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The
Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Arkansas follows
the scientist-practitioner model of training. Our premise is that doctoral
training in clinical psychology prepares individuals to be skilled mental
health service providers as well as competent researchers. Because many of
our graduates will seek applied, direct service positions, we take
seriously the role of training competent clinicians. We also actively
recruit and intensively train students whose aspire to be clinical
scientists and whose research interests match that of the faculty. Academic
coursework, clinical practica, and research training are designed to
promote the development of competency in both areas. Our goal is to train
students who are capable of applying psychological theory, research
methodology, and clinical skills to complex clinical problems and diverse
populations. The Program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association's
Committee on Accreditation. Office of Program Consultation and
Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: 202-336-5979
Generalist
approach to clinical training. We recognize that all students
require broad clinical training that spans a range of skills, modalities,
settings, and populations. Our curriculum has been carefully designed to
provide that broad coverage, but with a strong emphasis on empirically
based approaches to assessment and intervention. We also view students'
experiences in clinical practicum as opportunities to acquire a range of
clinical skills. Clinical faculty closely supervise students in their
practicum training, introducing them to diverse theoretical orientations
but adhering consistently to a standard of empirical grounding.
Specialist
approach to research training. Research training
is typically done in the context of faculty members' overall program of
research. As such, a mentor-apprentice model guides our decisions about
student recruitment and selection. Once accepted into our program, each
student is trained to be critical consumer of and an effective contributor
to the empirical research literature in clinical psychology. Coursework
related to research covers a broad set of methods and issues, but students
are directly involved in conducting focused research projects with their
faculty advisor.
Consistent
blending of scientist-practitioner training.
Experiences and skill development opportunities that prepare students to be
scientist-practitioners begin early in the graduate career. Each semester
presents students with a mix of coursework, practicum involvement, and
research requirements that consistently blend the roles of clinician and
scientist. Faculty strongly encourage this integration and actively model
for students an appreciation for the interplay between clinical practice
and research knowledge. As members of practicum teams and research teams,
new students also reap the benefits of working closely with more advanced
students as they conceptualize cases, enhance and refine their assessment
skills, design theses and dissertations, and prepare papers for conference
presentations and journal review.
Program Goals & Objectives. Specific
goals and objectives of the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University
of Arkansas reflect a) our specific training model, b) the Commission on Accreditation’s
Guidelines and Procedures for doctoral programs, and c) our commitment and
responsibility to train competent and ethical clinical psychologists.
Goal 1. The Clinical Training Program strives to
train competent Clinical Psychologists who understand and identify with the
Program's articulation of the scientist/practitioner training model. Our
expectation is that students in the program:
·
Objective 1a: Acquire and demonstrate
understanding and competence in the breadth of scientific psychology via
exposure to current knowledge of the biological, social, cognitive, and
affective bases of behavior, the history of psychology as a discipline, and
the use of psychological measurement, research methodology, and data
analytic techniques.
·
Objective 1b: Acquire and demonstrate
understanding and competence in the scientific base for the practice of
clinical psychology via exposure to current knowledge of individual
differences, human development, psychological disorders, and professional
ethics.
·
Objective 1c: Acquire and demonstrate
understanding and competence in the use of empirically supported strategies
for assessing and intervening in problems relevant to clinical psychology
via exposure to current knowledge of and standards for conducting
assessment, diagnosis, intervention, intervention evaluation, and
consultation and supervision.
·
Objective 1d: Acquire and demonstrate
sensitivity to and competence in issues of cultural and individual
diversity in the science and practice of clinical psychology.
·
Objective 1e: Acquire and demonstrate
appreciation for and enduring commitment to the role of the
scientist-practitioner in clinical psychology, including critical thinking,
ethical behavior, and continued professional development.
Goal 2. The Clinical Training Program strives to
provide students with focused opportunities for additional study, research,
and skill development in a specific, selected area of clinical psychology.
Our expectation is that students in the program will acquire and
demonstrate understanding and competence in a concentrated area of study
within clinical psychology as indicated by the following objectives:
·
Objective 2a: Completion of and minimal
proficiency in didactic training experiences related to the area of
concentrated study.
·
Objective 2b: Completion of and minimal
proficiency in clinical training experiences related to the area of
concentrated study.
·
Objective 2c: Completion of and minimal
proficiency in efforts to conduct research projects related to the area of
concentrated study.
If you are interested in applying to the
University of Arkansas’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, click on the
“Applications” link above. For more information about the program contact
the Director of the Clinical Training Program, Dr. Tim Cavell.
Faculty:
Ana Bridges, Timothy A. Cavell, Matthew T. Feldner, Lindsay Ham, Jeffrey M. Lohr, Patricia Petretic, Nathan L. Williams
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