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Psychology Training Programs

The Clinical Psychology Training Program

R Wing AtriumWelcome to the website of the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Within this site, you will find descriptions of our APA-accredited Doctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship programs. If you have further questions after reviewing these materials, please do not hesitate to contact one of us as indicated below. You may also contact us by phone at (585) 275-3563 for a hard copy of our comprehensive web page.

Our Training Philosophy and Values

This is an exciting time to be a psychologist! Our field is making unparalleled contributions to the understanding of human behavior and to the evidence base that informs effective health and mental health assessment and treatment. Innovative care delivery models extend beyond traditional institutional settings or office-based practices to include community and primary care based approaches. At the same time, we are challenged to provide effective psychological services in the ‘real world’ when there is not economic parity between physical health and mental health services. In light of these challenges, it is especially important for psychologists-in-training to consider carefully their own career aims and the manner in which they may combine clinical, educational and research endeavors to create fulfilling and sustaining professional lives. 

Our programs are designed to accommodate a variety of career models, ranging from scientist-practitioner to practitioner-scholar.  We believe that all clinical psychologists should complete a generalist internship that is predominantly clinical and provides training in a variety of settings spanning a wide range of mental health problems. We also believe that psychologists are well suited to conduct empirical research and to translate the results of research into effective practice in an array of settings.  Therefore, we strongly encourage psychologists-in-training to take advantage of the numerous opportunities for meaningful research experience within all levels of our program.

In June of 2006, we held a day long training retreat that included representatives from all aspects of our comprehensive Clinical Psychology Training Program. Our retreat resulted in the formulation of the following core values:  

  • We recognize and value the contribution of biopsychosocial, cultural, spiritual, and economic factors in shaping human lives. Therefore, we take a multisystemic approach to helping people and families who experience psychological distress or mental disorders at any stage of the lifespan.
  • Our program embraces an interdisciplinary approach to psychological services, education, and research, while also maintaining a clear focus on the development of the trainee’s professional identity as a psychologist.
  • We value the integration of science and practice in a manner that promotes rigorous understanding of the effectiveness of psychological assessment and intervention approaches in the populations we serve.
  • We uphold a commitment to community and university partnerships that are mutually responsive and beneficial.
  • We attend to the fiscal realities of today’s healthcare environment as part of a team of professionals providing the highest quality of care to the individuals, families, and communities we serve.
  • We  maintain a supportive, collaborative work environment that fosters free expression of ideas and promotes maximal professional development of psychologists and other professionals who are passionate about their work.

Our Mission

We prepare outstanding clinical psychologists with sufficient depth and breadth of training to pursue careers in patient care, teaching, scientific research, and/or administration. Our program encompasses both general (doctoral) and advanced (postdoctoral) levels of competency in diagnosing and treating mental disorders and other forms of psychological distress as they manifest in individuals from diverse backgrounds and a variety of clinical and community settings.  As well, we aim to prepare clinical psychologists to engage in health promotion and illness prevention strategies that will decrease the overall morbidity and mortality of the populations we serve.

We hope the following information is helpful in your search for a training program that fits your needs and interests. Feel free to contact us for more information. Our phone number is 585-275-3563.

 

Deborah A. King, Ph.D.

Director of Training in Clinical Psychology

Kathryn Castle, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Training in Clinical Psychology

 

Linda Brown

Administrative Assistant, Clinical Psychology Training


Our programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. Phone: 202-336-5979