp Mesa Vista serves patients of all ages who have a wide range of presenting diagnoses. Patients vary greatly in terms of their socioeconomic status and cultural background.  The facility accepts private insurance, Medicare/Medicaid and self pay financing.

The hospital is licensed by the California Department of Health Services to operate and maintain acute-care psychiatric beds. In addition, it is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a member of the National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals and the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.