PhD (Doctorate) Program in Clinical Psychology
The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Işık University was launched in the 2016-2017 academic year to strengthen doctoral candidates' academic foundation through both theoretical and practical training, guided by the latest scientific research. The program, conducted in Turkish, offers two specializations: Adult Clinical Psychology and Child-Adolescent Clinical Psychology.
The first year of the program focuses on intensive theoretical training, research methods, and statistics. The second year includes internships and supervision-based courses to develop practical skills. In the final two years, doctoral candidates concentrate on their dissertation research.
Clinical internships in Işık University’s Graduate Programs in Clinical Psychology are conducted at partner hospitals or therapy centers for at least 8 hours per week. Psychological counseling services for clients are provided under supervision by faculty members or experienced specialists. Students track their clients in collaboration with Işık University’s Psychological Counseling Center, and to pass the supervision course, they must follow at least two clients for a minimum of six sessions. These practical components help graduate students develop psychological assessment and psychotherapy skills, allowing them to apply well-established scientific approaches (such as cognitive, cognitive-behavioral, and behavioral therapies) in practice.
Graduates of Işık University’s PhD Programs in Clinical Psychology receive the official title of "Clinical Psychologist" as stated on their diplomas.
The program offers scholarship opportunities, including the Academic Training Support Program, where doctoral candidates can receive full tuition waivers while gaining experience as research and teaching assistants.
PhD graduates in Clinical Psychology are expected to acquire the following knowledge and skills:
- Psychopathological assessment
- Establishing a therapeutic relationship and mastering clinical interview techniques
- Applying scientific psychotherapy approaches under supervision
- Professional ethics
- Tracking, interpreting, and critically evaluating research in psychology
- Research methods and statistics
- Developing academic and research skills
Adult Clinical Psychology Specialization
The Adult Clinical Psychology PhD Program focuses on adult mental health and admits a limited number of students each year. It includes courses on adult psychopathology and applied training.
Instead of adhering to a single theoretical approach, the program adopts an eclectic perspective, integrating multiple therapeutic models. This approach allows a comprehensive evaluation of clients' psychological issues. Students conduct individual therapy sessions with their own clients at Işık University’s Psychological Counseling Center, while receiving group supervision from expert faculty members in groups of three.
Child-Adolescent Clinical Psychology Specialization
The PhD Program in Clinical Psychology at Işık University is the first and only program in Turkey to offer a Child-Adolescent Clinical Psychology specialization. The program accepts a limited number of students each year and provides training in child and adolescent psychopathology, emotional and behavioral disorders, school and family issues, as well as research, psychological assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy.
Doctoral candidates receive group supervision while working with clients and receive training from highly experienced experts who have been in the field for many years. The program primarily focuses on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Play Therapy, integrating both theory and practice. Alongside these therapeutic approaches, students learn various psychological theories and conduct supervised practice sessions based on these models.