Introduction

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The Clinical Psychology Unit, GC University Lahore was set up in 2005 in order to develop a comprehensive training program for professional Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan and expand the role of Clinical Psychology to deal with a wide range of problems of the individual as well as the community at large. The Unit endeavours to raise the standard of training of Clinical Psychologists in Pakistan to international levels, enhance the standing of Clinical Psychology as an independent professional discipline, to meet the growing needs and changing demands of the community at large, and direct research towards developing an empirical knowledge base of indigenous Clinical Psychology in Pakistan.

Mission Statement

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The training philosophy of the unit posits that the Clinical Psychologist is a scientist, and reflective practitioner who explores critically each perspective and uses the most pertinent approach in a creative way to understand and solve human problems. The theoretical approach of the unit is integrative and not biased towards any particular orientation. The trainees are viewed as adult learners and are encouraged to set their own learning goals, objectives and specialized skills.

Objectives of the Programme

The main objective of the programme is to train clinical psychologists in the following ways which will enable them:

• Help them acquire scientific knowledge and professional expertise in dealing with a full range of psychological problems and psychiatric disorders commonly found in children, adults, special groups as well as those normally living in the community.

• Take on, manage and help individual and group cases and provide appropriate clinical assessment and therapy.

• Be able to undertake a research project in the clinical area that would add to our knowledge of clinical psychology as applied to our culture.

• Develop and maintain a professional attitude towards colleagues, students and staff with dignity, loyalty, commitment and subscribe to professional code of ethics.

• Raise the standard of training to international levels.

Facilities (SERVICES OFFERED)

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1. Psychological Assessment and Therapy Services (PATS)

2. Trauma Counselling Service

3. Campus Counselling Service

1. Psychological Assessment and Therapy Services (PATS)

The Clinical Psychology Unit offers a regular consultancy service by professionally trained and experienced clinical psychologists. This service is offered free to the University staff and also open to public on nominal rates. Under this service, in-depth assessment and therapeutic guidance is provided by trained and experienced Clinical Psychologists.

2. Trauma Counselling Service

The service was set up in December 2005 following the earthquake offering free service to victims and their relatives. Later, it was extended to victims and their relatives of bomb blasts. Now a standby service is available to all trauma sufferers free of charge. We also offer counselling service to the members of 1122 rescue service.

3. Campus Counselling Service

The Unit also offers a comprehensive consultancy service to all students of GC University. A full- time qualified and experienced Clinical Psychologist is available to help the university students with all kind of emotional and psychological problems in a totally confidential way. Individual and group counselling is available on demand. The mode of counselling is short term, focal and problem solving. Preventative groups are also held for common problems like exams anxiety, class room presentations and fostering other academic, personal and special skills.  The unit provides a full back up service to the Campus Counsellor as and when required.

Research Culture

Research is an integral part of our training programme. To date approximately 75 projects have been completed on Clinical issues of children, adults and the elderly as well as in School Psychology. A series of cognitive and achievement tests for school children, checklists to asses behavioural and emotional problems have been developed. These tools are used regularly in our clinical work. GCU  funded project on the development of Students’ Problem Checklist has been standardized and it is being used in setting up the Campus Counselling Service and in other researches pertaining to Student Mental Health. A three-year HEC funded project on the Parent Child Relationship report has been completed. New projects are being planned.

Test Development

In keeping with our aim of developing indigenous clinical psychology we have developed a number of tests and scales for school children. The GCU Assessment Battery includes tests for assessing scholastic abilities, intellectual functioning, memory and learning, as well a number of scales for assessing emotional and behavioural problems, self esteem, resilience, anxiety and depression. The tests with manuals are available to qualified professionals. (Some conditions apply)

Consultancy and Training Offered

The Unit has also offered consultancy and training services to outside agencies. We had three groups of Pakistan Air Force comprising Pilots, Trainers and Psychologists. Last year the unit completed a one year modular course on Counselling Techniques for the 10 PAF Psychologists. In 2011 one week workshop was conducted on Introduction to Counselling with PAF Officers and Trainers.

We are also engaged in developing personality profiles of the NGO’s and their response to training. We are a signatory of an MOU with the 1122 Emergency Service. We have on-going joint research projects with 1122; we are helping the service in improving their selection procedures as well as offering counselling service and assistance in training.

Extra Clinical Services

Some faculty members, qualified Clinical Psychologists, provide volunteer input into a local psychiatric half way house and outpatient outlet and NGO‘s.

Extracurricular Activities

1. The Alumni Association

2. The Clinical Psychologist

The Alumni Association of the Clinical Psychologists trained in this Unit was formed in 2009. One of the main objectives was to develop a culture of Continuing Education for Clinical Psychologists. So far the Alumni met once and held a meeting on counselling the Abused Children, Childhood Disorders, developmental disorders, assessment and management of trauma to name a few.

The Clinical Psychologist is a biannual bulletin published by the department giving the members an opportunity to publicise their news, views, articles of general and professional interest.

Future Plans

We are hoping to increase the faculty strength and offer more part-time professional and specialist training courses to other professionals in the allied fields to help develop and enhance their skills. We are preparing a new Curriculum for PhD in Clinical Psychology. We also plan two Proposals “Research in Psychology” and “Assessment and Management of Special Children”. The unit also organizes regular workshops and seminars for fellow professionals for continuous professional development.

Academic Program

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The unit offers following Academic Programmes:

• Two Year MS in Clinical Psychology

• One Year top up MS in Clinical Psychology

• One year Diploma in Child Guidance and Educational Counselling

• PhD Program

Two Years MS Clinical Psychology

This programme is the flagship of the unit and GCU pioneered in introducing it in 2005. It is a two years full time programme at MS level. It aims to train clinical psychologists for acquiring professional skills like assessment, therapeutic interventions and clinical research. The trainees are required to develop these skills in working with children to deal with their learning and emotional difficulties, adult psychiatric patients, school children and undertaking a research project.  In the final Semester the trainees they are given opportunities to work in one of the following areas like Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Sports Psychology, Speech Therapy, Community Psychology and Neuropsychological Assessment.

This Clinical Training course is more skill based and emphasizes on developing an empirically derived indigenous knowledge base. The programme comprises of four semester, each of 6 months. The timings are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. First three semesters include not only in-depth teaching but also practical experience for which trainees are sent on placements to different hospitals, clinics and schools under the supervision of an experienced Clinical Psychologist. In each semester they have to complete 5 in-depth case studies in each of the 3 mandatory placements and maintain a portfolio that details the range of their experiences in each placement.

The final semester the focus is on conducting a research project on clinical topic and a special area of training for which option will be given during the course of time. On average, each year the unit produces 17 research projects and nearly 200 case studies.

Evaluation is multidimensional which includes written exams, classroom and placement evaluation.  Special focus is also given to the personal and professional development of trainees and for that small group tutorials are a part of the regular programme. Trainees are also expected to participate in all departmental activities.

One-Year Top Up MS in Clinical Psychology

There are many clinical psychologists holding Diploma in Clinical Psychology for many years and there was no mechanism that they could further their studies to post master or doctorate level. This programme was introduced in 2006 to meet the needs of many diploma holder Clinical Psychologists. The ground rules of the regular MS Programme are strictly followed. Those with a diploma in Clinical Psychology and two years experience as a Clinical Psychologist are required to complete two semesters which are not covered in their previous training (e.g. School Psychology and Research), thus equating their training and knowledge with the regular MS programme.

PhD in Clinical Psychology

In an attempt to further raise the standard and expertise of Clinical Psychologists in the country, the unit has recently started PhD. in Clinical Psychology. Currently six PhD Scholars are enrolled in the programme.

One Year Diploma in Child Guidance and Educational Counselling

A Diploma in Child guidance and Educational Counselling is aimed at opening and exploring a new field of counselling school children. The aim of this course is to give teachers and counsellor exposure to school related problems and learn the ways of helping them. It includes knowledge of emotional and behavioural problems of school children and its impact on child’s achievement. It also focuses on assessment and counselling procedures.

Eligibility Criteria

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MS Regular Programme

The basic academic qualification to enter the MS programme is as follows:

• MSc/BS (Hons) in Psychology with at least 60% marks in annual examination or 2.50/4.00 CGPA from HEC recognized university.

• Only those candidates are eligible to apply for admission who have passed GAT (General) Test with at least 50% score.

One Year Top Up (MS in Clinical Psychology)

• MSc Psychology with at least 60% marks in annual examinations or 2.50/4.00 CGPA and One Year Diploma in Clinical Psychology from HEC recognized institution with two years experience.

• Candidate must have passed NTS Graduate Assessment Test (GAT-General) at time of admission with at least 50% score.

However only those applicants will be eligible for interview who have passed entry test.

PhD Programme

The basic academic qualification to enter the PhD programme is as follows:

• MPhil/ MS in Clinical Psychology with minimum 3.00 CGPA.

• Candidates must have qualified GRE international/Local GAT subject test at the time of admission.

One Year Diploma in Child Guidance and Educational Counselling

• School  teachers (B.Ed and M.Ed)  

OR  

• M.Sc. Psychology with one year experience

Courses

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• MS Clinical Psychology

• One Year MS Top Up Programme

• PhD Clinical Psychology

• One year Diploma in Child guidance and educational counselling

MS Clinical Psychology

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PhD

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One Year Diploma in Child Guidance and Educational Counselling

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One Year Top Up MS in Clinical Psychology

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Faculty:

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