Clinical Psychology Research and Student Experience
See what our doctoral students are doing while at Alliant.
Overview of our Graduate Clinical Psychology Experience
The clinical psychology doctoral program experience at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) is like no other. The work you produce during your program can have a profound influence in the field and on your future. Our psychology programs offer rich and varied opportunities to engage in research, as well as provide a sense of community and engagement with your cohort, faculty, and academic support team. With a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology, you’ll be helping advance the science of mental health and helping the communities you’ll be serving.
Research Labs
- PTSD
- Mobile mental health research
- Mindfulness
- Integrated health
- Forensics
- Neuropsychology
- Violence, abuse, and trauma
Dissertations
- The Disability Paradox: Religious and Spiritual Well-Being, Quality of Life, and Depression Among Adults with Physical Disabilities
– Roya Nouri, Ph.D. - Psychologists’ Attitudes About Online Therapy and Covid-19
– Brian Raines, PsyD - Metacognition and self-reported treatment outcomes in veterans with PTSD: A correlational study
– Francisco Rojas, PsyD - Personality and Demographic Predictors of Attitudes Towards the Police
– Adam J Lopez, PsyD - Barriers to Care: Military Mothers with Postpartum Depression vs Non-Military Mothers with Postpartum Depression
– Tracina L. Schrader, MA, Psy. D. - Mental Health Care Providers’ Conceptualization of Intimate Partner Violence Based on The Sexual Orientation of The Couple, Gender of The Perpetrator, and Type of Aggression: A Replication off Dudley Et Al (2008)
– Grace L. Abear, PsyD - Is Cognitive Training an Option? Understanding the Feasibility of Cognitive Training with Individuals Living with Schizophrenia
– Andre Pierre Longino, Ph.D., LMFT - Helping the Helpers: A Self-Help Training for Identifying And Addressing Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Self-Care In Mental Health Professionals.
– Christine Chan, PsyD - Postpartum Emotional Expression and Quality of Life in First Time Mothers
– Adi Soffer, PsyD - Masculinity, Perpetrator Gender, and Factors Affecting Disclosures of Unwanted Sexual Contact Among Men
– Sydney Ray, PsyD - Analysis of Ongoing Trauma Experiences of Israeli Adults Exposed to Missile Attacks
– Melody Hakimian, PsyD - Mental Health Literacy as a Predictor of Help-Seeking Intentions within Military Families
– Claudia Perez, PsyD - Positive Identity Formation Amongst Middle Eastern American Youth: Overcoming Barriers to Identity Formation Due to Socioenvironmental and Psychosocial Distress
– Brian Broomand, PsyD - Punk Rock as a Component to The Humanistic Approach to Psychotherapy
– Irene Merring, Psy.D., - Retrospective Accounts of Nonconsensual Nonsexual Touch of Female-Bodied Latina/x/e and African-American/Black Individuals: A Phenomenological Study
– Ami-Ray Camarena, PsyD - Narratives from Mexican-American Millennial Women: A Qualitative Study Exploring Enculturation, Identity, and Adhering or Aiming to Adhere to a Vegan or Vegetarian Diet
– Goldie Barajas, PsyD - Influence of Attachment Styles on Coping Strategies Utilized by School Teachers Pre-COVID and Lockdown
– Hannah Greeley, PsyD - Clinical Considerations When Working with Women Veterans in Couple Therapy
– Greysi Vizcardo Solis, Psy.D. - Risk of Relapse with Social Media Usage Within the First 12 Months of Sobriety
– Barek Sharif, PsyD - Personality and Demographic Predictors of Attitudes Towards the Police
– Adam J Lopez, PsyD - Imposter Phenomenon, Insecure Attachment Style, and Mental Health in Software Engineers: An Examination of the Moderating Effect of Self-esteem
– Alyse Ginter, PsyD - Positive Identity Formation Amongst Middle Eastern American Youth: Overcoming Barriers to Identity Formation Due to Socioenvironmental and Psychosocial Distress
– Brian Broomand, PsyD - The Influence of Outcome Expectancies on the Effectiveness of Biofeedback for Chronic Pain and Anxiety: Harnessing the Mind-Body Solution
– Katherine Goodman Huzella, PhD - Positive Role Models and the Effects of Stereotype Threat Amongst Ethnic Minorities
– Monique Turner, PhD - The Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Interventions in the Hmong Youth Communities
– Scarlett Yang, Psy.D. - Creating a Book Intervention for Second-Generation Asian and Latinx Adolescents, Targeting the Parent-Child Acculturation Gap
– Arriane Munar; PsyD - Narrative Therapy Practices in Medical Settings: Applications for End-of-Life Psychological Care
– Danna E.W. Kober, PsyD
Student Publications and Presentations
- Preserving the Etchings of the Mind: Aging, Dementia, and Hearing Loss. Savory Words Publishing.
Jaime A.B. Wilson, Ph.D., ABN, ABPP, MSCP, Alumnus
CSPP Clinical Psychology Ph.D. – San Diego - Exploring cultural risk factors for suicide in Asian American, European American, and Hispanic American adolescents. Current Psychology.
Brandon Yip, Psy.D., J.D. Alumnus; Lisa Liu, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Stacy Bemis (Kim), Psy.D., Alumnus
CSPP Clinical Psychology Psy.D. – Los Angeles - Psychotherapy experiences of U.S. adults with physical disabilities: Recommendations for affirmative practice. The Counseling Psychologist.
KJ Conner, Ph.D., Asst. VP of Academic Administration; Veronica Acosta, Alumna; Roya Nouri, Alumna; Milena Tyler Von Wrangel, Student; Elizabeth Gramillo, Alumna
CSPP Clinical Psychology Ph.D. – Los Angeles - Rest and Care: Asian Pacific American Feminists’ Resistance to Productivity Culture. Selected by the American Psychological Association’s (APA’s) Board of Convention Affairs to be one of the Feature Stage talks at the APA Convention 2023!
Dr. Ya-Shu Liang (right), Fresno Clinical Psy.D. Program; Dr. Angela B. Kim (left), San Diego CFT Program
Bridging the Gaps: Social Justice and Community Psychology Doctoral Training in Action. Elizabeth Landry Malick, Danielle Roseman, Topaz Tabibi, Gagandip Bisla, Dr. Shawndeeia L. Drinkard, and Sahiba Khera.
- A Qualitative Investigation into Understanding Paternal Mental Health and Its Impact on Childcare Involvement. Calista Lukman
- Effectiveness of FAP on DEI Training in Clinical Graduate Students. Eunie Jung, PhD
- Latinx: Use and Understanding of the Term Within the Community. Views on Skin Color in the Hispanic and Latino/a/e/x Community. Griselda Verduzco, Teresa Anes, Alejandro Alvarez, Emery Her, Vanessa Martinez, Julissa Magana
- Identifying Commercially Sexually Exploited Children in Health Care Settings: A Systematic Review. Veronica Yamashita
- Mothers with Physical or Sensory Disabilities: Negative Messages About Parenting. Megan Broome
- Mental Health and Predictors of Suicidality in Nepalese Youth. Nina Velasquez Singh, Diane Zelman, PhD
- Racial Differences in Intentions to Use a Mindfulness Meditation App. Tai Chang, PhD, Amira Blake, Natalie Hidaka, Jujhar Khalsa
- Reducing Barriers in Graduate Psychology for Disabled Students: Student Perspectives. Rhoda Olkin, PhD, Sara Assary, Kaitlyn Enrici, Sandra Hanrahan
- The Impact of Colonial Mentality on Body Image Among Filipina American Women. Maleyah Zataray
- A Phenomenological Study of Relational Pride in Mexican Americans. Briana Rodriguez
Intergenerational Trauma and Armenian Americans: Supporting a Community in Chronic Retraumatization. Yeva Ghrjyan, George Gharibian
- Social Media Use Behaviors, Connectedness, Social Comparison, and Social Anxiety in U.S. Emerging Adults. Nika Rad, Amber Landers, PhD
- Effects in Adulthood of Growing up Around a Sibling with Depression or Anxiety. Jordan Kay, John Bakaly, John Caffaro
- Relationship Between Length of Abstinence from Alcohol and Performance on the Trail Making Test-B AWARD WINNER. Kenneth Allen
The Impact of a Mindfulness Course on Therapeutic Skills and Clinical Experience of Clinical Psychology Students. Eddie Chiu, PhD
- Teaching Clinical Psychology Students About Disability: Pros and Pitfalls. Rhoda Olkin, PhD, Megan Carlos, PhD
- Development and Formative Evaluation of Chinese and Chinese American Sexual Minority Women Internalized Heterosexism Scale. Pei-Ying Lo, Tai Chang, PhD
Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 Scale. Tai Chang, PhD, Amira Blake, Natalie Hidaka, Jujhar Khalsa
- Using the Thought Probe Technique to Identify Therapeutic Mechanisms of Action: Mandala Coloring as a Case Study. Amanda Ho
Adverse Effects of Traumatic Calls on Firefighters. Delaney Gilman, Courtney Goodwin
- How Coloring Mandalas Reduces Anxiety: The Role of Mindfulness, Flow, and Activity Enjoyment. Amanda H
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in Latinx With a History of COVID-19 Infection. Ana Rodriguez Martinez, Clare Henn-Haase, PsyD
- Psychology Doctoral Students Face Alarming Rates of Mental Disorders. Quyen Tiet, PhD, Jordan Brooks
- From Information to Action: Modelling Social and Cognitive Factors in Health Decisions. Jiadong Yu
Tablet-Based Digitized Neuropsychological Assessment: A Feasibility and User-Experience Study. Soujanya Gade, Diane Zelman, PhD
- Beyond a Freedom Threat: Expanding Outcomes of Psychological Reactance. Elana Antolin-Wilczek
- Investigating the Impact of Internet Access on Knowledge Acquisition: A Performance-Based Study. Giovanni Santangelo, Gabriel Gaft
- Examining Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Veterans. Shivali Sharma, Megan Carlos, PhD
- Life after Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: CTE from the Surviving Family Perspective. Sarah Tolentin, Megan Carlos, PhD
- Bibliotherapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Comorbid Anxiety. Mikaila Montoya
- Determinism and the Illusion of Free Will in Relation to Self-Compassion and the Implications for Psychotherapy. Jacob Manoff, George Gharibian
- Experiences of LGBQ Clients Accessing Substance Use Treatment: Barriers, Facilitators, and Solutions. Alexis Spalding, Amber Landers, PhD
- Exploring the Influence of Internalized Racism on Appearance Satisfaction in Iranian Immigrant Women in the US. Mahshid Moattar, George Gharibian
- Help-Seeking Behaviors in African American LGBTQ+ Adolescents: A Retrospective Study. Ashley Guzman
- Perceptions of Parents in Response to School Bullying Against Their Children with Special Needs in Macau. Nikki Wu, Eddie Chiu, PhD
- The Effect of Powerlifting on Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms. Eli Vickery, Clare Henn-Haase, PsyD
A Search for Dignity: The Power of African American Storytelling. Cheyenne Ford, MA & Michelle Inga, MA
Narrative Analysis as a Clinical Tool in Abuse Investigations. Lindsay Brandt, MA, Kenneth J. Thompson, PhD, Katherine E. Metcalf, MA, Toree Patten, Daniela M. Zbona, Vanessa Kalach, McKenzie Stone, & Constance J. Dalenberg, PhD
Service Coordinators’ Perspective on Mental Health Problem Recognition of Middle Eastern Families. Arpi Gulgulyan, PsyD, George Gharibian, & Cristina Magalhaes
Mental Health Experiences of Incarcerated LGBTQ+ Folx: Through the Eyes of Mental Health Professionals. Sierra Stillwater, MPsych, Nadine Nakamura, PhD, Meghan Fagundes, & Jan Estrellado
- Predictors of Help-Seeking Among Student Veterans. Marie E. Anderson, MEd
- Demographic Characteristic Trends Within U.S. Military Post-Deployment Research on Mental Health. Meagan Griffin, PsyD, Pauline Lytle, & Christy Hobza
- Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Halstead Category Test Scores. Mary Smith, Alexander O. Hauson, Emily Zhang, Ashley E. Santana, Melody D. Pezeshkian, Benjamin Meis, Rick A. Stephan, & Scott C. Wollman.
- Assessing the Diagnostic Accuracy of the PC-PTSD-5 in Diverse Patient Subgroups. Quyen Q. Tiet, PhD & Thien-Nha Tiet
- The Influence of Age and Generational Status on MENA Mental Health Outcomes. Naela Salamah, MS & Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD
Unraveling Diagnostic Complexity: Exploring Patterns and Distinctions Between OCD and ASD. Elizabeth M. Stuart, PhD.
- Predictors of General and Academic Self-Efficacy: African American College Students. Sheaira Madden, BS & Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD
- College Student Smartphone Addiction. Elad J. Levi, BS & Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD
- Psychological Profiles of Individuals Involved in USAF Aircraft Mishaps. Natasha Morales Rivera, MA
- Impact of Mental Health Symptomatology on Relationship Satisfaction and Romantic Love. Matthew D. Fenn, MS & Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD.
- Tablet Adapted Neuropsychological Assessment: A User-Experience Evaluation by Prospective Consumers. Soujanya Gade, MS & Diane Zelman
- Scoping Review on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Clinical Neuropsychology. Elizabeth M. Stuart, PhD
Unmasking Suicide Risk Considerations Across AAPI Intersectionalities Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. Quyen Q. Tiet, PhD & Thien-Nha Tiet
- Social Experiences Among Black Women: The Impact of Accepting Oppressive Influence. Seema Saigal, PhD
- Examining Cross Racial Mentorship Through The Lens of Graduate Student Human Professionals. Ramar Henderson
Relations of Perceived Stress and Counseling Use with Intentions to Use a Mindfulness Meditation App. Tai Chang, PhD, Amira Blake, MA, Natalie Hidaka, PhD, & Jujhar Khalsa
Empathy in the Criminal Justice System: A Systematic Review of Empathy’s Role on Decision Making. Chloe Severy Sanders, BA & Ya-Shu Liang, PhD
- Attitudes and Gender Dynamics: A Replication Study on Female Sex Offenders in Clinical and Public Health Contexts. Samantha Torres, MA & Elizabeth M. Stuart, PhD
Ink-clusive Healing: Comic-based Intervention for Latiné Youth. Zaemelys Ramos Rodriguez, BA, Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD, Shawndeeia Drinkard, PhD, Tiffany Conejo, & April Espinoza
Risky Intersections: Connecting Runaway Incidences with Suicidal Behaviors. Radek Brandysky, BA, Jiadong Yu, MA, & Vanessa Martinez
- Music Interventions for Adolescent Trauma: Centering Diversity, Access, and Evidence Based Practice. Diana C. Hereld, PsyD
- The Literature Trends of Asian American Female Leadership and Inclusion in Academia. Kai BaslerChang & Michi Fu, PhD
- Effects of Gender Discrimination on Female Law Enforcement Officers. Gabriella Gasparian, MA, John Bakaly, Lisa Liu, & Debbi Glaser
- The Relationship Between Selfishness and Wellbeing Among American and Chinese Young Adults. Yuan Yan, MA, Andrew Bertagnolli, PhD, Diane Zelman, & Clare Henn-Haase
- The Impact of Religiously Affiliated Schools on Traditional Male Ideology. Alison C. Dillon, PsyD
- Religious Beliefs and Cervical Cancer Screening Among African Immigrants and African American Women. Rachel S. Kalejaiye & Monica D. Ulibarri, PhD
- Exploring Ethnic Racial Socialization, Gender, and Racial Discrimination of Asian Americans. Lisa Liu
- Predictors of Impostor Phenomenon in Black College Students at HBCUs and PWIs. Bianca Broomfield, MA & Shawndeeia Drinkard, PhD
- The Immigrant Paradox In AAPI Immigrants and Subsequent Generations. Megan Mouanoutoua, Kathryn Yoshida, & Ya-Shu Liang, PhD
- The Sociocultural Influences of Sexual Trauma in Literature Against Asian-American Females. Daisy S. Inthisith, BA, Weiying (Lucky) Chen, MSEd MA, Aron J. Sanabria, & Michi Fu, PhD
- Sex Differences in the Effect of Opiate Use Disorder on Complex Psychomotor Abilities. Melody D. Pezeshkian, Alexander O. Hauson, Emily Zhang, Ashley E. Santana, Anna A. Pollard, Christopher Flora-Tostado, Scott C. Wollman, & Kenny E. Allen.
Practicum
CSPP has developed relationships with hundreds of Practicum sites that provide you with invaluable opportunities to receive real-world experience in an environment relevant to your studies and goals. Your field experiences will include varying populations, age groups, and numerous evidence-based treatment modalities. This gives you extensive practical exposure and continual opportunities to apply research and theory in real-world situations.
Our practicum sites provide you with foundational and graded training in a variety of settings, including psychiatric hospitals, prisons and juvenile detention centers, university counseling centers, child and family facilities, and more.
Electives
CSPP offers a variety of electives; below is a sample you may find over the course of your program:
- Interventions with Veterans and Military Members
- Mindfulness Approaches to Health Psychology
- LGBT Health Disparities
- Clinical Aspects of Dream Interpretation
- Narrative Family Therapy
- Introduction to Clinical Forensic Psychology
- Introduction to Buddhist Psychotherapy
- Clinical Case Consultation II: Buddhist Psychotherapy
- Advanced Clinical Elective: Group Psychotherapy Training and Supervision
- Advanced Clinical Elective: Integrated Approach to Sex, Intimacy and Relation
- Advanced Clinical Elective: The Psychology of Social Class and Classism
- Advanced Seminar: Medical Family Therapy
- Advanced Seminar: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression
- Advanced Seminar: Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy
- Clinical Elective Practice Seminars: Dissociation in Clinical Practice
- Clinical Elective: Advanced Study in Transgender Issues
- Clinical Elective: Advanced Study of Bisexual Issues
- Clinical Elective: Clinical Rehabilitation Psychology and Assessment
- Clinical Elective: Foundations of LGBT Mental Health
- Clinical Elective: LGBT Affirmative Psychotherapy
- Clinical Elective: LGBTQ Kink, BDSM, and Other Sexualities
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: ADHD: Neurodevelopment, Assessment, and Treatment
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: Clinical Interventions with Children
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: Disability Psychology
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: Immigration and Mental Health
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: LGBTQ-Affirmative Subst. Abuse Treatment
- Clinical Elective-Practice Seminars: Loss Grief and Bereavement
- Cultural Seminar: LGBTQ Couples and Families
- General Elective: Sociocultural Diversity-Intersectionality of Identities
- Individual and Family Life Cycle
- Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression
From Campus to Convention: Alliant at APA 2024
Our Alliant students, faculty, alumni, and friends gathered at the 2024 APA Convention in Seattle, highlighting our APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD and PsyD and other psychology programs with their participation in student poster presentations, seminars, convention floor events, and get-together celebrations.
Student Life and Community Engagement
- Running Club
- Hiking Club
- Art Club
- Garden Club
- Talking Circles-Social Justice Issues
- Asian/Asian American and Pacific Islander Forum
- Assessment Club
- Blacks of the African Diaspora Affinity Group
- Disability Resource Group
- Interactive Arts Club
- Interfaith Group
- LGBTQIA+ Resource Group
- Parenting Resource Group
- Students for Clinical Neuropsychology
- FIG-Global Ambassador Club – www.fresnoglobal.com – global leadership and training opportunities
- FAN Club-The Forensic and Neuropsychology Club
- Advocacy Club
Ask a current student about Alliant or meet one of our student ambassadors
I appreciate all the practicum training at Alliant as it shaped my career and helped me grow as a clinician. I find the courses and the professors left an everlasting impact on my life and shaped my career to be a better clinician and serve the community.
Sheetal Siledar-Lee | PsyD