Postgraduate Programs DCP

Introduction

The department of Clinical Psychology (DCP) is a constituent unit of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU): a federally chartered university and has the unique distinction of being attached/affiliated with state of the art and JCI accredited Shifa International Hospital for clinical attachment, psychotherapy, trainings and other related academic activities. It is well placed in the heart of Islamabad, the beautiful capital of Pakistan. It is envisioned to become an innovative center, focusing on Clinical aspects of Psychology and health, which will eventually bring psychological counselling, medical treatment and research work together.

The Department of Clinical Psychology was set up in 2017 at Shifa Tameer e Millat University Islamabad under the Headship of Prof. Dr. Iftikhar N. Hassan, a renowned academician and a psychologist. BS Clinical Psychology and MS Clinical Psychology are the first programs being offered and now the department also offers PhD Clinical Psychology, which will cater to the rising demand for trained clinical psychologists across the country. The department also offers two diploma programs, Post Magistral Diploma in Clinical Psychology and International Diploma on Mental Health, Law, Human Rights and Universal Health Coverage. Taking into consideration the growth, development and awareness of clinical psychology during the past few years particularly in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and the surrounding areas, the basic aim of education at the Department of Clinical Psychology is to educate and train young healthcare professionals to have the knowledge and expertise to fulfil their roles in their respective field. All these programs have been approved by Higher Education Commission and all the statutory bodies of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University.

Our Programs focus on the assessment, diagnosis and clinical practice through different approaches to mental illnesses. The stress at BS, MS and PhD level is on personal and professional grooming of the future therapists. Our focus is on developing lifelong competencies in our graduates. The curriculum of the Clinical Psychology is learner centered, clinically oriented and evidence based. The students are exposed to first-hand experience of meeting with individuals with different disabilities and emotional problems. The department is expected to cross another milestone of its further growth and development. It has not only increased the number of programs at BS, MS and PhD levels. Furthermore, In near future the department is going to launch Advance Diploma in Clinical Psychology, Post Graduate Diploma and Psyche D.

A team of qualified teachers is involved for conducting and supervising research and providing counseling services within and outside the department. Our classrooms, laboratories and clinics are well equipped to meet the instructional and training requirements.

Vision

To enhance the knowledge through clinical practice and cutting-edge research for contribution in Mental Health Services.

Mission

The distinctive mission of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University is to function as a center of higher learning, providing long-term societal benefits through transmitting advanced knowledge, discovering new knowledge, and functioning as an active working repository of organized knowledge in mental and emotional health. Our mission is to train high quality competent and ethical Clinical Psychologists both at Undergraduate, Post graduate and Doctoral level. For this we offer leading edge courses, training in administration of diagnostic tests and first-hand exposure to various types of emotional and physically challenged individuals and their treatment with supervised practice. The faculty of Department of Clinical Psychology consists of both Clinical Psychologists and medical specialists, who strive to impart latest knowledge and research-based lectures, lab experiences and opportunities to observe and participate in various therapeutic settings. The department promotes an environment characterized by collaborative learning and intellectual excellence among its students guided by the core values of diversity and integrity in the light of Islamic principles.

Aims

The department of clinical psychology being a constituent unit of Shifa

The Department of Clinical Psychology has following aims:

To be a leader in producing competent professionals in the field of clinical psychology and mental health.
To integrate the various contemporary and Islamic theoretical frameworks and modalities for clinical practice.
To establish and operate Shifa Psychological Services Clinics (SPSC) for inculcating the clinical skills among the students and to alleviate the psychological problems from the society.
To work with patients with life-threatening diseases and long-term illnesses, to address their psychological needs and problems which may facilitate the overall well-being of patients.
To integrate academic, clinical practice, research and development activities in the larger interest of students and nation.
To strengthen a culture of research and evidence-based practice in the university which will have its roots in Pakistan’s Cultural Diversity, types of emotional problems and their unique manifestations and symptoms.
To generate and share information at various professional forums as a tool of life long learning and improvement for society.

To organize and participate in national and international workshops, seminars, webinars and conferences of Clinical Psychology to share experiences, learn and maximize the academic and industrial bonds among the professionals of the field.

Objectives

This program is speciﬁcally designed to produce high quality Clinical Psychologists both at BS and MS level who have:

Sound knowledge of human nature and the development process.
Become well informed about the psychology and allied areas.
Have both knowledge and practice of the use of assessments tools.
Have practical knowledge of statistics and research methods.
Learned various techniques of
Can write scientiﬁcally and fact base case studies and reports.
Become competent Therapists of emotional problems.
Learn and practice strong ethical standards in handling patients.
Are aware of the importance of mental health of the therapists.

Scope of Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is an umbrella term that refers to a collection of specialties and competencies pertaining to teaching, assessment, research, supervision and practicum (placement) besides program development and evaluation. It falls within the four primary applied training programs (clinical psychology, psychiatry, nursing and social work) identified by National Institute of Mental Health (1996). Clinical psychology has particularly flourished over past two decades. The number of clinical psychologists in health service providing subfields has tripled during this time.

Currently clinical psychology has become one of the most important disciplines in health and care. Demands for clinical psychologists in hospitals, medical settings and private sector have been dramatically increased. The objective is to promote physical and emotional well-being in individuals, families and organizations using a wide variety of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions. It evolved from a conflict and has exerted its influence in the themes of education beyond diagnosis, psychotherapy, and research, the ‘holy trinity’ of postwar (Korchin, 1976, p.45). In work settings it includes individual practice, mental health service units, managed health care organizations, counseling centers, different departments in hospitals, armed forces. schools, universities, industry, legal and medical systems and government agencies etc. There is a growing concern among professionals how clinical psychology can best educate and train clinicians to be responsive to emerging and increasing demands of psychological services in both public and private sectors. Department of Clinical Psychology under the auspices of Shifa Tameer e Millat University is fully equipped to play its role on time and effectively.

A clinical psychologist has a future in diverse fields in Pakistan, including Hospitals, Clinics, Drugs & Rehabilitation Centres, Autism Resource Centres, Armed Forces, Police, Jails, FIA and other agencies. Scope of clinical psychology is immensely increasing in Pakistan and all across the globe due to ever growing need for mental health care and personality development.

Salient Features

DCP is constituent part of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, a federally chartered, HEC recognized, General Category University.
Accredited by the Higher Education Commission for 4 years BS program and 2 years MS program.
Highly qualified and experienced faculty members trained at reputed national and international Universities.
Innovative post graduate training programs to bridge between basic and clinical sciences.
Dedicated academic advisorship, student support and career counselling services to train well-groomed Clinical Psychologists who can serve as active mental healers.
Well stocked libraries and online/e-library access to field related books and journals.
Air-conditioned Lecture Halls and psychometric labs and counselling rooms equipped with latest audio-visual aids.
Active student societies and clubs for promoting the students’ participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Generous financial assistance and academic award prizes.
Associated to state-of-art hospital for clinical exposure and practice to equip them with best of knowledge and skills.
Shifa Psychological Services Clinics having an interdisciplinary team with PhD Clinical Supervisors, Medical Doctors and Clinical Psychologists trained in various Therapeutic Skills and Techniques.

Admission Process

Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University is an equal opportunity higher seat of learning/education. There is no discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, color, creed or domicile. Anyone who is academically qualified for admission and fulfills the eligibility criteria to the courses of study offered by the department is encouraged to apply. There are no quotas and / or reserved seats. (These conditions may vary from time to time as per notifications issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and The Government of Pakistan.

Learning at DCP

All classrooms are equipped with online satellite-based internet access, over-head projectors and multi-media projection. Central air conditioning provides necessary comfort to make the environment conductive to attentive learning. The Institute’s high-quality training, research and congenial environment ensures its position as the institute of choice for Pakistan’s high-caliber postmasters’ students. The students of DCP are highly competitive and are working effectively in wide-ranging fields of employment. It is this reason that students of DCP are in high demand in various organizations.

Educational Excellence

The department has a dexterous faculty working to maintain standards in academics, research and clinical practices. Regular class schedule, supervised clinical practice makes a comprehensive training schedule to gain knowledge and skills in the field of Clinical Psychology.

Intensive Clinical Supervision Interns have to endure a rigorous training for clinical internship, including training in conducting psychotherapy, individually supervised therapy sessions and learning standardized patterns of administration, scoring, interpretation of psychological assessment tools and report writing. In addition, they are trained to deal with issues that we face in diagnosis. The major aim is to make interns meet international standards required for working as a Clinical Psychologist. Moreover, there are weekly case conferences in which interns are encouraged to present their cases before the panel of clinical experts in order to receive guidance and exchange ideas amongst themselves.

Multidisciplinary Approach

DCP focuses on a multidisciplinary approach in clinical practice. Interns are trained for conducting psychotherapeutic sessions using different approaches like Psychoanalysis, CBT, REBT, Multimodal Approach, etc. However, depending on the needs of the patient, occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Rehabilitation Services are also available within the premises of department for the convenience of the patients. A Medical Officer is also available in order to examine the progress of the patients who are on medication.
During their extensive internship the interns are also required to assess and diagnose the patients by administering standardized psych neurological, intelligence, achievement, aptitude, objective and projective personality tests.

Psychometric Laboratory

The testing laboratory has a large collection of latest Psychological Tests and Scales for Assessment of: Intelligence; Ability; Aptitude; Personality; Neuropsychological Functioning, and Psycho-Diagnosis. Manuals and test material are used by students for teaching, training, and provision of clinical services at DCP.

Research Lab

Research department facilitates research in multiple disciplines that includes clinical psychology, child and educational psychology, social psychology and in other emerging fields. In its vision to promote research, the institute facilitates its faculty to participate in research projects, and interns to conduct supervised researches. The Institute has been successful in conducting researches of international standards, and funds are raised every year to purchase psychological test material from international sources.

Teaching Hospital

The idea of Shifa International Hospital was conceived in 1987 by a small group of Pakistani doctors and other health care professionals working in the USA. Since then, Shifa has grown to be a public limited company. The Hospital is located on 11.2 acres in Sector H-8/4, Islamabad. It was established to become a center of health care excellence in Pakistan. Shifa International Hospital a state-of-the-art hospital in the heart of Islamabad; the Capital Territory of Pakistan, has over the span of 25 years become one of the best tertiary healthcare facilities within Pakistan. Shifa has been introducing newer ideas which, collectively, have transformed the healthcare culture in the country and raised the bar for everyone in quality service delivery.

Shifa Psychological Services Clinic (SPSC)

Shifa Psychological Services Clinic will be launched soon with an interdisciplinary team of PhD Clinical Psychologist Dr. Zainab Khan, Medical Officer Dr. Fatima Khurram and Clinical Supervisor Ms. Sana Tauqeer. In principle the approval of this clinic has already been secured and further developments are in the pipeline. SPSC will operate under the auspices of Department of Clinical Psychology, STMU. The purpose of SPSC is to provide psychological support to students and scholars at STMU for management of their mental health issues. Additively it provides an environment where students can learn ethical and clinical skills of mental health practitioners under qualified and trained Clinical supervisors.