PsyD Clinical Psychology
As one of the first PsyD programs in the nation, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology has offered a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) since 1976. The mission of the PsyD program is to train doctoral-level practitioner/scholars who have foundational interpersonal and scientific skills, a functional mastery of psychological assessment and intervention, and can apply this knowledge and skill in a range of settings.
We aim to train psychologists who contribute to the common good through their interpersonal awareness and skill. Students graduate from GSPP as psychologists with a solid grounding in psychology's scientific, ethical and professional foundations, with skills in assessment and intervention that can be applied to many contexts and communities.
Specialty Coursework
We offer training in a variety specialty areas including Latinx Psychology, Military Psychology, Oncology Psychology, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder Psychology.
Foundations of Diversity
Our required multicultural sequence ensures students are prepared to work with diverse populations.
Clinical Experience from Day One
Clinical practice begins in the first quarter of the program at DU's community-based psychological center. Additional fieldwork opportunities are available through our partnerships at 130 different practicum sites.
Exemplary Breadth
We offer extensive hands-on and experiential opportunities to complement our students' broad base of knowledge along with their analytical and research skills.
Career Preparation
We connect our students with internships, mentorships and professional development opportunities to help ensure professional success.
PsyD Faculty Statement in Support of Black Lives
As a PsyD faculty with a wide range of opinions, we recognize that it is not often possible for us to speak with one voice. Yet, we are uniformly dismayed by the loss of George Floyd,Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, and we are united in strongly believing that the lives, safety, and mental and physical wellbeing of Black people matter. We strive to understand the role that people and institutions, including ourselves, have played in creating and perpetrating injustice directed against Black individuals and communities. Furthermore, we are committed to continuing and actively deepening our understanding of our actions on Black students, faculty, and staff, and being strong advocates for our Black student body and community; we are dedicated to working on this together in full transparency and imperfection. We also share resources below organized by GSPP faculty Apryl Alexander and Lavita Nadkarni.
Katy Barrs, Peter Buirski, Terri Davis, Jenny Erickson Cornish, Kim Gorgens, Laurie Ivey, Michael Karson, Fernand Lubuguin, Hale Martin, John McNeill, Laura Meyer, Lavita Nadkarni, Henrietta Pazos, Shelly Smith-Acuna, Nicole Taylor, Jennifer Tippett, and Tracy Vozar
-
Online Resources
- Resources to Address Racism and Racial Violence (National Council on Family Relations)
- For Our White Friends Desiring To Be Allies
- “Ally” is a verb: White Privilege & Fragility Resource List
- Beyond the Hashtag: How to Take Anti-Racist Action in Your Life
- 26 Ways to Be in the Struggle Beyond the Streets
- 5 Things White People Can Do Right Now to Combat White and State-Sanctioned Violence
- After Arbery shooting, black parents are rethinking ‘the talk’ with sons to explain white vigilantes
- Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma
- Why Teaching Black Lives Matter Matters Part I
- Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They're Okay--Chances Are They're Not
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
-
Books
If you are considering purchasing books or other materials, please consider supporting local Black-owned bookstores; here is one such list, and there are many others:
Course of Study
Specialty Focus Tool
The program provides a broad and general education. Each student also has the opportunity to choose a specialty area to increase depth of theoretical knowledge and skills. Examples include adult or child assessment and therapy, behavior therapy, family therapy, forensic psychology, behavioral medicine, treatment of women, Latinx psychology, or military psychology.
Specialties
Clinical Competency Exam
This exam is generally taken in the second year to ensure students demonstrate minimum standards for clinical skill and scholarship. It is comprised of three sections: clinical vignettes, clinical case conceptualization and clinical intervention strategies.
Doctoral Paper
The doctoral paper requires students to make an original contribution to psychological scholarship. They may choose to do a qualitative or quantitative research project or select another form of scholarship such as developing a case study or treatment protocol.
Clinical Training
Professional Psychology Clinic (PPC)
Students become staff members of the PPC and work with clients in the clinic each year prior to their internship. PPC client cases are supervised by faculty members, seminar co-leaders and individual community professionals.
Explore ClinicsCommunity Field Placements
In the years prior to their internship, students serve in field placements for a minimum of eight hours per week. Sites may include mental health centers, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and residential treatment homes.
Learn MoreDoctoral Internship
During their clinical internship, a vital part of our program, students gain valuable experience interning at sites around the U.S. and Canada and are able to pursue placements in a variety of settings. Our program has a 100% match rate to accredited sites.
Past Placements