The Samaritan Health Services Psychology Internship Program is dedicated to educating and training upcoming practitioners in psychology. As the national health care model adapts, it is appropriate and important for psychologists to be skilled in collaborating with other health care professionals in order to best serve the public. Such proficiency requires being well informed about the interplay between physical and psychological health, driving use of the biopsychosocial model.Similarly, as psychologists merge into medical primary care clinics, generalist training is key in effectively providing primary psychological care. Thus, the Samaritan internship program espouses a generalist training model. This includes traditional mental health services, health psychology and assessment as the most salient areas of training for primary care.
Effective psychologists must also have skill in reviewing literature and research as well as clinical skills. To achieve this goal, our training program adheres to a practitioner/scholar model. Interns learn how to responsibly consume evidence-based research, as well as how to consult with patients and physicians.
Equip the psychologists of tomorrow by providing ethical, comprehensive, integrated and innovative training in the field of health psychology.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Samaritan Health Psychology Internship Program is offering positions in the Medical/Health Psychology track. The track consists of three different rotations and each rotation consists of a “Major” area of emphasis (24-32 hours per week) and “Minor” area of emphasis (8 hours per week; optional). The other 8 hours of the training week are divided amongst didactics, research activity, diversity seminar, group supervision, class socialization, and administration activities. Interns work with the training committee to develop their training plan for the year at the outset of internship.
Samaritan Health Services’ Psychology Internship Program is currently accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) effective April 15, 2018. The next program site visit is to be held in 2025. Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation & AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association750 1st St. NE, Washington DC, 20002Phone: 202-336-5979
Samaritan Health Services’ Psychology Internship Program is a member of APPIC and participates in the APPIC Match. This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.
The psychology internship program at Samaritan Health Services abides by the APPIC and APA standards, policies and selection procedures. Applicants must be qualified and participate in the interview process.
Internship applications must be submitted by Nov. 4, 2024.
Our interns are on the leading edge of behavioral health care in the primary care setting.
Our faculty is knowledgeable, dedicated, attentive and compassionate.
Meet Director of Clinical Training, Terra Bennett-Reeves, PsyD.
Meet Associate Director of Clinical Training, Petra Zdenkova, PsyD, PMH-C, MBA.
Faculty members with the Samaritan Psychology Internship Program, Petra Zdenkova, PsyD, PMH-C, MBA, and Jules Cunningham, PhD, describe the unique opportunities that drew them to the internship program.
Hear more about the Samaritan Psychology Internship Program from faculty members and a resident as they share their thoughts and unique experiences.
Meet faculty members Petra Zdenkova, PsyD, PMH-C, MBA, Associate Director of Clinical Training for the Samaritan Psychology Internship Program, and Jules Cunningham, PhD, Assistant Director of Clinical Training for Samaritan’s residency program.
Dr. Zdenkova and Dr. Cunningham discuss the unique aspects of the training program and how trainees can customize their experience to meet their goals while working in a clinical setting.
Hear what doctors Zdenkova and Cunningham appreciate most about working with trainees in the Samaritan Psychology Internship Program.
Doctors Zdenkova and Cunningham share their thoughts about the culture of the program. Highlights include a collaborative culture grounded in warmth, openness, supportive relationships, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Postdoctoral Resident Rachel Wakefield, PsyD, explains what made her want to continue with the Samaritan Psychology training program after completing her initial internship.
Dr. Rachel Wakefield speaks about her major and minor rotation options and how she was able to vary her experiences to align with her generalist training.
Dr. Wakefield shares what she has enjoyed most about her training including the many experiences she gained while working with a wide variety of patients.
Dr. Wakefield explains how her internship and residency with the Samaritan Psychology training program prepared her for her career and starting an independent practice with confidence.
Hear Dr. Wakefield describe opportunities and experiences she has had during her residency at Samaritan including work with committees and specific populations.
Dr. Wakefield shares what she loves about the Pacific Northwest and the variety of activities in the region including outdoor recreation and finding fellow trainees with shared interests.
For more information, contact Terra Bennett-Reeves, PsyD, Director of Clinical Training:
Samaritan Graduate Medical Education3600 NW Samaritan DrCorvallis, OR 97330Email: [email protected]Phone: 541-768-2146Fax: 541-768-5355
Learn more about Samaritan and living and working in the communities we serve in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties.
Samaritan’s Graduate Medical Education Programs don’t just round out your medical training, they give you the opportunity to discover who you are outside of medicine, in one of the most idyllic settings in the U.S.
