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Ph.D Program: Introduction

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Program Model

The PhD program offered in counseling psychology is housed in the Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education in the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young University. The program is primarily focused on psychology,  based on a scientist-practitioner model of training. This integrated approach to training acknowledges the interdependence of theory, research, and practice. Counseling psychologists pursue and apply psychological and educational knowledge to promote optimal development for individuals, groups, and systems and to provide remedies for the psychological and educational difficulties that encumber them.

The program emphasizes  educational, developmental, and preventative functions of counseling psychologists. Candidates are primarily prepared to work as counseling psychologists in academic departments and counseling centers in colleges and universities. They are also capable of remedial intervention  for people in educational settings who are experiencing abnormal development and psychopathology.

Accreditation

The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Information on accreditation can be obtained from the Committee on Accreditation (202-336-5979) or from the Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association at either 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242 or www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/.) The program is listed in the Council for the National Register of Heath Service Providers in Psychology. Requirements facilitate students’ qualification for licensure as psychologists.

Philosophy

The program is distinctive among counseling psychology programs because, like its parent institution, it “seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives” ("The Aims of a BYU Education," BYU 2003-2004 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 13). Counseling psychology students, faculty, and staff agree to conduct their lives in harmony with ethical and moral values which are consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The faculty believe that the most effective counseling psychologists, regardless of their personal religious affiliation, are those who abide by high standards of ethical and professional conduct. They also believe that truth may be obtained through both scientific inquiry and spiritual or revealed sources. The faculty believe the integration of these domains has great potential for increasing counseling psychologists’ capability to provide effective assistance to all of the human family. The faculty are therefore committed to integrating psychological and spiritual sources of knowledge.