Mission Statement and Learning Outcomes

Mission Statement:

The Saint Michael’s College Clinical-Counseling Psychology Program prepares students for careers in mental health practice at the masters-level. Students’ clinical skills are developed through coursework, practicum, and internship experiences. The curriculum integrates science and practice enabling our students to become informed consumers of psychological research, who can critically evaluate and apply empirical knowledge. As a program we strive to promote self-reflection, empathy, and cultural humility. We work to increase our sensitivity to the intersectionality of identities and to acknowledge and address the impact of social disparities on health, including behavioral health.

Competency I: Integration of Psychological Science and Practice

Students will understand and critically evaluate research and other scholarly, peer-reviewed works;
Students will utilize research methods to support quality improvement of individual treatment outcomes; and
Students will demonstrate ways in which issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion should be considered when evaluating research

Competency II: Ethical and Legal Standards

Students will be knowledgeable of and act in accordance with professional ethical standards and codes as well as relevant laws, regulations, rules, and policies governing service delivery;
Students will recognize ethical dilemmas as they arise and apply ethical decision-making processes to resolve the dilemmas; and
Students will conduct themselves in an ethical manner in all professional activities.

Competency III: Individual and Cultural Diversity

Students will engage in ongoing reflection of how their own personal/cultural history, attitudes, and biases may affect how they understand and interact with people different from themselves;
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the current theoretical and empirical knowledge base as it relates to addressing diversity in all professional activities including research, training, supervision/consultation, and service;
Students will integrate awareness and knowledge of individual, historical, and cultural differences in the conduct of professional roles and apply a framework for working effectively with areas of individual and cultural diversity not previously encountered over the course of their careers;
Students will demonstrate the requisite knowledge base, the ability to articulate an approach to working effectively with diverse individuals and groups and apply this approach effectively in their professional work;
Students will demonstrate knowledge of facts that may impact equity and inclusion such as oppression, privilege, institutional prejudice, and intersectionality;
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the role of social justice, including racial justice in increasing equitable access to behavioral health care and inequities and injustices impacting one’s patient population; and
Students will demonstrate the ability to function as an advocate to address social inequities and injustices impacting one’s patient population.

Competency IV: Professional Values and Attitudes

Students will behave in ways that reflect the values and attitudes of psychology, including integrity, deportment, professional identity, accountability, commitment to integration of science and practice, lifelong learning, and concern for the welfare of others;
Students will engage in self-reflection regarding one’s personal and professional functioning; engage in activities to maintain and improve performance, well-being, and professional effectiveness; and
Students will actively seek and demonstrate openness and responsiveness to feedback and supervision.

Competency V: Communication and Interpersonal Skills

develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals, including colleagues, communities, organizations, supervisors, supervisees, and those receiving professional services;
produce and comprehend oral, nonverbal, and written communications that are respectful, accessible, informative and well-integrated; demonstrate a thorough grasp of professional language and concepts;
demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and the ability to manage difficult communication well; and
communicate in culturally responsive ways that respect the diversity of perspectives and communication styles of others (e.g., marginalized, privileged, individualist, collectivistic, generational).

Competency VI: Assessment

Students demonstrate current knowledge of diagnostic classification systems across different contexts and settings, functional and dysfunctional behaviors, including consideration of client strengths and psychopathology;
Students demonstrate understanding of human behavior within its relevant context (e.g., family, educational/school, social, societal, historical, and cultural);
Students demonstrate the ability to apply the knowledge of functional and dysfunctional behaviors including context to the assessment and/or diagnostic process;
Students critically evaluate, select, and apply assessment methods that draw from the best available empirical literature and that reflect the science of measurement and psychometrics; collect relevant data using multiple sources and methods appropriate to the identified goals and questions of the assessment as well as relevant diversity characteristics of the service recipient;
understand assessment results, following current research and professional standards and guidelines, to inform case conceptualization, classification, and recommendations, while guarding against decision- making biases, distinguishing the aspects of assessment that are subjective from those that are objective; and
communicate orally and in written documents the findings and implications of the assessment in an accurate and effective manner sensitive to a range of audiences.

Competency VII. Intervention

Students establish and maintain effective relationships with the recipients of mental health services;
Students develop evidence-based intervention plans specific to the service delivery goals;
Students implement interventions informed by the current scientific literature, assessment findings, cultural efficacy and appropriateness, and contextual variables;
Students evaluate intervention outcomes and adapt as needed, as part of ongoing progress monitoring; and
Use information relevant to equity, diversity, and inclusion to educate stakeholders about the determinants of health, about effective strategies for promoting health and well-being outcomes, and about ways to access health care and other psychological services.

Competency VIII. Supervision

(1) Students demonstrate knowledge of supervision roles; and

(2) Students demonstrate understanding of relevant supervision requirements for one’s level and form of practice.

Competency IX. Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

Students demonstrate the ability to work as part of integrative teams with members of diverse backgrounds, such as other types of mental health professionals, client family members, or others from different backgrounds; and
Students demonstrate knowledge and respect for the roles and perspectives of other professionals.