Pacifica Graduate Institute

Program Information

Degree Offered

Ph.D. Clinical Psychology

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The uniqueness of Pacifica's Ph.D. Clinical program is its integration of Depth Psychology. The modern field of depth psychology originates in the work of Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, who called attention to the importance of what lies "below the surface" of conscious awareness. Along with coursework in theory, practice, research, intervention, ethics, psychopathology, and assessment, students also take classes in literature, myth, history, and art, infusing the science of clinical psychology with an essential sense of our connection to the recurring archetypal motifs of the psyche.

The student is also encouraged to understand that a wide variety of cultural sources inform the craft of psychotherapy.
Cultural competency is a core value of the program and comprises an important dimension in all courses.

Clinical Psychology courses draw from four areas of study:
1. Practicum Seminars
2. Clinical Practice
3. Depth Psychology and the Humanities
4. Research and Scholarly Inquiry

Pacifica's low-residency learning format for the Ph.D. Clinical program has been designed for the working student and professional.

**Applicants to the Clinical Psychology doctoral program are expected to bring a strong foundation in the field of psychology and a demonstrated interest and aptitude for the study of depth psychology. The program seeks individuals who are psychologically-minded and evidence the emotional resilience necessary to work in the transference-counter transference field. In addition to advanced scholarly writing skills, successful candidates will have supervised clinical experience and manifest an interest in the relationship among psychology, the humanities, and the arts. The experience of personal depth psychotherapy is highly valued. These capacities are normally found in applicants who have already earned master's degrees in psychology or a related field from an accredited institution of higher learning. The Admissions Committee may consider applicants who have earned bachelor's degrees in psychology or a related field who, in addition to meeting the admissions requirements as noted above, also present a strong foundation, including a minimum of two years of advanced study and experience in depth psychology.

Accreditation:

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), specifically the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

Eligibility Requirements:

Preferred Master's degree. The Admissions Committee may consider applicants who have earned bachelor's degrees in psychology or a related field who, in addition to meeting the admissions requirements as noted above, also present a strong foundation, including a minimum of two years of advanced study and experience in depth psychology.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Other Specialized Institutions

Institution Sector: Private for-profit

Locale: Midsize Suburb

Size & Settings: Under 1,000