Ph.D in Clinical Psychology

PAU's LGBTQ Program provides select students with advanced knowledge and skills to meet the highest standards in the field of LGBTQ Clinical Psychology. The program includes three areas of intensive training: classroom instruction, clinical practice, and research. Clinical practicum placements throughout the Bay Area that focus on LGBTQ mental health are available.

Current research being conducted through the LGBTQ Research Group and the
Center for LGBTQ Evidence-base Applied Research include:

• The impact of bullying directed toward gender nonconforming and perceived LGBTQ students
• Psychotherapy research to reduce internalized homophobia among LGBTQ clients
• Predictors of psychological distress in older gay men and lesbians
• Cultural assessment-- including sexual identity—of risk for suicide
• Cross cultural analysis of the impact of coming out to parents

Students learn to conduct community oriented research that works in partnerships with community organizations providing LGBT affirmative psychotherapy and educational services to define and research gay affirmative clinical and educational programs.

The LGBTQ Program is directed by Peter Goldblum, Ph.D., MPH who is Professor of Psychology in the Ph.D. Program. Dr. Goldblum is a pioneer in the development of community-based mental health programs for LGBT clients with over thirty-five years of experience serving this population. He was a founder and original Deputy Director of the UCSF AIDS Health Project and a visiting scholar and Director of the HIV Bereavement Study at Stanford. He has contributed to the professional literature related to Gay men's health, AIDS related suicide, end of life issues, HIV and work, and AIDS bereavement, including two highly acclaimed books.