Clinical Psychology PsyD Los Angeles
A PRACTITIONER MODEL
The APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PsyD program at the Los Angeles campus of Alliant International University's California School of Professional Psychology prepares professionals who deliver or facilitate the delivery of psychological services to diverse, underserved, and/or poorly-served populations. In addition to service delivery, we emphasize the important role of psychologists as consultants, program developers and administrators, clinicians, community advocates, and agents of social change. Students benefit from a mentoring model firmly integrated with the academic experience. Our program trains practitioners who are culturally aware, culturally sensitive, and responsive to human problems of developmental deprivation, dysfunction, and trauma.
TOP TRAINING IN AN UNPARALLELED MULTICULTURAL SETTING
We enjoy a national reputation for excellence in multiculturally relevant education and training. The Los Angeles Clinical Psychology PsyD program received the Suinn Minority Achievement Program Award from APA in 2010 for its commitment to cultural diversity in all areas of training and education. All core and elective course materials integrate multicultural perspectives, including areas of diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, family composition, religious practice, medical and health conditions, international issues, and inherent psychometric-intelligence variances, among others. Diversity is a major focus of faculty and student research in the CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD program. The rich diversity of the Los Angeles area also offers a wealth of clinical placement opportunities where students develop multicultural competencies to enhance their clinical skills.
IMMEDIATE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD
Our four year program is structured to provide students with significant clinical experience that is integrated with classroom learning. Field placements start in the first year, which enables students to start applying research and theory to their clinical work from the beginning of their program. Practica continue in the second and third years. Our students pursue a full-time APA-accredited or APPIC internship in the fourth year of the program, with modification options available for students who feel that they would benefit from an additional year of practicum prior to undertaking their predoctoral internship.
ACADEMIC TRAINING AND APPLIED SCHOLARSHIP
The program introduces students to the ethical values and orientation of the professional
psychologist and provides a background in the psychological, biological, sociocultural,
and systemic factors that influence human behavior. Students develop clinical and
research competences and apply those competencies throughout the program. Scholarship
with faculty is encouraged, and students are encouraged to think creatively about
applying knowledge through their clinical dissertation process, which begins in the
second year of the program. Options for conducting clinical dissertation scholarship
include applications such as submitting scholarly articles for peer-reviewed publications;
creating resources such as treatment manuals or training DVDs for professional audiences;
developing programs to better serve an identified population or community, as well
as data-driven scholarship focusing on archival data (with program approval).
SPECIAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENT - EMPHASIS AREAS
The CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD program has three emphasis areas: Family/child and Couple Emphasis (FACE), Clinical Health Psychology Emphasis (Health), and Multicultural Community-Clinical Psychology Emphasis (MCCP). These specializations provide a learning focus and specialized training opportunities. At the time of application, all applicants to the CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD program are required either to select an emphasis area or to opt-out of the emphasis area focus as a Multi-Interest Option (MIO) student. More information about emphasis areas can be found on our emphasis area page.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In 2013, Dr. Elaine Burke co-authored a chapter on disability and unemployment for the upcoming publication Diversity in Context, and chaired a symposium on Hawaiian, Alaskan, and Native American women at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association.
Dr. John Caffaro published the second edition of his seminal book, Sibling Abuse Trauma: Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Children, Families, and Adults in August 2013, and contributed chapters to upcoming publications Encylopaedia of Theory in Counseling and Psychotherapy and Complex Dilemmas in Group Therapy (2nd ed.). In 2013, Dr. Caffaro was also invited to give numerous national and international presentations and workshops on sibling abuse, group therapy, and therapeutic models.
Dr. Krystel Edmonds-Biglow (and fellow CSPP faculty Dr. Tina Houston-Armstrong) co-authored a chapter on work life balance and African American woman entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurial Women: New Management and Leadership Models (Vol.1), with publication scheduled for mid-2014.
Drs. Judy Halloway, Joan Murray, and Rumiko Okada collaborated with CSPP-LA Clinical PsyD alumna Dr. Alexandra Emmons on an upcoming article about ecopsychology and relationship competency in the peer-reviewed journal Women and Therapy.
Dr. Randy Noblitt presented (individually and with students) at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference in New York in March 2014, where he presents annually.
Dr. Jeff Tirengel was awarded the 2013 Circle of Friends Award by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in recognition of exceptional care provided to patients and families and gave numerous presentations (individually and with colleagues) throughout Southern California.
ACCREDITATION
The CSPP Los Angeles Clinical Psychology PsyD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), which requires that we provide data on time to completion, program costs, internships, attrition and licensure. Please follow the link below for that data. We hope this information will help you to make an informed decision regarding your graduate study.
STUDENT ADMISSIONS, OUTCOMES AND OTHER DATA - (PDF)
Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202)336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation
LEARN MORE ABOUT US
Explore the Los Angeles Clinical Psychology PsyD program in more detail.
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