Counseling Psychology

Program Details:

• Individual and group counseling (optional couples and family) through practica in our on-site clinic, working under live supervision of licensed psychologists with community members and university students
• Psychological assessment, including courses in cognitive and personality testing, with optional courses to expand skills
• Research and evidence-based practice, with six required research courses that fulfill the requirements for a doctoral minor in applied statistics and research methods

Program Overview:

Our APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD program in health service psychology provides comprehensive training in discipline-specific knowledge and profession-wide competencies, following current APA standards. The curriculum prepares students for health service psychology practice by covering research, ethics, diversity, professionalism, communication, assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation. We emphasize strengths-based perspectives, prevention, lifespan development, vocational psychology, social justice, and advocacy.

Our program is distinguished from others by the breadth and intensity of our research and clinical training, as well as by our dedication to live supervision. Students complete a rigorous statistics sequence that fulfill the requirements for a doctoral minor in Applied Statistics and Research Methods. We provide intensive clinical training throughout students’ program at our on-site training clinic. Students receive training in multiple treatment modalities that include individual therapy, group therapy, and we provide the opportunity for couples and family therapy training. Doctoral students are supervised by licensed psychologists during their clinical practica experiences and receive live supervision from behind a one-way mirror. Students also complete a practicum in clinical supervision and have further opportunities to supervise counselors-in-training in the professional counseling masters’ programs in our department. Students engage in clinic administration and outreach opportunities, and have the opportunity to gain additional experience through external practica in a variety of settings (e.g., University Counseling Centers, Veterans Administration, Medical/Integrated Care, Correctional Facilities, Community Mental Health Centers, etc). Students are trained to both contribute to and utilize psychological research, presenting at conferences and pursuing publication-ready dissertations. The program maintains a strong commitment to respecting and understanding cultural and individual diversity.

Integration of Empirical Evidence and Practice:

Our program integrates empirical evidence and practice, emphasizing both research and practitioner training. We believe health service psychologists best serve society by applying scientific research to practice. Our program trains students to be informed consumers and contributors to psychological research, with a strong focus on research-related skills. Training in research and evidence-based practice is woven throughout coursework and practica. Graduates demonstrate expertise in evidence-based practice and competency in research, intervention, assessment, supervision, consultation, ethics, communication, professionalism, and diversity.

Program Aim:

Our program aim is to prepare students to be competent counseling psychologists in health service psychology. To achieve our aim, students acquire foundational discipline-specific knowledge in the areas of:

• history and systems of psychology
• basic knowledge in scientific psychology
• integrative knowledge in scientific psychology
• methods of inquiry and research

Students use the discipline-specific knowledge to develop profession wide competencies (PWC) in the areas of:

• research
• ethical and legal standards
• individual and cultural diversity
• professional values, attitudes, and behavior
• communication and interpersonal skills
• assessment
• intervention
• supervision
• consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

These nine PWCs are operationally defined using multiple elements for each competency area and student evaluations are linked to the respective nine PWC areas (see CP PWC Evaluation Form in Student Handbook). Students achieve competency as defined by the elements that are associated with each of the nine PWC areas. Program wide outcomes are evaluated accordingly.

Program Documents:

Counseling Psychology Handbook

External Practicum Policies and Procedures

External Practicum Sites

Licensure Disclosure Statement

Our program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. Students that complete our program are appropriately trained in health service psychology and meet the educational requirements to be eligible for licensure as doctoral level psychologists in the state of Colorado. Educational requirements for licensure outside of Colorado, vary by state and a complete list of state-by-state requirements can be accessed using the link below.

State by State Requirements

You should also verify licensure requirements for your state by reviewing and directly contacting the state’s licensing agency.

Student Admissions Outcomes and Other Data

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to:

Commission on Accreditation
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

• Phone: (202) 336-5979
• E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
• Visit the American Psychological Association Website