Program Courses - PsyD in Clinical Psychology

The purpose of this survey course is to expose students to the variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods and designs most frequently used in research relevant to the practice of clinical psychology. These include randomized clinical trials, quasi-experimental research, case control studies, descriptive survey research, psychometric studies, meta-analytic studies, case study research, phenomenological research, and evaluation research. Attention will be given to issues of cultural diversity in research, research validity and bias, the connection between research questions and appropriate methodologies, and the link between science and practice.

This course examines the social and cultural bases of human behavior, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion, with specific interest in the application of ethnic and cultural issues for the professional practice of clinical psychology. Topics include the foundation, acquisition, and context of cultural thought; the manner in which professional psychologists utilize and/or integrate sociocultural factors in diagnostic assessment; and theoretical, methodological, and empirical studies which focus on specific interventions with individuals from various sociocultural groups.

This course covers ethical principles, laws, and professional practices of psychologists. Topics include relevant court decisions, involuntary hospitalization, suicide assessment, APA standards, and policies of the California Board of Psychology.

This course is designed to assist students in developing the knowledge and skills needed to conduct clinical interviews. Emphasis will be placed on the skills needed to conduct intake evaluations with diverse clients and to organize and record the information gathered.

This course considers issues in psychometrics and measurement construction including scale development, norms and standardization, reliability, validity, and ethical considerations. Special attention is given to cultural equivalence of psychological tests for use in diverse populations.

This course studies the administration, scoring, interpretation, and reporting of the most commonly used clinical instruments for psychological evaluation of cognitive functioning. Development of rapport, interviewing skills, and structured history-taking are also included.

Students are introduced to foundational and science-informed principles in applied clinical psychology. Attention is directed to an examination of the therapeutic processes encountered in clinical practicum; and emphasis is placed on the integration of theory to practice, the role of personal factors in psychotherapy, and multicultural competence. Clinical Skills Intensive A focuses on factors associated with the establishment of the therapeutic alliance, diagnosis, and case conceptualization. Students are engaged in a minimum of 10 hours per week of clinical activity in field placements.

This course orients and prepares students to commence the doctoral dissertation process. Topics include the practitioner-scholar model, evidence-based practice for psychologists, an overview of dissertation methodology options, and professional development.

This course presents a survey of classical and contemporary approaches to the study of cognition and affect leading to an understanding of the cognitive-affective bases of behavior. It will explore the methods and findings of research focused on affect/emotion, sensation, perception, attention, memory, and learning. Later in the semester, it will explore theories of higher-level processing in areas such as problem-solving, abstract thinking, the impact of emotion on information processing, the cognitive effects on executive functioning, free will, and questions of consciousness and self-awareness. From an examination of these foundational topics, the course will move to a focus on the relationships between information processing and emotion, special topics of social cognition, and an in-depth examination of systems of implicit and explicit memory. Each area of study will include relevant anatomical, biological, and neuroscientific information to ground the study of emotional experience and cognitive functioning in the brain and body through a focus on current findings in the cognitive and affective neurosciences.

This course introduces students to clinical theory and technique and provides a foundation to conduct psychotherapy that is conceptually grounded and responsive to client culture, context, characteristics, and preferences. Emphasis is placed on the development of clinical applied skills, which will be employed in concurrent clinical training. Particular focus is placed on the development of skills required to establish therapeutic alliances and to initiate and sustain therapeutic processes. Students will gain exposure and practice within two general approaches to psychotherapy: (1) a relational, supportive-expressive, and insight-oriented approach (drawing primarily from a psychodynamic psychotherapy model) and (2) a collaborative, active, and goal-oriented approach (drawing primarily from cognitive and behavioral theories). Lecture, demonstration, video, roleplay, and other strategies will be used to contribute to the development of culturally responsive conceptualization and psychotherapy competencies at a level of readiness for participation in practicum. This course provides didactic support in coordination with the clinical skills intensive course sequence and clinical and peer supervision.

The administration, scoring, interpretation, and reporting of the most commonly used objective and projective personality instruments are studied. An emphasis is placed on learning to administer, score, and interpret the Rorschach Inkblot Test using Exner's Comprehensive System. Prerequisite: PSY 710.

This course reviews the major categories of psychopathology as described in the DSM-5. Lectures and assignments focus on issues of symptomatology, etiology, prognosis, and psychosocial and psychopharmacological treatment. Research data are integrated with practical issues of multidisciplinary case management.

This course is a survey of psychoanalytic developmental theory including historical and theoretical overviews of psychoanalytic metapsychology and a review of observational and experimental research. Freudian theory, ego psychology, object relations, self psychology, as well as more recent contributions from psychoanalytic developmental research and neuroscience will be presented. The course will include clinical applications to the diagnosis and treatment of borderline, narcissistic, and neurotic conditions.

Students are introduced to foundational and science-informed principles in applied clinical psychology. Attention is directed to an examination of the therapeutic processes encountered in clinical practicum. Clinical Skills Intensive B focuses on implementing treatment plans, assessing the effects of therapeutic interventions, and addressing strains within the therapeutic alliance. Students are engaged in a minimum of 10 hours per week of clinical activity in field placements

Students initiate review of the literature to inform the development of the dissertation topic, research questions, and methodological focus. Library skills and organizational processes are emphasized.

This course examines the use of assessment instruments and techniques that are consistent with theoretical orientations in cognitive, behavioral, and short-term therapy models. These overall procedures provide the assessment structure for diagnosis, treatment, and the empirical validation of therapeutic interventions.

This course presents an overview of the philosophical foundations of psychology as a science and the history of the development of clinical psychology as a field and profession. Particular emphasis is placed on the epistemological roots and assumptions that influence the science of contemporary clinical psychology.

Students are introduced to foundational and science-informed principles in applied clinical psychology. Attention is directed to an examination of the therapeutic processes encountered in clinical practicum. Clinical Skills Intensive C focuses on evaluating therapeutic processes and outcomes, self-assessment of clinical competence, and evidence-based practice. Large-group sharing and didactic presentations will supplement the small-group process. Students are engaged in a minimum of 10 hours per week of clinical activity in field placements.

Students continue the review of literature to support the dissertation topic and development of the dissertation methodology. Preparation of the dissertation proposal is initiated.

This course presents the biological underpinnings of behavior based on contributions from neuroscience. This introduction to the study of brain-behavior relationships will consider the role of genetics; describe the basic structure of the nervous system, neuroanatomy, and neuropathology; discuss the major hypotheses concerning the neurobiology of major depression, bipolar spectrum disorder, and schizophrenia; and introduce contributions from neuropsychology.

730: This course prepares students to conduct psychotherapy drawing upon psychoanalytic clinical theory and empirical evidence. A systematic review of the essential features of psychodynamic psychotherapy is presented, including attention to the therapeutic relationship, psychoanalytic listening, affect amplification, defense analysis, transference/countertransference/ intersubjectivity, and the resolution of conflict and symptom amelioration. Emphasis is placed on the integration of theory and practice, including skill development in the application of psychodynamic principles and techniques.

732: This course explores theories and techniques within the "extended family" of humanistic psychotherapies including person-centered, experiential, existential, and transpersonal. Core philosophical foundations, case conceptualization, and psychotherapeutic processes will be covered. The course will place emphasis on the significance of the "person of the therapist" and exploration of the inner life of the therapist as important for practicing effectively from this orientation.

734: This course prepares students to conduct individual psychotherapy from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. It covers the theoretical underpinnings of cognitive-behavioral therapy prior to focusing on the case conceptualization and intervention techniques employed by practitioners of the model. Students will become familiar with a variety of behavioral and cognitive interventions designed to change affective states, thought patterns, and problematic behaviors. Prerequisite: PSY 715

736: This course prepares students to conduct psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and families from a variety of systemic approaches that utilize a depth or awareness model to change behavior. Students explore general principles of family functioning and learn specific applications of psychodynamic/object-relations, humanistic/experiential, and integrative models of couple and family therapy through the analysis of case material, case reports, and oral presentations.

738: This course prepares students to conceptualize, plan, and implement psychological interventions from a cultural-ecological perspective. It covers core theoretical models within multicultural psychology and community clinical psychology that are foundational to professional practice within the cultural-ecological paradigm. Students will become familiar with culture-specific interventions, culturally responsive modifications of existing psychotherapy and assessment approaches, integrative psychotherapy approaches for culturally responsive practice, as well as religious and spiritual considerations in culturally responsive community clinical practice. Prerequisite: PSY 705.

The course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of clinical supervision and ongoing skill development in clinical case presentation and consultation, including discussion of diagnosis, treatment planning, conduct of treatment, and process and evaluation of psychotherapy outcome or assessment consultation. Experiences encountered in clinical training are addressed to support the practicum experience as well as to examine contemporary supervision and consultation practice.

Students complete implementation of the dissertation methodology and analysis.

731: The course builds upon psychoanalytic clinical theory and presents a survey of approaches to time-limited psychodynamic psychotherapy, including evidence-based treatments. The second part of the course examines the etiology of borderline personality functioning drawn primarily from contributions of Otto Kernberg and perspectives from neuroscience. Overviews of empirically supported treatments, such as transference-focused psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and mentalization-based treatment of BPD, are provided, including exercises to enhance the development of clinical intervention skills.

733: This course continues the exploration of humanistic, existential, and experiential perspectives in psychotherapy and beyond. Attention will be given to evidence-based approaches (e.g., emotion-focused therapy, motivational interviewing) as well as mindfulness and contemplative practices that draw upon the orientation's foundational theories and concepts. Emphasis is placed on broader community, societal, and intergroup challenges related to the human condition and human connection in the context of diversity. Specific psychotherapy applications will be explored as well as applications in contexts such as education, social justice work, and international conflict.

735: This course emphasizes the application of the theory and therapeutic strategies covered in PSY 734 to a variety of specific disorders and clinical populations.

737: Students continue the study of couple and family therapy using approaches that change through action, perception, and cognitions, including strategic, structural, and cognitive-behavioral models. Collaborative therapies based on postmodern principles, such as narrative and solution-focused therapy, are also examined. Students analyze case material and make written and oral case presentations.

739: This course focuses on additional intervention approaches within a cultural-ecological paradigm. These include community consultation skills, prevention program development, culturally competent supervision, and social justice applications. Prerequisite: PSY 738.

This course presents issues relevant to contemporary clinical practice. The course content is developed in response to innovations in internship training and the changing nature of health service delivery. Special topics such as psychopharmacology, consultation, supervision, and management are offered.

The course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of clinical supervision and ongoing skill development in clinical case presentation and consultation, including discussion of diagnosis, treatment planning, conduct of treatment, and process and evaluation of psychotherapy outcome or assessment consultation. Experiences encountered in clinical training are addressed to support the practicum experience as well as to examine contemporary supervision and consultation practice.

Students complete dissertation analysis and begin writing the final dissertation manuscript.

Students complete writing the final dissertation manuscript and sit for the final oral examination.