Clinical Psychology: MA, Japan

Master’s Level Practitioners

The goal of the Clinical Psychology Master of Arts program in Japan is to develop master’s-level practitioners who are capable of applying psychological knowledge to their work in a wide variety of settings serving children and families in Japan. These settings may include private practice, mental health clinics, community mental health centers, inpatient mental health facilities, medical settings, educational settings, and workplace settings, among others.

The goals of this program are to train students who have successful psychotherapeutic intervention skills with a special focus on children and their families; who are able to conduct appropriate and accurate assessments; and who are able to integrate and adapt western psychological interventions to appropriate Japanese cultural contexts.

This program is an innovative training program that uses traditional face-to-face teaching methods, as well as online educational approaches, and, with a few exceptions, is taught primarily in Japanese. Admission requirements are written and oral fluency in Japanese; possession of a bachelor’s degree; written recommendations; a personal essay; a brief essay on topics chosen by the program; and an interview with the admissions committee. Classes are provided in Tokyo, in the U.S., and online by psychological professionals from both Japan and the United States. The program requires 48 semester credit units, which includes practicum experience as well as completion of a master’s thesis. The program administration is headquartered at the San Francisco campus with a satellite campus in Tokyo.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of major theoretical approaches for evidence-based psychological intervention.
2. Recognize and utilize the appropriate sources of information necessary for evidence-based psychological intervention.
3. Formulate a case and devise integrated treatment plans that include a diagnostic formulation and specific intervention techniques.
4. Demonstrate skills in ethical reasoning, and follow professional ethical standards when providing psychological services.
5. Demonstrate professional attitude pertaining to professional ethics, self-awareness, openness, and responsiveness to critical feedback.
6. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of multicultural/diversity implications in developing a case formulation and appropriate intervention plans.