Programs and Support For Our Military CommunityThe Military and Veteran Psychology concentration seeks to train mental health professionals to provide services to military service members, veterans, and their families. The program welcomes students from all backgrounds both civilian and military. It is designed for students who want to work with the military and veteran population, and their families. William James College provides a supportive learning community for student veterans, family and friends of military personnel, and for those interested in working with veterans and military families.
The MVP concentration requires students to: complete focused academic coursework, participate in 2 years of non-academic personal and professional development activities with other students, provide relevant direct services through field training, and conduct research in the areas of military and/or veteran matters.
The MVP concentration at William James College is open in its entirety to students enrolled in a PsyD in Clinical Psychology or the on-campus MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The coursework associated with this concentration is also available to all eligible graduate students, whether or not they are enrolled in the concentration.
William James College is a proud signatory of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Excellence.
Military and veteran students can choose to also participate in the Train Vets to Treat Vets® (TVTV)program, which is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Veteran Services. The TVTV program offers a supportive community for our military and veteran community as well as mentorship. Students in the TVTV program work alongside William James College faculty to develop community programming and to conduct research. These are paid positions.
The Military & Veterans Psychology (MVP®) Program is offered as a concentration in the following academic programs:
Masters level students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program may apply to enter the MVP concentration prior to the end of fall semester year one.
Students in the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology apply to MVP prior to their second-year practicum search, or by the end of fall semester year one for students entering with advanced standing.
Area of Emphasis (9 credits)
For Clinical Psychology PsyD students
CLI SB700 - Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (credits: 2) (summer semester)
CLI MV522 - Substance Abuse and Addictions in Military and Veteran Communities (credits: 1) (summer semester)
CLI MV555 - Trauma Theory and Treatment with Emphasis on Military and Veteran Populations (credits: 3) (fall semester)
CLI MV545 - Military Psychology and Culture (credits: 2) (spring semester) This course can be taken in the same semester as CLI MV515 - Military Families and the Cycle of Deployment (credits: 1) (spring semester)
Area of Emphasis (7 credits)
For Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA students
MVP concentration students are required to participate in an experiential learning group. These are a unique opportunity for added support and learning. Groups are cohort-based and meet weekly for 1-hour throughout the year. There are 15 sessions per semester. These groups are facilitated by a MVP faculty member and consist of non-military and military and veteran students in our community. While it is required for MVP concentration students, all students in the William James College community are invited to participate. These are offered at no fee to students and are not graded. WJC alumni are also invited to participate in these groups. Please contact Jenny_Dolympia@williamjames.edu for more information.
Cases involving veterans or their families must comprise at least 20% of the entirety of MVP students’ WJC fieldwork. Students who secure a training position in a veteran-only clinic, center, or hospital will fulfill this requirement in a single year. When access to veterans or their families is limited or not possible, students will work with training and field education directors to gain additional experience with trauma, depression, and substance abuse. Service learning projects will complement and extend the contact that students have with the veteran community. The concentration director will determine if field placement and service learning experiences fulfill MVP requirements. Doctoral students should apply to MVP veteran-only field sites for year three.
MVP students will do six small service or community learning projects over a 2-year period. The Associate Director of Veterans Relations will assist students in the planning and evaluation of their service learning projects. Students with outstanding independent involvement in the veteran community may apply to waive this requirement.
