Which Schools in California Offer PsyD Programs? A Complete Guide for Aspiring Child Therapists

California hosts more PsyD programs than any other state, but which ones truly prepare you for specialized work with children and adolescents? For aspiring child therapists, distinguishing between general clinical programs and those offering genuine specialization matters profoundly.

This analysis examines California’s PsyD landscape, evaluates programs through objective criteria, and explains why Southern California University of Health Sciences stands apart for clinicians committed to psychodynamic child and adolescent practice.

Ready to explore specialized training? Request information about SCU’s PsyD in Child Psychology & Psychotherapy or schedule a campus tour.

Understanding California’s PsyD Landscape

California currently hosts approximately 20 APA-accredited PsyD programs. These programs vary dramatically in philosophical approaches, clinical training models, and specialty emphases.

The American Psychological Association (APA) serves as the primary accrediting body for doctoral psychology programs, ensuring programs meet rigorous standards for curriculum, faculty qualifications, clinical training, diversity initiatives, and student outcomes. Graduates from APA-accredited programs qualify for licensure in all U.S. states.

California also recognizes programs with regional accreditation (such as WASC) meeting state-specific requirements. Graduates qualify for California licensure but may face additional requirements for out-of-state licensure.

According to the APA Commission on Accreditation, accredited programs must demonstrate a clear educational mission, adequate faculty qualifications, sufficient clinical training opportunities, systematic outcome assessment, and commitment to diversity and cultural competency.

APA accreditation offers maximum flexibility for interstate practice. California Board approval suffices if you’re committed to a California practice and prioritize specialized training over geographic flexibility.

Five Notable California PsyD Programs

1. Southern California University of Health Sciences – Reiss-Davis (Whittier)

SCU’s Reiss-Davis PsyD in Child Psychology & Psychotherapy represents California’s only doctoral program exclusively dedicated to psychodynamic child and adolescent psychology.

Strengths: Exclusive psychodynamic child focus (not a concentration); 80-year Reiss-Davis legacy in child psychoanalytic treatment; interprofessional training alongside medical and allied health students at a comprehensive health sciences university; hybrid format accommodating working professionals; cultural humility framework integrated throughout curriculum

Target Market: Aspiring child therapists committed to psychodynamic/psychoanalytic approaches; working professionals seeking accessible doctoral training; clinicians prioritizing specialized child expertise over generalist preparation; those committed to California practice

Considerations: WASC accreditation and California Board approval rather than APA accreditation; graduates qualify for California licensure but may face additional requirements for out-of-state practice

2. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (Los Angeles)

Pepperdine offers an APA-accredited PsyD emphasizing integration of spirituality with clinical practice, following a practitioner-scholar model with strong community mental health focus.

Strengths: Established reputation since 1971; extensive clinical training network; 97% internship placement rate; strong licensure exam pass rates

Target Market: Clinicians seeking generalist training with Christian values integration; students interested in community mental health; those prioritizing APA accreditation

Considerations: Generalist training without specialized child focus; primarily CBT and integrative orientations; full-time residential format; approximately $66,850+ annual tuition

3. Alliant International University (Multiple California Campuses)

Alliant operates APA-accredited PsyD programs across California (San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Fresno) with concentration options including child and family practice.

Strengths: Multiple locations providing geographic accessibility; established clinical training network; diverse student body

Target Market: Students seeking geographic convenience with specialization options; multicultural psychology emphasis; APA-accredited training

Considerations: Concentration tracks provide exposure but not exclusive child focus; larger cohorts (40-60 students); primarily CBT and multicultural framework

4. The Wright Institute (Berkeley)

The Wright Institute offers an APA-accredited PsyD emphasizing multicultural psychology and social justice approaches with strong Bay Area community partnerships.

Strengths: Strong social justice framework; emphasis on underserved populations; smaller cohorts enabling closer faculty relationships

Target Market: Clinicians committed to social justice and community mental health; smaller, mission-driven program environment

Considerations: Generalist training without child specialization; primarily social justice orientations; full-time format

5. Azusa Pacific University (Azusa)

APU offers an APA-accredited PsyD integrating Christian faith with psychological science.

Strengths: Faith-integrated training; strong clinical training; emphasis on character development

Target Market: Christian clinicians seeking explicit faith integration; values-aligned educational environment

Considerations: Religious framework may not align with all worldviews; generalist training; full-time format

California PsyD Programs: Quick Comparison

Note: Tuition rates subject to change. Contact programs directly for current costs and verify all program details before applying.

Evaluating PsyD Programs: Critical Factors

Licensure Examination Performance

The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) represents the primary licensure exam required in all U.S. jurisdictions. According to the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, the national first-time pass rate averages approximately 80-85%. Programs substantially below this benchmark may indicate curriculum weaknesses.

Clinical Training Quality

The quality and breadth of clinical experiences directly impact competency development. Consider practicum hours (APA requires minimum 1,500), setting diversity, population exposure, supervision quality, and specialty opportunities in child/adolescent work.

Theoretical Orientation

Programs emphasize different approaches—some primarily CBT, others integrative, and few specialize in psychodynamic frameworks. Your theoretical alignment matters profoundly, especially if drawn to depth psychology and relationally-focused treatment with children.

Interprofessional Training

Programs facilitating interprofessional education—where psychology students learn alongside medical, nursing, or social work students—better prepare graduates for integrated practice environments increasingly common in contemporary healthcare.

The SCU Advantage: Why SCU Leads in Specialized Child Training

California’s Only Psychodynamic Child and Adolescent PsyD

Unlike generalist programs offering child “concentrations,” SCU’s PsyD in Child Psychology & Psychotherapy exclusively focuses on psychodynamic work with children, adolescents, and families from day one.

The Reiss-Davis Legacy

SCU’s Reiss-Davis program carries forward the 80-year legacy of Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, renowned for psychoanalytic child and adolescent treatment and training. This heritage brings deep expertise in psychodynamic approaches, established clinical partnerships, and faculty with decades of specialized experience.

Interprofessional Health Sciences Environment

As a comprehensive health sciences university, SCU operates programs across chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and clinical psychology. PsyD students experience interprofessional collaboration through shared courses and integrated clinical experiences—particularly valuable since children with mental health needs often present with co-occurring developmental, medical, or learning challenges.

Hybrid Format for Working Professionals

SCU’s monthly residency format accommodates working professionals through hybrid learning: online coursework with intensive monthly weekend residencies. This enables students to maintain clinical employment while pursuing doctoral education.

Cultural Humility Framework

The program explicitly centers cultural humility, integrating these considerations throughout developmental psychology, psychopathology, assessment, and intervention coursework rather than treating diversity as separate content.

WASC Accreditation and California Board Approval

SCU’s PsyD holds WASC accreditation and California Board of Psychology approval rather than APA accreditation. This pathway suits students committed to California practice who prioritize specialized psychodynamic child psychology training over maximum geographic flexibility.

Practical Considerations

Cost and Financial Aid

Doctoral psychology education represents substantial investment. Compare total cost of attendance, investigate scholarship opportunities, understand loan options, and calculate debt-to-income ratios. SCU provides financial aid resources to help navigate funding. The hybrid format’s accommodation of continued employment can significantly reduce debt burden.

Geographic Preferences

Consider where you intend to practice. California offers significant opportunities for child psychologists: large, diverse population; strong psychodynamic therapy traditions; growing recognition of children’s mental health needs; diverse practice settings.

Beyond Graduation: Career Trajectories

Child psychology careers extend across:

Clinical Settings: Private practice; community mental health centers; school-based programs; hospital child psychiatry departments; residential treatment facilities; early intervention programs

Specialized Areas: Infant mental health; trauma-focused therapy; play therapy; autism spectrum services; pediatric health psychology; forensic psychology

Non-Clinical Careers: Academic positions; research; program administration; consultation to schools and pediatric practices; policy work

The profession continues evolving as awareness grows regarding children’s mental health needs, particularly following pandemic-related increases in childhood anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges.

Making Your Decision

For aspiring child therapists committed to specialized work through psychodynamic frameworks, consider whether generalist clinical training or focused child psychology preparation better serves long-term goals.

Students drawn to depth psychology, psychoanalytic developmental theories, and relationally-based treatment will find dramatically different experiences in programs centering these approaches versus those emphasizing primarily cognitive-behavioral interventions.

Consider geographic practice intentions carefully. Students committed to California practice may find specialized training more valuable than APA accreditation’s geographic flexibility.

Evaluate program format honestly. Working professionals may find hybrid models essential for doctoral education access.

Ready to explore specialized training? Learn how SCU’s Doctor of Psychology program prepares practitioners through its unique combination of psychodynamic depth, interprofessional education, and working professional accessibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes SCU’s PsyD different?

SCU offers California’s only PsyD exclusively dedicated to psychodynamic child and adolescent psychology. The hybrid format accommodates professionals, and interprofessional learning distinguishes it from single-discipline schools. The program holds WASC accreditation and California Board approval rather than APA accreditation, ideal for students committed to California practice prioritizing specialized training.

Is APA accreditation required for California licensure?

No. California Board of Psychology recognizes programs with regional accreditation (WASC) meeting state requirements. Graduates qualify for California licensure, though practicing in other states may require additional documentation.

How long does a PsyD program take?

Most PsyD programs require 4-5 years post-bachelor’s: 3-4 years of coursework and practica, plus a 1-year predoctoral internship. Following graduation, most states require 1-2 years of supervised postdoctoral experience before independent licensure.

Can I specialize in child psychology at any PsyD program?

Many programs offer child psychology “concentrations”—typically 2-4 specialized courses plus child-focused practica. However, concentration models differ substantially from programs where child psychology is the entire curriculum focus, providing deeper training from day one.

What theoretical orientation should I choose?

Theoretical orientation profoundly influences practice. Psychodynamic approaches emphasize unconscious processes, early relationships, and developmental understanding. Cognitive-behavioral approaches focus on thoughts/behaviors and present-focused intervention. Choose alignment with your values and conceptualization style.

How much do child psychologists earn in California?

Earnings vary significantly based on practice setting, experience, and location. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, California psychologists earn median salaries around $115,000-$130,000 annually. Solo practice owners may earn $150,000-$250,000+ once established, while employed psychologists typically earn $80,000-$120,000.

What is the job outlook for child psychologists?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of psychologists is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for all occupations. Child psychology demand has accelerated following increased awareness of children’s mental health needs and pandemic-related challenges among youth.