{"id":120878,"date":"2026-03-23T11:03:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T16:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=120878\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:19:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:19:56","slug":"clinical-psyd-program-mental-health-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/uncategorized\/clinical-psyd-program-mental-health-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Expanding Access to Mental Health Care: How The Chicago School\u2019s Clinical Psy.D. Program Prepares Licensed Psychologists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States is facing a growing shortage of licensed psychologists at a time when anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions are on the rise. As demand accelerates, the number of clinical psychologists entering the field has not kept pace, leaving many communities with long waitlists and limited access<\/a> to care.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were seeing escalating rates of anxiety and depression prior to the pandemic,\u201d says Lance Garrison<\/a>, Ph.D., dean of The Chicago School\u2019s College of Professional Psychology. \u201cWhen the pandemic hit, there was just a substantial increase, particularly in anxiety and depression. And that\u2019s coming at a time when the number of clinical psychologists is actually going down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across the country\u2014particularly in rural and underserved areas\u2014the gap between need and available providers continues to widen. Expanding the pipeline of well-trained psychologists has never been more critical.<\/p>\n

For students considering psychology careers, this shortage represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a challenge to step into a workforce under pressure, and an opportunity to make an immediate and meaningful impact.<\/p>\n

The Growing Demand for Licensed Psychologists and Counselors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dr. Garrison has watched this gap widen in real time. From rising patient needs to workforce shifts happening behind the scenes, several forces have converged to create today\u2019s shortage of licensed psychologists and counselors. Here\u2019s a closer look at what\u2019s driving the demand\u2014and why it continues to grow.<\/p>\n

Rising Rates of Anxiety and Depression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Even before 2020, rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions were steadily increasing. The pandemic intensified those challenges<\/a>, leading to a substantial surge in demand for services.<\/p>\n

As more individuals seek care for complex and long-term mental health needs, providers are managing higher caseloads and more intensive clinical presentations than in previous years.<\/p>\n

An Aging Psychology Workforce<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cAs demand for mental health care is spiking, the number of psychologists available to meet that demand has not kept pace,\u201d says Dr. Garrison. Waitlists<\/a> are long, and access to high-level care is limited.<\/p>\n

More licensed psychologists are retiring than entering the field, narrowing the pipeline of doctoral-trained providers. As experienced clinicians step away from practice, fewer new psychologists are available to replace them, which widens the gap between need and access.<\/p>\n

Geographic Inequities in Access to Care<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThere are vast swaths of the country where people simply don\u2019t have access to psychologists close to where they live,\u201d says Dr. Garrison, underscoring the geographic inequities<\/a> in mental health care availability. In many states, psychologists are concentrated in major metropolitan areas, leaving rural and frontier communities with few\u2014or no\u2014licensed providers nearby.<\/p>\n

As a result, many rural residents must choose between traveling long distances, relying on limited telehealth options, or foregoing care.<\/p>\n

How The Chicago School\u2019s Practitioner-Scholar Model Prepares Licensed Clinical Psychologists<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In clinical psychology education, two primary models guide the preparation of students for clinical practice: the scientist-practitioner<\/a> (or Boulder) model and the practitioner-scholar<\/a> model.<\/p>\n

What Is the Difference Between the Scientist-Practitioner and Practitioner-Scholar Models?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dr. Garrison differentiates the two, explaining that the scientist-practitioner model\u2019s \u201cfocus is heavy on the science and lighter on the practice side,\u201d while the practitioner-scholar model \u201ctrains people to be practitioners who understand the evidence-based literature and can apply that to their practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

While both models value research and clinical skill, the emphasis differs. Traditional Ph.D. programs often prioritize academic research, whereas the practitioner-scholar model centers on clinical application, ensuring students are not only consumers of evidence but skilled psychologists ready to make a real impact from day one.<\/p>\n

How Does The Chicago School Apply the Practitioner-Scholar Model in Its Psy.D. Program?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At The Chicago School, this practitioner-focused philosophy is embodied by faculty<\/a> who actively blend clinical work with teaching.<\/p>\n

For example, Braden Berkey, Psy.D.<\/a>, is a licensed clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Clinical Psy.D. program, bringing decades of experience in behavioral health and diversity-informed practice into the classroom.<\/p>\n

Similarly, faculty such as Joyce Nugent-Hirschbeck, Psy.D.<\/a>, and Jessica Cerniak, Psy.D.<\/a>, maintain active clinical practices while teaching and supervising students across a range of diagnostic and treatment settings.<\/p>\n

Is a Psy.D. Program Better for Clinical Practice Preparation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For prospective students, the decision between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. often depends on long-term career goals, interest in academic research versus direct clinical practice, and the type of professional setting they hope to enter.<\/p>\n

For Dr. Garrison, the blend of clinical and academic engagement from a Psy.D. program is transformative.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his own experience supervising Chicago School students, he shares, \u201cI found out very quickly that they were extraordinarily well prepared from a clinical practice perspective.\u201d He adds that they received \u201cbetter clinical training than I did at my very traditional, highly regarded Ph.D. program.\u201d<\/p>\n

That real-world preparation makes the practitioner-scholar model more than a pedagogical choice, but also a promise to students that they will be prepared to meet the needs of communities across the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur students are extraordinarily well prepared to provide high-quality services to the patients that they see,\u201d Dr. Garrison says, \u201cand that sets us apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

For aspiring clinical psychologists exploring clinical psychology graduate programs, this means graduating with the confidence and competence to serve clients effectively in a wide range of professional settings.<\/p>\n

How Clinical Psychology Students Gain Supervised Practice Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Clinical training is woven into the fabric of the Psy.D. program<\/a> at The Chicago School.<\/p>\n

Students begin with rigorous coursework that builds foundational knowledge in assessment, diagnosis, ethics, and intervention. From there, they move into practicum placements where they apply what they\u2019ve learned in real therapeutic settings under the supervision of licensed psychologists.<\/p>\n

Dr. Garrison emphasizes that this integration of classroom learning and applied experience is essential. \u201cThere\u2019s the standard classes, the didactic training,\u201d he explains, \u201cand then there\u2019s the clinical training piece where the students go out and take the things that they learned in their didactic courses and apply them to developing their psychotherapy and psychological assessment skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

With hundreds of clinical training partners<\/a> nationwide, students gain exposure to diverse populations and settings from hospitals and community mental health centers to private practices and specialized clinics.<\/p>\n

By the time students reach their predoctoral internship, they are stepping into advanced clinical roles with a strong foundation of supervised experience behind them.<\/p>\n

As the shortage of licensed psychologists continues, this preparation ensures graduates are ready to step into practice immediately after licensure: credentialed and clinically capable, prepared to build meaningful psychology careers.<\/p>\n

Preparing Graduates for Licensure as Clinical Psychologists<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At The Chicago School, preparation for licensure begins on day one, ensuring students are ready not only to serve clients but to meet professional standards nationwide.<\/p>\n

What Is the EPPP and Why Is It Required for Psychology Licensure?<\/h3>\n

To become licensed, candidates must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a comprehensive national exam. As Dr. Garrison explains, \u201cIt\u2019s 220 or 225 multiple-choice questions. They\u2019re really difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preparing Competent, Ethical Psychologists Beyond Licensure<\/h3>\n

EPPP training is integrated throughout the Psy.D. program. \u201cWe give all of our students exposure to the types of exam questions that they\u2019ll see on the EPPP,\u201d says Dr. Garrison.<\/p>\n

This ongoing exposure helps students build confidence, test-taking stamina, and a deeper understanding of core psychological concepts long before they sit for the exam.<\/p>\n

Preparation also extends beyond passing a test. Throughout the program, students develop the professional judgment and responsibility required for independent practice through:<\/p>\n