GRADUATE PROGRAMS:
Overview of the Doctoral Program 2008-2009
Program Director: Allison Bashe, Ph.D.
The psychology department at UC Denver offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with an emphasis in Clinical Health Psychology.
We provide this information to help you make the best decisions possible as you pursue an advanced degree in psychology.
We have organized this information in the form of answers to frequently asked questions, from the general to the specific. Please be aware that this information is as up-to-date as possible, but it is not a contract; we reserve the right to make changes. To ensure that you have accurate information regarding program requirements and application procedures, please check this website frequently for updates.
If you do not find an answer to your question in these pages, please send an email message to the department program assistant, Gay Freebern, for further assistance.
What is clinical health psychology?
A primary focus of clinical health psychology is the development of effective disease prevention interventions for populations at high risk for medical problems. A second focus of clinical health psychology is the development of strategies to help individuals who are already ill to manage their disease, increase their ability to collaborate with medical professionals, and improve their coping skills.
A Clinical Health Psychologist is someone who combines expertise in research on health psychology with additional training in clinical psychology; clinical psychologists have particular expertise in the theory and practice of understanding, predicting, and alleviating mental and physical illness and maladjustment, and promoting adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. Health Psychologists are researchers and disseminators of knowledge; Clinical Health Psychologists are scientist-practitioners who can perform research and/or clinical work in a therapeutic context with individuals or groups of patients. Upon completion of the PhD (including a one year pre-doctoral internship) and one year of postdoctoral work, a Clinical Health Psychologist is eligible to apply for a state license to practice in the community, in hospitals and clinics, or in other kinds of institutions.
Why is training in clinical health psychology important?
According to the APA’s Division 38 (Health Psychology), “Reports by the Surgeon General's Office indicate that the leading causes of mortality in the U.S. have substantial behavioral components. These reports recommend that behavioral risk factors (e.g., drug and alcohol use, high risk sexual behavior, smoking, diet, a sedentary lifestyle, stress) be the main focus of efforts in the area of health promotion and disease prevention. Given its emphasis on behavior and behavioral change, psychology has a unique contribution to make. For example, Health Psychologists are currently conducting applied research on the development of healthy habits as well as the prevention or reduction of unhealthy behaviors. Both the impact of behavior on health, as well as the influence of health and disease states on psychological factors are being explored. Psychosocial and physiological linkages in areas such as psychoneuroimmunology, cardiovascular disorders and other chronic diseases are being defined. Ground breaking work is being conducted in psychopharmacology, as the neurological bases of behavior are being mapped. Psychologists are in increasing demand in health and medical settings. The single largest area of placement of psychologists in recent years has been in medical centers. Psychologists have become vital members of multidisciplinary clinical and research teams in rehabilitation, cardiology, pediatrics, oncology, anesthesiology, family practice, dentistry, and other medical fields.”
What is the job market for clinical health psychologists?
The role of health psychologists is increasingly valued in the medical community, as illness is now recognized as a biopsychosocial phenomenon. In response, the American Medical Association committee which establishes Current Procedural Technology (CPT) codes recently added codes for a wide range of psychosocial services to patients and families with physical health diagnoses. Thus, health psychologists can now bill for various assessment and intervention services that “address the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and social factors influencing a person’s physical health and well-being” (Knight & Camic, 2004, p. 8).
These diverse and valuable service and research applications make health psychology among the most desirable and marketable of clinical degrees. According to APA Division 38 (Health Psychology), the largest area of employment placement of psychologists in recent years has been in medical centers. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that “overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012,” and notes that health psychology will be one of the desired applied specialties in this market. Graduates from our PhD program in clinical health psychology should be highly competitive for a range of applied and academic health psychology jobs, as well as jobs in the general clinical realm.
What are the objectives of this program?
The Clinical Health Psychology PhD program at the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) adheres to the scientist-practitioner model. Training emphasizes the contribution of research to the understanding, treatment, and prevention of human problems, and the application of knowledge that is grounded in scientific evidence.
Students in this program will be trained to work within the community to use psychological tools and techniques to promote health, prevent and treat illness, and improve the health care system. In addition to coursework, students acquire expertise in research by completing a second year project and doctoral dissertation, and demonstrate competence in clinical assessment and intervention through several applied practicum experiences, a clinical competency project, and a pre-doctoral internship.
We will be seeking accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a Clinical PhD program.
What opportunities exist for research collaborations and applied clinical work in the Denver area?
In July 2004, the University of Colorado, Downtown Denver Campus (our campus) merged with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. There are numerous possibilities for research collaborations with faculty at the Health Sciences Center (now renamed the Anschutz Medical Campus) in addition to the faculty members in our own department. There are also several institutions (e.g., AMC Cancer Research Center, The Children's Hospital and the Kempe Center, National Jewish Health, Denver Health Medical Center, and Exempla St. Joseph Hospital) in the area that provide additional opportunities for research collaborations and applied clinical work.
Practicum experiences are widely available at several community agencies. Previous students in our ongoing clinical psychology MA program have completed internships at local hospitals, community mental health centers, residential treatment centers, specialty outpatient treatment centers, and the division of corrections.
Are there books about how to get into graduate school?
Yes. The best ones we've seen are:
- Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling PsychologyTracy Mayne, John Norcross, and Michael Sayette, Guilford Press - 800-365-7006, www.guilford.com
- Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology, The American Psychological Association - 800-374-2721, www.apa.org
- The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology and Related Fields, Patricia Keith-Speigel, Lawrence Erlbaum - 800-926-6579, www.erlbaum.com
