Psychology, Department of
Date of this Version
10-2014
Citation
Hansen, D. J., Nelson, T. D., DiLillo, D., & Hope, D. A. (2014). The Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. the Behavior Therapist, 37, 196-198.
Abstract
The Clinical Psychology Training Program (CPTP) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1948, the first year any programs were accredited. The CPTP’s history and approach to training through the years have been described in numerous articles (DiLillo & McChargue, 2007; Hargrove, 1991; Hargrove & Howe, 1981; Hargrove & Spaulding, 1988; Hope, Hansen, & Cole, 1994; Howe, 1974; Howe & Neimeyer, 1979; Jones & Levine, 1963; Rivers & Cole, 1976). Our program was historically described as a “Community-Clinical” psychology training program, and this focus on understanding and enhancing well-being at the individual, family, and community levels continues to be valued in our program today across a variety of clinical and research activities.
The CPTP has followed the scientistpractitioner, Boulder-model of clinical training since its inception. Our Director of Clinical Training in 1949, Marshall Jones, was a participant in the Boulder Conference on Graduate Education in Clinical Psychology. Both clinical and research training are continuous, integrated processes in the CPTP, continuously supervised and monitored by the clinical faculty. The CPTP subscribes to the APA evidence- based practice model (APA, 2006) across all of our clinical training. Integration of EBP into our scientist-practitioner curriculum was highlighted in a special issue of Journal of Clinical Psychology that focused on EBP training (DiLillo & McChargue, 2007). Students in the CPTP are trained to be both consumers and producers of research, applying best research evidence in clinical practice and generating new knowledge to improve treatment. Within this EBP framework our emphasis is on behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies. The department made an active decision, beginning in 1990, to hire scientist- practitioner faculty members with a behavioral or cognitive-behavioral orientation. The core clinical faculty provide clinical and research training in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies, third-generation cognitive-behavioral approaches (e.g., mindfulness and acceptance-based), motivational enhancement approaches, and, to a lesser degree, family systems. The CPTP was honored to receive the 2013 ABCT Outstanding Training Program Award. The award is given for “significant contribution to training behavior therapists and/or promoting behavior therapy.”
Comments
(c) 2018 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies