Illinois School of Professional Psychology Receives Max Accreditation from the American Psychological Association
Illinois School of Professional Psychology Receives Maximum 10-Year Accreditation from APA for its Doctor of Psychology Program
Clinical psychology doctoral program at National Louis University will use the official recognition to advance culturally-sensitive clinicians in the practitioner-scholar tradition
(Chicago: August 16, 2021) – The Psy.D. program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University has earned 10 years accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), a key step for ensuring optimum quality standards in any clinical education setting.
“The ISPP faculty, staff, and students, along with the NLU administration, showed clear commitment to bringing this program to NLU,” said Dr. Leah Horvath, Professor and Program Director of the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University. “In the short time we have been part of the NLU community, we've had tremendous support and investment, which has allowed us to establish a high quality, rigorous, educational program invested in developing professional psychologists,” she added.
“The awarding of 10 years of accreditation from APA is an important recognition of this strong commitment. ISPP would not have been able to build this program without the students who believed in the legacy of ISPP and had faith in university leadership and program faculty. I am truly thankful for and impressed by our students and proud that we now have the outside recognition from APA to affirm their trust in us,” Dr. Horvath concluded.
APA accreditation demonstrates that a doctoral program has met the Standards of Accreditation, which prepares graduates to provide evidence-based services that are associated with improved wellbeing. Accreditation provides assurance that the program in which students are enrolled or are considering enrolling is engaged in continuous review and improvement of its quality, that it meets nationally endorsed standards in the profession, and that it is accountable for achieving what it sets out to do.
In a time when severe mental health issues are rising, especially among adolescents and young adults, the accreditation is coming at an auspicious moment. According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, cultural and social trends over the last ten years may be causing more mood-related disorders among this population, including more frequent instances of suicide-related outcomes. Beyond this group, the overall prevalence of mental illness among adults is also increasing, affecting nearly a fifth of the adult population, according to the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report.
There are an alarming number of psychological needs going unmet in America today. Fortunately, Psy.D. programs such as ISPP are poised to train a new generation of psychiatric professionals who will help build healthier, stronger communities.
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About The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP) has been designed to educate and train students so that they may eventually be able to function effectively as health service psychologists. It is our goal that ISPP’s program continues to build on the pioneering tradition in the field of professional psychology—as innovators in education and practice for health service psychologists. Our programs follow the practitioner-scholar model of clinical training, which prepares aspiring psychologists to develop the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required for successful clinical practice. For more information, please visit our website.
