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The Doctoral Program in
Clinical Psychology, or DPCP, is designed to train students
to practice in a highly integrated and professional manner
that is informed by the science of clinical psychology
and the richness of Christian faith and practice. The
Regent University DPCP is committed to the outworking
of a Christian worldview. Our unique approach to
training from a Christian worldview is “integration
across the curriculum”. What this means is
that rather than giving you separate learning experiences
in psychology and theology that students must integrate
on their own, our faculty members will both model and
join you in the integration journey. Integration
is central to the Regent identity and part of every core
course and elective.
Students
are also trained to apply analytic, problem-solving skills
of scientific thinking to their clinical practice. Although
the faculty represents a variety of clinical orientations,
an emerging emphasis in empirically supported treatments
is present throughout the curriculum. This means that
students are trained to utilize intervention techniques,
which have empirical support for their effectiveness.
The DPCP culminates in
the award of the Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.).
Consistent with the rich and influential account of the
Psy.D. training model advanced by the National Council
of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP),
the goal of the DPCP is to produce "local clinical
scientists." It is important for students to recognize
that the adoption of a Psy.D. rather than a Ph.D. training
model at Regent does not mean a devaluing of the scientific
identity characteristic of professional psychology. Instead,
the goal is to develop those research, critical thinking,
conceptualization, problem-solving and other scientific
skills that are particularly pertinent to clinical practice.
DPCP graduates are to be "field scientists" whose
practice is grounded in scientific psychology and whose
approaches to practice reflect scientific attitudes.
In contrast to pure practitioner
programs, the Regent DPCP is committed to training local
clinical scientists who are "practitioner-scholars." As
an institution, Regent University is committed to training
professionals who are prepared to develop as leaders
in their professional contexts. Consequently, the DPCP
is designed to produce students who are well equipped
to emerge as leaders in health, mental health and other
practice settings. This is accomplished through a carefully
planned sequence of course work, clinical practica and
adjunctive training experiences. Students are also afforded
other opportunities, such as participation on faculty
research teams and exposure to a range of preeminent
scholars through the DPCP's colloquia series. All of
these program components are designed to cultivate a
life-long commitment to ongoing learning and professional
scholarship, which is particularly relevant to practice
and professional service.
While the Regent University Doctoral
Program in Clinical Psychology is a program of professional
psychology, it is also a program that is committed to
the outworking of a Christian worldview. There are only
a limited number of such programs in the United States.
Regent's DPCP is the only program of its kind east of
Chicago. The DPCP is committed to an integration of faith
and professional training that enhances and enriches
both traditions without compromising or weakening either.
The faculty utilizes a variety of integration approaches
to accomplish the goal of training highly competent professional
psychologists who operate from a Christian worldview.
An article published
in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity provides
additional information about our approach to clinical
training and science in the Regent Doctoral Program
in Clinical Psychology. The Journal of
Psychology and Christianity has agreed to allow
us to make that article available to you. You can
retrieve it by clicking here: "Training
Christian Practitioner-Scholars: The Regent University
Example."
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