Mission Statement | Program Aims and Objectives (PsyD)

Consonant with the concept that Clinical Psychology is an integral component of the Health Sciences, the Clinical Psychology Program at Ponce Health Sciences University aims to develop a new generation of Health Services Psychologists with a strong foundation on the biological bases of behavior, a broad understanding of the psychological processes and of the socio-cultural dimension of normal and abnormal behavior. The students are immersed into a rich scientifically-based curriculum harmonized by a multidisciplinary faculty from the fields of Psychology, Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Medicine, and other disciplines of the health and social sciences, in order to provide a broad understanding of human behavior and to develop clinical skills applicable in multiple socio-cultural contexts. 

Program Aims and Objectives 

Aim 1:

To train health service psychologists through an in-depth, historically contextualized understanding of the discipline specific knowledge including affective, cognitive, developmental, social and biological aspects of normal and abnormal behavior that serve as the foundation of clinical practice. 

Objective 1: Affective Aspects of Behavior 

Students will be able to describe the main theories on emotion, affect, mood, and motivation, and apply them effectively in the delivery of psychological services.  

Objective 2: Biological Aspects of Behavior 

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the biological bases of behavior and identify the signs and symptoms of neuropathological disorders. 

Objective 3: Cognitive Aspects of Behavior 

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the cognitive aspects of behavior including memory, thought processes, decision making, among others. 

Objective 4: Developmental Aspects of Behavior 

Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of growth, transitions and development across human life span. 

Objective 5: Social Aspects of Behavior 

Students will be able to understand topics such as attitudes, attribution, discrimination, and describe the reciprocal interaction and impact of socio-cultural aspects in the psychology of individuals, families and groups.  

Objective 6: Research Methods and Psychometrics 

Students will understand the techniques of psychological measurement,  apply current research to their clinical practice,  and exercise command of different methods of scientific inquiry. 

Objective 7: History and Systems 

Students will obtain an in-depth understanding of the development of major theories and systems in the discipline. 

Aim 2:

To prepare health services psychologists for the ethical and culturally appropriate delivery of evidence-based assessments and interventions when assuming the contemporary roles of the profession and adopting a lifelong commitment to professional values. 

Objective 1 : Ethical and Legal Standards 

Students will be knowledgeable of all current legal and ethical standards related to the profession and conduct themselves in an ethical manner in all professional activities.  

Objective 2: Professional Values and Attitudes 

Students will demonstrate a commitment to professional values. They will maintain professional relationships with clients, colleagues, supervisors, faculty, other multidisciplinary healthcare team professionals, and community members in accordance with the ethical standards and values of the profession.  

Objective 3: Communication and Interpersonal Skills 

Students will  demonstrate that they maintain effective communication and interpersonal relations with individuals and groups,  and use appropriate professional language in their interactions and clinical notes. 

Objective 4: Assessment  

Students will demonstrate competence in conducting evidence-based assessments and have a solid command of clinical assessment and diagnosis.   

Objective 5: Intervention  

Students will be able to appropriately select, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions within the scope of health service psychology.  

Objective 6: Supervision and Consultation 

 Students will be able to serve as competent supervisors and consultants, applying a variety of models and practices appropriate for a broad range of settings. 

Objective 7: Individual and Cultural  Diversity 

Students will demonstrate awareness, attitudes of respect, and appropriate behavior in the delivery of professional activities, being sensitive to diversity in gender, socioeconomic status, affectional orientation, ethnicity, physical and mental capacities, religion, spirituality, and age, as well as the interrelationships of these identities and statuses. 

Objective 8: Research  

Students will demonstrate competency in the integration of science and practice.  

Competencies  

The curriculum of the program is designed to develop in the students the competencies of the profession congruent with the American Psychological Association’s Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology (HSP), based on the Discipline Specific Knowledge and Profession-Wide Competencies. The courses and the skill-building activities designed to foster the development of each competency are described below. 

Competency: Professional Values and Attitudes

Competency: Assessment

Competency: Intervention  

Required 

Electives 

Clinical Practica

Competency: Supervision & Consultation 

Competency: Communication and Interpersonal Skills  

Competency: Ethical and Legal Standards  

Competency: Individual and Cultural Diversity

Competency: Research  

Competency: Affective Aspects of Behavior 

Competency: Biological  Aspects of Behavior 

Competency: Social Aspects of Behavior 

Competency: Cognitive Aspects of Behavior 

Competency: Developmental Aspects of Behavior 

Competency: Research Methods and Psychometrics 

Competency: History and Systems