The Psy.D. Program at Chestnut Hill College values and welcomes diversity in all its forms. The program encourages applications from students who represent diversity, as we believe that a diverse student body enriches the educational experience for all. The program sponsors three student groups that focus on diversity issues: the Rainbow Forum, the Human Rights Forum, and the Multicultural Forum (see below).
All students are required to complete two courses on diversity issues in psychology and psychotherapy: PSYG 716 (The Role of Culture and Gender in Counseling and Psychotherapy) in Year I, and PSYG 816 (Advanced Topics in Human Diversity) in Year IV.
The Department of Professional Psychology subscribes to and practices a policy of nondiscrimination in admission, enrollment, and employment. This Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, age, race, color, national or ethnic orgin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or marital status.
Students must comply with all of the Program’s competency requirements. Students in the Psy.D. Program are required to develop competency working with individuals of diverse backgrounds. It is the ethical obligation of students to develop the competency to work with individuals of diverse racial, ethnic and social backgrounds. The Program adopts the APA definition of “ diversity,” which includes, but is not limited to, the following characteristics: age, disabilities, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. Students must be prepared to develop competency working with individuals in each category and may not, for example, decline to work with a client because of a client’s particular characteristic(s). In keeping with the ethical standards of the profession, a client cannot be refused treatment based solely on their diversity status. While all students are encouraged to be aware of their own values, these values should not be used as a justification for refusing service to a client seeking treatment. Further, the APA has published recommendations and/or guidelines for working with clients who represent diverse racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds. Students are expected to develop competency working in conformity with the published recommendations or guidelines of the APA. Students who fail or refuse to meet the competency requirements of the Program face dismissal from the Psy.D. Program.
Several faculty members have clinical and research interests related to human diversity.
The Multicultural Forum, The Human Rights Forum, and the Forensic Interest group worked collaboratively to present the Spring 2020 Grand Rounds.
Human Rights Forum
In keeping with the mission of Chestnut Hill College which focuses on “…holistic education, shared responsibility, personal and professional growth, and service to one another and the global community,” the Human Rights Forum seeks to engage students with like interests and goals to inform and educate the greater community about issues of human rights, tolerance and compassionate outreach to others. The Forum provides psychoeducational programming and an opportunity to get involved in service opportunities and community service events.
The mission of the Multicultural Forum is to bring together students and faculty members in the graduate psychology programs at Chestnut Hill College to provide peer support for students who identify as ethnic minorities and to encourage research and scholarship in multicultural topics in the field of professional psychology. Membership is open to any graduate student in psychology or faculty member who has a special interest in issues pertaining to topics such as multicultural competence, cross-cultural psychotherapy and supervision, culturally sensitive treatment of clients of color, and general issues related to ethnic minority students in clinical psychology training programs. For more information, contact Anaiya Solomon at solomona@chc.edu or Krizia Wearing at wearkingk@chc.edu.
Rainbow Forum
The mission of the Rainbow Forum is to bring together students and faculty members in the graduate psychology programs at Chestnut Hill College to provide peer support for students who identify along the LGBT continuum and to promote education, research, and scholarship in issues related to sexual diversity. Membership is open to any graduate student in psychology or faculty member who has a special interest in issues pertaining to topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, sexuality, and gender presentation.
