11824_JFKU_Catalog Front Cover.indd - John F. Kennedy University

College of Graduate and Professional StudiesMA in Counseling Psychology Program or the MA in PsychologyIndividualized Program of Study at least one year before expectedgraduation. In consultation with the Research Director (esisCoordinator), the student prepares a formal application and receivesthesis instructions specific to the Program (i.e., specified in theMaster's esis Student Handbook). Approval for permission toenroll in PSJ/PSy/PSB 5990 Master's esis Proposal class must beobtained from the Research Director prior to registration.e required number of quarters of practicum is six for MFTstudents. However, Pleasant Hill and San Jose students who elect tocomplete a master’s thesis may also elect to do only five quarters ofpracticum. With the BBS requirement of 225 face-to-face clienthours in order for MFT students to graduate, it is highlyrecommended to plan to do six quarters of practicum in order toacquire the necessary hours. PCC students are required to have 280hours of face-to-face in order to pursue LPCC licensure. Studentsenrolled in the Berkeley Cohort who desire to write a master’s thesismay elect to do so after completing the academic coursework in thecohort, thus extending their time in the MA in CounselingPsychology program.Note that there will be no leave of absence granted throughout thisresearch process unless there are urgent extenuating circumstancesand you obtain permission from the instructor.Professional development WorkshopsAs a part of the MA in Counseling Psychology program, studentsattend a series of workshops designed to enhance their developmentas professionals as well as their post-master’s internship andemployment opportunities. For new students enrolling in theprogram in Fall 2012 in Phase I, students enroll in PSy/PSJ/PSB9000 Child Abuse Assessment, Reporting and Treatment prior toentering the first quarter of Field Practicum. e workshop satisfiesBBS requirements for seven hours of coursework covering legaldefinitions, reporting requirements and processes as well as crisisintervention, counter-transference issues and community resourcesfor families and abusers.Phase I students will also take PSy/PSJ/PSB 9001 DiversityAwareness, which is a prerequisite to PSy/PSJ/PSB 5620Multicultural Competence. PSy/PSJ/PSB 9007 Introduction toSchool Based Counseling Program is the orientation to, and trainingrequired during the first quarter of the School Based CounselingProgram practicum.Phase III students enroll in PSy/PSJ/PSB 9008 Aging andLong-Term Care, which satisfies BBS requirements for persons whobegin graduate studies on or after January 1, 2004, to complete aminimum of ten hours of course work in aging and long-term care.PSy/PSJ/PSB 9010 Issues with HIv and AIDS, satisfies BBSrequirements for seven hours of coursework coveringcharacteristics and methods of assessment and treatment of peopleliving with HIv.In the last quarter/session of the program, students enroll in PSy9100 Professional Development: Post Master’s Preparation. isworkshop is the culmination of the MA in Counseling Psychologyprogram and prepares students to complete the paperworkrequirement to register for their MFT intern status or PCC s withthe BBS.Personal Psychotherapyroughout their course of study, students are encouraged to takeresponsibility for their personal development and knowledge of selfso to become sensitive to the impact that they have on those aroundthem. Consistent with this focus on developing the Self of theerapist, there is a non-credit requirement that studentsparticipate in at least 50 sessions of personal (individual, couple,family, or group) psychotherapy. Guidelines for the studentpsychotherapy experience are available in the CGPS office. Studentswho receive therapy from a licensed therapist may count thosehours toward BBS hours of experience requirements.Students are encouraged to begin their personal psychotherapy inPhase I when they begin PSy/PSJ/PSB 5232, Clinical Skills TrainingC: MFT Techniques 2, as they are required to be in therapy at thebeginning of Field Practicum. Students register for PSY/PSJ/PSB9075 Personal Psychotherapy in the quarter they will completethe 50 hours. e Personal Psychotherapy Experience Form mustbe filled out and turned into the Instructor of Record during thequarter in which the student is registered in order to receive creditfor this requirement.Cohort ProgramJFK University offers an accelerated, 11-session (approximately26-months), MA in Counseling Psychology program in Berkeley.e cohort program duplicates the content of the successfulPleasant Hill and San Jose MFT specialization program,emphasizing experiential learning, psychological theories andsubstantial practicum, satisfying the educational requirements forlicensure in MFT, but with some unique differences.e curriculum is divided into eleven, 9-week sessions and is afull-time program with 16-20 students in the cohort learningcommunity. During the first year (5 sessions) one class is held on adesignated weeknight and two classes are held on Saturdays. Inyears two (5 sessions) and three (1 session), students attend oneweeknight course and attend one Saturday class in the morningwhile accumulating practicum hours at an external practicum site.ere are four required workshops, (3) elective units and twocomprehensive master’s examinations that take place within the26-month program and are scheduled on assorted weekend-daysand may be held at a different campus location.e practicum component of the program emphasizes ourcommunity service orientation as well as hands-on training and willgive students direct contact with their own counseling clients.Students complete their practicums at carefully identifiedcommunity-based agencies in geographically convenient locationswhere they receive both individual and group supervision fromlicensed counseling psychologists, licensed clinical social workers(LCSW), and licensed Marriage and Family erapists (LMFT)Pleasant Hill and San Jose programs, this fieldwork will helpstudents collect significantly more hours toward licensure thanmany other MA in Counseling Psychology or CounselingPsychology programs in Northern California while also giving thema competitive edge when applying to post-master’s internships.Approximately half of the cohort students choose to complete thePCC specialization making them eligible for the LPCC license, andstay on for two additional 9-week sessions of PCC courseworkcomprising of 13.5 units. Students interested in creating their ownindividualized specialization may do so under the close direction ofJOHN F. KENNEDy UNIvERSITy College of Graduate and Professional Studies 89College of Graduate andProfessional Studies