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This course examines major traditions within Western psychology and how they conceptualize mental health, normalcy, and pathology. Learners explore the historical development of Western psychology, its core domains, and influential theoretical approaches, including psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, attachment-based, and evidence-based clinical models.
The course emphasizes how Western frameworks distinguish cultural variation from clinically significant distress, dysfunction, and risk, situating diagnostic thresholds within historical and cultural contexts. Foundational concepts from developmental psychology and attachment theory support lifespan understanding of mental health. Learners also examine contemporary therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and somatic-informed trauma therapies, alongside critical dialogue with selected non-Western and Indigenous frameworks.
This course culminates in a capstone project that articulates a context-sensitive, ethically grounded understanding of Western psychology’s role in contemporary mental health practice.
Analyze key domains of Western psychology (e.g., clinical, developmental, cognitive) and their underlying theoretical and cultural assumptions in order to evaluate how Western frameworks distinguish between cultural variation, statistical deviance, and clinically significant distress, dysfunction, or harm.
Critically synthesize core concepts from clinical psychology theories, developmental stage models, and attachment theory to formulate an integrative understanding of human mental development across the lifespan.
Evaluate major evidence-based therapeutic approaches used in Western clinical practice (e.g., CBT, ACT, DBT, somatic-informed therapies) in order to assess their theoretical foundations, mechanisms of action, clinical indications, and empirical support.
Compare and contrast Western psychological models with selected non-Western and Indigenous approaches to identify how cultural, historical, and epistemological contexts shape definitions of mental health and healing.
Critique the historical and cultural limitations of Western psychological paradigms in order to propose more inclusive, ethically grounded, and context-sensitive frameworks for understanding mental health within integrative practice.
Required Course Pack:
Required Textbooks:
View the required textbooks for this class, including ISBN, edition, and retail price, by visiting our Required Textbooks page.
Total Course Price:
View the total course price including tuition, fees, course materials, and shipping online here.
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