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Educational Focus: LGBT Human Services and Mental Health


Clinical Psychology PhD and PsyD Programs

The clinical psychology PhD and PsyD programs at the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) offer extensive training in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) psychology. The five-year PhD program emphasizes clinical practice and research training equally, while the four-year PsyD (doctor of psychology) program primarily emphasizes clinical practice. Both programs prepare students for licensure as psychologists in California and throughout the U.S. These programs are fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and Alliant International University is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Marital and Family Therapy and Clinical Counseling MA Programs

The two-year master’s programs in marital and family therapy and in clinical counseling prepare students to enter these fields and obtain their respective licenses in California and throughout the U.S. The marital and family therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

The above graduate programs have many core and adjunct faculty members whose primary areas of scholarship and practice are in LGBT mental health. LGBT graduate student associations on the campuses provide support and welcome new students.

Certificate Program in LGBT Human Services & Mental Health

The certificate in LGBT human services and mental health is designed to meet the growing need for clinicians to develop competencies in working with lesbian, gay male, bisexual, and transgender individuals, couples and families. The program focuses on assisting clinicians to develop multicultural competencies specific to the intersecting identities of LGBT clients, increase an understanding of the historical and cultural influences impacting LGBT clients, and identify best practice procedures for assessing and addressing issues in LGBT mental health. The certificate provides courses that address the competencies recommended by the APA ethical guidelines for the treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations.

The courses are offered as electives through the office of online education for CSPP and are available to students enrolled in any CSPP graduate degree program on any Alliant campus. The courses may be taken individually or as part of the certificate. Required certificate courses are offered annually and elective courses will be offered at least once every three years. Placing the courses in the online environment creates the unique opportunity for engaging Rockway core faculty from all of our campuses, as well as national and international experts in the provision of course materials. In some courses, two to four different instructors combine their wisdom to guide students through the ever-growing research and clinical literature about the LGBT community.