Catalog 2013-2014 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2013-2014 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master’s in International Counseling Psychology (MAICP): MA, Mexico City


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Dual US Licensure and Dual Language Program

The program is dedicated to helping students become highly competent counselors capable of providing clinical services across diverse cultures. Based in cosmopolitan Mexico City, the program prepares students with the expertise to work with Latin American and Spanish speaking individuals and communities. While the program is based primarily on systemic and counseling models developed in the United States and Europe, students also gain competencies in Latin American-originating theories and an awareness of indigenous healing practices. Many graduates have chosen to work in different international contexts, although all graduates of the program are prepared for two U.S. licensing options: The Marriage and Family Therapy License or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Students who successfully complete this program will also automatically earn the Certificate in Latin American Family Therapy.

The standard curriculum is a complete two years including a summer semester. Students must complete a minimum of 63 units in order to prepare for licensure under the California Marriage and Family Therapy License. Students may elect to take an additional 6 units if they wish license as a professional clinical counselor (LPCC).
 

Program Outcomes


Learning Objective 1: Comprehension of the systemic foundations and theories of couple and family therapy.
Student Learning Outcomes
:
1.1 Demonstrate the comprehension of various systemic theories of couple and family therapy for a diversity of problems and people in a variety of settings. 

1.2 Demonstrate the integration of systemic approaches with foundational mental health knowledge for a diverse group of people in a variety of settings.

Learning Objective 2: Competence in the application of ethical and legal standards, assessment processes, and treatment methods.
Student Learning Outcomes
:
2.1 Use of interviewing, assessment, and treatment techniques in ways that are relevant to diverse people in a variety of settings.

2.2 Show an integrated application of systemic and counseling foundational mental health knowledge. 

2.3 Demonstrate legal and ethical knowledge and practice of systemic practice. 

2.4 Demonstrate knowledge and skills in case management including appropriate referrals and documentation of treatment.

2.5 Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to effectively manage therapist biases and prejudices.

2.6 Demonstrate community engagement by providing direct service to individuals, couples, families, organizations and communities.

Learning Objective 3: Competence in the practice (i.e., awareness, knowledge and application) of dimensions of diversity with a multicultural and international focus for people in diverse settings.
Student Learning Outcomes
:
3.1. Demonstrate an awareness of personal beliefs and attitudes about different dimensions of diversity.

3.2 Demonstrate a knowledge of diversity including differences, similarities, privilege, and power among class and economic status, disability and illness, gender, identity, migration, nationality, race, religion/spirituality, sexuality, sexual-orientation, and social and political issues.

3.3 Demonstrate diversity based practice skills in applying systemic and counseling theories, assessment and interventions to diverse groups of people in diverse settings.

Learning Objective 4: Knowledge of research methodologies and scholarship activities.


Student Learning Outcomes
:
4.1 Demonstrate knowledge of basic research designs and procedures. 

4.2 Demonstrate knowledge of peer-reviewed systemic, counseling and international literature.
4.3 Demonstrate the ability to implement research protocols at the California Clinic and Research lab.

Learning Objective 5: Critical Patriotism and International Competence
Student Learning Outcomes
:
5.1 Demonstrate Critical Patriotism or the ability to honestly and fairly reflect and assess the values, history, culture, and traditions of one’s country. Inherent in this process is the ability to consider the nation’s virtues and vices in a balanced way (Platt & Laszloffy, 2012).
5.2 Demonstrate a knowledge of global systems, global issues and the key forces shaping lives around the planet such as economics, world history, contemporary debates, the decline of nation-states, and global health issues and be able to articulate the clinical implications of these factors.
5.3 Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to meet the clinical needs of international populations.
5.4 Demonstrate the ability to locate ethical principles in different national contexts.

Learning Objective 6: Spanish Language Fluency
Student Learning Outcomes
:
6.1 Demonstrate an understanding in Spanish the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in International Counseling Psychology.
6.2 Demonstrate the ability to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
6.3 Demonstrate the ability to understand and produce clear, detailed text in Spanish as needed to complete clinical notes and/or clinic related communications. 

Training Model


Approximately 75% of the courses are semester long and taught by local faculty with expertise in counseling in an international and multicultural context. Approximately 25% of the courses are taught by distinguished visiting professors; the unique location and nature of the program attracts internationally renowned experts and authors with established knowledge in the specific course content areas.
While academic coursework is conducted in English, nearly all practicum training experience is performed in Spanish. Therefore, this program has an absolute expectation that students become bilingual. Language courses are available on campus. Classes are typically taught in the evening to accommodate working and clinical training schedules. Each semester there are also executive format courses taught on an abbreviated in-person schedule.

Practicum

All students must provide 500 hours of face-to-face clinical services under supervision by supervisors approved by the program. Knowledge and skills acquired by the student are applied in supervised public and non-profit field placements throughout Mexico City approved by the University in. In addition, all students must provide a minimum of 100 hours and maintain caseload at the California Clinic, Alliant’s on-sight dialogue and counseling center.

The California Clinic: An Alliant Counseling and Dialogue Center serves as a clinical training and research facility that provides an affordable space for dialogue and counseling services. Its mission is three fold:

  1. Service: To serve communities who face barriers in connecting with competent mental health care in Mexico City.
  2. Training: To provide live supervision, case consultation, and team practice in systemic approaches.
  3. Research: To study the application of systemic and counseling approaches in Mexico, and the exploration of therapy methods originating in Mexico and Latin America.

Final Practicum Case Presentation

The degree training program culminates with the completion of Final Practicum Case Presentation (FPCP) in which the student writes a document about his or her theory of counseling and gives an oral presentation. The Final Practicum Case Presentation (FPCP) is designed to enable second-year interns to demonstrate the ability to grasp and apply systems theory in clinical practice.

Student Academic Exchanges

Students enrolled in the Counseling Psychology program at Alliant’s Mexico City campus have the unique opportunity to take classes at Alliant University’s San Francisco campus. Students staying in San Francisco have the opportunity to take classes in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States while learning about social justice theory and conducting social justice work from leaders in the field.

Specialized Admissions Requirements


There are no specific requirements other than a bachelor’s degree, although students should have a good understanding of basic psychological principles and methods. English language proficiency is required.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements


The standard curriculum is a complete two years and includes the summer semester. Students must complete a minimum of 63 units in order to prepare for licensure under California Marriage and Family Therapy licensing laws. Students may elect to take an additional 6 units if they wish to also qualify for licensure as a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC).

Curriculum Plan


Required Latin American Focused Coursework:


  • PSY 6654 - Latin American & Liberation Psychology (3 units)
  • PSY 6643 - Critical Issues in Latin America (3 units)

Optional Courses to Qualify for the LPC License:


Master’s of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MA) Teaching Faculty


Laura Patricia Betancourt Arriaga, MA

Miguel Chupina, PhD

Debora Mondellini, MA

Jason Platt, PhD, Program Director

 


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