Students in our program learn about psychological assessment and psychotherapy through classroom training and supervised experience. Students begin developing skills in clinical interviewing and assessment during their first year. An essential component of our program is the emphasis on psychotherapy, including extensive coverage of empirically validated treatments. We offer two year-long psychotherapy practica, one in cognitive-behavioral therapy and one in psychodynamic therapy. We also offer a year-long seminar and case conference in child and family therapy. All of these courses combine classroom education with supervised clinical experience.

Students also complete several year-long field placements focused on assessment and intervention. A wide range of settings, patient populations, and intervention styles for practicum and pre-internship placements are available in the Cleveland area.

Finally, students complete a clinical internship. The clinical internship experience takes place during clinical students’ final year before earning the Ph.D. degree. The internship provides students with an intensive clinical experience in which to gain exposure to new populations, clinical contexts, and therapy techniques. Case Western Reserve students have done very well in the internship match process and have completed internships at some of the most prestigious sites in the country.