Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program

Specialty in Latino Mental Health

Lucero Latino Mental Health Training Program

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Doctoral psychology students in the Latino Mental Health Training Program will complete the MSPP core curriculum for doctoral training in clinical psychology. In addition, they will demonstrate, or master, Spanish fluency and Latino cultural knowledge to work as competent clinicians with this diverse population. Specialty training will emphasize an awareness of the social similarities and differences among Latino groups, and an understanding of the social context of Latinos in modern American society. Graduates of the program will acquire greater sensitivity, not just to the role of culture, but also, of economics and other social factors in the developmental, emotional, relational and behavioral aspects pertinent to the mental health of Latinos.

For students of Hispanic descent, the program will foster self-awareness of the influence of their own cultural beliefs and values in their clinical work with Latino patients/clients. It will also offer those with limited Spanish fluency an opportunity to enhance their linguistic competence.

Students indicate an interest in the Latino Mental Health Training Program on admission or during Year 1 and formally enter the program during the summer following that year.

Program Highlights

• Intensive Spanish language training in a Spanish-speaking country during two consecutive summers, each involving a six-week full-immersion experience. We invite you to read our student blog to learn about our summer Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
• Opportunity for Latino students to expand their cultural training in a Spanish-speaking country different from their own cultural heritage.
• Extensive clinical training in field placements serving Latino patients to enhance the students’ sensitivity to the specific mental health needs of Latinos.
• Clinical Seminar conducted in Spanish to increase fluency and introduce the metaphors and language of psychotherapy with Spanish-speakers.
• A core course: “Latino Mental Health in the U.S. Social Context,” and several advanced electives.
• Elective Conversational Spanish groups & cultural events.
• Multiprogram participation across Doctoral & Masters programs of Study.

Pre-requisites

Applicants with an Intermediate level of Spanish language fluency who meet the following criteria:

• accepted to the MSPP doctor of clinical psychology program, or
• earned a professional degree in another mental health discipline, or
• obtained a professional degree to work as a “psychologist” in a Spanish-speaking country.

Latino Mental Health Concentration Courses

• Cross-cultural Psychology (Doctoral program requirement)
• Latino Mental Health in the U.S. Social Context—Part I
• Latino Mental Health in the U.S. Social Context—Part II
• Clinical Seminar II in Spanish (Doctoral program requirement)
• Special Topics in Latino Mental Health (Elective)
• Conversational Spanish I (no-credit, no cost)
• Conversational Spanish II (no-credit, no cost)
• Conversational Spanish III (no-credit, no cost)
• Conversational Spanish IV (no-credit, no cost)

Summer Immersion Program

• Spanish Summer Immersion Program I
  (6 weeks between 1st and 2nd year)
• Spanish Summer Immersion Program II
  (different country from year 1)

Pre-Doctoral Internship

Practicum and internship placements at site serving Latino populations in years two through four.

Doctoral Project

Students in the Concentration will complete a doctoral project relevant to Latino Mental Health.

Faculty

Amaro Laria, Ph.D., Program Director

Updated 7/23/08