Family communication skills are emphasized from the baby at birth, growth and development, the teen years, the young adult, family skills, the aging process, and finally, death and dying. This degree focuses on the incorporation of nationally accepted approaches, techniques and standards into a mastery of contemporary clinical practices including Managed Care, Community Mental Health, Addictions Treatments and Employee Assistance Plans. Entrance into the Psy. D. program requires a master's degree in counseling or a related field of study, one full year of residency, and one additional year of internship. These requirements can be fulfilled concurrently.
Residency is taken to mean clinical treatment responsibility for clients.
Internship is taken to mean guidance, including weekly staffings and daily supervision by an approved mentor. The profession of counseling is based on an eclectic approach to theories and practices which gives it the depth and flexibility necessary to alleviate anxieties, confusion and conflicts. Being a counselor necessitates an understanding of behavior and emotions. One should be able to distinguish between normal and abnormal behaviors and be proficient in various techniques of therapy. Transpersonal Psychology arose as a spiritual form of Humanistic Psychology equally emphasizing the body, the mind and the spirit.