Alaska Pacific University
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
Alaska Pacific University

Discover Active Learning

  • Academics
  • Admissions & Costs
  • Student Life & Activities
  • About APU
  • Virtual Campus Tour
  • DONATE
  • Request Info
  • Apply
  • 1 (800) 252 7528
  • myAPU
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Courses
  • Catalog
  • Blackboard
  • (907) 564-8362

Counseling Psychology Spring Milestones

March 20, 2014

Charleston-resizedWritten by Dr. Robert A. Lane, Ph.D.

That’s me, all right, but take a closer look. Can you spot icicles dripping from some of the palm fronds? So much for my January getaway to warm and sunny Charleston, S.C., the site of a training session on best practices in psychological assessments. I’m looking forward to sharing what I learned with the students and faculty of APU’s Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology program (Psy.D.).

I was glad to return to Anchorage where it was warmer than just about everywhere I traveled in the South.

First Psy.D. cohort prepares for Graduation Day

Robes and hoods are ordered and some members of our first Psy.D. graduating class are counting down the minutes until commencement on April 26th.

Not only is the Psy.D. class of 2014 our first cohort to complete APU’s psychology doctorate, but these students also are the university’s first doctoral students in any program. I know I speak for all of us in the Psy.D. program, and throughout APU, when I say that it’s an honor to share graduation day with these students. Post-doctoral training is on their horizon and I wish them every success.

Spring students and faculty are busy

The start of the spring term finds our first-year Psy.D. students busy. They have just completed our Professional Ethics course under the guidance of Professor Ray Pastorino, Ph.D., J.D., and they are now preparing for the next weekend intensive. The following course, The Psychology of Measurement, examines how tests are constructed and validated that measure intelligence, personality and aptitudes (among other things). This course is taught by Susan M. Fallon, Ph.D., APU professor in the Psychology and Human Services Department.

Susan’s course is followed by Research and Techniques of Data Management, taught by Denise Dillard, Ph.D., a clinician and chief researcher from Southcentral Foundation.

Second-year students are at work on practicum experiences focusing on child & adolescent assessments. Overseeing these practicums is especially gratifying for me, as Psy.D. program director, because we’re incorporating the expertise of third-year students Allen and Caroline Blair, each of whom is serving as a teaching assistant. Meanwhile, second-year students interested in the growing practice of sensory-motor therapies developed practicums that coincide with an ongoing training program in Anchorage. These students are also preparing to present their Projects Demonstrating Excellence (PDE) in April under the supervision of Professor Kim Kjaersgaard, Ph.D. in the Psychology and Human Services Department.

In addition to classroom and advising tasks, the faculty is busy with Psy.D. admission interviews. A new cohort always imparts invigorating energy and this year we’re aiming to expand the first-year cohort from 10 up to 12 students.

I know it’s a time that inevitably causes prospective students some stress, but my colleagues and I enjoy meeting each and every prospective student. It’s a privilege to hear the life journeys that take applicants to APU’s door and it’s exciting to learn what they hope to do with their Pys.D. in Counseling Psychology in the future.

Grant funding awarded for APA accreditation effort

Though APU’s Psy.D. program is currently accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, our commitment to excellence continues as we seek additional accreditation from the American Psychological Association. With help from the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, APU is applying for a $75,000 grant from the Alaska Mental Health Trust to initiate the process. We anticipate that APA accreditation will be a two-year process.

Filed Under: Counseling Psych & Human Services, Counseling Psychology

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Active Learning (168)
  • Admissions (16)
  • Advancement (11)
  • Alaskan Culture (9)
  • Alumni (12)
  • APU Spotlight (32)
  • Business Administration and Management (12)
  • Business Administration Department (23)
  • Commencement (5)
  • Community (46)
  • Consortium Library News (2)
  • Coronavirus Updates (35)
  • Counseling Psych & Human Services (6)
  • Counseling Psychology (6)
  • Early Honors (6)
  • Earth Science (12)
  • Education (6)
  • Environmental Public Health (2)
  • Environmental Science (34)
  • Expedition Alaska (4)
  • Faculty (4)
  • Farmers Market (4)
  • FAST Lab (7)
  • Featured Item (21)
  • Geology (2)
  • Graduation (4)
  • Kellogg Campus (20)
  • Liberal Studies (51)
  • Marine Biology (26)
  • Master of Arts (5)
  • Master of Business Administration (16)
  • MS Environmental Science (16)
  • MSOEE (7)
  • News Page (12)
  • Newsletter (4)
  • Nordic Skiing (21)
  • Nursing & Health (4)
  • Outdoor Studies (23)
  • President's Blog (34)
  • Press Releases (45)
  • Raven Reconnaissance (3)
  • Recently completed theses (7)
  • Research (19)
  • Scholarships (2)
  • Spring Creek Farm Journal (4)
  • Student Activities (15)
  • Student Stories (12)
  • Sustainability Studies (22)
  • We Are APU (39)
  • World Class (35)

Recent Blog Posts

Public Lecture Announced: Learning and Earnings With Institute of Business and Public Policy

February 17, 2023

APU’s Swirbul and Anchorage’s Jager add to their national cross-country ski championship totals

January 20, 2023

Governor appoints APU Alum as the commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health

December 20, 2022

Alaska Pacific University Receives Grant Award from Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity

December 8, 2022

APU publishes FY22 Annual Report

November 28, 2022

You Are Here: Home / Counseling Psych & Human Services / Counseling Psychology Spring Milestones

Footer

Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Drive • Anchorage, Alaska 99508
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • Conferencing Services
  • Campus Store
  • Transcripts

© 2023 Alaska Pacific University · All Rights Reserved · Notice Regarding Web Accessibility · Privacy Policy · Website Credits