Palo Alto University | Psychology and Counseling Degrees | APA-Accredited At the Forefront of Mental & Behavioral Health Explore Programs Discover accredited programs that meet your goals. Request Information Get more information and ask questions about our programs. Apply Now Review a step-by-step guide to submit your application. We offer lifelong learning and academic knowledge, while serving our community. PAU's strength has always been our people. Meet the Faculty Our faculty bring groundbreaking research and real-world expertise into every classroom. Visit PAU Take a virtual tour and experience PAU’s vibrant academic community. Connect with Alumni PAU’s Alumni Association brings together and supports alumni, fostering lifelong relationships. "PAU Was the Best Fit for My Training Goals" “After the interview weekend, it was obvious Palo Alto University was the best fit for my training goals. PAU was ultimately my school of choice because of the university’s dedication to diversity studies, opportunities for clinical practice with monolingual Spanish speakers, and because of the faculty who are groundbreaking researchers within the diversity literature.” Monique Cano, PhD Former Student, PhD in Clinical Psychology "Strong Internships Placements and Industry Connections" “PAU came highly recommended for its strong internship placements and industry connections, which made it an easy choice for me.” Maggie Tsai PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision Student & Alumna of the MA Counseling program "Small Cohort Where You Have a Great Student to Faculty Ratio" “The reason I chose PAU is because I found a true sense of belonging here, and there's this focus on a small cohort where you have a great student to faculty ratio. And to me, that was quite important. That's the support I needed. You're made to feel welcome from day one. ” David Rouxel PhD in Clinical Psychology Student "Living Up to Their Mission" “The hope PAU gave me. It has been indescribable, because I didn't think I would be where I am today and, thanks to PAU, like PAU made that happen. So they're definitely living up to their mission.” Javi Garces BS in Psychology and Social Action Student "A Sense of Community is One of the Major Assets" “We have a culture here in the University of support among cohorts and students and even across different cohorts. That is something that also is very helpful. And I think that the university actively stimulates these types of spaces. Having a sense of community is one of the major assets that you get here at PAU.” Michel Rattner PhD in Clinical Psychology Student Excellence in Research, Academics & Training Founded in 1975, PAU is a non-profit university offering accredited programs in behavioral health. 50 Number of Years as a Leading Institution in Behavioral Health 100% PsyD APA-Accredited Internship Match Rate 500k+ Total Clinical Hours Served Annually 15K+ Client Visits to The Clinics @ PAU Annually 550+ Continuing & Professional Studies Programs 100% National Counselor Certification Rate for MA Students Faculty & Research At PAU, faculty are leading researchers, clinicians, and mentors who create a learning environment grounded in real-world experience, evidence-based practice, and student support. Renowned Faculty Our faculty are global experts delivering 1:1 mentorship and driving cutting-edge research. Research Our research labs equip students with the advanced skills needed to address complex challenges. Hands-On Clinical Practice Get real-world experience by participating in supervised internships with The Clinics @ PAU. Upcoming Events apr 15 Forensic LIVE: Assessing Malingering: Foundational Issues and Developments The assessment of malingering is one of the most important issues in forensic psychology. Moreover, this area of researc... Wed, April 15, 2026 – Thu, April 16 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM PST $600 Register Now! apr 21 Forensic LIVE: Forensic Evaluation of Workplace Disability This two-day program provides a conceptual framework and practical strategies for forensic evaluations in matters involv... Tue, April 21, 2026 – Wed, April 22 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST $600 Register Now! apr 27 Digital Mental Health LIVE: Scrolling Minds: Understanding and Addressing the Mental Health Effects of Social Media Social media has become an integral part of modern life, influencing self-perception, relationships, and mental well-bei... Mon, April 27, 2026 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PST $75 Register Now! may Forensic LIVE: Ethics in Forensic Psychology Practice This training uses a case study approach to discuss ethical challenges forensic psychologists commonly encounter. After ... Thu, May 7, 2026 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST $350 Register Now! may 12 Forensic LIVE: High-Stakes Sentencing: Forensic Psychology, Neuropsychology, Mitigation and Risk at the Point... Sentencing is the phase of a criminal case where forensic opinions carry extraordinary weight and where courts apply the... Tue, May 12, 2026 – Wed, May 13 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST $600 Register Now! may 27 Digital Mental Health LIVE: Unlocking Potential: How Digital Therapeutics Can Transform Your Practice Integrating digital therapeutics (DTx) and wellness applications into psychological practice transforms mental health ca... Wed, May 27, 2026 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PST $0 Register Now! jun Clinical LIVE: Healing the Healers: Introducing the BYRD Model for Culturally Rooted Trauma Care Healing the Healers: Introducing the BYRD Model for Culturally Rooted Trauma Care is a 3-hour training designed for clin... Fri, June 5, 2026 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST $150 Register Now! jun 16 AAFP Criminal Proceedings LIVE: Forensic Evaluations in Defense Base Act Cases The Defense Base Act (DBA) is a federal workers compensation program that provides benefits to civilian employees who su... Tue, June 16, 2026 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST $200 Register Now! jun 25 Child & Adolescent LIVE: Intro to Child-Centered Play Therapy Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a developmentally responsive, evidence-based intervention designed to help childre... Thu, June 25, 2026 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST $100 Register Now! jun 26 Forensic LIVE: Report Writing for Forensic Mental Health Conducting well-constructed forensic evaluations is not enough to persuade judges, attorneys, and other referral sources... Fri, June 26, 2026 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST $350 Register Now! Apr 23 Writing Pedagogy: Mentoring Graduate Writers: Balancing Expectations and Empowerment This presentation is designed for faculty who work closely with students’ writing. It explores effective pedagogic... Thu, April 23, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM PST Register Here Apr 23 Writing Pedagogy: Mentoring Graduate Writers: Balancing Expectations and Empowerment This presentation is designed for faculty who work closely with students’ writing. It explores effective pedagogic... Thu, April 23, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM PST Zoom Link Apr 23 Admissions MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling & MS in Psychology Info Session Discover PAU’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in Psychology at this in-depth info-session. Learn more ab... Thu, April 23, 2026 05:15 PM – 06:00 PM PST Register Here Apr 29 Admissions Admission Drop-In Hours Get answers about any of our programs, the application pr... Wed, April 29, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM PST Register Here Apr 29 Admissions Master in Social Work Info Session Discover PAU’s Master of Social Work program. Meet with Program Director, Dr. Rose Wong, to learn about —curriculum, adm... Wed, April 29, 2026 05:30 PM – 06:15 PM PST Register Now Apr 30 Admissions PhD in Clinical Psychology Info Session Discover PAU’s PhD in Clinical Psychology Program. Meet with Faculty and Admissions to learn the next steps to app... Thu, April 30, 2026 05:15 PM – 06:00 PM PST Register Now May Admissions Meet PAU Meet PAU at our Admissions Info Session — learn about programs, application steps, and how to get started. Wed, May 6, 2026 05:15 PM – 06:00 PM PST Register Now May 14 Admissions Bachelor's Information Session Register for our Bachelor's Live Information Session. Learn about transfer credits, admissions process, and career... Thu, May 14, 2026 05:30 PM – 06:15 PM PST Register Here May 16 Admissions PAU Open House Join us for Palo Alto University’s Open House at the Allen Calvin Campus on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Prospective students... Sat, May 16, 2026 09:30 AM – 01:15 PM PST Register Here Jun Exit Counseling and Loan Repayment - Financial Literacy Course Money Talks is a Financial Literacy Course for al... Thu, June 4, 2026 12:00 PM – 01:00 PM PST Zoom Link Click Here to See All Events Latest News March 18, 2026 Meet Hannah Bales, LCSW Hannah Bales, LCSW, Field Director in Palo Alto University’s MSW program, brings deep clinical experience and a commitment to community-engaged field… March 18, 2026 Meet Dr. Marcos Apolonio Palo Alto University welcomes Dr. Marcos Apolonio, DSW, LCSW, as a new MSW Assistant Professor, bringing rich clinical, teaching, and cross‑cultural experience. February 11, 2026 Winter Gathering Brings Employees Together Faculty and staff gathered in person for a winter holiday celebration filled with food, activities, and shared moments that strengthened community at PAU. February 11, 2026 Cocoa, Cookies, and Connection: People Operations Brings Warmth to PAU People Operations hosted a Cocoa & Cookies Meet and Greet at Wiesneiski Hall, bringing staff together to connect and share updates on supporting employees at… February 10, 2026 PAU’s Commitment to Academic Freedom and Approach to Public Statements Read Palo Alto University’s official statement on academic freedom and its thoughtful, mission-aligned approach to issuing institutional statements on national… February 05, 2026 All In Together: Kicking Off 2026 Palo Alto University launched the year with its All In Community Celebration, bringing faculty and staff together to connect, reflect, and align around shared… January 13, 2026 Love by Design PAU alumna Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh shares the research behind her Emergent Love Model, redefining how couples build intentional, lasting relationships worldwide. January 13, 2026 Building a Culturally Informed Future for Behavioral Health PAU launches a new Clinical MSW program focused on culturally informed behavioral health practice, preparing graduates to meet California’s urgent workforce… January 13, 2026 Co-Inquiry in the Age of AI: Rethinking Research Education at PAU At PAU’s Provost Colloquium, Dr. Charlotte Beard explores how artificial intelligence can support ethical learning, critical thinking, and human-centered… January 08, 2026 Honoring Lives, Uplifting Community: Chloe Corcoran Keynotes Transgender Day of Remembrance Chloe Corcoran of Palo Alto University delivered the keynote at San Mateo County’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, centering compassion, accountability, and… December 18, 2025 Board of Trustees Welcomes Four New Members Palo Alto University has elected four new members to its Board of Trustees as it celebrates 50 years of advancing mental and behavioral health education. November 21, 2025 Unified Student Orientation: Building Community, Inspiring Connection Unified Student Orientation at Palo Alto University brought together incoming students from all programs for a day of connection, community-building, and… November 20, 2025 Palo Alto University Showcases Leadership and Community at ACES 2025 Palo Alto University faculty, students, and alumni showcased leadership, research, and community impact at ACES 2025 in Philadelphia. November 19, 2025 Writing Studio Expands Support for Doctoral Writers PAU’s Writing Studio launches a new Dissertation Boot Camp and expands programs that support doctoral students with structure, community, and expert guidance. November 19, 2025 Palo Alto University Renames Center for Educational Excellence in Honor of President Emerita Maureen... Palo Alto University renames its Center for Educational Excellence as the Maureen O’Connor Center for Teaching and Learning and establishes a new endowed fund. October 30, 2025 Palo Alto University Welcomes Dr. Christie K. Chung as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affai... Palo Alto University welcomes Dr. Christie K. Chung as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, beginning January 2026. October 24, 2025 The Second Phase of My Life After a successful career in journalism and brand communications in China, Maggie Tsai found a new calling in counseling at Palo Alto University. Her journey… October 24, 2025 Finding the Balance Between Pragmatism and Idealism From defying convention in the 1970s to shaping inclusive training models today, Dr. Peter Goldblum’s legacy at Palo Alto University reflects a lifelong… October 22, 2025 Build Your Own Adventure From first-generation student to U.S. Navy clinical psychologist and national LGBTQ health leader, Dr. Nick Grant (PhD ’15) credits Palo Alto University and… October 14, 2025 Dr. Kristel Nazzal, VP for Strategic Partnerships and University Relations Palo Alto University announces Dr. Kristel Nazzal as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and University Relations, leading the newly established SPUR… Take the Next Step Our Admissions Counselors are ready to guide you through the application process. Schedule a 1:1 advising meeting to learn more about how our programs fit your goals, discuss career paths, and collaborate on a game plan. Questions? Request Information Now. 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