Certificate Program in Clinical Theory and Practice

This program is designed for clinicians in all mental health disciplines who possess at least a master's degree in a related field, for others with at least five years of supervised experience in mental health practice, and others with instructor approval.

As a practicing mental health clinician, you may feel the need to deepen your understanding of your clients' problems and of the therapeutic process itself. This program in psychodynamic psychotherapy with adults gives you the opportunity for such advanced learning in both theory and practice.

Regardless of your practice setting, this program is vital to you. The Certificate Program represents part of our professional commitment to train developing clinicians. Our focus is to maintain respect for the fundamental tenets of good clinical work in today's environment. We believe this course offers clinicians the foundation necessary to retain our clinical integrity and provide professional and ethical clinical practice.

The content of the program is practical. It leads you through the natural sequence that characterizes the treatment of any client, addressing the common problems and issues that need to be addressed during the opening, middle, and termination phases of treatment. It defines and clarifies the choices that you often need to make at each of these stages. You have the opportunity to assimilate, apply, and test the course content as you follow three teaching cases through the sixteen sessions. The major theoretical influences on clinical practice and understanding of human development-both viewed psychodynamically-are integrated to provide you with a comprehensive learning experience.

The faculty for this Certificate Program is drawn from social work, psychology and psychoanalysis from both agency and private-practice settings. The instructors' broad range of expertise will help you gain a new perspective on the key therapeutic issues and challenges that you face every day in your practice.