Master in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology

Overview

There is a need for specialists, practitioners and indeed all who come into contact with children and adolescents with special needs or mental health issues, to have an understanding of the condition of the child and how the child needs to be properly supported.

Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology is the specialization in the field of Psychology dedicated to the diagnosis, study and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders.  Clinical psychology is based in applied science and evidence-based practice whose goal is to ameliorate or decrease the effects of mental illness in the lives of individuals and the community.

This Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology Master’s degree combines an in-depth look and critical evaluation of the advanced study of psychological development with regard to children and adolescents with special needs and mental health issues.

The program will focus on the implications of psychological theory and research for policy and practice across a range of applied settings, for example, education, clinical and social contexts as well as undertake advanced training in relevant research methods.

Goals

General Goals:

The main objective of the Master’s Program in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology is to create an academic environment that will foster the development of a professional community of Clinical Psychologists in Palestine that can effectively meet the mental health needs of the local population. This program entails two central elements:

1. First, a developed curriculum that is modeled according to international standards and adapted to specific cultural characteristics of the population in the region. 
2. Second, offering enhanced training to increase the expertise of Palestinian and International Mental Health professionals in Psychology and related fields by supporting their professional development with the provision of both continuous theoretical training and professional supervision.  

The specific goals of the program are:

1. Prepare Master’s level professionals to select, implement, and evaluate psychological interventions consistent with current ethical, evidence-based, and professional standards, within a theoretical framework, and with sensitivity to the interpersonal processes of the therapeutic relationship and the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.

   Objective 1.1: Explore the foundations of clinical psychology, including psychopathology, human development, diagnosis, diversity, ethics, and various therapeutic models in clinical applications.
   Objective 1.2: Select, plan, and implement ethical and evidence-based interventions with sensitivity to the diverse characteristics and needs of clients.
   Objective 1.3: Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effectively implement and participate in psychological consultation and supervision.
   Objective 1.4: Demonstrate personal development and self-reflective capacity, including growth of interpersonal skills, and therapeutic relationships.
    

2. Prepare Master’s level professionals to analyse the complexity and multidimensionality of human diversity, and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand diverse worldviews and the potential meaning of social, cultural, and individual differences for psychological services.
3. Prepare Master’s level professionals to critically evaluate the current and evolving body of scholarly literature in psychology to inform professional practice.