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Are mindful people better at regulating their emotions?

Emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and so on often need to be "regulated" for us to behave in healthy, adaptive ways. How can people better regulate their emotions when stressed? read more...

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Can we help children with ADHD succeed in school?

Adolescents with ADHD often experience significant problems in school, such as failing grades and low achievement test scores. Can we predict these problems before they occur? read more...

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Why do African American youth trade cigarettes for cigars?

Many youth perceive cigars to pose fewer health risks than cigarettes. But, is this true? read more...

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Are cultural issues important in rehabilitation medicine?

Many health problems and disabilities disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities. But what can rehabilitation specialists do to change that? read more...

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Is religious counseling effective?

Many religious people say they want religious counseling. But is it effective? And, if it is not available, is secular counseling less effective for religious people than religious counseling? read more...

Clinical Psychology

In 1971, the State Council of Higher Education approved VCU's doctoral program and the Clinical Program subsequently graduated its first doctoral student in 1975. In the same year, the APA Committee on Accreditation granted full approval to the clinical doctoral program, and the program has maintained fully accredited status since that time. The program was admitted to the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science in 1995 and is a member of the Council of Clinical Health Psychology Training Programs. The clinical program presently has 50-55 students at various levels of training, which accounts for more than one third of the total departmental graduate student enrollment. Since our first graduate in 1975, we have graduated over 285 Ph.D.'s in clinical psychology who have taken faculty, staff, administrative, or practitioner positions in psychology programs housed in university departments of Arts and Sciences and medical schools, community mental health centers, clinics, hospitals, prisons, private practice, and state departments of mental health.

News

In 2006-2007 the Chronicle of Higher Education reported a one-time survey of faculty productivity that ranked the clinical program fifth in the nation on the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index. Rankings were based upon journal publications, book publications, citations of journal articles, federal research awards, and honors and awards.

In addition, the Clinical Psychology program was selected for the 2007 Outstanding Training Program in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology Award by the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Division 53) of the American Psychological Association.

Newsletters

Clinical Psychology Program Newsletter, 2006 [PDF]

Clinical Psychology Program Newsletter, 2007 [PDF]

Clinical Psychology Program Newsletter, 2008 [PDF]

Program Description and Values

The Clinical Psychology program at VCU follows the scientist-practitioner model and operates within a biopsychosocial perspective. Our cornerstone training guideline is that a scientifically embedded doctoral program needs to be based in the most up-to-date theory and empirical findings from basic and applied psychology. We offer concentrations in clinical health psychology (behavioral medicine) and child/adolescent clinical psychology.

APA Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation
750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979

Contact Information

Director of Clinical Training
Bruce Rybarczyk

Assistant to the Clinical Director
Elizabeth (Liz) Sadock
Phone: (804) 828-1193
E-mail: Clin-Psy@vcu.edu (e-mail is preferred)

Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Psychology
Clinical Psychology Program
806 West Franklin Street
PO Box 842018
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2018