The Master of Science in Psychotherapy is a professional, course-based, clinically-focused graduate degree. The Psychotherapy Program is offered through the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. The aim of Psychotherapy Program is to offer students a clinical learning experience that includes theory, applied clinical skill development, and direct supervision and that will prepare them for a career as an independent psychotherapy practitioner.

Students in the Psychotherapy Program will be enrolled full-time and will complete 7 required graduate-level courses, 2 graduate-level elective courses and 2 clinical practicum placements over 5 terms (20 months). The required courses will cover introductory concepts as well as advanced training in psychotherapy theory, fundamentals of clinical research and applied clinical skills. The clinical training will be rooted in empirically-support therapies with a principal focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented, skills-based psychotherapy. The practicum courses will provide students with the opportunity to apply the skills they are learning in a clinical setting and receive ongoing support from a supervisor who is a registered clinician. Overall, the Psychotherapy Program is designed to provide students with a variety of training opportunities to gain theoretical knowledge and competency in the delivery of psychotherapy.