Brenau University’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology program, housed in the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling, has been accredited on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
APA accreditation is a requirement for psychologist licensure in most states, including Georgia. Additionally, Veterans Administration facilities only consider trainees, interns or psychologists from APA-accredited programs. Brenau’s degree is one of only three APA-accredited Psy.D. programs in Georgia.
“APA accreditation signifies to students that the Psy.D. program is a quality program that has been rigorously evaluated by an unbiased external agency,” Julie Battle, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway Endowed Chair and professor of psychology, said. “It demonstrates that the program has been designed to meet or exceed industry standards.”
The program earned “accredited, on contingency” status, which is standard for new programs, and means that Brenau must provide outcome data for students in the program and program graduates within three years. Full accreditation is evaluated after students graduate, become employed, and apply for and receive licensure, according to Madeline Altabe, Ph.D., coordinator of the Psy.D. program and an associate professor.
The accreditation comes at a crucial time, as access to mental health care lags across the nation and is especially critical in much of northeast Georgia.
Georgia ranks near the bottom nationally in access to mental health care and mental health care for adults, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America. As of 2026, 151 of Georgia’s 159 counties are officially designated as having a shortage of mental health providers, according to the Rural Health Information Hub. Nationally, the employment of counselors in substance abuse, behavioral disorders, and mental health is expected to grow 17% through 2034, with about 48,300 annual job openings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“One of the goals in starting the Psy.D. program at Brenau was to help address the shortage of licensed psychologists in the north Georgia area. Most of the counties in north Georgia have limited access to licensed psychologists in their communities,” Battle said.
Even before graduation, Psy.D. students are helping to fill the care gaps in the region.
“While in graduate school, students in the Psy.D. program provide services to many individuals in the north Georgia community through their practica placements, and many hope to stay in the north Georgia area for their internship year,” Battle said, adding that many graduate students and interns remain in the region where they receive their training.
“They develop good professional contacts and become a part of the professional community in that area,” Battle said. “Our hope is that many of our students and trainees will stay in the north Georgia area, expand the number of licensed psychologists, and expand access to both general mental health services and specialized mental health services.”
Battle and Altabe said accreditors were impressed by the support the program has received from the university and the community.
“Brenau University administration has been extremely supportive of us starting this program,” Battle said. “Also, the Ivester Foundation has provided essential financial support and has been instrumental in providing physical space and resources to make this program successful.”
Housed on the second floor of the Renaissance Building on the Gainesville square, the Darby School’s graduate students offer counseling services via the Brenau Center for Counseling and Psychological Services in Gainesville and Norcross, as well as the Ivester House Clinic, a partnership with the Hall County School System. The program also features unique specialized tracks in play therapy, dance/movement therapy and police mental health collaboration.
