Clinical Psychology
Developmental Psychopathology Emphasis
The field of developmental psychopathology has its origins at the University of Rochester, which has extensive resources for promoting training in developmental psychopathology. These include opportunities to do research alongside faculty investigating:
Specific behavioral health disorders:
- Anxiety Disorders (Lisa Starr)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (Loisa Bennetto)
- Conduct Disorders (Chad Shenk)
- Mood Disorders (Elizabeth Handley, Chad Shenk, Lisa Starr)
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (Christie Petrenko)
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (Chad Shenk)
- Psychotic Spectrum Disorders (David Dodell-Feder)
- Suicide and Self-Injury (Elizabeth Handley, Chad Shenk)
- Preventive and clinical interventions (Elizabeth Handley, Christie Petrenko, Chad Shenk)
- Child maltreatment (Elizabeth Handley, Chad Shenk)
The Mt. Hope Family Center, which is a unit of the Department of Psychology, is a central clinical training and research resource in developmental psychopathology closely integrated with the clinical psychology program. The center is directed by Jennie Noll and includes participation by several faculty members.
Drawing on these intellectual assets, the clinical psychology program at the University of Rochester offers an emphasis in developmental psychopathology that provides interested students with the opportunity to acquire specialized research and clinical training in this area. The goal of this specialization is to produce clinical psychologists with a unique background in developmental psychopathology.
Graduate students in clinical psychology who wish to participate in the emphasis are required to complete:
- A comprehensive, supervised one-year traineeship at an approved agency (e.g., Mt. Hope Family Center, Pediatric Behavioral Health and Wellness at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics)
- Participate in the Developmental Psychopathology Research Workshop at Mt. Hope Family Center for at least two semesters.
- Present a first author, developmental psychopathology focused empirical research project to the Developmental Psychopathology Research Workshop once during the academic year of required attendance.
- Disseminate a first author Developmental Psychopathology empirical research project as either a conference presentation (poster or talk) or peer reviewed publication.
The Developmental Psychopathology Research Workshop meets once a month during the academic year. The schedule for the year will be determined in August. Students must document dates of attendance and are required to attend scheduled meetings for two semesters (one excused absence is allowed). Students are encouraged to attend for multiple years as their schedule allows.
Participating and Affiliated Faculty
- Loisa Bennetto, Associate Professor
- Patrick Davies, Professor
- David Dodell-Feder, Associate Professor
- Elizabeth Handley, Associate Professor
- Jennie Noll, Professor
- Christie Petrenko, Research Associate Professor
- Chad Shenk, Professor
- Lisa Starr, Associate Professor
Note: This specialization is open to all students enrolled in the clinical psychology doctoral program and no special application is required. This emphasis is separate from the developmental psychopathology emphasis offered by the developmental psychology program.