Return to: Department of Counseling and Psychological Services
Philosophy
The services of counseling psychology are primarily directed to the problems of everyday living rather than to psychopathology. Although psychopathology is also studied to allow for a more accurate reading of normal behavior, it is not the central focus of the program. It is rather cultural discontinuities, developmental difficulties and challenges, educational and occupational choice making and adjustment, marriage and family problems, high risk behaviors, unhealthy lifestyles, and the like that receive primary attention. In assisting persons to adjust creatively and to fulfill their human potential, the counseling psychologist is expected to perform three complementary roles: a preventative role in helping persons anticipate, circumvent, and forestall future adjustment difficulties; a developmental role in helping persons make use of life experiences in the realization of their potentials; and a remedial role in helping persons overcome personal problems. Students are trained to use individual and group counseling, psychoeducational techniques, and consultation skills to address the above mentioned problem areas.
The program emphasis is on counseling psychology and not psychological counseling. Therefore, students are expected to affiliate with psychology because it is the generic discipline from which the counseling psychology specialty arises. The program seeks to train psychologists who will prepare themselves for licensure, the diplomate, and other forms of professional sanctioning. While the faculty reserves the right to change program requirements as the need arises, the following is representative of current program requirements for the degree. Students in this program are expected to follow the latest version of the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.
Program Admission
Students beginning the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology should have completed a master’s degree in an appropriate major, such as counseling or clinical psychology. Students lacking an appropriate master’s (or those with a bachelor’s degree) will be required to complete compensatory curricular experiences as stipulated by their doctoral advisory committees.
Program Academic Regulations
The internship (CPS 9680 ) is an essential component of doctoral training programs in professional psychology. It provides trainees with the opportunity to take substantial responsibility for carrying out major professional functions in the context of appropriate supervisory support, professional role modeling, and awareness of administrative structures. The internship is distinguished from the applied practice experience by the increased responsibility and independence afforded the students and by the more intense nature of client contact. Internships in Counseling Psychology require either a full-time experience for one academic or calendar year or a halftime experience for two consecutive years.
Return to: