The American Graduate University of Positive Psychology

The American Graduate University of Positive Psychology looks like an interesting program in content and course materials. I can see how an already licensed clinician could make use of it's content. The progam is not RA/NA accredited. And they make no claim to be but do claim accreditation from "The U.S. Commission for Higher
Education Accreditation (USCHEA)"

Their statement /quote that "You assuredly do not need to be a licensed psychologist to practice positive psychology..." makes me wonder if a person not licensed in some mental health field could use this degree. It is a Doctor of Positive Psychology (PPsyD). They claim that there is no licensing requirement to practice Positive Psychology. Any thoughts?

 

... C'mon.

 

Oh, a few. If you want to practice on someone else, you'd better have a license. In fact, if you have a license related to any form of health care and practice psychology on your patients you'd better have a license.

The accreditation is not only fake, it is deceptive in its name. Whoops, even more deceptive is this way they put it: "The American Graduate University of Positive Psychology follows the standards created by the following accrediting bodies, which are recognized by the U. S. Department of Education." So, they "follow the standards." Very deceptive. Also, some of the organizations listed are NOT recognized by the USDOE, nor would they be.

There is a Victoria's Secret at that address. Now we know what she's been hiding.

They don't just sell degrees, they sell "board certified" practitioner or "diplomate" status, whatever those are. What board?

The phone number provided also turns up "Regus University" when searched upon.

No faculty listed.

If you pursue and use this, let me paraphrase John and say, "I hope the attorney defending you has a real law degree."

So there.

 

Ask Lucy Wightman how practicing psychology without a license worked out for her, and she had a legitimate Master's in counseling psychology from Lesley University. She bought a fake doctorate and hung out her shingle, without even getting licensed at the Master's level;

EXPOSED - The Boston Globe

And, in keeping with our recent habit of reviving old threads;

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/26772-woman-found-guilty-posing-psychologist.html

 

Best warning your going to get on this subject.

 

Is this a serious inquiry? REALLY? Even the name sounds like something the ULC would promote. Definitely not something a legit practitioner would do. LOL

 

What is applied Positive Psychology and how do you apply it without a license.

From the website;"You assuredly do not need to be a licensed psychologist to practice positive psychology" This is quoted from a book by Martin Seligman, , PhD, founder of the positive psychology movement
He chairs the M.A program at the U.of Penn.The Penn program is not online and cannot be done by distance learning. The Penn program also costs $50,000 or more when you total tuition, books, and travel expenses,they get around the licensing issue by being a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology.
What do these practitioners call themselves if they are not license eligible as Psychologists?

 

They aren't practitioners. According to the FAQs at UPenn's MAPP website:

So you can call yourself whatever title you used before you got the MAPP degree. The MAPP degree is apparently intended as a supplement to other credentials, not as a standalone credential by itself. So it makes you a better doctor, engineer, executive, salesman, whatever. It just doesn't make you a psychologist:

It reminds me of the "Executive JD" degrees offered online by Concord Law School. These differ from Concord's regular JD degrees: the EJD is not bar-qualifying in any state (not even California), and therefore this degree can never make you a lawyer (or allow you to call yourself a "lawyer"). But Concord claims that the knowledge of law that the degree provides will make you a better doctor, engineer, executive, salesman, whatever. It just doesn't make you an lawyer.

 

I finally read a substantial portion of their website....that "school" is a train wreck, and using any other their "certifications" to practice psychology would be an excellent way to be labeled "defendant".

 

Defendant?

 

Coaching

I believe what they are talking about here is the practice of positive psychology coaching. Coaching does not require a professional practice license, something the coaching community has been trying to change for years. The ICF (International Coach Federation) does attempt to provide standards of practice and accreditation for coaching schools and coaches (not of the sports type). MentorCoach is a coaching school that caters to licensed behavioral health professionals that want to move their practice from counseling/therapy into coaching. I studied with then a number of years ago and actually took a 6 month positive psychology coaching course taught by Marty Seligman (before the MAPP program).

I have been looking at the degree offered by The American Graduate University of Positive Psychology. If you look closely at the admission requirements for the now PhD, once listed as PPsyD, one must already have a related masters degree to be accepted.

This degree is definitely not a practice degree for psychology and someone with this degree and without an active license to practice at the master's level would be breaking the practice law. However, the practice of coaching does not fall under a practice law in any state. So one could open a coaching practice and be legal. One could not present themselves to be a counselor, therapist, or psychologist.

It is my opinion that this degree could serve the purpose of adding a specialty to an already established and licensed practitioner or to a life, business,or executive coach. Positive psychology is actually used heavily in the practice of coaching. This degree could boost credibility for an already established counselor/therapist as a specialist in the practice area of positive psychology.

Although I do not agree with all the opinions posted on the site, the books listed in the curriculum are all authored by respected professionals in the field of positive psychology and a person who reads and studies the listed books would certainly develop extensive and specialized knowledge in that field. It is an inexpensive and relatively fast, but not without work, way to add the PhD credential to a professional signature.

For me it is tempting, as I am older, have a very busy practice, desire to add the PhD credential to my signature, and would also like to go out to dinner and a movie with my significant other on the weekend. I am currently enrolled in another school, California Southern University, which I like, but am having a lot of difficulty finding the time to do all the work required. But the time I get the degree, I will be too old to use it. And I cannot get licensed as a psychologist in my state with their PsyD either. I already have a license to practice independently as a clinical social worker.

 

Cheapest psychology grad degree to allow me to "teach" but not practice

Hi,
I'm looking for help locating the top most affordable / cheapest possible Psychology Masters, PhD, PsyD degrees, in the US or outside the US. I am "not" interested in being licensed by the state or to actually practice with it, but I want the degree to be good enough to allow me to teach at a community college.

I am hoping of keeping the costs under $10k USD for sure. The lower the better, absolutely! If there's one for $4k I want that.

my criteria is
1- low cost in USD
2- good enough to teach with


Thanks!!!:smile:

 

Can't believe all you "gurus" of DL missed this. I believe this well-known operator owns /owned American Graduate University:

Ripoff Report | Leslie 'Les' Edwin Snell Complaint Review Internet: 1246656

J.