The Existential-Phenomenological Therapeutic Psychology MA (MAP) program looks at how people live their lives and create meaning out of their experiences.  By drawing upon the insights of a number of disciplines and by laying the foundation for a therapeutic attitude, the program prepares students to enter the helping professions, obtain a license as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington, and/or pursue doctoral studies.

The program was founded in 1980 and has an excellent reputation in the mental health community. Moreover, it has an international reputation as a center for phenomenological scholarship, a good deal of which results from the collaborative work of faculty, students, and alumni. The program is generally completed as a two-year full-time course of study. The program offers a broad foundation in psychology, philosophy, and psychopathology. Through exploring these in relation to psychotherapy and counseling, students come to appreciate the significance of therapeutic attitude and presence. Most fundamentally, we place a strong emphasis on the relational and ethical dimensions of psychotherapy.

We believe that learning takes place in the context of dialogue with peers and with faculty. To facilitate genuine dialogue, we limit the number of students admitted to approximately 20 students per year. The program entails the study of texts, personal reflection, and experiential exercises, with an emphasis on class discussion..

The second year consists of a practicum-internship experience that includes supervision at the particular site as well as small group supervision within the program. The practicum grounds academic knowledge and reflection in practical experience. In addition, the second year student takes one elective course per quarter and completes an integration paper, a project that combines personal reflection on experience with discussion of relevant literature.

For a listing of prerequisites and course descriptions click on “Bulletin,” top right. Download the program brochure (below) to get more details about the program and an overview of faculty areas of interest.

Application Due Date: January 25
Download the Masters of Psychology Brochure

List of recent faculty presentations and publications (coming soon)
Suggested Reading List

Recent Conference: Giving Voice to Experience
A one day conference, entitled "Giving voice to experience," will be held on Saturday June 21, 2008 at Seattle University in the Casey Building (Casey Commons). It features qualitative research carried out by alumni, students, and professors of the Existential Phenomenology Psychology MA Program at Seattle University. Those working in the field of mental health, education, and psychology, as well as graduate students from other programs, are welcome to attend. The cost of the conference is $ 50, including lunch and dinner. The deadline for registration is June 13. Topics of the presentation include: Staying Alive: Erikson on Actualities and Transformations in Research, On Being a Couple: Clinical Applications of a Dialogal Inquiry, Death, Grace and Transformation: A Social Constructivist Lens on the Loss of a Sibling in Early to Mid-Adulthood, Healing Relationships, Pointing the Way to Discovery: Using Creative Writing Practice in Phenomenological Research, The Impact of Combat Trauma on the Veteran’s Family Members, and The Experience of Touch and Bodily Self Awareness, and Experiencing Interpersonal Grace: Transformation Following Disgrace. For information contact Steen Halling shalling@seattleu.edu

Department Links

• International Human Science Research Newsletter
  Published by the Department of Psychology
  
  
• Graduate Student and Alumni Participation in Presentations and Publications
  A list of publications by graduate students and alumni of the graduate psychology program
  
  
• Access the Eugene Gendlin On-line Library, holding all of Gendlin’s published and unpublished manuscripts for free download.