The philosophy of the program is to provide the highest quality of education and training in order to prepare talented, future leaders for the profession. These leaders will come from diverse backgrounds and be deeply committed to the (a) provision of outstanding, theoretically- and scientifically-based, effective psychological assessment, treatment, and prevention services and to the (b) development of new services that meet the same standards of excellence. The program is also dedicated to these services being delivered in a culturally-competent, socially just, collaborative, integrated, and publicly-accessible manner, for all people, particularly those in historically underserved groups and communities.
The following program goals and objectives flow from the philosophy:
Goal #1, Professional Deportment: To learn the rationale for and the capacity to engage in proper professional deportment, which is (a) based on the values of safe, effective, patient-centered, patient-respectful, equitable, diversity-sensitive, and collaborative care; and which thus promotes (b) the maintenance of the independent, socially responsible profession of clinical psychology
Objectives for Goal #1:
01—To understand the rationale for and to develop the capacity for engaging in dress that appropriately reflects the values of Goal 1.
02—As part of evidence-based practice, (a) to understand the role of paperwork in responsibly documenting assessment and intervention activities, and (b) to develop the capacity for efficiently and effectively completing paperwork.
03—To understand and appreciate that professional practice involves maintaining continuous critical thinking about the context and content of the practice situation.
04—To understand the core role of effective relationships with clients and consultees in conducting best practice, and to develop the capacity to create and maintain such relationships.
05—To recognize and appreciate that diverse backgrounds and contexts are basic factors that influence the behavior of clients and consultees and are crucial to include in the conduct of practice.
06—To understand, appreciate, and analyze the ethical dimensions of practice and to develop the capacity for effectively incorporating this appreciation into practice.
07—To understand and appreciate (a) the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in the delivery of effective care, and (b) the larger systems theoretical context that undergirds such collaboration.
Goal #2, Assessment and Diagnosis: To develop (a) a deep understanding of the theory, research, and technology associated with effective assessment and diagnosis, and (b) the capacity to practice based on this understanding.
Objectives for Goal #2:
08—To master multi-perspectival knowledge in adult abnormal behavior.
09—To master multi-perspectival knowledge in child abnormal behavior.
10—To develop skills in conducting assessment interviewing.
11—To develop skills in conducting cognitive assessment.
12—To understand the psychometric theory underlying cognitive assessment.
13—To understand and conduct clinical case conceptualization within psychoanalytic theory.
14—To understand and conduct clinical case conceptualization within cognitive-behavioral theory.
Goal #3, Therapeutic Intervention: To develop knowledge of therapeutic interventions and the capacity to effectively plan, conduct, and evaluate such interventions within an evidence-based framework.
Objectives for Goal #3:
15—To develop knowledge of evidence-based therapeutic practice.
16—To develop knowledge of therapeutic intervention planning.
17—To develop therapeutic intervention skills.
18—To develop the ability to evaluate intervention progress.
19—To develop a knowledge of effective therapeutic interventions.
Goal #4, Consultation and Training Intervention. To develop the capacity to theoretically understand and to effectively plan, conduct, and evaluate consultation and training interventions within an evidence-based framework.
Objective for Goal #4:
20—To develop knowledge and practice skills in conducting consultation.
Goal #5. Scientific Knowledge. To develop knowledge and practice skills in the domain of scientific research leading to (a) an understanding of scientific research and its role in informing present best practice and contributing to the continuous improvement of practice; (b) a capacity to critically evaluate scientific research; and (c) a capacity to conduct an independent research project.
Objectives for Goal #5:
21—To develop the ability to critically evaluate intervention efficacy studies.
22—To develop the ability to independently generate scientific knowledge.
Goal #6, Supervision: To develop (a) a theoretical understanding of the nature and role of supervision, (b) skills in effectively participating as a supervisee, and (c) skills in conducting supervision.
Objectives for Goal #6:
23—To develop knowledge about the supervision process.
24—To develop the capacity to effectively benefit from participation as a supervisee.