Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Psy.D.) at LIU Post trains students who want to practice as clinical psychologists with a strong interest in working with traditionally underserved populations. In addition to mastering a rigorous core curriculum, Psy.D. students choose two courses from our four concentration areas: Serious Mental Illnesses, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Interventions with High-Risk Families. Our highly experienced faculty provides clinical and theoretical training in the two major orientations in the field today: cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic. As a result, our graduates are prepared to practice with one or both models, affording considerable flexibility in a professional world of constantly changing demands and opportunities.

After the first year, students balance course work with clinical training as externs in approved patient-care institutions. Second-year students train at the LIU Post Psychological Services Center (PSC), which offers low-cost preventative and clinical mental health services to community members. Third- and fourth-year students complete closely supervised externships at one of more than 50 training sites in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, including inpatient, outpatient and community mental health facilities.

At the end of their third year, students present a case presentation to a panel of clinical psychologists called a Clinical Competency Evaluation. The fifth year is spent in a full-time clinical internship. As a culminating experience, students design and conduct a significant research project, and write a doctoral dissertation under the direction of the Program faculty. The dissertation process begins in students’ second year of the program. The program is 115 credits, including the clinical practicum.

Approximately 20 students from across the United States and abroad are admitted each year; most have an undergraduate degree in psychology and some clinical experience. The program requires a full-time, year-round commitment in each of the four years of residency. The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. In 2017, the APA awarded the Program with accreditation until 2023, the longest possible period of accreditation possible.

We encourage prospective applicants to review out website for information about our curriculum, clinical placements, graduate outcomes, and the admission process. Online Information Sessions for prospective applicants are held throughout the year. To be put on our mailing list for program information and information session invitations, please submit an inquiry form to LIU Admissions Office, begin an application in PSYCAS, or email the program directly. 

Program Highlights

• The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at LIU Post is the only program in the nation that allows students to gain training experience in Serious Mental Illnesses, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Interventions with High-Risk Families.
• Our core faculty includes 8 practicing clinical psychologists who are actively engaged in clinical research and outreach. Students have many opportunities to work with faculty during their five years in the program. Faculty labs and other research opportunities provide students with a variety of research experiences in the field of clinical psychology.
• Students do not have to pick a faculty member to work with early on in the admissions process, but rather can get to develop their research interests over the course of their first two years in the program before picking a dissertation in year three. 
• Our community-based Psychological Services Center provides clinical services to the public and serves as a training facility for doctoral candidates. In their second year, students receive a high-level of supervision from faculty supervisors, community supervisors, testing supervisors, and the directors of the clinic. 
• The program is also one of the few that trains its students in both Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy. 
• We offer a community of mentorship through our Peer Mentor Program, one-on-one advisement, and Alumni Mentors Program.
• The program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association, receiving the longest possible accreditation of seven years during the last site visit in 2017.