Clinical Psychology Programme (PGDipClinPsych)

• Why Study at Victoria?
• Programme of study
• Structure of the Course
• Clinical programme FAQs
• Pre-requisite Courses for the Clinical Programme
• What the School can provide.
• Psychology Clinic
• How do I apply...?
• Policy on Programme withdrawal to complete masters' thesis
• Instructions and Information for Applicants

Why Study at Victoria?

The PGDipClinPsych is a three year training programme in the practice of clinical psychology. Students graduate with a MA/MSc/PhD and the PGDipClinPsych diploma, and are able to register as psychologists within New Zealand and work as clinical psychologists in Health, Corrections and community settings. The diploma programme is based upon the scientist-practitioner or “Boulder” model of clinical psychology.  This model aims to instil the critical thinking skills of a scientist integrated within clinical practice. Clinicians should utilise empirically validated assessment procedures and interventions when treating clients and should use their clinical experience to inform research. Broadly speaking the Masters thesis or PhD ensures competence in research skills, and the PGDipClinPsych complements this with clinical practitioner skills.

Being an effective clinician goes beyond knowing how to implement the latest techniques and strategies. Compassion, respect for others, imagination, curiosity and the continual striving for personal excellence are also essential ingredients in a good practitioner. Stripped down to its essential elements, clinical work is an encounter between human beings, with all their fears, hopes and inevitable weaknesses. In our course, we stress both the humanistic and scientific aspects of clinical practice.

One unique feature of the Victoria programme is the appointment of academic staff in Criminal Justice Psychology and the attention given to clinical practice with offenders. Our training at Victoria is generic, with recognised strengths in the fields of adult mental health, child and family and criminal justice psychology. Students who wish to specialise in one area of clinical practice, can do so after completing their PGDipClinPsych.

The programme staff bring a wide range of practical and research experience to their teaching. Their research interests include cognitive psychology and cognitive behaviour therapy, clinical neuropsychology, human learning and memory, information processing in psychological disorders, child and family psychology, sexual and violent offending and victimisation, police psychology, psychometrics and applications of psychology to medicine and health.

The three years enrolled in the diploma will be exciting and stimulating, demanding and stressful. The training will build the foundation for a career in clinical psychology.  To assist students enrolled in the programme, clinical staff members are assigned as mentors.  The mentor’s role is to support students and aid in the resolution of any course related or professional development issues that may crop up during the years of training.

Structure of the Course

Students who have gained provisional entrance into the programme must ensure that the requirements for the graduate qualification (GradDipSci, BA Hons or BSc Hons) are met. All students will complete each year of the programme successfully before advancing.

Fourth Year

PSYC 412 Criminal Conduct 1:Psychology applied to Criminal Justice
PSYC 442 Criminal Conduct 2: Areas of Application
PSYC 451 Adult Clinical Assessment
(includes a 2 hour weekly psychometric lab)
PSYC 452 Child and Family Clinical Assessment
(includes a 2 hour weekly interviewing skills lab)
PSYC 489 Research Project

Fifth Year

PSYC 561 Practicum
(60 points – also includes a 2 hour weekly class)

Sixth Year

PSYC 562 Advanced Practicum

Complete two of the three courses:
PSYC 571 Neuropsychology Theory and Practice
PSYC 572 Advanced Intervention Skills
PSYC 573 Clinical Criminal Justice Psychology

Pre-requisite Courses for the Clinical Programme

Undergraduate students who have an interest in the clinical programme should complete specific pre-requisite courses if they are to be considered for selection into the program. We strongly recommend that prospective clinical students enrolling in second or third year psychology take as many of these courses as possible. Students who have completed their undergraduate courses in psychology at another University will need to have completed the equivalent courses. The Clinical Director will decide the issue of equivalency on a case-by- case basis.

All undergraduate students applying for provisional entry from 2007 onwards shall have completed as many as the following courses or the equivalent:  

PSYC 231 Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 233 Brain and Behaviour
PSYC 235/321 Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 327 Neuropsychology
PSYC 332 Behaviour Analysis
PSYC 325 Advanced Research Methods (compulsory requirement)

In addition to the courses listed above applicants should complete one of the following :

PSYC221 Social Psychology
PSYC234/324 Developmental Psychology
PSYC338 Cross-Cultural Psychology

Completion of these pre-requisite courses will ensure clinical students have the basic knowledge necessary to perform core psychological tasks and basic interventions in a competent manner.

What Can The School Provide?

The School offers excellent facilities with laboratories for research in many of psychology’s speciality areas; and maintains its own test library. As a clinical student you will have access not only to the University Library but also to the facilities of the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine, including the Wellington Medical Library, which has an invaluable collection of books and journals relevant to cognitive behaviour therapy. 

Resources have been devoted to graduate students to enable them to have the best advantages possible. A graduate research facility was established by the School providing access to student offices, a computing suite and spacious lounge facilities. Graduate students working on their thesis research are allocated offices with 24-hour access, email and internet, and access to photocopiers and telephones.

Psychology Clinic

One of the exciting developments relating to the Clinical Programme at Victoria University was the opening of a Psychology Clinic. Launched in August 2004, this clinic provides an excellent practical training facility for the programme in addition to providing affordable community treatment and a venue for state-of-the-art research in clinical psychology. Clinical students are able to observe and exercise their skills in a well supervised setting with clinical experiences geared towards their skill level.  During their Honours year, students are able to observe and participate in interviewing and assessment.  Fifth year students begin to deliver basic psychological interventions as their skills develop.  Sixth year students are encouraged to move towards more advanced skills and take on more complex cases.  Students are exposed to the supervision and clinical work of a variety of senior clinicians, and become active members of a clinical team.  Students are also presented with the opportunity to become involved in an active programme of clinical research. Working in a community-based clinic also exposes students to some of the more practical aspects of professional development such as “professionalism” when working with GPs and other health professionals, and operating in a fee-for-service environment

Policy On Programme Withdrawal To Complete A Masters Thesis

The clinical programme runs for three years, full-time. Once you have accepted a place in the programme, we expect you to complete the programme requirements within three years. There are four major reasons for this requirement: (1) breaks in a student’s programme of study make it difficult to acquire and integrate clinical knowledge and skills, (2) too many students taking time off to complete their thesis means classes have an extremely low number of students, (3) placements can be lost because we have no students to place in a particular year, and (4) there may be dramatic increases in students requesting placements when those on leave re-enter the programme, resulting in those students having to wait for perhaps six months or a year to be provided with a placement.  In essence, the programme is complex and difficult to manage. When students do not move predictably through it, this can have a negative impact on the progress of other students, and create stress for placement supervisors, clients and clinical staff.

Most students undertaking the clinical programme will also be completing a Masters thesis. Students who wish instead to complete a PhD thesis will need the permission of the Clinical Director, Professor Tony Ward. PhD students may take a leave of absence ("defer"), following the Honours year, of no more than 2 years in order to complete their thesis. Following these two years, students enrol in PSYC561 and complete the programme the following year.

For all students, failure to progress to the next year of the clinical programme as required (e.g., if enrolled in a Masters by thesis, failure to enrol for PSYC 561 following successful completion of the Honours year) will be viewed as a withdrawal from the clinical programme. Re-application would then be necessary for entry into the programme.  In exceptional circumstances, you may obtain an exemption from this minimum time requirement, and take additional leave without losing your place in the programme. To be considered for additional leave, you are required to formally apply to the Clinical Director for permission outlining your reasons for making the request. It must be stressed that permission will not routinely be granted.

Students must submit for examination their Masters or PhD thesis before they can enrol in PSYC 562.

Instructions and Information for Applicants

PGDipClinPsych Application only

To apply you will need to submit three copies (including the original) of:

• completed application form,
• certified academic transcript
• current curriculum vitae.

The closing date is the 8 October prior to the year of intended study.

All documentation must reach the clinical administrator by the 8th October. Do not bind documentation; please use a staple or paper clip to secure documents.

Referee evaluation forms: You will need to identify two suitable referees able to complete an evaluation about you. We would prefer one of your referees to be an academic staff member who is able to comment on your academic performance in psychology courses.

Other suitable referees are current or recent employers and or professionals familiar with your volunteer activities or academic work. Do not include general letters of recommendations from past employers, friends or mentors. A template for referee evaluations is included with the application form.

The referee evaluation is not to be included in your application, but is to be sent by the referee separately. We recommend referees be supplied with a postage-paid, pre-addressed envelope. You should also ensure referees are aware that the closing date for applications is the 8th October.

Curriculum Vitae:

Your Curriculum Vitae should contain information about your educational experiences, work experiences (positions held, voluntary activities) other professional kinds of activities as well as accomplishments and awards.

Interviews:

Applicants will be short-listed on the basis of the information provided. If successful you will be invited to attend the panel interview (approximately 30 minutes in duration) of academic clinical staff and senior psychologists within the community. Candidates are entitled to bring a support person or whanau members to the interview, which will take place in late November.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome in December. If you have any queries please feel free to contact the clinical administrator (tba) or director by email tony.ward@vuw.ac.nz , telephone 04 463 6789.

Applicants will be advised of the interview dates once applications have been processed.Applications and documentation must arrive before 8th October.

Address the envelope containing your application as follows:

CONFIDENTIAL
Clinical Administrator (level 5)
School of Psychology
Victoria University of Wellington,
P.O. Box 600
Wellington,
New Zealand.

Clinical programme FAQs

Programme of study