Students in the clinical psychology PhD program obtain extensive background knowledge in psychology through varied and challenging coursework as well as practical exposure to evidence-based interventions and assessment techniques.

• In the first year, and in addition to Psychopathology, Statistics, and Ethics, students take a course in Clinical Interviewing as well as a two-course sequence of Psych Eval I & Psych Eval II, where they learn intelligence testing, the use of objective tests, and begin report-writing
• In the second year, and in conjunction the study of clinical interventions, students begin direct clinical therapeutic contact & practice at the Clinical Psychology Center
• On a rotating basis, faculty offer Interventions or Special Topics courses in their specific treatment specialty, research area or methodology.  Topics include:  Multicultural Psychology, Substance Misuse, Integrated Behavioral Health, Conceptualization & Treatment of Trauma, and LGBTQ Issues.
• Our program’s policy regarding expectations about student disclosure in classes

Clinical Training

Training for our students includes both classroom instruction and direct clinical experience.  Our students work with people of diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and experiences and are trained to adapt to a rapidly changing service-delivery environment in mental health and human service arenas.  

Much of our students’ clinical training is done at the Clinical Psychology Center (CPC) on the UM campus.  In the second year of training, clinical PhD students enter practicum and begin seeing clients.

• The CPC is a training clinic, offering  assessment, consultation, intervention, and psychotherapy services to the general Missoula community; clients receive services on a sliding fee scale 
• Staffed by Clinical and School doctoral students, the CPC is the primary training site for both programs
• Clinicians are supervised by Department of Psychology clinical and school faculty members & licensed community psychologists
• Students take practica from a variety of supervisors and are exposed to a range of theoretical and applied points of view
• Some schools of thought represented in the techniques and approaches are:  Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychodynamic, Emotion-Focused, Interpersonal Therapy, Functional Analytic
• Our student clinicians carry fairly small caseloads (typically 3 – 5 clients) in order to provide optimal care and have close supervision
• As they progress, student clinicians assume increasing responsibility for the care of their clients; they are encouraged in their development of case conceptualizations and treatment plans
• The CPC has therapy rooms for individual, group, family, child therapy, as well as assessment

Additional Clinical Training Opportunities

As students advance, they are able to apply for a number of community clinical placements.  Positions are program-sanctioned and, in addition to gaining hands-on experience, students can apply their hours towards internship.

• Assistant to the Director at the Clinical Psychology Center
• Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes Public Defender’s Office, Pablo, MT
• Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribal Health Office, St. Ignatius, MT
• Counseling Services at Curry Health Center, University of Montana campus
• Student Advocacy Resource Center (SARC), University of Montana campus
• Youth Homes, Missoula, MT
• HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, various locations in western Montana