Students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program can choose an emphasis to focus on a specific area in clinical psychology. Students apply to an emphasis of choice during their first or second year of study. During their first year, students interested in pursuing an emphasis should become acquainted with admissions criteria for their emphasis of choice, meet with the emphasis coordinator during the first year in the program, and attend emphasis activities.
Adlerian theory is a strength based and collaborative practice that emphasizes encouragement, belonging, and empowerment. We examine past and present conscious and nonconscious motivations and schemas or convictions in their social-cultural context. We conceptualize symptom development from a biopsychosocial viewpoint emphasizing the reaction to lack of felt equality and belonging in the community.
Adlerian theory combines systemic, cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic theory. Systemic in that we understand clients’ conscious and unconscious motivations and behaviors after reviewing the multiple systems and relationships they are embedded in. Adlerians examine the current cognitive schemas and behaviors and value understanding clients using a biopsychosocial approach. We inquire about the dynamics of the family of origin and value the therapeutic relationship.
Student can either attend the NASAP Annual conference (two days of full training), ICASSI (one week of activities), or watch previously recorded case consultation hours (15 hours) on adlerpedia.org.
Doctoral students seeking this emphasis must have an Adlerian focus for their dissertation. However, this focus may include other areas of interest.
Total Credit Hours Required: 15
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