Adler School of Professional Psychology Catalog 2008 – 2009

Practicum training requirements begin with a first year Community Service
Practicum that focuses on developing skills related to community-based
interventions, advocacy, social justice, and systemic interventions that benefit
human welfare and well being. Clinical training provided in students’ clinical
practicum focuses on developing the competencies needed to prepare students
for entry-level practice at graduation. Because the focus is on integrating
Master’s level education at Adler with Master’s-level supervised clinical training,
no transfer credit is granted for practicum credits earned elsewhere. Students
must successfully complete course prerequisites prior to being approved to
begin their second practicum.
First year students will spend 8-10 hours per week over the course of six
months at an approved Community Service Practicum site while concurrently
enrolled in required coursework. A minimum of 200 clock hours is required.
Students are expected to gain the minimum required hours over a six month
period and no less. At least one of the following courses must be taken
concurrently with Community Service Practicum I & II: Community Psychology
and Mental Health (350), Professional Development, Issues and Ethics (505),
Introduction to Adlerian Psychology and Psychopathology (402), and/or Social
Psychology and Individual Differences (641).
During the second year, students should expect to spend at least two days
per week over the course of at least nine months at an approved clinical
practicum site and must concurrently enroll in two semesters of Practicum
Seminars during their field training. A minimum of 700 total clock hours of
clinical practica is required, which should include at least 200 hours of direct
clinical service, of which one-third or more should be in conjoint therapy with
couples or families.
The Director of Training and Community Service works in collaboration
with students in identifying clinical experiences that meet the standards and
requirements of the program. Students should refer to the Practicum
Handbook, available on Scholar 360, for detailed information.
Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy program enables qualified
professionals with a minimum of a Master’s degree in psychology, social work,
and related mental health fields to enhance their knowledge and skills in couple
and family therapy and to help them achieve licensure in marriage and family
therapy. The course work and clinical practica in this certificate program focus
on helping the student to understand and integrate individual life style
dynamics with couple and family systems.
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