A psychology intern at Des Moines University Behavioral Health Clinic will work with outpatient adults, ages 18-99+, with a variety of presenting concerns including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, ADHD, ASD, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. The intern will also gain experience in psychological and cognitive evaluations, including general diagnostic evaluations and assessment of cognitive decline associated with aging (e.g., Alzheimer’s and other dementias). Evaluations for ADHD and/or general cognitive/learning issues are options depending on intern interest.

There will be ample opportunity for short- and long-term individual therapy, as well as opportunities for group and couple’s/family therapy depending on intern interest.

There are additional opportunities that will be tailored to intern interests and career goals, including supervision of Psychiatry Residents and/or medical students, teaching, and/or research.

Example supervised experiences (as listed by APPIC):

Des Moines University Behavioral Health Clinic is an outpatient community mental health center primarily serving patients in the greater Des Moines area. Patients served in the clinic range from age 18 to 99 years of age. Most insurances are accepted, including Medicaid and Medicare. 

DMU requires satisfactory background check, credit check, and social media check. Applicants must be eligible for provisional licensure in Iowa prior to start of internship.

De Moines University Behavioral Health Clinic chooses intern candidates through a thorough review of internship application materials and on-site or virtual interviews. Our Internship Training Director and Primary Supervisors are part of the selection and interview process. We are looking for an intern with a variety of training experiences who is interested in greater depth of training in an adult, outpatient setting. The ideal intern candidate will have an interest in honing their skills in individual therapy and cognitive and psychological assessment. There is also ample opportunity for specialized experiences in areas such as group therapy, couples/family therapy, or other areas of clinical interest. We are looking for an intern who works well in a collaborative setting, has a passion for serving the community, and is enthusiastic about learning. Applicants must be eligible for provisional licensure in Iowa prior to the start of internship, however this does not require the applicant to have received a master’s degree in order to qualify.

The Psychology Internship interview process will be conducted with our Training Director, virtually. Candidates will begin the day with an overview from the Regional Training Director of each of the sites in the Cy-Hawk Consortium. Then, applicants will have the opportunity for a one-on-one interview with the DMU Training Director. In this interview the applicant will be asked questions about their clinical training and experiences, ethical decision making, research interests, and goals for the internship year. This interview will last for approximately one hour. Candidates will have ample opportunity to ask questions about DMU during and after the interview. We will set specific days for interviews and share those with candidates for scheduling purposes.