Program Description
Students in the Child and Adolescent concentration, within the Clinical Psy.D. program, are prepared to address the mental health needs of youth in a variety of settings. The Washington, D.C., Campus Clinical Psy.D. program is based on a practitioner-scholar model of training, which provides students with a broad knowledge of scientific and theoretical clinical psychology principles and an unrivaled amount of real-world experience in community settings.
Graduates are equipped with expert knowledge in theory, research, and experience in clinical psychology, and prepared to serve as lead practitioners and/or senior administrators in both educational and clinical setting. Chicago School's Clinical Psy.D. students achieve one of the highest internship placement rates in the country and are placed at hundreds of prestigious sites.
Students are awarded master's degrees midway through the program, after completing 48 semester hours of required coursework, including two semesters of practicum. Graduates of this program will be prepared to pursue positions as licensed clinical psychologists provided they pass the appropriate licensure examination and complete any state-required post-doctoral residency requirements. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to this campus.
Department
Clinical Psychology
Concentrations
Licensure
• Qualifies graduates to sit for national licensure examinations
Total Credits
106
Fieldwork Requirements
• Year 2: 600-hour basic practicum• Year 3: 600-hour intermediate practicum• Year 4: 600-hour advanced practicum• One-year, full-time internship
Sample Courses
Expressive Therapies with Children
Orients students to the use of art therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, and music therapy as therapeutic approaches for children. An essential aspect of this approach is the integration of creative processes to meet client needs. The basic theories and research supporting the creative arts therapies are introduced as well as practical applications. The use of creative art therapies and creative processes are examined in the following areas: as an intervention in therapeutic and educational settings, as an intervention in healthcare and medical settings, as a form of psycho-education and as an approach for group process. The course includes both didactic and experiential components to help students make use of the expressive modalities in their clinical and educational practices.
Clinical and Diagnostic Interviewing
Techniques of clinical and diagnostic interviewing will be presented. Students will learn several techniques for interviewing, including listening skills, aids for giving and receiving feedback, and establishing a relationship with a client. Students also will learn ways of incorporating these techniques into models of diagnostic interviewing. Consideration of cultural differences in establishing a relationship and conducting an interview is integral to this course. (2 credits)
Child Trauma
Examines the psychological and physiological impact of trauma on children, adolescents, and their families. Particular consideration will be paid to issues of acute reaction, adaptations to trauma, memory mechanisms and processes, and practical applications in therapy. Developmental, social, cultural, and multicultural issues in assessment and treatment of trauma and traumatic stress will be considered. Multiple types of trauma and a variety of treatment models will be explored.
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