Clinical Psychology

Description

This branch of psychology integrates theory and clinical practice to understand the dimensions of mental health, and thus better serve individuals experiencing clinically significant distress.

Students practice psychological assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy, while clinical psychologists may also work in research, teaching, consulting, forensic expertise, and the design of prevention and development programs.

Drawing on psychology's four main theoretical orientations (psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic), our curriculum takes a humanistic, cognitive, and systemic perspective framed within personalist anthropology. We promote scientific, humanistic, methodological, and technical training of professionals who contribute to personal development and well-being.

Objectives

• ✦Train Clinical Psychology professionals through a comprehensive program that integrates academics and practice, international standards and national needs, and advances in neuroscience, anthropology, sociology, psychometrics, and psychotherapy.
• ✦Contribute to the development of psychology in Guatemala through a personalist and innovative educational model.
• ✦Provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework to understand, predict, and treat psychiatric and psychological disorders.
• ✦Work in prevention and treatment, from minor adjustment problems to major disturbances requiring interdisciplinary and institutional collaboration.
• ✦Develop capacities for teaching, consulting, public health, and the development of programs and public policies that promote mental health.
• ✦Promote research for the design and development of mental-health instruments and programs that foster the development of Guatemalan society.

Graduate profile

The Clinical Psychologist will be able to work in private clinical practice, public health and policy, consulting, training, workshops and conferences, and teaching, and will be equipped to:

• ✦Design, organize, and carry out preventive primary-intervention programs in mental health.
• ✦Conduct psychological evaluations for psychodiagnostic purposes, using the psychological interview, clinical exploration, structured psychometric testing, and clinical observation.
• ✦Provide psychotherapeutic treatment as required by the clinically significant disorder or distress of the person served.
• ✦Provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary care to understand, predict, and serve the person at the intellectual, emotional, biological, and social levels.
• ✦Promote the development of the person, the family, and Guatemalan society within its cultural diversity.
• ✦Maintain a spirit of lifelong study, keeping knowledge current in neuroscience, anthropology, sociology, psychometrics, and psychotherapy.

Curriculum

Open each year to see its courses by term.