Clinical Developmental Psychology | Areas of Specialization | Psychology | Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)

The Clinical Developmental (CD) Area offers opportunities to engage in research spanning infancy through to emerging adulthood related to clinically-relevant topics in typical and atypical development, psychosocial development, neuropsychology, therapy outcomes, and program evaluation.

Graphic representing Clinical Developmental Psychology

Research programs studied by CD faculty have a developmental emphasis and include topics defined by:

Age and stage of development (e.g., infancy, adolescence, transition to adulthood)
Clinical psychopathology and treatment approach (e.g., trauma therapy, pain assessment, parenting, CBT, attachment disorders, early intensive behavioural intervention)
Developmental cognitive neuroscience (e.g., memory, executive functioning, attention, brain structure-function relationships in clinical populations)
Professional function related to children and families (e.g., clinical assessment/diagnosis, pediatric neuropsychological assessment, program evaluation)
Child and youth clinical populations (including, but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health, addictions)
Developmental risk factors (e.g. prenatal exposures, trauma, brain injuries)

Faculty members in the CD area are all registered psychologists. Most members are active clinically—providing supervision, consultation, program evaluation, and outcome research in various community settings in addition to conducting collaborative grant-supported research.

In addition to obtaining rigorous research training, students are expected to obtain core competencies in the scope of practice of clinical psychology as applied to children and adolescents. This includes coursework and practical training (mainly in external practica) in psychological assessment and diagnosis of children and adolescents (including various types of internalizing disorders, externalizing disorders and developmental disorders), as well as, a variety of evidence-based modalities of child, adolescent, and/or family intervention.

For more information about the Clinical-Developmental area, please contact the Director of Clinical Training at cd_dct@yorku.ca.

For admissions queries, please review sections below.

The deadline for submitting a complete application to the Graduate Program in Psychology is December 1, 2026.

Applications open in mid-October, and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early to ensure all required documents are submitted on time.

After submitting your application, you must promptly upload all post-secondary transcripts and provide the names and email addresses of your referees. All required materials must be received by December 1, 2026, for your application to be considered complete.

We recommend that you create your application and pay the application fee by November 24, 2026. Once your application is created, you will receive your MyFile login link and student number within approximately four to five business days (please also check your spam or junk folders).

Additional Program Information

Faculty Member

Madison Aitken
Mary Desrocher
Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Jennine Rawana
Christine Till
Maggie Toplak
Jonathan Weiss
Magdalena Wojtowicz

Faculty Member

Aitken, Madison
Bohr, Yvonne M
Desrocher, Mary E
Muller, Robert Tom
Pepler, Debra J
Perry, Adrienne
Pillai Riddell, Rebecca
Prime, Heather
Rawana, Jennine
Till, Christine
Toplak, Maggie E
Weiss, Jonathan
Wojtowicz, Magdalena

Psychology Research Labs

The CD Program’s mission is to prepare students for their roles and responsibilities as competent and ethical Clinical Developmental scientist-practitioners. We are committed to this goal by providing education and training in theoretical, scientific, and conceptual foundations of the discipline of Psychology. We believe that the practice of clinical psychology requires a strong scientific and research foundation that promotes the development of scientific knowledge and critical thinking. In our program, we strive to provide students with opportunities to engage in research related to clinically relevant topics in typical and atypical development spanning infancy through to emerging adulthood, neuropsychology, therapy outcomes, and program evaluation. These opportunities enable students to develop independence as scholars and to contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge to the discipline of psychology. Our program also has a strong emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion, in that students are trained to be sensitive to individual differences and cultural diversity issues in approaching research and clinical issues.

Students are expected to obtain core competency in all areas of the Mutual Recognition Agreement and be appropriately qualified for registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (or other licensing body elsewhere) for the practice of clinical psychology as applied to children and adolescents.

Program Goals

Overarching goals for graduates of our program and more general objectives are outlined here and these are further operationalized in Table 15:

Graduates will demonstrate excellence in research, including:
• competence in conceptualization and critical evaluation regarding research issues and appropriate use of statistics
• competence in various research and evaluation methodologies suitable for typical and atypical populations in various settings (clinical, community, academic)
• competence in the dissemination of research to diverse audiences (academic publications, presentations of professional associations, knowledge translation to broad audiences)
Graduates will demonstrate clinical competence in assessment/diagnosis, according to accreditation and registration standards, including:
• competence in psychoeducational and social-emotional assessment of children and adolescents
• competence in the diagnostic formulation of various child and adolescent disorders and disabilities
• competence in communicating diagnoses sensitively and with precision to children, adolescents, and their families
• beginning competence in the supervision of assessments by more junior trainees
Graduates will demonstrate clinical competence in evidence-based psychological interventions, according to accreditation and registration standards, including:
• competence in core clinical skills in interpersonal relationships, such as forming a therapeutic alliance
• competence in multiple modalities of evidence-based intervention for children, adolescents, and their parents
• some students may gain competence in delivering group interventions, family therapy, parent-training interventions, and so on depending on the opportunities in their practicum settings
Graduates will be ethical and professional members of the profession of psychology, including:
• articulating a professional identity as clinical psychologists and scientist-practitioners
• maintaining high standards of ethical and professional behaviour
• demonstrating good self-awareness, self-evaluation, and knowledge of strengths and limits
• demonstrating a sense of citizenship regarding contributing to the profession
Graduates will demonstrate sensitivity to individual differences and cultural diversity in approaching research and clinical issues:
• maintaining an attitude of respect and cultural humility regarding the impact of individual, cultural, and other forms of diversity in clients, and of their own position of privilege
• commitment to working with and responding appropriately to marginalized or neglected groups of people

Admission Requirements for students applying for a Masters of Arts (MA)

Minimum A- GPA in last two years of a four-year undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology (or Psychology Major); Applicants with an average that is lower than an A- (but minimum B+) may still apply; however, an explanation for why the average is low should be provided in “other information section” of the Supplemental Form.
Completion of an undergraduate thesis or thesis equivalent;
At least two courses in statistics and/or research methods with a minimum grade of A- in each course;
Minimum of 6 months of research experience;
Minimum of 6 months of volunteer or paid work in a clinical or related field;
At least two letters of recommendation from a research or academic supervisor

In addition to meeting the graduate admission requirements, a student can only be admitted if there is a faculty member available and interested in serving as the applicant’s supervisor. For this reason, applicants are strongly encouraged to determine whether a faculty member with compatible research interests is available for supervision.

Students who plan to limit their studies to the Masters of Arts (MA) degree in the CD Area are discouraged from applying to the program. MA students in our graduate program are expected to proceed to and complete the requirements for the PhD degree. However, students completing their MA at 91��ɫ are not automatically accepted into the PhD program; they must make a formal, but internal, application for advancement into the PhD program.

Admission Requirements for students applying for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission to the CD area is generally at the MA level unless the applicant is from another CPA/APA-accredited clinical graduate program. In this circumstance, the applicant may be considered for admission to the PhD level. Students with a Master’s degree from a non-accredited graduate program (e.g. Experimental Psychology) will be considered for MA-level entry to the CD area. These students will be expected to complete an MA thesis and the core CD area courses to obtain an MA degree at 91��ɫ, prior to entry into the PhD program. Students with a former Master’s degree may be exempt from some courses (e.g. statistics) if they declare competence in a particular area from a previous graduate course taken.

Applicants who wish to be considered for admission to the CD Area must specify “Clinical Developmental” as their primary area of interest on the Supplemental Form. Other areas in the Department of Psychology (e.g. Clinical) can be specified as a secondary area of interest. However, an applicant's file is not automatically forwarded to another area unless arranged by the applicant or the file is forwarded by the CD area. Once admitted, shifting from one area to another is not normally permitted.

It is strongly recommended that you contact potential faculty members to see if they are available to supervise a graduate student prior to listing them as potential supervisors in your Personal Statement. See our Faculty Directory to learn more about faculty members’ research interests. Make sure to list the names of CD faculty you are interested in working with on the Supplemental Form.

Students who are interested in specialized training in clinical neuropsychology can apply to the stream after being admitted to the CD area. Please indicate in your Personal Statement if you plan to apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology stream.

Non-refundable application fee (paid online) OR Credit Card information submitted with the application. If you do not have a credit card and/or cannot apply online, you can request a hard-copy application form by calling 416-736-5000.

Documents needed to apply:

Letters of Recommendation. A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required, but an additional third letter is preferred. It is ideal if two of your references are from a research/academic source, while the third is from a clinical supervisor familiar with your abilities. Academic references are very important, and having one strong clinical reference that attests to your professionalism and interpersonal skill can be advantageous.
Transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. When applying, unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you are made an Offer of Admission, you will be required to provide official transcripts as a condition of admission. Transcripts are considered official when sent directly from the issuing institution(s) in unopened, sealed envelopes. In some instances, the issuing institution(s) may mail the transcripts to you in unopened, sealed envelopes to submit.
Personal Statement: Your Personal Statement should be maximum 2 pages, double-spaced, standard margins and 12-point font and will consist of four parts:
- (1) Describe your past training experiences and what makes you ready for intensive research and clinical training at the graduate level; (2) describe what motivates and/or inspires you, as it relates to your current research interests/specific supervisor, the CD program, and your broader career goals; (3) highlight your most important scholarly contribution/product or knowledge mobilization activity (e.g., thesis, poster presentation at a conference, presentation); (4) Describe how you/will you consider diversity, equity, and inclusion in your clinical and research endeavours? You can use personal experience or learning to highlight this.
Curriculum Vitae. Make sure to indicate your educational and relevant employment history, any honours or scholarships you have received, any posters or publications you have been involved in, and relevant clinical volunteer experiences. We recommend that you take a look at samples of how academic curriculum vitae are organized to format your CV effectively. At the same time, there is no one specific format required.

For International Students

We are not able to offer funded positions to international applicants at this time. If you are externally funded or self-funded, please visit the for more information.

Submitting your Application

Applications to the clinical developmental psychology program are due December 1, 2024. This is different than the date listed on the Faculty of Graduate Studies. We strongly encourage you to use the clinical developmental deadline, though applications will be accepted as long as they meet the Faculty of Graduate Studies deadline.

Apply online yorku.ca/gradstudies/psychology/future-students/how-to-apply to the Faculty of Graduate Studies to submit your full application.

If your application package does not contain all the required documents, your file may not get to the Psychology department. As a result, a review of your application by the professor you are interested in working with may be delayed.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the Graduate Psychology Program at gradpsyc@yorku.ca.

Clinical psychology training programs in Canada recognize their shared responsibility to Indigenous peoples. The admissions process for entry into the Clinical and Clinical Developmental Programs at 91��ɫ is committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. With an understanding that Indigenous learners can face specific barriers or challenges when pursuing higher education, schools and programs within our Clinical and Clinical Developmental Programs have facilitated admission streams for applicants with Indigenous North American (First Nation, Inuit or Métis) ancestry. This process is intended to provide equitable access to Indigenous applicants and aligns with the intent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.

The Department receives between 120–150 applications for admission to the CD area each year; approximately 8 students may be admitted per year. Preference is given to applicants with strong academic backgrounds who appear promising as researchers and as scientist-practitioners. In addition, the CD program is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage individuals of all racial/ethnic backgrounds, religions, gender identity, sexual orientation, and abilities to apply. We value diversity of perspectives, experiences, and opinions, and we work to create an inclusive environment for all.

Here are some common elements of successful applicants:

They have applied for or have a history of external scholarship funding. We strongly recommend that you apply for external scholarship funding (e.g., Ontario Graduate Scholarship and one of the Tri-Council funding agencies [CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC]) before starting graduate school, even though you may not know what you will be doing for your Master’s research. Make sure to mention any submitted funding applications in your Statement of Interest!
They have contacted faculty members before applying. Let faculty members know you intend on applying, and why you think you are a good fit to work with them in their program of research. Faculty members may not respond – however, even knowing you are applying can help them keep an eye out for your application.
They specify whom they wish to work with. It is certainly acceptable to mention a number of faculty members (not just one), as this will increase your likelihood of being reviewed by a faculty member who will be taking a new graduate student (not every faculty member takes on a student every year). At the same time, being too broad in your research interests and in the number of faculty members whom you wish to work with makes it difficult for the review committee to know whom to direct your application to.
Prior experience is an asset. Students have a history of presenting or publishing research during their undergraduate program/years, have high grades and have clinical and research experience that is linked to the field of research of their potential supervisor. They often have life experiences that demonstrate maturity, interpersonal competence, initiative, and responsibility. At the same time, we value the important perspectives and knowledge that comes through lived experience.
Students have excellent letters of reference. We recommend obtaining three letters of reference if possible. It is important that the referees know you well enough to answer the questions in the referral form. As a general rule, however, two strong references are better than three mediocre references. Referees can be from research or clinical fields, and a mix of both can be helpful. You should definitely include your undergraduate thesis supervisor as a reference.

Our Graduate Program in Clinical Developmental Psychology is accredited by the (CPA). Our last accreditation review occurred in 2022-23 and was renewed for a 6-year term. Also, please note that a program must be accredited at the time the student completes the program in order for the student to be able to declare that he/she graduated from an accredited program. If you have any questions or concerns about the accreditation status of our program, please contact the Director of Clinical Training Dr. Jonathan Weiss.

Public Disclosure Tables (.pdf)

Dr. Stewart Madon
Registrar, Accreditation Panel
Canadian Psychological Association, Accreditation Office
141 Laurier Ave. W., Suite 702
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J3

Tel: 1-888-472-0657 (ext. 328 for administrative assistant)
Email: accreditation@cpa.ca
Website:

Useful Internal Websites

- YUPC is a new, state-of-the-art community mental health and training centre associated with the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Health at 91��ɫ. The clinic provides a range of leading-edge, effective mental health services to keep people of all ages living healthy, productive lives.
91��ɫ Libraries
Psychology Graduate Student Association - All graduate students in the Department of Psychology are automatically members of the PGSA.

Pre-Doctoral Internship Resources

- APPIC has organized and coordinated the internship matching process since 1968 by organizing and identifying quality internships.
- Time2Track is a web-based solution developed to help psychology graduate students track clinical training experiences for practica, internship, and licensure.

Professional Associations

Learn More

The Graduate Program in Psychology at 91��ɫ is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

How to Apply

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