Special Strengths of the Clinical Psychology PhD Program in San Francisco

All of our PhD clinical students receive generalist training in the foundational areas of psychology and clinical psychology in accordance with the accreditation guidelines of the American Psychological Association. Also, each of our course offerings is infused with multicultural content, and awareness of diversity issues is central to our philosophy of clinical and research training.

In addition, our program has special strengths (three or more core faculty with high levels of expertise) in each of the following more specialized areas of clinical psychology:

• Family/Child/Adolescent Psychology
• Gender Studies (Psychology of Women, Men, and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Issues)
• Health Psychology
• Multicultural and Community Psychology
• Program Evaluation, Organizational Assessment, and Consultation  

Each of these areas of special strength is described below in terms of educational offerings for students.

Family/Child/Adolescent Psychology

Although all of our students receive extensive preparation for clinical work with adult populations, about 35% to 40% of our incoming students each year identify strong interests in family/child/adolescent (FCA) psychology. These students typically choose our program because we provide a wider range of such courses and practica than many other clinical psychology programs. For treating FCA problems, we emphasize the acquisition of both traditional child-clinical skills (assessment, individual therapy) and family intervention skills (family therapy, couple therapy, child custody evaluation).

Above: Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert-Jay Green is renowned for his work in the area of gender studies

For students interested in pursuing FCA internships and careers after graduation, we recommend that they take advantage of specific offerings in our program. The core of these learning experiences includes: (1) basic coursework (child psychopathology, child assessment, child psychotherapy, family therapy); (2) a one-year practicum (field placement) in a FCA setting; (3) PhD Research Seminar (four years) with a focus on FCA research; (4) dissertation research on a FCA topic; and (5) an internship focusing on FCA populations. We also offer varying electives in areas such as child custody evaluation, pediatric health psychology, couple therapy, narrative family therapy, consultation with child/family agencies, supervision of child/family therapy, treatment of family violence, lesbian/gay couple and family issues, infant assessment, and adolescents in therapy. Seven of the clinical PhD Research Seminars are led by faculty members with expertise in various FCA psychology topics (Professors Casey-Cannon, Green, Ja, Morales, Porter, Samuelson and Werner). Students have the option to take as few or as many of these extensive FCA offerings as fit their personal career goals.

Gender Studies (Psychology of Women, Men, Gender Roles, and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Issues)

The field of Gender Studies as defined here includes the study of gender role socialization processes and norms for males and females across the lifespan, as well as the topics of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) identity development and relationships. We are particularly interested in the behavioral and mental health consequences of gender-related socialization experiences (for example, in areas such as eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence, health-related behaviors, and aspects of "emotional intelligence"). Research interests of faculty include social construction of gender; women's lifespan development; role strain for working women; mental health effects of norms for "masculinity" in different racial, ethnic, and social class groups; utilization of birth control; identity development of gay/bisexual men of color; HIV prevention in gay/bisexual populations; and GLBT couple, family of origin, and parenting issues.

In conjunction with the PsyD program on our campus, courses are offered on topics such as Women's Lifespan Development, Men in Therapy, Domestic Violence, Feminist Approaches to Supervision, and LGBT Couples and Families. Also, the San Francisco Bay Area provides unique opportunities for clinical and research projects on these topics. Students may select a practicum specifically focusing on LGBT issues (e.g., at New Leaf Services in San Francisco or the Pacific Center in Berkeley). Six of our PhD Research Seminars are led by faculty members whose areas of research expertise include gender studies (Professors Casey-Cannon, Ducker, Green, Porter, Morales and Werner).

Health Psychology

Health psychology is concerned with the interrelationships among psychological factors, health, and illness. It deals with psychologists' roles in primary care; psychological aspects of prevention and treatment for specific illnesses (such as cancer, HIV, and cardiovascular disease); psychopharmacology; families and health; psychological aspects of immune and endocrine system functioning; recovery and rehabilitation following illness or physical trauma; psychosocial aspects of disability; and neuropsychology. A number of students choose our program because the San Francisco Bay Area has a wide range of research and field placement opportunities for students interested in health psychology. Faculty members in the PhD clinical program are involved in local public health efforts including education, advocacy, program evaluation, and prevention programs.

For understanding and treating individuals in medical settings, we recommend that students take sections of required courses (Clinical & Ethical Issues; Advanced Clinical Seminar) that emphasize skills in cognitive-behavioral therapy and family systems therapy. We also recommend that students take electives in Neuropsychological Assessment, Psychopharmacology, Consultation in Primary Care Settings, Pediatric Consultation, and sections of Advanced Clinical Skills that relate to psychology and medicine. To gain clinical  experience in medical settings, it is recommended that students take a one year practicum (field placement) in a health psychology setting (such as the San Francisco Veterans Administration Hospital, Children's Hospital Medical Center in Oakland, or other medical settings affiliated with CSPP's field placement office of professional training).

Some PhD faculty members have a strong background in health psychology research and are able to connect our students with opportunities in medical research institutions for the First Research Project and the Dissertation. A focus on health psychology research is actualized through signing up for a PhD Research Seminar with one of five faculty members who has expertise in an area of health psychology research (Professors Ducker, Ja, Morales, Tiet and Samuelson). Students who complete these recommended courses as well, as a clinical practicum and research projects in health psychology, will be well prepared to pursue internships and postdoctoral work in the field of clinical health psychology.

Multicultural and Community Psychology

Besides infusing multiculturalism throughout our entire curriculum, the clinical PhD program provides specialized courses that integrate knowledge, research, and intervention skills necessary for working with multicultural groups. These include Intercultural Awareness (a first year course) and multiple sections of a course called Sociocultural Diversity, each of which focuses on a different racial/ethnic minority group (e.g., Asian American, African American, and Latino).

In addition, the San Francisco Bay Area has a wealth of multicultural field placements (practicum) and internships, as well as relevant research opportunities that enable students to gain special expertise in working with specific racial/ethnic groups (e.g., Chinatown Child Development Center or La Familia).

Faculty areas of research expertise include substance abuse among Asian American and Latino adolescents; health and mental health services utilization among Chinese Americans; Latino identity development; HIV prevention programs for African American and Latino gay/bisexual men; career aspirations of ethnic minority female adolescents and young adults; and African American, Asian American, and Latino family functioning. Most significantly, five of the PhD Research Seminars are led by instructors with research expertise in multicultural topics (Professors Casey-Cannon, Green, Ja, Morales and Tiet).

Program Evaluation, Organizational Assessment, and Consultation

Students in the PhD clinical program are able to take courses in organizational studies at Alliant International University's California School of Organizational Studies (CSOS), which also offers doctoral degrees on the San Francisco campus. These might include courses in organization consultation or organizational intervention. In addition, several of our clinical psychology faculty have expertise in the areas of program evaluation, organizational assessment, and consultation in mental health, community settings, and other business settings.

Relevant to this focus, all clinical PhD students do coursework in Social Bases of Behavior, which includes an introduction to the underpinnings of organizational psychology. They also are able to take advanced clinical courses in Grant Writing and in Program Evaluation. In addition, a background in systems theory (as taught in the Theory and Technique: Family Systems course) is often beneficial to organizational consultants.

Most importantly, in this area of clinical psychology, four of the PhD Research Seminars in the clinical PhD program are led by faculty members with special expertise in program evaluation, organizational assessment, or consultation (Professors Ducker, Ja, Morales and Werner). In combination with the extensive course offerings of the California School of Organizational Studies, this set of training experiences helps prepare students for postdoctoral positions in mental health services administration and related roles as consultants and program evaluators for organizations.