About the Department

Our Mission

"At Dominican, each faculty member is able to break down scenarios and offer real life examples that fortify the learning process and make something often intangible, tangible."

—Cynthia Psaila, Class of 2011

The Department of Counseling Psychology prepares students to provide psychotherapy, counseling, consultation, education, training and client-centered advocacy emphasizing recovery-oriented care. The program emphasizes student-centered and collaborative learning. The curriculum is designed to provide students with skills for working effectively with diverse populations utilizing the most recent developments in the major theoretical orientations from evidenced-based treatments to alternative and innovative approaches. Students are encouraged to practice with empathy and sensitivity, work with clients' strengths, and build client resilience.

Programs Offered

The Department of Counseling Psychology offers two competency/outcome-based programs of academic and professional training programs:

• MS in Counseling Psychology
• MS in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy
• The concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to meet the requirements of the Business and Professions Code, Section 4980.37 and SB 33 for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Achieve Success

Graduates of Dominican's Counseling Psychology program

• Develop excellent diagnostic and therapeutic skills that benefit the myriad clientele they serve: children, adolescents, adults, senior groups, couples and families from a wide variety of cultures and communities.
• Can readily call upon and employ a broad range of techniques based upon behavioral, cognitive behavioral, brief and strategic, client-centered, crisis intervention, and psychodynamic theoretical models.
• Are well schooled in consultation and case management techniques, emphasizing client-centered advocacy.
• Are sensitive to issues of diversity and have experience in working with clients from a wide range of cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Regional Accreditation

Accreditation Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001

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