MA in Clinical Psychology, LGBT-Affirmative Psychology
Empower members of marginalized groups to live healthy lives.
Antioch has been a pioneer in social justice for over 160 years, consistently pushing the boundaries of equality for the greater good of all marginalized groups. In the LGBT-Affirmative Psychology Specialization, you’ll develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and self-awareness to implement the most effective and empowering mental health services for LGBT individuals. Challenge how you understand identity and become part of a community of advocates challenging broader categories of identity and helping advance greater equality and understanding.
This degree is offered by Antioch University's Los Angeles Campus.
Program Overview
We launched one of the nation’s first graduate psychology specializations devoted to affirmative psychology for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals over 10 years ago. Now in its second decade of training professionals to become practitioner-advocates in the LGBT community, the program welcomes you and is excited for you to explore our intersections between social justice and LGBT resilience and liberation. In two years, you can complete all the required coursework for California licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). The Antioch University Los Angeles specialization in LGBT-Affirmative Theory and Practice will help you as an affirmative practitioner address the impact of minority stress (e.g., both institutionalized and internalized homo/bi/transphobia) that can be seen as underlying causes for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, unsafe sex, and other psychic challenges faced by many LGBT individuals. The LGBT Specialization benefits both LGBT people wanting to become immersed in the life-saving domain of affirmative theory and practice as well as “allies” who themselves may not be LGBT but are eager to serve this community with new competencies and qualifications.
Additional Information
This program is designed to lead to state licensure.
Through the LGBT specialization, students will:
- Learn to treat symptoms of internalized homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexism in LGBT clients through exploring the unconscious.
- Explore unconscious dynamics unique to LGBT people
- Gain expertise in the most effective techniques in LGBT affirmative psychotherapy
- Grow awareness of the unique issues associated with multiple oppressions of LGBT people of color
Specialization Courses (17 units)
- Affirmative Psychotherapy
- Healing Historical Oppression in LGBT Communities
- Dismantling Privilege and Oppression within LGBT Communities
- LGBT Clinical and Psychological Wellness Across the Lifespan
- LGBT Community Action
- LGBT Identity Workshop
- Lesbian Women
- Gay Men
- Bisexual People
- Queer women
- Transgender and Gender Non-conforming
- Intersex
- LGBT Electives
We are honored to have our LGBT Specialization in Clinical Psychology featured in the NY Times. This article discusses the importance of LGBT-affirmative theories and practices in mental health training and makes some powerful statements about the inherent, and even spiritual, nature of being LGBT and the need for a unique LGBT psychology. Although there is one paradigm represented in the article, it is only one of the perspectives that is discussed in the program. As Antioch University prides itself on social justice, we firmly believe in the importance of incorporating multiple realities with students. As such, the LGBT Specialization cherishes these alternative perspectives in the training of our students.
As an Initiative of Antioch University, Colors LGBTQ Youth Counseling Center has partnered with Antioch University Counseling Center, to create the nation’s first site for practice of LGBTQ-Affirmative Theory and Practice devoted to the well-being of youth and their families. Colors is a free LGBTQ-affirmative youth counseling center serving the needs of Los Angeles area Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth under 25.
Faculty Spotlights
Dr. Vallerie E. Coleman, Ph.D
Adjunct Faculty
Amanda Fenn, MS, LPC, LMHC, PPS
Adjunct Faculty
Mark Troedson, PhD
Interim Director of Clinical Training
Kelly Kent, PhD
Adjunct Faculty
Admissions
How to Apply
- Complete an online application.
- Submit the Application Fee $50. Note: The application fee is waived for anyone attending an information session. Interested in attending? Sign up now!
- Submit an official transcript indicating Bachelor’s degree conferral from a regionally accredited college or university to AULA Admissions.
- Complete and submit the admissions essay. The admissions essay must be typed in 12 pt. font and double-spaced, with your name typed on the top of each page. The admissions reviewer(s) is interested in your capacity for self-reflection and your ability to think critically, as well as your writing ability. Some people may be asked to take steps to improve their writing skills when they enter the program so that they are writing at the graduate level. (Min. 800 words, Max. 1500 words)
- The applicant should choose to respond to one of the following essay prompts in support of the application. 1.) How have your life experiences to this point prepared you for graduate study in psychology? (Please be specific) OR 2.) What does the term social justice mean to you? What is a personal bias you would be willing to address during your participation in the MAP Program?
- OPTIONAL: Applicants may submit one professional letter of recommendation. The letter should come from a faculty member (present/former teacher), employer, or mental health professional. Letters from peer co-workers, friends, relatives, or personal therapists are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. The letter should address the applicant’s potential for success in graduate study in psychology. Please attach the written recommendation to the form when submitting the recommendation. The letter of recommendation must be submitted in Word or PDF format, and we strongly encourage it to be one page in length.
- After we receive your application materials, we will contact you to make an appointment for a group interview. This interview is an opportunity for you to present your goals and qualifications and to ask questions about Antioch University’s program.
- Admitted Student: Securing Your Seat You will be required to submit the following within 10 business days of your acceptance letter:
- A non-refundable tuition deposit of $250. Important Details: The enrollment deposit will be applied to your first term's tuition. The deposit is non-refundable.
- A completed electronic Student Intent to Enroll via your admissions portal
- Complete your Enrollment Agreement Form. The form will be sent to your Antioch email address after acceptance via DocuSign.
Please submit all materials to: Admissions Office, 5150 W. Goldleaf Circle, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90056 or [email protected]. All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Application Deadline
| Quarter | Priority Deadline* | Application Deadline*** |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | February 1 | May 1 |
| Fall | May 1 | August 1 |
| Winter | August 1 | November 1 |
| Spring | November 1 | February 1 |
| *International application deadline is priority deadline | ||
| Please review the Academic Calendar for additional details. | ||
Cost
Clinical Psychology (MA) & Psychological Studies (MA)
| Cost per credit | $ 956 |
|---|---|
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | |
Financial Aid
A majority of AULA students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AULA.
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