Clinical Psychology

Overview

Students learn to provide continuing and comprehensive mental and behavioral health care to address issues that occur across the lifespan for individuals and families. To help to ensure that students are adequately prepared, the curriculum is designed to provide for the meaningful integration of theory, training, and practice. 

The Clinical Psychology program at Northern Arizona University is designed to emphasize the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential to the training of clinical psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Profession-wide Competencies:

• Research/Science foundation - demonstrates understanding and respect for research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective bases of behavior, and development across the lifespan.

• Ethical and legal standards -Demonstrates application of ethical concepts and awareness of legal issues regarding professional activities with individuals, groups, and organizations.

• Individual and cultural diversity – Awareness, sensitivity and skills in working professionally with diverse individuals, groups and communities who represent various cultural and personal backgrounds and characteristics defined broadly and consistent with APA policy/guidelines.

• Professional values, attitudes and behaviors - Adherence to professional values including self-reflection, integrity, professional identity and comportment, accountability and concern for the welfare of others.

• Communication and interpersonal skills -Develop individual and group interpersonal skills to improve and foster participation and interaction critical for achieving individual, group and diverse community goals. Able to demonstrate verbal and non-verbal congruency and ability to demonstrate engagement

• Assessment - Able to assess and diagnose problems, capabilities and issues associated with diverse individuals, groups and/or organization. Able to demonstrate conceptualization of problems considering the context and other relevant factors.

• Intervention - Able to plan, implement and evaluate interventions designed to alleviate suffering and to promote health and well-being of diverse individuals, groups and organizations. Able to demonstrate conceptualization of problems considering the context and other relevant factors

• Supervision -  Able to guide, support and direct the integration of research and clinical expertise in the context of patient factors.

• Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills - The ability to provide expert guidance or professional assistance in response to a client’s needs or goals. Able to use interpersonal skills needed to collaborate well with others.