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.
This emphasis—the only such of its kind in the United States—offers students specialized knowledge and training to provide therapy and assessment services for individuals with symptoms of traumatic stress, including people who have experienced combat, disasters, accidents or life-threatening illness, or interpersonal violence.
Students learn the practice skills to provide these individuals with research-supported clinical services and the support they need to improve their psychological, physical, social, and vocational functioning. An understanding of the broader structural and systemic factors that impact survivors’ well-being is emphasized.
Students will obtain the knowledge and skills to provide these individuals with research-supported clinical services and the support they need to improve their psychological, physical, social, and vocational functioning. An understanding of the broader structural and systemic factors that impact on survivors’ well-being is also emphasized.
Admission to the emphasis after matriculating into the Psy.D. program requires the following:
The following requirements must also be met:
Successful completion of the following courses is required to complete the emphasis:
This course covers the history, etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of trauma-related dysfunction, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder (ASD), and common comorbidities.
This course covers advanced issues concerning the diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related dysfunction, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and common comorbid conditions.
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This course covers the psychological theories, cultural responses, individual and family system reactions, and treatment relevant to individuals facing death, dying, life-threatening illness, bereavement, other losses, and long-term caregiving.
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This is an advanced course that will cover in-depth applications of cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and third wave therapies including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT; Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Steven Hays), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Marsha M. Linehan), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT; Patricia Resick).
This course builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the introductory course in humanistic and existential approaches by developing a more in-depth appreciation of particular theories and perspectives in this area of practice.
Dr. Tahani Abdallah will be this year’s student speaker during the Chicago and Online campuses’ commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 27.
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