Clinical Psychology

Other Faculty Teaching Area Courses: 
General Information: 

The Clinical Psychology area is dedicated to research and training in clinical science. The graduate program aspires to educate the next generation of leading academic and research psychologists and to create an environment for advancing research related to psychopathology and its treatment. While the program is decidedly research oriented, clinical training is viewed as essential to the development of outstanding clinical scientists and is designed to emphasize scientific principles that will enable students to investigate theoretically important and clinically relevant questions and to ensure competence in the provision of evidence-based assessment and intervention. Our students routinely secure placements at the most prestigious national internship sites, however the clinical program at Yale is not a match for students primarily interested in clinical practice. The program is well suited to students who desire to begin an independent, structured program of clinical science research and are likely to emerge as leaders in the study of psychopathology and its treatment. The values of the clinical program are reflected in current themes of our work, including 1) basic science research on psychopathology and its treatment; 2) integrative science involving methods and theories from related psychological disciplines; 3) evaluations of the psychological mechanisms, efficacy, effectiveness, and applications of psychosocial treatments; 4) applications of scientific inquiry to prevention and social policy.

Students admitted to the clinical area are expected to develop an independent line of research under the supervision of our primary faculty. Research training includes an emphasis on theory, methods, data analysis, grant writing, and manuscript preparation. Our students routinely publish in scholarly journals and disseminate their work at professional conferences during their graduate training, and many have successfully obtained external funding to support research projects.

Important additional information about the clinical program is contained in the document entitled “Mission Statement, Program Structure and Requirements.” Please read that document carefully before applying to the clinical program. For information on practicum opportunities, click here, for information about the departmental clinic click here, and for information about eligibility of program graduates for professional licensure, click here. Details regarding professional activities post-graduation that are required for licensure are listed here, and a summary of the professional activities of program alumni at 2- and 5-years post-graduation are presented here.

The clinical program is strongly dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in our program and in students’ training. Students from underrepresented minority groups are especially encouraged to apply to our program.

General information about applying to clinical psychology programs and application tips can be found at:

http://clinicalpsychgradschool.org

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), and is a member of The Academy of Psychological Clinical Science.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979/E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS)
1800 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 402
Washington, DC 20036-1218 
Phone: (301) 455-8046 /E-mail: akraut@pcsas.org Web: www.pcsas.org

As stated above, the Yale Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation (CoA) and the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS). Our clinical science training model and vision is most consistent with the standards of the PCSAS. Presently, PCSAS is working toward ensuring that: 1) graduates from its programs are fully license-eligible in the majority of states in which they may pursue professional practice; and 2) the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) provides parity for and recognition of PCSAS within all of its regulatory standards. If and when these changes are realized, our program may consider remaining accredited solely by PCSAS. However, any such consideration would be based on clear evidence that our graduates can continue to obtain the sorts of successful career positions they have long enjoyed (e.g., as university professors, college teachers, public policy analysts, faculty in medical centers, research institutes and VA settings, licensed clinical psychologists, and administrators/directors of a variety of community agencies/organizations).

Questions related to the Yale Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology should be directed to the Director of Clinical Training, Mary O’Brien, Ph.D., or the primary faculty listed above.

*Students should apply to do graduate work only with primary faculty in the Psychology Department. Affiliated Faculty may serve as secondary mentors.