Doctorate in Clinical Psychology

Course Structure

1. The three year training programme values the reflective scientist-practitioner model as a basis for clinical psychology. There is a strong emphasis on integration of theory, research and practice in all aspects of the programme.
2. The programme is underpinned by a biopsychosocial framework. This framework identifies biology, psychological and social factors that contribute across the lifespan to the development and maintenance of psychological difficulties and mental disorders, or conversely to wellness and resilience. Our understanding of this framework is that it is linked to a continuum view of psychological difficulty. Thus, the programme seeks to understand psychological difficulty from an assumption of commonality of experience and human potential.
3. The programme takes cognitive-behavioural therapy as its main therapeutic modality, reflecting the world-leading expertise within the department and wider Institute, and its evidence base. It also has particular strengths in family therapy, neuropsychology, mindfulness-based interventions, clinical health psychology, and the opportunities for research across the Institute are excellent. A further strength is the cohesive and comprehensive range of both local and national specialist placement opportunities, across three world-renowned NHS Trusts: South London and Maudsley, King\x92s College Hospital and Guy\x92s & St Thomas\x92 \x96 known collectively as King\x92s Health Partners. A final strength is the vibrant and diverse communities within South East London, and the programme values and positively promotes diversity.