PNW will offer a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program beginning next fall.
The program, designed to provide graduate students the training needed to enhance mental health services in The Region, will become the university’s third doctoral program, along with the Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Technology.
“Our goals are to prepare students to be able to contribute to the community in a lot of different ways,” said Dr. Amanda Zelechoski, professor of Psychology. “[The program is] focused on disseminating psychology but also implementing it through actual treatment and evaluation.”
The PNW PsyD programs’ emphasis on clinical practice rather than research aims to produce professionals who can serve the community through interventions, assessments, policy development and providing consulting and training.
“The degree is going to open up a lot of opportunities for our students in terms of providing mental health services,” said Gisele Casanova, Psychology professor and interim department head. “We are hoping that many of them are going to want to stay in Northwest Indiana and help provide those services.”
The PsyD program will focus on clinical assessment, diagnosis and intervention services surrounding psychological sciences. It will blend theory and practical skills with hands-on experience to prepare graduates to handle challenges facing people today, while also earning a master’s degree in Psychology .
“This is a big part of the journey of becoming a licensed clinical psychologist,” said Casanova.
Students will have access to a spectrum of training opportunities with the Counseling, Couple and Family Therapy and Social Work departments. It will prepare graduate students to address mental health needs of Northwest Indiana and beyond.
“As a counselor, we are dedicated to being culturally sensitive and viewing ourselves as continuous learners,” said Miranda Sims, graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. “There is so much cultural diversity where PNW is located, and I would really look forward to the culturally sensitive and diverse topics that would come from this program.”
“Considering the need for mental health professionals everywhere, especially in Northwest Indiana, and the lack of programs, it is amazing to see that PNW has developed this program and that it is led by respected and qualified faculty,” she said.
The federal Bureau of Health Workforce reports that just 31.1% of Indiana’s demand for mental health professionals was met in 2022, suggesting significant demand for more clinical psychologists in the area.
Among adults in Indiana who reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and or depressive disorder, 25.4% reported needing counseling or therapy but not receiving it in the past four weeks.
“Even three years out of the pandemic, we are still dealing with the effects … the increased anxiety and depression that we saw as a result of the pandemic,” said Casanova.