Community Context of Training
The Psychology Department's masters programs seek to function as a community of learning that fosters professional and spiritual formation in students, faculty and staff alike. We seek to provide an atmosphere of trust and collegiality where we can challenge and encourage each other. For this reason, it is important that all members of the community be committed to this end. Mutual respect and support are valued above competition.
The department is committed to diversity among all members of our community. This commitment goes far beyond philosophical positions and represents our firm belief that diversity of age, racial and ethnic background, gender, life experience, nationality, socio-economic background, and denomination adds depth and richness to the learning environment for everyone involved. A homogeneous environment is often an inadequate setting for learning to carry out the department's mandate to minister to the widest possible community throughout the world.
Desired Outcomes for Psychology Graduate Student Development
In order to carry out the Program Philosophy and to be able to evaluate the success of our efforts, we have set the following as the expected outcomes for the development of our Master of Arts graduate students.
Knowledge that we hope to instill
- Understanding of the four basic theories that are shaping the mental health field today, namely psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive behavioral, and family systems approaches. Students should develop an eclectic understanding of these theories and of their relevance to the general discipline of clinical psychology and the professional discipline of marriage and family therapy.
- An understanding of basic Biblical and theological knowledge related to the Christian faith in general and the student's personal faith in particular. This should include an ability to articulate the primary doctrines of the Church and the relation of their own faith to the major movements in the history of the Church and to contemporary theological debates.
- A knowledge of basic methods in the integration of Christian faith with the discipline of psychology, including a basic knowledge of contemporary philosophy of science, basic knowledge of the major "models" for interrelating Christianity and psychology, and an understanding of the limited scope, respectively, of biblical revelation, theological declaration, and of psychological findings and theories.
- A basic understanding of and respect for the ethical standards of the profession (including the unique ethical dilemmas faced by Christian therapists), and the legal/economic issues that are shaping the field today.
- An understanding of basic options in research methodology and issues in their application in the applied clinical context.
- An understanding of the conceptual foundations of psychological testing and assessment and a basic familiarity with major assessment instruments and approaches suitable for masters level practitioners.
Skills we hope to develop
- Basic interpersonal skills, insightfulness, and self-awareness that are necessary for the effective conduct of mental health interventions.
- Basic theory/paradigm-based skills and techniques for developing and implementing change plans. (For instance, how reframing or family sculpting is done by a family therapist, how self-management skills are taught by a behavior therapist, or how a psychoanalyst interprets transference and countertransference).
- Basic methodological analysis skills sufficient for the student to become a lifelong consumer of research who is able to think critically in the context of clinical practice.
- Skills at ethical analysis and decision making as needed in the professional world.
- Skills requisite to do psychological assessment, including basic interviewing, observation and testing skills, decision making skills for the selection of psychological tests, and diagnostic skills.
- A commitment to and ability to benefit from supervision as well as the skills and confidence to work independently when appropriate.
Values which we want to inculcate
- Empathy and a profound understanding of the nature of human suffering.
- A respectful and nonjudgmental attitude toward all persons and valuing of that which brings them health and wholeness.
- A valuing of mental health work as an outreach of the individual Christian and of the church.
- A valuing of the work of the Holy Spirit through the church and the institutional ministry of the church.
- A commitment to one's own personal growth toward spiritual and psychological maturity.