The University of Texas at Dallas campus is one of the most diverse campuses in the country. The demographical descriptive statistics are as follows – 31% Asian American, 28% White, 15% Latinx/Latine, 14% International, 5% African American, 4% Bi or Multiracial, 0.1% Native American and 0.1% Native Hawaiian. Within the international student population, over 100 countries are represented on campus and the most prevalent countries of origin include India, China, Taiwan, Iran, and Vietnam. UT Dallas was ranked by BestColleges as 14th in the nation for commitment to LGBTQIA+ inclusion and scored 5/5 stars on the Campus Pride Index, reflecting the institution’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ -inclusive policies, programming, and practices.
The UTD Student Counseling Center’s primary training modality is experiential, emphasizing clinical practice and service delivery with the goal of creating ethical and well-rounded generalist mental health practitioners who hold values related to social justice and equity. We follow a developmental approach to facilitate the transition from graduate student to professional psychologist, particularly as we work with trainees at varying stages of development (i.e., beginning/advanced practicum trainees, doctoral interns). By working closely with senior staff and supervisors, trainees assume increasing levels of responsibility and autonomy, expanding their professional roles as training progresses.
Training is designed to facilitate trainees' clinical competence, foster the continued development of professional/clinical judgment, and integrate research and evidence-based practice. Enhancement of awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity, identity, and intersectionality is integral in all facets of training, which reflects our commitment to cultural diversity, social justice and equity. Our training philosophy integrates a relational model which utilizes self-reflection, authenticity, and mutual growth. We are also deeply committed to facilitating the integration of personal and professional identities through engaging in supportive, yet challenging supervisory and mentoring relationships.