Clinical Forensic Psychology: PsyD, Sacramento and San Diego

Goals and Objectives

The American Psychology-Law Society (APLS/APA Division 41) defines forensic psychology as professional practice in “any subdiscipline of psychology (e.g., clinical, developmental, social, cognitive) when applying the scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge of psychology to the law to assist in addressing legal, contractual, and administrative matters.”

Students of the California School of Forensic Studies Clinical Forensic PsyD and Clinical Forensic PhD programs receive a foundational education in clinical psychology via course work in fundamental psychological theory; assessment; intervention; ethics; multiculturalism; research design and statistics; biological basis of behavior; cognitive affective basis of behavior; developmental psychology; social psychology; and psychopathology. Additionally, foundational knowledge of the justice system is garnered through coursework that focuses upon legal systems and research, the rules of evidence and discovery, examination and cross-examination, and expert witness testimony. The application of core clinical and forensic principles is advanced through courses which focus on specific content areas such as police stress, addiction, sex offenders, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, stalking, multiple homicide offenders and victimology. Students also receive more than 3,000 hours of practicum and internship experience to develop their clinical competency in forensic settings, such as correctional facilities and community-based victim services centers.

The PsyD in Clinical Forensic Psychology support students to develop competency in 12 core clinical areas that are essential to the practice of professional psychology:

• Professionalism
• Reflective Practice/Self-Assessment/Self Care
• Scientific Knowledge and Practice
• Relationships
• Individual and Cultural Diversity Awareness
• Ethical Legal Standards and Policy
• Assessment
• Intervention
• Research and Evaluation
• Supervision
• Management and Administration
• Advocacy

Training Model: A Practitioner-Scholar Program

Students receive more than 3,000 hours of practicum and internship experience to develop their clinical competency in forensic settings, such as correctional facilities and community-based victim services centers.

The second and third years provide students with opportunities to apply the psychological and forensic principles acquired during their coursework through a first year and/or second year practicum experience. These experiences entail 10-20 hours per week at one of CSFS community training partners, which include adult and youth correctional facilities, department of mental health agencies and community organizations throughout California. Through these experiences, students are introduced to the role of professional psychologists, exposed to a range of populations and mental health issues and are provided with direct experience in clinical interviewing, cognitive and personality assessment and evidenced-informed and based treatment interventions.

The fourth year, students enter their internships meet or exceed the 1,500 hours of pre-doctoral internship hours required for licensure by the California Board of Psychology.

Specialized Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the California School of Forensic Studies’ doctoral programs who hold a degree in a field other than Psychology, must have completed courses in Introductory Psychology, Statistics and Abnormal Psychology. Other courses may be required to meet conditional admissions requirements on a case by case basis. Applicants who hold a degree other than in Criminology, Criminal Justice or Administration of Justice must have completed a course representing an overview of the field.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Applicants to California School of Forensic Studies’ doctoral programs may require GRE general test scores in order to be considered for admission. CSFS does not currently have a minimum requirement but may use the scores as partial indicators of scholastic ability for those who wish to submit their scores. Subject test scores are not required at this time.

Scientific Writing Proficiency

Students may be required, prior to or at any time during their graduate education, to sit for a writing proficiency examination. Should a student not meet specific standards of scientific writing, as determined by the quality of completed coursework or by examination, the student will be required to complete a one-unit course on technical writing for the social sciences.

Victimology Concentration

To be accepted into the Victimology Concentration, students must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully complete all G1 course requirements.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Receive the recommendation of their Program Director.
• Receive the approval from a two-person review committee composed of Victimology Program faculty. The review will include submission of an essay as well as an interview.

Additionally, students must meet the following Program standards:

• Complete all four coursework sections.
• Complete one research endeavor of a caliber appropriate to submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

130 units are required for the PsyD in Clinical Forensic Psychology.  The PsyD program is a offered via a year-round, full-time curriculum of 4 years duration. In addition to the coursework, practicum and internship, student are required to:

• Receive 30 hours of individual psychotherapy with a licensed psychologist.
• Complete a dissertation.
• Successfully pass comprehensive examinations in the G2 and G3 years.

Curriculum Plan

130 units

Victimology Concentration

The Concentration in Forensic Victimology prepares students to work with, and on behalf of, victims of crime.

Section I of the Program focuses upon Foundational Concepts in Victimology, including its history, relationship to the criminal justice system, and influence upon public policy. Students also learn quantitative and qualitative research methods which will be applied toward the completion of a research effort that will become the basis for a submission to a peer-reviewed journal. At the conclusion of Section I, students will have a working hypothesis for their individual research efforts.

Section II focuses upon Prevention of Victimization. Students gain knowledge of victimization antecedents and develop the skills necessary to conduct threat and suicide assessments in various milieus (public venues, households, the workplace, school campuses). Students will also learn safety planning strategies that potentially prevent victimization. At the conclusion of Section II, students will be expected to have completed the literature review and methodology sections of their research paper.

Section III focuses upon the role of victimology in offender identification and apprehension. Students learn how to conduct a comprehensive Victimology Assessment, the role of the victim in judicial proceedings, and approaches to working with Victim-Witnesses. Students are expected to finalize data collection and begin analysis related to their research endeavors during Section III.

Section IV will focus upon the intervention following victimization. The impact of victim variables (such as age, cultural and gender variables, crime dynamics, trauma history and cognitive-affective processing) upon recovery will be reviewed. Evidence-based and evidence-informed diagnostic screening and assessment tools (including the Traumatic Events Questionnaire; Traumatic Events Scale; SCID-PTSD Module; MMPI-2 and MMPI-RF) will be explored, as will trauma-informed intervention strategies (such as Psychological First Aid and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing-EMDR). Finally, this Section will explore the challenges to the practitioner who works with crime victims; discussions and strategies for the prevention of secondary victimization, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue will be reviewed.

To be accepted into the program, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Successfully complete all G1 course requirements.
2. Be in good academic standing.
3. Receive the recommendation of their Program Director.
4. Receive the approval from a two-person review committee composed of Victimology Program faculty.

The review will include submission of an essay as well as an interview.

Additionally, students must meet the following Program standards:
1. Complete all four coursework sections.
2. Complete one research endeavor of a caliber appropriate to submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
 

Faculty Listing

Laura A. Brodie
Marion Chiurazzi
Diana Concannon
Noor M. Damavandi
Valerie E. Forward
Robert Leark
Glenn S. Lipson
Joanna Pashdag
Jana L. Price-Sharps
Louis J. Rappaport
Veronica A. Thomas
Amy Tillery
James Turner
Lisa Ware
Dale S. White