DSH - Metropolitan - Psychology Doctoral Internship

We appreciate your interest in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Internship program at DSH-Metropolitan (DSH-M). This website reflects an effort to provide clear and meaningful guidelines to interns and applicants about the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Internship Program at DSH-M.

DSH-M is located in the suburban community of Norwalk and is approximately fifteen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. DSH-M is a state psychiatric facility serving approximately 700 Individuals and has been in operation since 1916.

The hospital is organized into five treatment programs: two criminal-commitment (forensic) programs, two Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorship/civilly committed program, and a skilled nursing facility (SNF) program. All programs have designated treatment areas where group therapy interventions are conducted. The programs may vary in service due to specific age groups, level of care, and patient needs. Most of the units are dedicated to patients based upon their legal status. The forensic programs primarily treat patients who are in the pre- and post-adjudication phases of court involvement. The civil programs are dedicated to civilly committed patients with severe and persistent mental illness. There are also units dedicated to patients who require Skilled Nursing services.

The 2022-2023 Internship year at DSH-M begins September 1, 2022 and is a one-year, full-time program ending on approximately August 31, 2023. Interns engage in a wide variety of services, including conducting individual and group psychotherapy and skills training; cognitive screenings; psychological and functional behavioral assessments; developing, implementing, and monitoring behavior plans; and consultation services to the Treatment Team. Interns will have the opportunity to take part in two, sixth-month rotations at DSH-M. These rotations may include assignment to an LPS (civil commitment) unit, Forensic (criminal commitment) unit, and/or an off-unit rotation in Neuropsychological Assessment, or Psychological Assessment.

APPIC Membership Status:

DSH-M is a participating member of APPIC, participates in the APPIC Match, and adheres to APPIC Match Policies.

Accreditation Status:

The DSH-M Doctoral Psychology Internship Program was granted accreditation by American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation with an effective date of October 28, 2018.

Questions specifically 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 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org

Important Dates:

  • November 1, 2021 – Application deadline
  • January 2022 – Interviews
  • February 18, 2022 – APPIC Match Day
  • September 1, 2022 – Begin Internship

Contact Information regarding DSH-M training program may be directed to:

Cindy M. Huang, Ph.D.
DSH-Metropolitan
Psychology Internship Director and Training Coordinator
11401 Bloomfield Ave.
Norwalk, California 90650
Phone: (562) 367-3773
Email: cindy.huang@dsh.ca.gov

Psychology Doctoral Internship Program