Alliant has always been committed to helping students make a difference in society where they are needed most. The California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) was founded in 1969 to fill a crucial need for quality, professional psychology training in California, and it became the first free-standing professional school of clinical psychology in the United States. The timing coincided with a paradigm shift toward finding more effective therapeutic options to replace the negative and sometimes harmful methods of treating mental illness that had been used for decades.^1,2

The CSPP Legacy

CSPP was at the forefront of changing the education model by integrating classroom learning with practical application. This was a radical departure from the prevalent educational focus on theory and research.³ In the decades since, CSPP has trained thousands of psychologists and prepared them for licensure in a variety of specialties such as clinical psychology, marital and family therapy, organizational psychology, psychopharmacology, clinical counseling, and social work.

During that time, we achieved top accreditation and employed notable, expert faculty. In 2010, CSPP received the Suinn Minority Achievement Program Award from the American Psychological Association for excellence in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of ethnic minority students, and for its overall commitment to cultural diversity in all department activities.

Our Next Chapter

Alliant is at the start of an exciting new era that expands our mission to treat the overall health of a person by recognizing the connection between mental and physical health. What we’ve accomplished with mental health education and training we want to apply to our nursing students through the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SHNS) programs.

The integration of mental and physical health is a natural extension of our commitment to ensure that every community has access to the total healthcare they need. The connection between mind and body when it comes to our collective health is undeniable and we are committed to being part of this positive shift toward total, effective healthcare.^4,5

SNHS and the Future of Healthcare

The past few years have brought great challenges as well as breakthroughs and opportunities to change how we view and treat patients moving forward. It’s an exciting time to be part of a movement that is transforming modern healthcare and help prepare our students to enter the healthcare field with confidence.

Through our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing, Direct Entry (MSN-DE), and Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Executive programs, SNHS is utilizing the same scholarship paired with practice model that has been so successful in our CSPP programs. And we’re continuing to grow with our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program starting in 2025.

Here's to our next chapter and to preparing healthcare professionals to be on the cutting edge of healthcare for today and the future.

Sources

1.  Pardes, H. Pincus, H.A. “Treatment in the seventies: a decade of refinement.” National Library of Medicine, (n.d.). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6249710/ Accessed May 5, 2024.
2. Richert, Lucas, PhD. “How Radical Women Changed Psychiatry in the 1970s.” Psychology Today, March 12, 2020. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hygieias-workshop/202003/how-ra… Accessed May 5, 2024.
3. Staff. “CSPP's History - Mission – Vision.” Internet Archive Wayback Machine, (n.d.). http://alliant.edu/cspp/about-cspp/mission-vision-history.php Accessed May 5, 2024.
4. Staff. “How are our minds connected to our bodies?” MedicalNewsToday, (n.d.). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-are-our-minds-connected-t… Accessed May 8, 2024.
5. Kilkus, J. Ph.D., ABPP. “Is the Mind-Body Connection Real?” Psychology Today, (March 27, 2022). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/navigating-cancer/202203/is-the… Accessed May 8, 2024.