Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Program Overview 

The Clinical Psychology PsyD Program at Yeshiva University’s (YU) Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology was established in 1979 and has been fully accredited by the American psychological Association (APA) since 1985. The program was established and has been maintained in the Scholar-Practitioner tradition and is designed to educate students in the conceptual and empirical foundations of clinical psychology. Students receive extensive training in a variety of assessment, research, and therapeutic approaches. Students are exposed to a curriculum that integrates relevant research and the theoretical foundations of psychology with practical experiences and a wide range of psychological services. The program includes a strong research emphasis. Students receive a broad understanding of the scientific foundations of psychology, which enables them to understand, critically evaluate, and conduct research. 

The clinical program prides itself on the broad scope of its clinical training, including three years of practicum experiences at variety of the New York area’s most prestigious sites, as well as four years of training at the Parnes Clinic, our on-site university clinic. Students also have access to YU's Albert Einstein College of Medicine's extensive network of educational and research facilities. Students are trained comprehensively in both the cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic traditions and have the option of honing their skills in either or both orientations, which is a unique aspect of the training at the clinical program at Ferkauf. The clinical program is one of only 14 doctoral programs in the US that offer substantive training in geropsychology, through our Geropsychology Minor and Concentration, which is offered to all doctoral program students at Ferkauf. Other areas of specialization (either through research, clinical training, or both) are also available to students in ways that parallel faculty interests (see individual Faculty Profiles for more detail), or align with available minor specialization tracks. 

A unique aspect of our program is that every assessment, therapy, and research didactic course, across all four academic years, offers an adjunctive weekly, intensive lab. These labs constitute extensive additional training in each area and offer the opportunity to review and apply the knowledge and skills gained in didactic coursework in small groups. Hands-on practice and direct supervision of intakes and assessments are provided in assessment labs. In research labs, students learn and apply basic and advanced research skills and develop their doctoral research projects. Finally, psychotherapy labs include group supervision of therapy sessions conducted at the university clinic and build on the weekly, individual therapy supervisions. 

The PsyD in Clinical Psychology Program's Internship Match Rate Average of 97 Percent Shines

Our students have averaged a 97% match success rate to APPIC internship sites over the last decade and have been matched in excellent and highly competitive internships across the country. Similarly, our graduates go on to receive licensure in the states where they work at a rate of 97%. Refer here for the Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data (PDF). 

Multiculturalism and Diversity

The program is committed to the goal of diversity. We value diversity in all forms, including, but not limited to, culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, theoretical orientation, geography, socioeconomic status, disability and age. The program's focus on multiculturalism and diversity is embedded throughout all course work and practica. Several required courses specifically focus on these issues and other electives may be taken to strengthen students' knowledge and skills. We have been successful in attracting diverse students, including from over 64 countries across student body and alumni of the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

Given our program’s commitment to diversity and multiculturalism, we were dismayed when in September, 2022, YU appealed to the Supreme Court to avoid formal recognition of an undergraduate club organized around LGBTQ+ issues, the YU Pride Alliance. Considering that action, we want to reaffirm that at Ferkauf, student groups of all identities are welcome to meet and associate. Ferkauf has several affinity groups, including one for LGBTQIA+ identities, composed of students, faculty, and associates, and we strive to make sure our community members from marginalized identities are safe during their time here.

True to our professional commitments and values, faculty, students, and alumni have for many years been actively engaged with advocacy and consciousness-raising about issues of mental health, social justice, cultural humility, and diversity. This includes efforts directed within our own institution, including to our own administration. We are far from perfect in these efforts. However, we value a process of mutual support and lifelong learning for both faculty and students. We strive to be clear and persuasive about the implications of our field’s values, evidence-base, and ethical commitments to issues of diversity and social justice. We also hold in mind the need to improve institutional cultures and policies as we train our students to directly improve the lives of individuals, couples, families, and groups.

Our students and faculty have a tradition of partnering together through our years in operation to create mentoring relationships, and opportunities for dialogue about key issues of individual and cultural diversity, including advocacy within systems. A range of leadership roles are available for students to ensure that they have a seat at the table while in training with us.

Attesting to our efforts, the following public statement from the Ferkauf Graduate School expresses our values at the School level relative to recent events. Faculty and student groups have also sent letters to YU administration and worked on the topic within our community, consistent with values supportive of vibrant dialog and debate in pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

[from Ferkauf ‘News and Events’ page, September 2022]:

Statement on YU’s Request for US Supreme Court to Block Undergraduate Pride Alliance Student Organization

This week Yeshiva University filed an application for emergency relief to the United States Supreme Court, asking the Court to block a lower court order requiring the University to recognize an undergraduate Pride Alliance LGBTQ+ student organization. The University’s policies and legal actions regarding the undergraduate LGBTQ+ student group do not pertain to Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and have no impact on Ferkauf school policies.

However, we understand that as a community it is jarring to read that an LGBTQ+ student organization does not align with the “values” of our parent institution. We are especially holding in mind the LGBTQ+ members of our student body and faculty and staff in light of this event.

One of the core 5 principles of the American Psychological Association, which is the accrediting body of the three doctoral programs at Ferkauf, is a commitment to cultural and individual differences and diversity, which includes, “age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.”  

Ferkauf remains committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive learning environment. We are proud of our long history of welcoming differences in perspectives and encourage the open expression of ideas and productive dialogue.

We are committed to treating all individuals, including our LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students, with respect and dignity so that they may work and learn proudly in a safe, unbiased, and growth-promoting environment. Experiencing the celebration of one’s identity and the compassion of others is vital for one’s mental health, hence, we welcome all members of the Yeshiva University community to contact our Parnes Clinic should they be in need of compassionate mental health services.

Accreditation 

The program is accredited by the American Psychological Association's Commission on Accreditation as a Clinical Psychology Program. The program was accredited in 2015 for the maximum seven-year period, and the next site visit will be conducted in 2024 (review delayed by APA due to the COVID-19 pandemic). 

For questions related to the program's accreditation status, the name and contact number information for APA's Commission on Accreditation is as follows:

Commission on Accreditation 
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 
American Psychological Association 
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002-4242 
Telephone: 202.336.5979  
https://accreditation.apa.org
apaacred@apa.org 

The program is registered with the New York State Education Department and its graduates are eligible for licensure for clinical psychology in New York and other states. It is a member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology Programs (CUDCP) and the National Councils for Professional Schools of Psychology.