Purpose
To afford an opportunity for doctoral level nonclinical psychologists to shift their career focus to the professional practice of clinical psychology.
Objectives
- To provide knowledge in the theory and practice of clinical psychology.
- To teach applied diagnostic assessment and therapeutic intervention skills based upon psychological knowledge and practice.
- To provide experience in clinical practice in various settings with children, youths, and adults, appropriately supervised by licensed psychologists.
- To convey an appreciation of the broad professional, ethical, and legal contexts within which clinical practice occurs.
Admissions
An applicant must have a PhD in psychology from an accredited university, and provide evidence that the proposed career change is reasonable in the context of long-term personal goals and emotional attributes as indicated in records, reference letters, and a personal interview.
Matriculation
A candidate is matriculated on the same basis as are other students in the Institute. It is anticipated that all trainees will complete the program in three calendar years, including the internship.
Certificate
A trainee is required to carry a full academic course load each year as well as practicum and internship experiences in order to receive the respecialization certificate. In addition, the trainee must successfully pass the Final Clinical Oral Examination.
Accreditations
The Institute’s graduate doctoral program in which the respecialization program is embedded is accredited by the American Psychological Association. (750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; phone 202-336-5979).
Program
The three year respecialization program includes a combination of didactic courses, an introductory supervised practicum experience, and an APA-accredited internship through Widener’s exclusively-affiliated internship program. Respecialization training covers foundational instruction in clinical psychological models and psychopathology across the lifespan; diagnostic techniques to assess cognitive and emotional functioning; psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, family and group intervention techniques; models of cultural diversity and individual difference; ethical and legal issues involved in professional practice, and models of clinical supervision. The first year includes a two-day per week, unreimbursed, supervised practicum placement; the second and third years include a three-day-per-week paid internship through Widener’s separately-accredited Internship Training Program (750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; phone 202-336-5979).
Please Note
The program of study that appears here applies to students who were admitted for the summer session of this catalog year and later. Students admitted prior to that term should select the appropriate catalog year of their admission. Choose previous catalogs from the Home, Graduate, or Undergraduate Catalog Page at http://Catalog.widener.edu.
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