Training Model
The Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program of PHSU aims at training clinicians to approach the profession from a scientific perspective and to become competent in the production of new knowledge using scientific methods. PHSU’s Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program is based on the Scientist-Practitioner model of professional psychology as articulated by the Boulder Conference of 1949 (Raimy, 1950). Further elaboration and updating of the model were accomplished through the National Conference on Scientist/Practitioner Education and Training for the Professional Practice of Psychology (Belar & Perry, 1992). The Scientist/Practitioner model aims at fostering the development of both research and clinical competencies in the training of Clinical Psychologists. Clinicians trained within the Scientist/Practitioner model use a scientific epistemology in their approach to the discipline of Psychology and guide their clinical work by the tenets of Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology (EBPP).
Psychological Research Training
PHSU Clinical Psychology programs have developed various research initiatives that provide the bases for the training of Clinical Psychologists within the Scientist/Practitioner model. Some of the most productive research projects have include stigma on HIV/AIDS patients, normalization of intelligence tests, development of new psychological tests and scales, psychosocial aspects of cancer, and research related to the biomarkers and neurobiological aspects of behavior. Program faculty frequently publish scientific articles in peer-review journals, present their work in professional conference, and submit research proposals and seek funding to support their projects.
The Ph.D. program trains students in two general areas of scientific inquiry, namely, behavioral neuroscience and clinical research. The latter includes but is not limited to areas such as health psychology, severe psychopathology, mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, cultural adaptation of tests, health disparities, and test construction.
PhD Program Mission, Aims and Competencies
Based upon its Scientist/Practitioner model and upon the Health Services Psychology orientation, the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) is training a new generation of clinical psychologists to address the population’s health issues from a scientific epistemology and interdisciplinary integration, to contribute towards the development of the psychological sciences in Puerto Rico, and to provide high quality health services to persons and communities of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles.
Program Aims
Aim #1: Prepare students to become behavioral and health-services researchers capable of creating new knowledge and becoming competent health services psychologists by integrating the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that serve as the foundation for clinical practice, and who will be skillful in delivering health services from an evidence-based scientific perspective.
Aim #2: Prepare health services psychologists for the ethical delivery of evidence-based psychological services when assuming the contemporary roles of the profession in diverse clinical situations and diverse populations.
Discipline Specific Competencies
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Discipline Specific Areas
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Expected Outcomes
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History and Systems
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Students demonstrate understanding of history and systems of Psychology.
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Cognitive Aspects of Behavior
Affective Aspects of Behavior
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Students demonstrate substantial knowledge of cognitive and affective bases of human behavior.
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Biological Bases of Behavior
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Students demonstrate understanding of the biological bases of human behavior.
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Developmental Aspects of Behavior
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Students demonstrate knowledge of developmental aspects of behavior.
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Social Aspects of Behavior
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Students demonstrate specific knowledge of social aspects of behavior.
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Research Aspects of Behavior and Statistical Analysis
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Students demonstrate substantial understanding of research methods and statistics.
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Psychometrics
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Students demonstrate understanding and competence in Psychometrics.
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Integrative Knowledge
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Students demonstrate knowledge on the integration of
multiple basic discipline-specific areas such as biological, affective, cognitive, and social bases of behavior.
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Profession Wide Competencies
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Profession Wide Competency
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Description
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Research
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Students demonstrate their capacity to produce new knowledge, evaluate and use existing knowledge to solve problems, and disseminate research.
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Ethical and Legal Standards
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Students understand the application of the code of ethics, laws, and regulations, and how they apply to clinical and professional situations.
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Individual and Cultural Diversity
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Students demonstrate their ability to work effectively with diverse individuals, and understand how diversity impacts psychological assessment and treatment
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Professional Values, Attitudes and Behavior
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Students demonstrate their capacity to develop professional relationships with the persons who they serve and work., and
behave in ways that reflect the values and attitudes of the psychology profession.
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Communication and Interpersonal Skills
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Students demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and capacity to produce adequate verbal and written communications and professional language.
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Assessment
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Students demonstrate their capacity to conduct a diagnostic assessment.
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Intervention
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Students demonstrate their ability to implement clinical interventions supported by research evidence
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Supervision
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Students demonstrate their knowledge of clinical supervision in clinical scenarios
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Consultation and Interdisciplinary Skills
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Students understand and articulate the value of professional consultation
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