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The Doctor of Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) Program prepares graduates to become entry-level health service psychologists, as well as license-eligible psychologists in the State of New Jersey. The training model of the Psy.D. Program follows the scholar/practitioner model. Your training will center on developing the skills needed to function as a psychologist and an independent practitioner. In addition, you will develop skills preparing you to be active consumers of the most current research. Further, you will be able to integrate evidence-based treatments into your skill set as a practitioner.

Program Aims and Competencies

The competencies of the Doctor of Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) Program are developed within the larger context of professional psychology, Standards of Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA), and the vision and mission of Felician University. The educational philosophy of the Psy.D. Program at Felician includes an appreciation for the value and uniqueness of the individual, a belief in the potential for each human being to flourish and achieve integrity and happiness, and an acknowledgment of the strengths of each individual as it relates to treating mental health diagnoses.

The principal aim of the Felician Psy.D. Program is to prepare entry-level health service psychologists. The Profession Wide Competencies (PWCs) of the Psy.D. Program are as follows:

1. Research – Students will develop research formulation skills to contribute to the scientific, psychological, or professional knowledge base, implement research or scholarly activities, and critically evaluate and disseminate research or scholarly activity via various professional outlets.
2. Ethical and Legal Standards – Students will develop knowledge and behave in ways that are consistent with ethical, legal, organizational, and professional standards and guidelines, and be competent in recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas in a professionally sound manner.
3. Individual and Cultural Diversity – Students will develop an empirically grounded knowledge base of personal and cultural diversity and be able to integrate this knowledge in various professional roles to effectively deliver competent service to diverse individuals, groups, and communities.
4. Professional Values and Attitudes – Students will develop core values and attitudes in psychology (e.g., integrity, accountability, lifelong learning, and concern for the welfare of others) by actively seeking and demonstrating openness to feedback and self-reflection, and developing the ability to respond to professional situations and relationships with increasing independence.
5. Communication and Interpersonal Skills – Students will develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals across different settings, by behaving in ways that demonstrate effective interpersonal, conflict resolution, and communication skills.
6. Assessment – Students will demonstrate empirically grounded and scientifically informed assessment skills that include diagnosis of functional and dysfunctional behaviors and traits, understanding of human behavior within its context, selection and application of various psychological assessment methods, interpretation of assessment findings that are grounded in appropriate standards and guidelines, and effective communication of assessment findings.
7. Intervention – Students will develop empirically based intervention skills (e.g., treatment planning, implementation and modification) that are theoretically informed and grounded in their ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse individuals and groups.
8. Supervision – Students will demonstrate knowledge of supervision models and practices and be able to apply them in professional practice with psychology trainees, or other health professionals.
9. Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills – Students will demonstrate knowledge and respect for the roles and perspectives of other professionals, and demonstrate knowledge of consultation models and practices to allow them to work collaboratively and effectively with other professionals in the delivery of professional services.

Practicum

All students will complete three years of practicum experiences. Practicum is a crucial component of the curriculum, and successful completion of the practicum is a pre-requisite to applying for the doctoral internship. Current students have secured placements in hospitals, college counseling centers, mental health centers, and out-patient clinics.

Internships

Students are expected to complete either a one-year full time or two-year half time doctoral internship placement.