Professionalization Group

PP7110

Thursdays 11:15-12:15

2007-2008

Lisa Hoemeke, Psy.D.

Objectives:

  1. To assist students in making a successful academic and personal transition to Argosy University/Chicago’s ISPP.
  2. To familiarize students with the mission of the school program.
  3. To promote students’ examination and clarification of professional values and goals.
  4. To promote personal and professional growth.
  5. To provide academic advisement to students regarding school policies, procedures, course selection, and requirements.
  6. To facilitate adherence and commitment to the ethical codes and standards of the profession.
  7. To assist with practicum planning and placement.
  8. To sensitize students to the issue of diversity as a central component of professional training.

Course Purpose and Policies:

The Professionalization Group serves multiple purposes. The group provides a structure for students to receive not only advisement with respect to training and academic issues but also personal and professional support. The “pro group”will include didactic presentations, discussions, student presentations, experiential exercises, guest faculty visits, and service learning. Learning and growth occur most optimally in an environment of safety and trust. Students are requested to collaborate in creating and maintaining such an atmosphere.

Confidentiality of students’ self-disclosure is required.

Grading:

The Professionalization Group is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. In-depth feedback on performance in class and on writing assignments will be provided throughout the year. Assignments are designed to promote both professional and personal growth.

Requirements:

  1. Students are expected to attend all meetings, read all materials and complete assignments by the required date, and to participate in class discussions.
  1. Students are requested to contact the instructor in advance if the student will be absent for a particular class. Absence from more than two sessions in a semester may result in a grade of No Credit.
  1. Students are encouraged to become student members of the American Psychological Association (APA).
  1. Specific activities for the spring semester will be detailed at a later date.

Assignments:

  1. Students will prepare a curriculum vita for a CV workshop—date to be determined.
  1. Students will engage in a Social Action Project by engaging in an activity that allows you to gain exposure to various settings where psychologists may work and to begin to consider various roles that psychologists may take in creating social change. This is also a great way to begin building your CV. Class discussion will provide you with ideas. Please consider ways that you might work on this project over the course of the semester (e.g. volunteer weekly) as more experience will help you in a number of ways including boosting CV, developing a professional identity, and enhancing self-exploration regarding goals and values in your career. Please write a short paper (3 pages if no literature review—see below) describing your experience, concentrating on a self-reflection about your experience—including what you learned as well as where you felt particularly challenged. The class will discuss their experiences on that day. I hope you will consider extending the volunteer work into the Spring semester.
  1. Each student will be asked to write up a description of their understanding of how change occurs in psychotherapy (which may be more specific to one orientation). The paper should be at least 2 pages and longer ifyou choose to do a literature review (see below),

You have the option of including a literature review in your “Social Action Project” paper or in your “Theory of Change Paper.” Your draft should include a minimum of 6 references. If you choose to do this for the social action project, you should still include a page in this paper that focuses on your reflection of your experience.

Required Reading:

American Psychiatric Association (2002). Ethical Principals of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Additional Readings may be assigned—with adequate notice given.

Disability Statement:

It is the policy of Argosy University/Chicago Campus to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a student with disabilities needs accommodations to complete the instructor’s course requirements, the student must notify the Director of Student Services. Procedure for documenting student disability and the development of reasonable accommodation will be provided to the student upon request.

Students will be notified by the Director of Student Services when each request for accommodation is approved or denied in writing via a designated form. It is the student’s responsibility to present the form (at his or her discretion) to the instructor in order to receive the requested accommodations in class. In an effort to protect student privacy, Student Services will not discuss the accommodation needs of any student with instructors.

Academic Honesty/Plagiarism Statement:

The University seeks to foster a spirit of honesty and integrity. Any work submitted by a student must represent original work produced by that student. Any source used by a student must be documented through normal scholarly references and citations and the extent to which any sources have been used must be apparent to the reader. The University further considers resubmission of a work produced for one course and a subsequent course or the submission of work done partially or entirely by another to be academic dishonesty. It is the student’s responsibility to seek clarification from the course instructor about how much help may be received in completing an assignment or exam or project and what sources may be used. Students found guilty of academic dishonesty or plagiarism shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the university.

MISSION STATEMENT: DOCTORAL PROGRAM

The Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Argosy University Chicago Campus is an APA accredited program (APA, 750 First St. NE, Washington, DC20002, 202-336-5500). This program is designed to educate and train students so that they may eventually be able to function effectively as clinical psychologists. To ensure that students are prepared adequately, the curriculum provides for the meaningful integration of theory, training and practice. The Clinical Psychology program at Argosy University Chicago Campus emphasizes the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential in the formation of professional psychologists who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services. Specific objectives of the program include the following:

  • Goal 1: Prepare professional psychologists to accurately, effectively, and ethically select, administer, score, interpret, and communicate findings of appropriate assessment methods informed by accepted psychometric standards and sensitive to the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
  • Objective 1a: Accurately and ethically administer and score various psychodiagnostic instruments.
  • Objective 1b: Accurately interpret and synthesize assessment data in the context of diversity factors, referral questions, and specific objectives of the assessment, and organize and communicate results in writing and orally.
  • Objective 1c: Examine psychometric properties of psychological assessment instruments, and use that knowledge to evaluate, select, administer, and interpret psychological tests and measures appropriate for the client, the referral question, and the objectives of the assessment.
  • Goal 2: Prepare professional psychologists to select, implement, and evaluate psychological interventions consistent with current ethical, evidence-based, and professional standards, within a theoretical framework, and with sensitivity to the interpersonal processes of the therapeutic relationship and the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
  • Objective 2a: Synthesize the foundations of clinical psychology, including psychopathology, human development, diagnosis, diversity, ethics, and various therapeutic models in clinical applications.
  • Objective 2b: Select, plan, and implement ethical and evidence-based interventions with sensitivity to the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
  • Objective 2c: Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively implement and participate in psychological consultation and supervision.
    Objective 2d: Demonstrate personal development and self-reflective capacity, including growth of interpersonal skills, and therapeutic relationships.
  • Goal 3: Prepare professional psychologists to analyze the complexity and multidimensionality of human diversity, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand diverse worldviews and the potential meaning of social, cultural, and individual differences for professional psychological services.
  • Goal 4: Prepare professional psychologists to examine the historical context and the current body of knowledge of biological, cognitive, affective, developmental, and social bases of human functioning.
  • Goal 5: Prepare professional psychologists to critically evaluate the current and evolving body of scholarly literature in psychology to inform professional practice.

FallSchedule

Will be distributed first day of class. Please begin thinking about ideas for you social action project (may try googling areas of interest in Chicago, talk with peers, etc.)