Vista Del Mar's New Graduate Center Offers Advanced Degrees in Clinical Child Psychology- MSNBC Wire Services

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Vista Del Mar's New Graduate Center Offers Advanced Degrees in Clinical Child Psychology Graduate Program Accepting Applications for Next Term MarketWire updated 3:15 p.m. PT, Wed., March. 4, 2009

LOS ANGELES, CA - Vista Del Mar, one of the nation's leading child welfare and mental health agencies, this week welcomed the first group of students to the organization's new Graduate Program at the Reiss Davis Institute. The Graduate Program at the Reiss-Davis Institute offers postgraduate training and advanced degree programs through an integrated curriculum of child development, neurobiology with a psychodynamic orientation. The Program offers either a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or a Ph.D in Clinical Child Psychology.

The new Graduate Program resulted from the recent merger between Vista Del Mar and the Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy. The Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy has offered a degree program in Clinical Child Psychology since 1974. As part of the merger, it was renamed the Graduate Program at the Reiss-Davis Institute and is now housed on Vista Del Mar's West Los Angeles campus. Classes are held at Vista's Reiss-Davis Child Study Center. (The Reiss-Davis Child Study Center is nationally known for its pioneering work with children, adolescents, and families who are experiencing mild to severe emotional problems, behavior problems and/or learning disabilities and its Post Graduate Fellowship in Treating Children.)

"We're extremely excited that classes are starting this week at our new Graduate Program at the Reiss-Davis Institute," said Elias Lefferman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Vista Del Mar. "For decades," he added, "our Reiss-Davis Child Study Center has been a leader in training professionals in the mental-health field who are interested in working with children. Merging with the Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy was a natural fit, and we're very proud of the unique degree programs we are now offering."

Students pursuing the Institute's Psy.D. in clinical child psychology can complete the program in three years, while those working toward a Ph.D. in clinical child psychology can complete the program in four years, though some students may choose to take longer. Students in both programs will receive an in-depth and enriched education with seminars that incorporate the latest research and theory in neuron psycho social and biological development. Students are required to complete intensive, long-term treatment of children under the weekly, individual supervision of faculty members who serve as clinical supervisors.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29516414/print/1/displaymode/1098/ (1 of 2) [3/10/2009 9:49:48 AM] Vista Del Mar's New Graduate Center Offers Advanced Degrees in Clinical Child Psychology- MSNBC Wire Services

Dr. Lefferman points out, "Because we provide such a comprehensive array of onsite mental- health services to children and adolescents, Vista Del Mar is an ideal setting for these doctoral students who are required to complete many hours of actual child psychotherapy. This is the population we serve, and that's something that really sets us apart from other graduate programs."

The Graduate Program at the Reiss-Davis Institute is currently accepting applications for its next 2009 term. The programs are open to individuals with a Master's Degree in a child-related area such as psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses or educators. Applicants with a Bachelor's Degree will be considered on an individual basis. For more information, contact the Program at (310) 836-1223, ext. 339.

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