The Adult Emphasis within the PsyD Program prepares practitioner-scholars to provide, evaluate and advance evidence-based psychological services for diverse adult populations. Through integrated academic and clinical training, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to assess, diagnose and treat adults across the lifespan from college-aged individuals through older adulthood in ways that are culturally responsive and attentive to clients’ broader social contexts.
Students organize their training through a defined curriculum, clinical practica, and research experiences that strengthen their expertise in adult assessment and intervention. Graduates commonly pursue careers in community mental health centers, private and group practices, university counseling centers , and other settings that serve adult populations. Students in the emphasis may also pursue specialized training in culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services for Latiné communities through participation in the Latiné Mental Health Program.
Faculty areas of clinical and research specialization include but are not limited to the following:
- College Counseling/Transitional-aged Youth
- Community Mental Health
- Private Practice
- Psychological Assessment
- Hospital/VA (mental health departments)
- Sport Psychology
Faculty
- Robert Harris, PhD, Lead
- Paul Michael, PhD
- Eliezer Schwartz, PhD
- Tamara Tasker, PsyD, CMPC
- Griselda Verduzco PhD, Latiné Mental Health Program Director
Curriculum
In addition to the regularly required courses within the general SGP curriculum, the following emphasis-specific courses are required (for full course descriptions see the Academic Catalog):
- Group Interventions
- Trauma Theory and Practice
- Health Psychology
Clinical Training
Practicum I
During the second year of the program, students complete Practicum I at the Pacific Psychology and Comprehensive Health Clinics, the program’s in-house training clinics located in Hillsboro and Portland. Adult Emphasis students gain supervised experience conducting intake assessments and providing psychotherapy to adult clients presenting with a broad range of clinical concerns.
Practicum II
During the third year, students complete Practicum II at an approved community training site. These placements provide additional supervised experience in psychological assessment, psychotherapy, or both with adult clients. Students also pursue supplemental part-time clinical experiences during the third year to broaden their training.
Advanced Practicum
During the fourth year, students continue to develop advanced skills in assessment and psychotherapy with adult clients. Advanced practicum training may take place at a community site or through specialized assessment teams within the program’s in-house clinics.
Internship
During their fifth year, students complete a full-time doctoral internship. Students apply through the national internship process administered by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC). Because internship sites are located throughout the country, students should be prepared for the possibility of relocating during this year.
Research
Students complete a doctoral research project using an approved methodology, such as original data collection, systematic or critical review of the literature, program evaluation, or another scholarly approach. Work on the doctoral research project typically begins during the second year and should be substantially completed before students apply for internship in the fall of the fourth year.
Research topics generally align with faculty expertise and address issues relevant to the psychological health, assessment, or treatment of adult populations.
Recent Adult Emphasis doctoral research projects have examined topics such as:
- Factors influencing ethnic identity development
- Retention and attrition among graduate students from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
- The relationship between experiences of bullying and adult attachment
- The social functions of parasocial relationships
- Biracial and multiracial identity development
- University implementation of NCAA policies affecting transgender student-athletes
Adult Emphasis Curriculum
The Adult Emphasis curriculum includes focused coursework that complements students’ broader clinical psychology training:
Health Psychology, 2 credits
Group Interventions, 3 credits
Trauma, 3 credits
Total credits: 8
Together, these courses provide focused preparation in behavioral health, group-based treatment, and trauma-informed assessment and intervention across adult populations.