Brattleboro Retreat Earns APA Reaccreditation for Psychology Training Program Through 2035
by Mary Wilson // May 22, 2026
The Brattleboro Retreat’s doctoral psychology internship program has once again earned accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), extending the nationally recognized designation through 2035.
“This reflects the Brattleboro Retreat’s commitment to training and education as part of its mission and to developing a strong regional mental health workforce,” said Kurt White, vice president of community partnerships and executive sponsor of the Retreat’s psychology training program. “The Retreat is one of only three programs in the state with APA accreditation, and the 10-year re-accreditation term is the longest approval period the APA grants internship sites, underscoring the quality of the program and its adherence to the highest standards of psychology training.”
The reaccreditation confirms that the Retreat continues to meet the APA’s standards for training future psychologists and mental health professionals. The decision followed an extensive review process that included a site visit, program evaluations, and interviews with staff and trainees.
The APA reviewers highlighted the exceptional level of mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical training provided to interns, reflecting the program’s important role in developing the mental health workforce our communities urgently need.
“We are very proud of the hard work that our psychology supervisors have done to make the program what it is today, having grown from a much smaller program 15 years ago. We have now trained 57 psychologists, with many remaining in New England to serve local communities. 17 graduates have continued working at the Retreat, 10 of whom are currently on staff,” said Dr. James Benton, Director of Psychology Training at the Retreat.
The Retreat’s internship program provides hands-on clinical training in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, serving a largely rural and underserved population. The internship year runs from late June through June of the following year, and qualified doctoral students apply through a national match process each fall for placement the following year. The highly selective process involves reviewing hundreds of applications and interviewing several dozen candidates before finalizing the match.
“This reaccreditation reflects the strength of our training program and the extraordinary commitment of our psychology staff, supervisors, and interns,” said Brattleboro Retreat President and CEO Steven Cummings. “Preparing the next generation of mental health professionals is central to our mission, especially at a time when access to high-quality mental healthcare is more important than ever.”
Caption for photo: 2025–2026 Doctoral Psychology Interns at the Brattleboro Retreat. Front row (left to right): Dur-e-Smeen Berki, Ari Shimits. Back row (left to right): Katie Davis, Caitlin Stavish, Emilie Paul, Myles Arendtson.
