Practicum Seminars
The Practicum Seminars prepare students for applied
clinical work in practicum and internship sites. The
seminars serve as a context for students to be mentored
into the profession by the Clinical Faculty, through
a Seminar format wherein students learn about the
clinical expertise of the Faculty. Seminars are also
designed to offer students a forum in which to integrate
clinical experiences gained in practicum with academic
coursework; the Practicum Seminars act in conjunction
with the focus of the academic program.
The first year focus is on Professional Development and
preparation for a Diagnostic Practicum. During the first
year students will begin the development of an identity
as a professional psychologist, with a depth psychology
emphasis. The second year focus is on diagnostics
and preparation for a Psychotherapeutic Practicum.
These seminars are designed to offer students a forum
in which to integrate diagnostic experiences gained
in practicum with academic coursework at Pacifica.
The third year focus is on psychotherapy, particularly
from a depth psychology perspective, and preparation
for a pre-doctoral Internship. These seminars are
designed to offer students a forum in which to integrate
psychotherapeutic experiences of practicum with
academic coursework at Pacifica and to prepare
students for their pre-doctoral Internship.
Professional Development Seminar I
CL 755......................1 Unit
In this first seminar of the first-year series, students will
be asked to describe educational and career goals, and
strategies to eventually become licensed. Students will
begin the process of developing a professional identity as a
clinical psychologist, the needed interpersonal and emotional
capacities vital to the discipline, and the importance of
organizational knowledge about mental health systems and
licensure. Topics covered in this seminar include overview of
Pacifica’s clinical training program, the professional identity
of a clinical psychologist, and the career path to licensure.
Professional Development Seminar II
CL 756......................1 Unit
Students will continue the process of developing a
professional identity as a clinical psychologist, the needed
interpersonal and emotional capacities vital to the discipline,
and the importance of organizational knowledge about
mental health systems and licensure. Planned topics
include basic psychotherapeutic processes and interview
skills, including cross-cultural competencies. A practicum
application workshop will also be included in this seminar.
Professional Development Seminar III
CL 757......................1 Unit
The final seminar in the first-year series is intended to
introduce the enrolled student to professional practice as
a clinical psychologist, and to prepare the student to begin
applied clinical work in a field practicum setting in the 2nd
year and beyond. The seminar will include topics of the
public mental health care system, levels of care, ethical and
legal issues, career planning, and self-care.
Diagnostic Readiness Assessment Module
CL 758......................0 Units
In this Module each student will be evaluated to assure
readiness to perform in their Diagnostic Practicum
Diagnostic Practicum Seminar I
CL 759......................1 Unit
This seminar is designed to assist students in the integration
of diagnostic issues at their practicum site with the
academic coursework at Pacifica. Topics scheduled for
discussion in this seminar include clinical and diagnostic
interviewing, risk assessment, and culturally appropriate
psychological test selection. Prerequisite: CL 758
Diagnostic Practicum Seminar II
CL 760......................1 Unit
This seminar is designed to continue to assist students
in the continual integration of diagnostic issues at their
practicum site with coursework at Pacifica. This seminar will
cover topics such as the mental status exam, motivational
interviewing, stages of change models, and ASAM criteria
for assessment of substance abuse. Prerequisite: CL 758
Diagnostic Practicum Seminar III
CL 761......................1 Unit
This seminar is the third and final of the second-year diagnostic practicum sequence. It is designed to offer students
a forum by which to further integrate diagnostic issues at
their practicum site with academic coursework at Pacifica.
This seminar covers diagnostics with personality disorders,
psychological report writing, and integrative assessment.
Prerequisite: CL 758
Psychotherapy Readiness Assessment Module
CL 762......................0 Units
In this Module each student will be evaluated to assure
readiness to perform in their Psychotherapy Practicum.
Psychotherapy Practicum I
CL 763......................1 Unit
This Seminar is designed to offer students a forum in
which to integrate psychotherapy experiences of practicum
with academic coursework at Pacifica. This seminar will
include topics on empathy and attunement to affect, Jung’s
transcendent function, managing boundaries in psychotherapy,
and evidence-based best practices. Prerequisite: CL 762
Psychotherapy Practicum II
CL 764......................1 Unit
This seminar is designed to offer students a forum in which to
integrate psychotherapy experiences of practicum with academic
coursework at Pacifica. Scheduled topics include imaginal
techniques in therapy, use of dreams, the therapeutic frame,
transference /countertransference, and continued discussion of
appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Prerequisite: CL 762
Psychotherapy Practicum III
CL 765......................1 Unit
This seminar is the third and final seminar in psychotherapy;
it is designed to offer students a forum in which to integrate
psychotherapy experiences of practicum with academic
coursework at Pacifica. Scheduled topics include active
listening, making psychodynamic interpretations, additional
consideration of boundaries in psychotherapy, and issues
related to the development of a private practice.
Prerequisite: CL 762
Internship Readiness Assessment Seminar
CL 766......................0 Units
In this Module each student will be evaluated to assure
readiness for pre-doctoral Internship.
