Springfield College Doctor of Psychology Program Earns Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program in Counseling Psychology has received a seven-year accreditation by the American Psychological Assoc. (APA), the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the U.S.

The Counseling Psychology program is the college’s newest doctoral program and, following the mission of the college, strives to educate and develop practitioner-scholars who will lead and serve their communities and the discipline of professional counseling psychology.

The Counseling Psychology program provides students with optional, specialized training in one of two content areas: couples and family counseling, and athletic counseling.

“The faculty, staff, and students in the Psychology department are thrilled to have achieved a full seven years of accreditation by the American Psychological Association in the program’s first attempt,” said Counseling Psychology program Director Sally Hage. “This APA award is the highest nationally endorsed standard of professional quality for a doctoral program. It speaks to a sense of public trust, quality of our faculty and students, and the program’s strengths and effectiveness in preparing counseling psychologists.”

The program will train students for a variety of work settings and prepare counseling psychologists to meet state requirements for licensure as psychologists. Graduates of the program will be able to identify and understand individual and cultural differences and issues of multiple identities, power, oppression, and privilege, and engage in culturally sensitive professional activity. By producing graduates who consistently exhibit ethical knowledge, they will be able to exceed in decision making, professional identity, and development as a counseling psychologist.