Clinical Psychology: PsyD, Los Angeles

Field Training

At the predoctoral stage, students’ professional development occurs within the context of both formal coursework and supervised clinical training experiences (i.e., practica) in a variety of mental health service settings in the community. The CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD program in Los Angeles requires students to complete three years of practica prior to their predoctoral full-time internship. Every student is mentored through the clinical training placement selection and application process by the Practicum and Internship Training Directors. These licensed professionals facilitate students’ development and implementation of an individualized training plan that providesa solid base of clinical experiences with a variety of clientele and professional role models, as weel as professional training experiences are well-matched to the student’s level of skill and longer-term professional goals (including the successful acquisition of full-time APA-accredited internship placement).

All first-year students participate in a practicum that is a collaboration between the Los Angeles campus Division of Professional Field Training (DPFT) and the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD). Students with prior clinical experience at the Master’s level provide individual therapy to children and adolescents at elementary and high schools. Students without prior clinical experience at the Master’s level administer evidence-based group curricula to children in elementary school (K-8th grade). In the spring semester of their practicum training, these students interview with AUSD and the primary practicum supervisor to determine readiness to begin providing individual therapy to children and adolescents at the elementary and high schools as well.

In their second and third year practica, students are placed for 15 - 20 hours per week of professional training in diverse agencies in the Los Angeles area. In these settings, students assume a greater degree of clinical responsibility for assessment and intervention while being closely supervised at a level appropriate to the students’ training level and abilities. The majority of affiliated and practicum training sites exist within a 40-mile radius of the campus and all professional training programs are carefully reviewed and continually monitored by DPFT to assure consistent and high quality training.

Prior to graduation, students are required to complete a full-time internship. The internship is a culminating experience that integrates academic and clinical experiences and prepares students for their professional role as a psychologist. The Clinical PsyD program is committed to helping its students obtain APA-accredited internships. While the completion of an APA-accredited internship is not required to complete the program, all students are required to apply to a minimum number of APA-accredited internship sites, and are required to participate in both Phases of the APPIC Match process. Students should be aware that various postdoctoral training positions and some employers (e.g. the Veterans Administration) require that successful applicants have APA-accredited internships. F or their full-time internship experience, many students leave the Los Angeles area in order to gain specialized training at APA-accredited/APPIC internship sites. Full-time APA-accredited/APPIC internships provide a stipend to students during their internship year. Most other internships (e.g., CAPIC) and practicum sites do not offer stipends. Students should not count on training stipends as a means of financing their education.

Students become eligible to apply for internship only after achieving post-proposal status on their clinical dissertation and advancing to doctoral candidacy; students are required to pass the proposal meeting by the end of finals week in the spring semester of their second year in order to apply to internship in the fall of the third year. In special cases via faculty advisement and with Program Director approval, students may be allowed to modify their program to five years by adding an extra practicum experience in their fourth year and complete the required full-time internship in their fifth year.

For all practicum placements, students are required to participate in a minimum of one hour of weekly supervision provided by a licensed psychologist; many practicum sites also require group supervision. Practicum supervision requirements also include a minimum of two hours per week spent in didactic training. For all internship placements, students are required to participate in a minimum of one hour of weekly supervision provided by a licensed psychologist who serves as primary supervisor, who is available to the intern 100% of the time that the student is at the agency, and who is employed by the agency at least 50% of the duration of the student’s internship. A minimum of two hours of weekly didactic training is also required. At least two psychologists must be involved in internship training.

Research Training

The CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD program trains practitioners to be critical reviewers and consumers of research. Students begin their clinical dissertation development in their second year, and are expected to complete their dissertation by the end of their third year, before the commencement of their full-time internship training in their fourth year.

Clinical dissertations require mentoring by a Clinical Dissertation Chair (i.e., PsyD program core faculty) and a Dissertation Consultant (i.e., dissertation committee member). Students may complete a clinical dissertation within one of four categories: (a) Theoretical Application, with implications for further research and clinical applications; (b) Clinical Application, including development of a product or program; (c) Program Development/Consultation, with a focus on serving the needs of an identified population and community; or (d) Quantitative or Qualitative Research, focusing on the creation of new knowledge. Upon thoroughly reviewing and critiquing the professional literature and interviewing experts to gain input on current clinical perspectives, students are expected to demonstrate their abilities to professionally apply and disseminate the knowledge that they have gained to the professional mental health community.

First Year - Fall

17 units

• PSY 6119 - Intercultural Processes/Human Diversity A
• PSY 6523 - Advanced Psychopathology
• PSY 6529 - Clinical Interviewing *
• PSY 6531 - Ethics and Professional Development A (1 unit)
• PSY 6541 - First Year Practicum (1 unit)
• PSY 7515 - Psychodiagnostic Assessment (includes 1hr/wk mandatory lab)

First Year - Spring

17 units

• PSY 6027 - Introduction to Professional Writing (1 unit)*
• PSY 6042 - Research and Test Design (PsyD) **
• PSY 6120 - Intercultural Processes/Human Diversity B
• PSY 6450 - Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy (2 units)*
• PSY 6532 - Ethics and Professional Development B (1 unit)*
• PSY 6534 - Advanced Psychopathology B
• PSY 6542 - Practicum I (1 unit)
• PSY 7516 - Psychodiagnostic Assessment : Personality (includes 1 hr/wk mandatory lab)

First Year - Summer

6 units

• PSY 6101 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior (2 units)*
• PSY 6109 - Human Development (2 units)*
• PSY 6112 - Social Basis of Behavior (2 units)*

Second Year - Fall

11 units

• PSY 6041 - Statistics (PsyD) **
• PSY 7294 - Clinical Interventions: Adults A (2 units)
• PSY 7553 - Field-Based Practicum (2 units)
• PSY 7911 - PsyD Proposal Development A (2 units)

Second Year - Spring

11 units

• PSY 6105 - Biological Aspects of Behavior **
• PSY 7295 - Clinical Interventions: Adults B (2 units)
• PSY 7554 - Field-Based Practicum (2 units)
• PSY 7912 - PsyD Proposal Development B (2 units)

Second Year - Summer

6 units

• PSY 7002 - Program Development & Evaluation (2 units)
• PSY 7112 - History and Systems of Psychology (2 units)
• PSY 7115 - Psychopharmacology (2 units)

Third Year - Fall

11 units

• PSY 7605 - Clinical Elective - Practice Seminars
• PSY 8453 - Field-based Practicum III (2 units)
• PSY 8911 - Clinical Dissertation (1 unit)
• PSY 8119 - Professional Roles (2 units)

Third Year - Spring

11 units

• PSY 7605 - Clinical Elective - Practice Seminars
• PSY 8120 - Clinical Supervision and Consultation (2 units)
• PSY 8454 - Field-based Practicum III (2 units)
• PSY 8912 - Clinical Dissertation (1 unit)

Fourth Year - Fall

11 units / 5 units

• PSY 9531 - Full-Time Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology (11 units)

Fourth Year - Spring

11 units / 5 units

• PSY 9532 - Full-Time Predoctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology (11 units)

Fourth Year - Summer

8 units / 5 units

• PSY 9533 - Full-Time Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology (8 units)

Notes:

Students’ program curriculum may vary from the above layout if they modify their schedule (either voluntarily or per SERC requirement) to assist in their successful completion of all program requirements.

Internship Course Enrollment Requirements

Internship units are charged at a lower tuition rate than regular coursework, please refer to the current tuition fee schedule for details.

The three semester (Fall/Spring/Summer) enrollment requirement for internship is intended to provide students with financial aid over the summer.

If a student’s internship has an end date in May, the student should request enrollment in a two semester internship unit model. Please contact the Academic Affairs Center for information.

If a student’s internship has a start date in June, the student should request enrollment in a Summer/Fall/Spring internship unit model. Please contact the Academic Affairs Center for information.

Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements

A minimum of five units of enrollment is required in any semester for financial aid eligibility. The program does not guarantee financial aid eligibility in the event of transfer credit awards.  Financial aid will not cover for course units outside of the required CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD curriculum units.

Accurate Registration Requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to register for the accurate course titles, numbers, and units; consistent failure to register accurately may result in referrals to SERC. Proactive communication with academic advisors and Academic Affairs Center staff is highly recommended.

Clinical Health Psychology Emphasis (CHP)

Clinical Health Psychology (CHP) emphasis area coursework and offerings (e.g., the introductory first-semester course PSY7627 Psychology of Health and Illness, advanced clinical electives, scholarly presentations, faculty panels, intra-university conferences) train students to integrate biomedical, psychological, social and spiritual modalities to detect and treat psychological distress, foster behavior change, increase adjustment to acute and chronic illnesses, reduce health and health care disparities, and promote psychological growth and wellness. Philosophically, students are trained to appreciate clinical health psychology as an interdisciplinary, applied field that combines clinical psychology, behavioral medicine, public health, social psychology, disease prevention and health promotion.  Conceptually, students are trained to examine and investigate the underlying mechanisms that connect the mind and body and explain the dynamic interaction between our physical and mental health. Overall, CHP students receive the same thorough preparation for clinical and community practice as students in the other emphasis areas, while in addition gaining a foundation of theoretical knowledge and skills necessary to serve a number of professional roles across various community-based, medical and behavioral health care settings. 

Curricular requirements include the introductory first-semester course PSY7627 Psychology of Health and Illness and selecting at least 6 out of 12 required clinical elective units in health-related topics (see examples below).  Additional intervention coursework requirements vary by program. CHP students are strongly encouraged to complete their clinical practicum rotations in medical and/or community-based healthcare settings, and are typically mentored throughout the dissertation process to develop a research project or clinical dissertation that contributes to the field of health psychology and behavioral medicine. 

Recent CHP electives include:

• Biofeedback
• Loss, Grief and Bereavement
• Minority Stress and Health Disparities
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Pediatric Psychology
• Psychology in Medical Settings

As an emphasis area, we strive to help our students gain knowledge and skills that align with the assessment, intervention, research and consultation competencies developed by the leaders of APA’s Division 38, Health Psychology, at the first meeting of council of clinical health psychology training programs (Masters, France, & Thorn, 2009).

Reference

Masters, K. S., France, C. R., & Thorn, B. E. (2009). Enhancing preparation among entry-level clinical health psychologists: Recommendations for “best practices” from the first meeting of the council of clinical health psychology training programs (CCHPTP). Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 3(4), 193-201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0016049

Family/Child and Couple Emphasis (FACE)

The Family/child and Couple Emphasis is for students who are dedicated to learning family and couple psychology intervention.

Our goal in the Family/child and Couple Emphasis (FACE) is to introduce graduate students to the theory, research, and clinical practice of family and couple psychology. This is accomplished through coursework in which students learn about families, couples, adults, and children from diverse backgrounds. Students are taught to work with families, couples, and individuals from a systemic perspective. Skills are developed in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of relationship systems.

In the first two or three years of the FACE emphasis, students learn how to conceptualize, assess, and interview families and couples. The required introductory PSY 6607 Family Psychology course in the first year prepares students for advanced FACE family systems intervention coursework required by FACE students. Students are also required to take six elective units offered from the FACE emphasis.

Recent FACE electives include:

• Couple Therapy
• Group Psychotherapy
• Integrated Approaches to Sex, Intimacy, and Relationship Problems
• Interventions with Multicultural Adolescents
• Sex Therapy
• Therapy with Alternative Families

Students meet with their faculty academic advisor and FACE faculty to determine which other advanced clinical electives and seminars best fit into their plan of study so their career goals are met. Creating a niche entails taking courses as well as networking in the community.

Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology Emphasis (MCCP)

The Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology (MCCP) emphasis area was established at the Los Angeles campus in 1990. MCCP reflects the state-of-the-art in training philosophy, curriculum, and applied experiences relevant to training clinical psychologists with special competence in multicultural and community psychology. The year-long Intercultural Processes/Human Diversity course required of clinical psychology students in all emphasis areas provides basic competence in multicultural issues. The MCPP emphasis area provides the additional opportunity for students to develop (1) more advanced conceptual and intervention skills relevant to psychotherapy with culturally-diverse populations; (2) competence beyond individual psychopathology that includes conceptualization and intervention with community-level distress and social problems; (3) an understanding of sociopolitical and sociocultural influences on psychological functioning and well-being; (4) skills to develop programs and activities focused on the prevention of psychopathology and social problems; and (5) knowledge of community psychology theory and practice.

The mission of the training is to nurture the development of clinical psychologists who will work to understand, prevent, and reduce psychological and community distress, as well as enhance the psychological well-being of historically underserved, stigmatized, and oppressed groups. In doing this, special attention is paid to the cultural and sociopolitical context of the individuals, families, and communities we serve. Faculty members in the emphasis area are committed to fostering a climate of inclusion, respect for differences, and a sense of community both within and outside of CSPP. Ultimately, faculty members strive to empower individuals and communities and to facilitate personal and social healing.

Through coursework, (including the required introductory PSY 6608 Community Clinical Issues course and six MCCP elective units),  field experiences and mentorship by our faculty, students learn theory, research, and intervention strategies applicable to working with adults, adolescents, children, families, groups, and communities. Students share the core curriculum in clinical psychology with students from all emphasis areas. MCCP students build upon this basic curriculum by learning alternative theories and strategies for intervention with communities, institutional systems and specific multicultural groups. Faculty focuses on training clinical psychologists who are critical thinkers about the etiology of psychological distress and who can conceptualize multiple pathways to healing individuals, families, and communities.

MCCP students participate in professional field training experiences that emphasize clinical services to multicultural and under- or inadequately-served populations. Settings can range from hospitals and mental health clinics to community-based agencies or university counseling centers. Students are encouraged to develop Doctoral Dissertations that reflect an aspect of multicultural and/or community psychology.

Recent MCCP electives include:

• Community Psychology Interventions
• Ecopsychology
• Ethnic Minority Mental Health
• Group Counseling in Community Settings
• Multicultural Neuropsychology
• Psychology of Immigrants: Trauma and Treatment

Multi-Interest Option (MIO)

Students who do not opt into an emphasis area at the time of application participate in the Multi-Interest Option (MIO). The MIO faculty includes practitioners and researchers who have multiple professional interests and are involved in various aspects of clinical psychology. Instead of focusing on a particular clinical emphasis or expertise, MIO provides a solid base in the field of clinical psychology as well as flexibility for students who are interested in multiple facets of the profession.  From the diversity that it offers, MIO faculty members bring to students a broad spectrum of what clinical psychology offers and the various professional opportunities and potential career goals students can pursue as future psychologists. MIO offers students flexibility in their choice of elective courses and topics for their clinical dissertations and other scholarly and field training interests.

The faculty and students affiliated with MIO provide colloquia and social gatherings that, like those sponsored by the emphasis areas, are open to all members of the Los Angeles campus community.  For example, MIO has sponsored presentations that promote awareness of diverse roles in professional psychology by MIO faculty sharing their clinical expertise (as lunch colloquia or formal workshop), enlisting alumni to discuss their career trajectories, an introduction to grant writing and publications, and hosting a panel discussion on professional consultation as a professional activity.  The MIO faculty seeks to encourage students’ scholarly and professional growth in a wide range of interest areas. The first-year introductory course, PSY 6522 Introduction to MIO, is a required course for all MIO students.

Recent MIO electives include:

• Clinical Applications of Mindfulness
• Crisis Interventions & Trauma Response
• Humanistic Approaches
• Rorschach & Projective Testing
• Spirituality & Psychotherapy