Psych NP programs that are the most psychotherapy focused?

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · Jun 30, 2013

I'm interested in this information too but I spoke to therapists in other disciplines (psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors). They all say the same thing. You really learn on the job and through additional continuing education and mentoring after you graduate.

priorities2 · Jul 5, 2013

Makes sense. I am curious about Vanderbilt's program. With online lectures and only a 12-month curriculum, how much psychotherapy skill can really be gained compared to longer or in-person programs I wonder?

elkpark · Jul 5, 2013

Makes sense. I am curious about Vanderbilt's program. With online lectures and only a 12-month curriculum, how much psychotherapy skill can really be gained compared to longer or in-person programs I wonder?

Umm, not much. Psych NP programs are focused primarily on diagnosis and med management. There's not much room left for psychotherapy (and v. little expectation, as far as I can tell, that psych NPs will be providing psychotherapy, same as psychiatrists). The curricula I've looked at seem be more or less traditional NP-type curricula with a psychotherapy course tacked on, just enough to differentiate the program as a psych NP program. Psych CNSs, which are being entirely eliminated, used to be rigorously trained as psychotherapists, but those days are over with and the psych CNS credential is being eliminated.

priorities2 · Jul 5, 2013

It's unfortunate that the credential is being eliminated. I wonder why that is. I heard Penn is incorporating some of its CNS curriculum into the NP curriculum, at least.

Another question - I get in-state tuition at UND based on my state of residence. I'm thinking about applying to their online program and supplementing it with non-degree-seeking courses in psychotherapy at a local state school. Does this seem feasible/like a good idea?

IcySageNurse · Jul 5, 2013

I've seen a few schools that offer quite a few psychotherapy courses and look like very good programs. As elkpark said, many just offer the FNP program with 2 or 3 "specialty courses" tacked on, typically psychopharmacology, etc. The program at Columbia University is an example of a program with what looks like a very specialized concentration in psych/mental health, including courses in psychotherapy. Here's their curriculum (I counted 5 distinct therapy courses, which I bolded. I'm sure many of the others include therapy too):

[h=2]Sample Program Plan[/h] [TABLE]

[TR=bgcolor: #99FFFF]

[TD=width: 20%, bgcolor: #003366, align: center]Course Number[/TD]

[TD=width: 50%, bgcolor: #003366, align: center]Course Name[/TD]

[TD=width: 15%, bgcolor: #003366, align: center]Credits[/TD]

[TD=width: 15%, bgcolor: #003366, align: center]Type[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Summer I: 12 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6100[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Physiology[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6680[/TD]

[TD]Introduction to Addictive Behaviors: Theories of Causation[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6826[/TD]

[TD]Evaluation and Application of Research[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8786[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Clinical Assessment Across the Lifespan[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Fall I: 12 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6511[/TD]

[TD]Behavioral Development Across the Life Span: A Risk/Vulnerability Perspective[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6920[/TD]

[TD]Health and Social Policy: The Context for Practice and Research[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8102[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Pharmacology[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8792[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing I[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8793[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Health Assessment in Psychiatric-Mental Health in Nursing II: Clinical Practicum[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Spring I: 9 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6121[/TD]

[TD]Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6594[/TD]

[TD]Psychopathology[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8560[/TD]

[TD]Family Theory in Context[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8590[/TD]

[TD]Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy I

[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Summer II: 5 - 11 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6681[/TD]

[TD]Contemporary Issues and Trends in Addiction[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Optional Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6682[/TD]

[TD]Clinical Management of the Patient with Addiction: Evaluation and Treatment[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1-3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Optional Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N6940[/TD]

[TD]Management and Advanced Practice Nursing[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8571[/TD]

[TD]Seminar on Family Therapy and Technique

[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8591[/TD]

[TD]Theory and Practice of Individual Psychotherapy II

[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Fall II: 6 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8562[/TD]

[TD]Practice of Family Therapy

[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8588[/TD]

[TD]Theory of Group Psychotherapy

[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8592[/TD]

[TD]Clinical Practice and Supervision with Groups[/TD]

[TD=align: center]2[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Spring II: 7 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8290[/TD]

[TD]Incorporating Genetics into Advanced Nursing Practice[/TD]

[TD=align: center]3[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Core[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8594[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I[/TD]

[TD=align: center]4[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 4, align: center]Summer III: 5 Credits[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8113[/TD]

[TD]Psychopharmacology in Psychiatric and Mental Health[/TD]

[TD=align: center]1[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: pseudoLink, align: center]N8595[/TD]

[TD]Advanced Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing II[/TD]

[TD=align: center]4[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Specialty[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 2, align: right]Total Credits[/TD]

[TD=align: center]56 - 61[/TD]

[TD=align: center] [/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

priorities2 · Jul 5, 2013

Thanks for linking to that, IcySageNurse.

I've done a bit more research today and determined that a few other programs also have extensive therapy components:

- OHSU

- University of Washington

- Case Western Reserve University

Programs that *seem* not to (based on the course lists):

- Boston College

- UND

IcySageNurse · Jul 5, 2013

Thanks for linking to that, IcySageNurse.
I've done a bit more research today and determined that a few other programs also have extensive therapy components:
- OHSU
- University of Washington
- Case Western Reserve University
Programs that *seem* not to (based on the course lists):
- Boston College
- UND

Your welcome. I was going to suggest OHSU but couldn't find the curriculum. NP schools on the West Coast tend to be great though IMHO. Every curriculum I've looked at looks really good - OHSU, UW, UC Davis, etc. The curriculum for the FNP program at UCSF is amazing - I wish all NP schools followed their model.

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · Jul 6, 2013

Elkpark:

What do you suggest for prospective psych NP who want to learn psychotherapy? I myself thought about taking mental health counseling courses as a non-degree student.

krankenschwesternyc · Jul 11, 2013

NYU is very heavy on the psychotherapy in their Psych NP program. You can also look into attending something like the New York School for Psychoanalytic Therapy and Analysis (NYSPP Homepage). Don't know where you are but I'm sure there is something like this in your area.

Mkim680 · Sep 25, 2013

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who is doing the pre-reqs to apply for a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program. I got most of my psychotherapy experience after graduate school by reading lots of books, clinical supervision, attending psychotherapy institutes, and learning on the job. There are many psychotherapy institutes which are very helpful in teaching psychotherapy specifically to the style you choose such as psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR etc..

JavelinO · Nov 4, 2013

I attended Penn's program and we had a heavy emphasis on psychotherapy, particularly CBT. When speaking with some other fellow psych NPs, it sounds like we had a lot more than other schools out in the Northwest.