Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Consultation and Supervision

This course provides students with theoretical and empirical knowledge as well as the relevant, practical skills needed to function as consultants and supervisors. Contextual issues related to contemporary models and systems of service delivery are also reviewed.

Cognitive Assessment

This course introduces students to the major approaches and techniques for intellectual assessment in children and adults. It covers principles of test construction and psychometrics, the history of intellectual assessment, theories of intelligence, and methods of intellectual assessment. Particular attention is given to the administration and interpretation of the Wechsler intelligence tests, and alternative methods of intellectual assessment are also reviewed. The class may include a laboratory in which skills in administration and interpretation can be practiced.

Psychoanalytic Theory and Therapy

This course integrates psychoanalytic theories of personality with a study of the technique of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Extra attention is given to actual case material and the role of the therapist in analytically oriented treatment. The psychoanalytic perspective on therapeutic process is explored both from classical and more recent analytic viewpoints. Students are introduced to basic psychoanalytic concepts of personality and psychopathology and their implications for therapeutic technique.

For information on where The Chicago School of Professional Psychology meets, does not meet, or has not determined if the program meets licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: https://staging.thechicagoschool.edu/admissions/licensure-disclosures/.

Practicum

All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0). Students must have completed the academic planning which will allow for all the practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. No student may begin a practicum without being in attendance for a minimum of two and one-half semesters.

The practicum is the first opportunity provided to students for clinical field training. Within the series of practicum courses, the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program provides students with the opportunity of working under supervision with a clinical population within a mental health delivery system. The practicum is an essential part of clinical training and all students are required to participate in the practicum experience. Liability insurance is included in the cost of the practicum.

Full-time students will normally be placed in a Diagnostic Practicum and Seminar during their second year of study, in a Therapy Practicum and Seminar during their third year of study, and an Advanced Practicum during their fourth year of study. For registration purposes, the practicum and seminar are treated like a course. The practicum/seminar carries three (3) credit hours per semester and six (6) credit hours per academic year. The Advanced Practicum courses (PP8310 and PP8311) carry 1.5 credit hours per semester over two semesters for three (3) credit hours per academic year. Practicum usually begins in September and concludes in June. However, a limited number of practicum programs may begin in July or August and finish in June. For each of the Diagnostic, Therapy, and Advanced Practicum years, the student will be required to spend a minimum of 600 hours in the practicum training experience.

A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor is any student transferred from the practicum requirements. Students who come to the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program with extensive clinical backgrounds are placed in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and do not have previous experience.

Internship

All students are required to complete an internship following the completion of all course work, practicum, and dissertation requirements. On internship, students integrate academic knowledge with clinical skills and demonstrate the effective and ethical use of these skills in clinical practice. Through intensive supervised training, students gain direct experience in applying their knowledge with a clinical population.

The internship experience consists of a minimum of 2,000 hours of training over a 12 – 24 month (full- or part-time, respectively) period. Appropriate sites for internship training include programs that are approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) and programs that are members of the Association of Psychology Pre-doctoral and Post-doctoral Internship Centers (APPIC) or The California Psychology Internship Council (CAPIC). The internship is a vital component and is never waived or transferred. Students are required to register for internship during each semester they are on internship. Registration for internship automatically assigns full-time student status.

Application to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program at the Anaheim Campus is open to any person who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and who meets other entrance requirements. The program admits students whom it judges to possess sufficient academic aptitude, as well as the emotional and social maturity to function effectively as future professional psychologists. Applicants will be evaluated on their overall ability to do graduate work. Factors considered are: undergraduate performance, relevant work history (i.e., volunteer and professional experience, including, but not limited to, clinical, research, teaching and related experience), the content of essays describing applicants rationale for wanting to become a clinical psychologist and what the applicant would contribute to interactions with people from diverse backgrounds, writing skills, admission interviews, and recommendations from academic professors or supervisors from professional or volunteer experiences. An undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale or a graduate GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale is required for admission to the program. Applicants not meeting this requirement will not be considered. Applicants must submit the following:

• Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
• Current curriculum vitae or résumé
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended

The Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program at the Anaheim Campus requires 15 semester hours of psychology credit, including three specific courses (at the undergraduate or graduate level) that must be completed with a grade earned of ‘C’ or better prior to enrollment:

• Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology (waived if the applicant has an undergraduate or graduate degree in Psychology)
• Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology, or Maladaptive Behavior
• Statistics
• Two additional psychology courses

Based on the evaluation of these materials, selected candidates may be invited to interview for further consideration of their application. Please see the application for detailed instructions and information regarding application requirements, application deadlines, and letters of recommendation. Applications must be submitted with a $50 (U.S.) nonrefundable fee in order to be evaluated. This fee may be waived for Chicago School alumni, McNair Scholars, and military personnel.

The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our academic programs accessible to anyone, regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will help provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.

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