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Bryant University, in launching its first doctoral program, intends to educate a new generation of qualified mental health practitioners.
Bryant's new doctor of clinical psychology (Psy.D.) degree program will launch in the fall of 2025 under the university’s school of health and behavioral sciences, the university said Tuesday.
“We are in the midst of a severe behavioral health crisis, with access to care being a major issue,” said Joseph Trunzo, associate director of Bryant's health and behavioral science school. He said a practitioner shortage in Rhode Island and elsewhere became more acute during the pandemic.
The new program will bring qualified mental health clinicians into communities where they are most needed, added university president Ross Gittell. Because Bryant specializes in experiential education, students can expect hands-on clinical placements and a doctoral internship.
According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, many adults have a diagnosed mental health condition, but have problems accessing affordable care. In more than half of U.S. counties, NAMI says, there is not a single practicing psychiatrist.
The new doctoral program will go through a multi-year accreditation process through the New England Commission of Higher Education, the university said.
Bryant, in Smithfield, offers academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences. It touts its status as an institution that supports economic mobility and professional success for its students.
