About — ACU

"We train clinicians who accept the full complexity of human suffering — and who have the skills to help people move through it."

— Dr. Amara Osei, Founding President & Licensed Psychologist

Our Origin in ACT

ACU was founded by a group of clinical psychologists who saw a gap between the emerging evidence base for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and the training environments available to aspiring clinicians. We built the institution around that gap — offering deep, supervised immersion in ACT, DBT, CFT, and trauma-focused CBT from the first semester.

APA Accreditation & Licensure Outcomes

Our doctoral programs (PsyD and PhD) are fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. Our licensure exam pass rate of 97% consistently ranks among the top five programs nationally. Graduates are licensed in all 50 states, with the majority practicing within 12 months of graduation.

Clinical Training Network

ACU maintains formal practicum and internship agreements with over 140 affiliated sites — including VA medical centers, children's hospitals, correctional facilities, community mental health centers, and private group practices. Students complete a minimum of 1,500 supervised clinical hours before graduation.

Equity-Centered Practice

Clinical competence at ACU includes cultural humility and social justice literacy. Every student completes our Equity in Clinical Practice sequence, which addresses health disparities, culturally adapted interventions, and the systemic factors that shape psychological well-being.

Faculty