The overarching goal of the University of Waterloo Clinical Psychology Program is to offer our students fully integrated training in psychological research and clinical practice. Our Program adheres to the Boulder Model for scientist-practitioner training and endeavours to achieve a high level of student scholarship, service skill, and dedication in understanding human personality and psychopathology and in providing mental health services.
Important features of our program are our in-house Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment, which serves as our main site for clinical training, and the close involvement of all members of our clinical faculty in clinical supervision and the teaching of clinical-skills courses, as well as academic courses and research. Another unusual feature of our program is its lifespan emphasis: we train all our students in the clinical assessment and treatment of both children and adults. Consistent with a Scientist-Practitioner Model of Training, our program promotes an integrated understanding of theory, research, and practice in all seminars, research lab activities, and clinical services, bolstered by the combined research and clinical service careers of our faculty. In addition, we endeavour to provide training that is mindful of developmental and cultural variations, and that is founded on a broad base of psychological knowledge, including relevant understanding of social, cognitive, and developmental psychology, neuroscience, and research design, statistics, measurement theory, and program evaluation. With this solid foundation, many of our graduates continue active research careers in either academic or service settings.
Consistent with the Scientist-Practitioner (Boulder) Model, we integrate science and professional practice so as to achieve the following specific goals:
- Students are competent to design, conduct, evaluate, and present psychological research. Component competencies include the following:
- Sophistication in research design and data analysis
- Critical thinking skills
- Thorough understanding of research ethics
- Well-developed skills in research writing and publication, public presentation of research, and teaching
- Students possess sound, research-informed clinical practice skills that enable them to manage demands for assessment, treatment, supervision, and consultation service of both adults and children. The relevant component competencies, as defined by the Association of Directors of Psychology Training Clinics (ADPTC) and adopted by the College of Psychologists of Ontario (Appendix C of the Registration Guidelines), include the following:
- Knowledge and skills in interpersonal relationships
- Knowledge and skills in assessment and evaluation
- Knowledge and skills in intervention and consultation
- Knowledge and skills in professional ethics and standards
- Knowledge and skills in supervision
- Finally, students possess a broad appreciation for scholarship and cultural diversity, and have a commitment to lifelong learning.