Professional Masters Programme in Clinical Psychogy
Definition of Clinical Psychology
The shape and form of Clinical Psychology at Rhodes University is influenced by the Scope of Practice of the Profession of Psychology and the Scope of Practice of Clinical Psychologists promulgated in 2011 by the Professional Board of Psychology of the HPCSA, as well as South African literature on clinical psychology training (Ahmed & Pillay, 2004; Kagee, 2006; Pillay & Kritzinger, 2007; Pillay, Ahmed & Bawa, 2013) and recent reviews of mental health services in South Africa (e.g. Lund, Peterson, Kleintjes & Bhana, 2012). In particular, our vision is that the domains of practice of clinical psychology include: assessing, diagnosing and intervening with clients experiencing life challenges, in particular those in psychological distress and/or with forms of psychopathology; the holistic management of serious mental disorders; applying evidence based psychological interventions to people with psychological or psychiatric conditions; developing practice and research in line with increasing access to humane mental health care which involves recognising the value of short term models of psychotherapy, systemic understandings and interventions, prevention of mental health problems alongside remediation, and a focus on social justice and social betterment as permanent agendas; the promotion of community mental health through less traditional roles such as providing support and training to primary mental health workers, and getting involved in advocacy initiatives, public information campaigns and policy work; and research practices that are locally relevant and directly influence clinical psychology practice.
Professional Masters Programme in Clinical Psychology
The MA in Clinical Psychology at Rhodes University is a professional training programme that provides theoretical and supervised practical work that will lead to
registration as a Clinical Psychologist with the Professional Board for Psychology of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. To achieve registration you are
required to complete the following components to a satisfactory standard:
- One year of academic and practical training;
- A research mini-thesis;
- A one year internship at an accredited training site;
- The national examination set by the Professional Board for Psychology;
- One year in a community service placement, a government paid post.
Professional training at Rhodes was first offered in 1975 — to a single clinical psychology student — under the direction of Professor Dreyer Kruger. At that time, it was one of only two such programmes offered by English-medium universities. We now train twelve students annually, six in Clinical Psychology and six in Counselling Psychology. The shape and form of Clinical Psychology at Rhodes University is informed by the Minimum standards for the training of Clinical Psychology, as published by the Board of Psychology, HPCSA in February 2019. It is also influenced by the Scope of Practice of the Profession of Psychology and the Scope of Practice of Clinical
Psychologists promulgated in 2011 by the Professional Board of Psychology of the HPCSA, as well as South African literature on clinical psychology training (e.g.
Ahmed & Pillay, 2004; Kagee, 2006; Pillay & Kritzinger, 2007; Pillay, Ahmed & Bawa, 2013) and recent reviews of mental health services in South Africa (e.g. Lund,Peterson, Kleintjes & Bhana, 2012).
In particular, our vision is that the domains of practice of clinical psychology include:assessing, diagnosing and intervening with individuals and groups with psychological and mental health disorders. Clinical psychologists work in a range of settings from primary health care contexts through to general hospital and tertiary hospital contexts. Therefore, they need to be able to deliver services that are at times preventative and at other times remedial in nature; assessing and treating mental health disorders that range from mild to complex and severe with short- and long-term interventions respectively. Clinical Psychologists understand mental illness from a biopsychosocial perspective and are concerned with delivering high intensity interventions with a clear evidence base. They are also concerned with the
promotion of community mental health through less traditional roles such as providing support and training to primary mental health workers, and getting involved in advocacy initiatives, public information campaigns and policy work. Finally, clinical psychologists are well versed in research practises that are locally relevant and
directly influence clinical psychology practice. The teaching of the clinical programme draws on a problem-based learning model, in other words, learning will largely take place around particular psychological disorders. In addition, the programme emphasises that professional identities are not isolated: rather your identity as a clinical psychologist will develop within the particular contexts in which you work, contexts that are often unique to South Africaand Africa. Thus, the programme emphasises contextualising problem-based learning within a South African context drawing on local case examples in order to ensure that Clinical Psychologists remain responsive to the population of South Africa.The aim of the Rhodes University Clinical Psychology programme is to train, formerpsychology honours student, to be a competent, ethical, socially responsive, and scientifically guided Clinical Psychologist. This broad aim is achieved through the following three main components that make up the degree and build your applied knowledge and practical competence:
The clinical psychology course coordinator is Dr Duane Booysen.
See important information regarding the MA in Clinical Psychology Selections for 2025:
Programme starting in 2025
Applications for the Master's degree Programme in Clinical Psychology will open on 8 April 2024 and close on 10 June 2024. Shortlisted candidates will attend an in-person selection week from 29 July - 2 August 2024.
Applications for the Master's degree Programme in Clinical Psychology will open on 8 April 2024.
Each year, we select six student clinical psychologists.
The Master in Clinical Psychology Handbook 2023 is available to give you a sense of the academic programme. Clinical applications will open on 8 April 2024
Application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AQRZtaaRdyrnvLCjbcqprgRi0xSqEU54EeMImT_rO1A/edit
Referee report link:
https://forms.gle/F793bW285jThXmfWA
Please note that the referee report link should be copied and emailed to the identified referees.
The closing date for applications is 10 June 2024 at 12h00. No late applications will be considered.
The selection week will be in person and run from 29 July - 2 August 2024
MA in Clinical Psychology - Class of 2024
Buthelezi Buhle
De Villiers Danielle
Humprys Lizaan
Landman Annuschke
Tshuketana Amukelani
Zealand Aubrecia
Last Modified: Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:06:34 SAST