Overview
The clinical psychology graduate program is devoted to training clinical scientists who are competent in the integration of science and practice. This training is conducted via coursework, foundational training at our in-house clinic (the Jesse G. Harris, Jr. Psychological Services Center), and external practica.
Course Work
Students enroll in several courses that directly inform their clinical training. In the first year, Dr. McGavran teaches Introduction to Clinical Psychology, which provides hands on training in therapeutic skills (i.e., asking questions, validation, risk assessment). Additionally, Dr. Martel teaches the Psychological Assessment series that provides practical training in intellectual, diagnostic, and personality assessment. Dr. Widiger teaches Psychopathology, which provides the necessary information for students to recognize the mental health conditions that may present during their clinical training. In the second year, students enroll in Systems of Psychotherapy, during which Dr. McGavran provides an overview of specific therapeutic interventions (i.e., mindfulness, cognitive challenging, exposure) and the psychopathological mechanisms they engage. Dr. McGavran also teaches Multicultural Psychology, which encourages our students to consider the diverse perspectives of their clients. More advanced students are also required to take a seminar on an advanced topic in clinical psychology. For example, Dr. Martel teaches a course on therapeutic techniques for children, Dr. Sauer-Zavala teaches a course on transdiagnostic treatments for borderline personality disorder, and Dr. Badour teaches a course on trauma-informed therapy.
The Harris Center
Beginning in their second year, all graduate students works as therapists at the Jesse G. Harris, Jr. Psychological Services Center. Under the direction of Dr. Amber Billingsley, the Harris Center is committed to providing accessible care to the community. Indeed, we offer a sliding fee scale that allows many of our patients to pay between $5 and $10 per session.
Foundational Therapy Training. Graduate student therapists typically start with one-on-one supervision, followed by group supervision as they progress through the program. The Harris Center typically serves adults and children seeking interventions for emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, depression, PTSD, borderline personality disorder). There is also the opportunity to conduct diagnostic and intellectual assessments.
Assessment Training. At the Harris Center, we also provide assessments of learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD), intelligence, personality, and differential diagnosis for people across the lifespan.
Advanced Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Advanced students have the opportunity to gain in-depth training in providing DBT, an evidence-based approach for treating clients with borderline personality disorder and/or related emotional difficulties. Our comprehensive DBT program will include 1) individual and group services, 2) coaching calls, and 3) a consultation team.
Advanced Training in Program Administration. Students interested in gaining more experience in program administration may have the opportunity to serve as the Assistant Director of the Harris Center during their tenure at UK.
The Clinic for Emotional Health
Our program also offers doctoral students with opportunities to gain experience being a part of clinical trials. Specifically, our students gain experience conducting structured and semi-structured psychodiagnostic assessments and delivering time-limited, empirically-supported and evidence-based treatments for specific emotional disorders including depression, anxiety and related disorders (including OCD and PTSD), and borderline personality disorder. Each week, practicum students also engage in supervision, staffing and case presentations, and practicum seminar, which involves didactic training in implementation of empirically-supported and evidence-based treatments.
External Practicum Experiences
In addition to our programs in-house clinical training experiences (i.e., the Harris Center and Clinic for Emotional Health), external practicum sites are also available. Our students typically complete 2-3 external practicum experiences throughout their training. More information about specific external practicum opportunities can be found here.