Diversity in Clinical Psychology
Loyola’s Diversifying Clinical Psychology Committee is comprised of graduate students and faculty committed to building a diverse graduate and training environment by ensuring that issues of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, disability status, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation are embraced to support inclusive excellence. In collaboration with the Department’s Committee on Diversity Affairs (CODA) and Drawing on the Psychology Department’s diversity statement, we are committed to applying these values to our clinical training. Below we provide additional information about diversity in our clinical training and research, as well as resources for students.
Clinical Research Related to Diversity
Amy Bohnert: health and health disparities among youth; evaluation of programs serving low-income urban youth
Byron Brooks: Queer and transgender people of color (QTPoC), specifically Black LGBTQ+ individuals. Health inequity among QTPoC due to interlocking systems of oppression and discrimination such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, and, cisgenderism. Developing and evaluating culturally responsive interventions for QTPoC.
Colleen Conley: gender and sexual orientation intersecting with adaptive and maladaptive adjustment (e.g., stress, mental health) across developmental transitions
Grayson Holmbeck: Psychosocial adjustment, family relationships, health-related self-management, and the transition to adult health care in youth with spina bifida, the most common disabling birth defect of the central nervous system.
Scott Leon: stress and resilience among youth in foster care, with a focus on the role of kin and fictive kin networks in promoting positive adjustment; evaluation of programs developed to promote well-being among youth in foster care.
Catherine DeCarlo Santiago: research focused on how low-income and/or ethnic minority children and families respond to stress and trauma; school- and community-based intervention research among underserved populations.
Zoe Smith: Community engaged research specifically focused on serving Black and Latine adolescents, particularly youth with ADHD. We work to create culturally responsive, community-based assessments and interventions to increase health equity in the face of oppressive systems.
Clinical Coursework Focused on Diversity
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Human Diversity
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Introduction to the Profession of Clinical Psychology
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Clinical Treatment for Children and Adolescents
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Adult Psychopathology
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Child Psychopathology
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Adult Intellectual and Personality Assessment
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Evidence-Based Practice
Clinical Placements and Practicum
Loyola’s Clinical Psychology Program maintains connections with a number of assessment and therapy practica that offer training with underrepresented groups beyond the classroom. Such practicum placements value serving individuals of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, socioeconomic statuses, and geographic locations. Students will gain experience in evidence based practices with diverse clientele under the supervision of advanced clinicians. Practica often include didactics and opportunities for students to present cases to further promote professional development. Here are some recent placements that Loyola students have pursued:
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Advocate Children’s Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL
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Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center: Behavior Health Services
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Alexian Brothers Neurosciences Institute (Pediatric Neuropsychology)
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DePaul Family and Community Services (Latino Mental Health)
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Hines VA Neuropsychological Assessment
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NorthShore Adult Neuropsychology Externship
- Mt. Sinai Hospital, Under the Rainbow
- Pediatric Developmental Center, Advocate Medical Group
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Rush University Medical Center: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program
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University of Chicago, Adult Neuropsychology
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University of Chicago Child/Adolescent Advanced Psychotherapy and Pediatric Psychology Externship
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University of Chicago Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry—Eating Disorders Program
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University of Chicago Disruptive Behavior Disorders Program
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University of Chicago, Pediatric Neuropsychology
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University of Chicago, U-STAR Clinic (Stress, Trauma, and Resilience)
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University of Illinois CBT Clinic
Annual Diversifying Clinical Psychology Event
Loyola graduate students and faculty have teamed up with other clinical psychology programs in Chicago to host an annual event titled, “Diversifying Clinical Psychology.” This event aims to engage students from underrepresented groups in the field of clinical psychology. The event offers an opportunity for undergraduate students and post baccalaureates to learn more about the field of clinical psychology and how to apply to PhD programs. The event includes presentations by clinical psychology program directors and faculty, panels by a diverse group of current graduate students and faculty, time to network with faculty and students, and an opportunity to present a research poster. This upcoming will be held on Saturday November 5th, 2021 with events between 9am-4pm. Register for the event and see the scheduled events for the 2022 Diversifying Clinical Psychology Day.
Financial Resources for Students
The purpose of this Kirschstein-NRSA program is to enable promising predoctoral students with potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists, to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research. The F31 is also used to enhance workforce diversity though a separate program. The F31 is the most prestigious target for funding for the final years of graduate school, but is extremely competitive. It demonstrates to future research employers that you are able to conceive of a fundable project and get a competitive award to fund it. Availability of the award depends on content with some areas of the NIH only offering F31's to minority candidates.
The purpose of the Psychology Internship with the Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs is to offer applied experience to enhance the knowledge of undergraduate and graduate students with a major or minor in psychology.
MFP is a highly successful federally funded training program for ethnic and racial minority researchers and service providers. The MFP offers fellowships for Master’s students, predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, and the Psychology Summer Institute.
Through its Fellowship Programs, the Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.
SPP Diversity Research Grant. A $5,000 research grant available to members highlights the importance of diversity in pediatric psychology.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority General Graduate Fellowships. These fellowships provide financial assistance to African-American graduate women who are working on professional degrees, master's degrees, doctoral, or post-doctoral studies.
Filipino-American Psychology Scholarship. The goal of this scholarship is to increase the number of Filipino-American professors, researchers and academics in the field of psychology.
Minority International Research Training Grant in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences. Support short-term international training opportunities in health disparities research for students from health disparity populations and/or are underrepresented in their research fields.
Point Foundation LGBT Scholarships. Point Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, leadership training and hope for undergraduate and graduate students of merit who have been marginalized due to sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Travel Grants for Students of Color in Psychology. Awarded to students of color in psychology to serve as a source of funding for graduate students to help defray travel expenses associated with attending and presenting research at a professional conference.
Mental Health Dissertation Research Grant to Increase Diversity. These grants enable qualified doctoral candidates from underrepresented groups, with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue research careers in any area relevant to the research missions of NIMH.
Psychological Science Research Grant. This grant provides support for graduate students conducting psychological science research studies, with additional funding reserved specifically for diversity-focused research
Additional Resources for Students
APAGS Committee for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Diversity focuses on promoting a psychology pipeline that is representative of the nation's ethnic diversity and fostering culturally relevant and adaptive science and practice in psychology. This committee also provides resources for ethnic minority students applying to graduate school and has a multicultural training database.
Committee on Diversity Affairs (CODA): seeks to promote and foster an academic community that celebrates and supports diversity in multiple areas of the Psychology Department.
Department of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs (SDMA) is a team made up of full time staff, graduate workers, and undergraduate student assistants. Through facilitating intentional reflection of the intersections of identities and critical social analysis of systems of privilege and oppression, SDMA seeks to enhance the experience of all members of the Loyola community by cultivating culturally competent agents of social change.
Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) is a student-run collective that will promotes equity and provides a forum for graduate students from diverse backgrounds to network and offer support.
The Dreamer Committee aims to develop equitable policies and practices to promote educational opportunities and improve the lives of undocumented students at Loyola University Chicago.
Loyola's Dreamer Committee Report. The Dreamer Committee is focused on supporting and advancing our university efforts on behalf of undocumented students (including, but not limited to DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] and DACA-eligible individuals), and advising senior University administration on matters related to applicants and students who have an undocumented immigration status. This report (2015-2016) provides an overview of the Dreamer Committee’s progress the past year and provides recommendations for moving forward.
Statement on the Rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program from the Office of the Loyola President. The University's statement on their commitment to continue supporting advocating for our students and work with our local, state, and federal partners to find a legislative solutions.
Guidelines and Contacts for Our Community from the Office of the Loyola President. The University's statement on continuing to take a leadership role in supporting undocumented students.
Undocumented Student Resources includes information about next steps, information, and resources including campus contacts, legal protections, and more for current and prospective undocumented students.
