The doctor of psychology program in clinical psychology educates
psychologists for direct practice in clinical and applied professional
setting by providing a solid foundation in clinical practice, grounded
in the evolving scientific understanding of mind and behavior. Didactic training in broad and general psychological principles is
coupled with practical, graduated instruction in a range of assessment
and intervention modes. The program takes a pluralistic approach to
theoretical orientation, exposing each student to three broad
conceptual and treatment orientations, including cognitive and
behavioral, psychodynamic, and systems theories. Infused into all
educational and training experiences are awareness of, sensitivity to,
and consideration of appropriate approaches for individual differences,
such as those associated with age, ethnicity, culture, race, religion,
language, socioeconomic background, gender, sexual orientation, and
national origin.
Our model presumes that training approaches should be influenced by
developments in science and in the practice environment, and so
requires us to actively cultivate avenues of influence to ensure we are
up to date. This broad stance can be illustrated by, for example,
specialty clinics in which faculty train students in state-of-the-art
evidence-based treatments, built around investigation of mechanisms and
processes of change, and in empirically supported delivery systems. A
structural strategy for linking didactic training to community
practice is our longstanding practice of appointing two-to-four full-time
practitioners as visiting faculty, whose presence in the community
serves as a conduit by which changing clinical challenges are
introduced into training design.
While students are required to master contemporary clinical
practices, we also presume that over the course of a career they will
encounter new knowledge, and new clinical needs-- which translates into
a need for openness, flexibility, and a willingness to rise to the
challenges posed by change. Our stress on clinical values and
knowledge-based practice is designed both to equip our graduates to
continue to develop over a lifetime of challenges that may not be
evident to us today, and to provide clinically leadership in the effort
to develop new and better ways of relieving suffering and promoting
human growth.
