About Our Program
The Counseling Psychology Program at UNC has been in existence since 1984. It became fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1995 and has maintained APA accreditation ever since. For more information about APA accreditation contact the American Psychological Association’s Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation at 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 or at (202) 336-5979 or at http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/.
The Psy.D. degree in Counseling Psychology is designed for persons interested in careers as psychologists in independent practice, mental health settings, and other institutions in which the direct application of counseling and therapy is required. While some of our students have obtained academic positions at colleges, the Psy.D. is primarily a practitioner degree. The program adheres to a Scientist-Practitioner model of training but places greatest emphasis on practitioner skills. Our program strives to train psychologists who can independently assess, diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of mental health and adjustment concerns, in a variety of settings, utilizing at least three core treatment modalities: Individual, Group, and Couples & Family therapies. In addition to completing required practica in these three core treatment modalities, you will also complete a practicum in the supervision of individual therapy. Additional practica experiences are also available for play therapy, supervision of play therapy, supervision of Couples & Family therapy and supervision of group therapy. Most of your therapy sessions will receive live supervision from behind a one-way mirror. In addition, feedback from your supervisor and classmates will be dubbed onto your videotaped recordings of each session.