William Whelton

Professor, Faculty of Education - Educational Psychology Dept

Contact

Professor, Faculty of Education - Educational Psychology Dept
Email
wwhelton@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-7979
Address
6-123G Education Centre - North
8730 - 112 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2G5

Overview

About

Theoretical Orientation

My theoretical orientation to psychotherapy is firmly rooted in the humanistic and experiential tradition that goes back to Rollo May and Carl Rogers. This tradition encompasses, for example, Person-Centered, Gestalt, Existential and Emotion Focused (EFT) approaches to therapy. I am also integrative and recognize and use many excellent interventions developed within other traditions. I have advanced training in both EFT and Relational Gestalt therapies.



Research

My interests focus mostly on issues of process and outcome in psychotherapy. I am particularly interested in the role that emotion plays in successful therapy and, more generally, in the process of change itself. Humanistic, experiential, and existential approaches to therapy are of special interest. Another interest is in how certain personality traits, especially self-criticism understood as a trait conferring vulnerability to depression, interact with therapy processes such as the formation of a working alliance. I have recently done research on adaptive and maladaptive forms of self-criticism and my interest in self-criticism dovetails with a larger, more theoretical interest in the nature of the self. Techniques and processes for changing the self in therapy flow from one's conception of the self. I am also very interested in the history of psychology.


Courses

EDPY 630A - Counselling Psychology Internship

Students in the Doctoral Counselling Program must successfully complete a 1,600 hour internship accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (or equivalent). Students must complete pre-session study seminars related to the internship application process, interviewing skills, and ranking of internship sites/decision making. Students are expected to participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) matching process. Prerequisites: Consent of Department, completion of required coursework and completion of doctoral candidacy exam.


EDPY 630B - Counselling Psychology Internship

Students in the Doctoral Counselling Program must successfully complete a 1,600 hour internship accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association (or equivalent). Students must complete pre-session study seminars related to the internship application process, interviewing skills, and ranking of internship sites/decision making. Students are expected to participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) matching process. Prerequisites: Consent of Department, completion of required coursework and completion of doctoral candidacy exam.


EDPY 632 - History and Systems of Psychology

Provides a historical examination of the philosophical and scientific development of the discipline of psychology. Priority given to PhD students enrolled in the Counselling Psychology program.


Browse more courses taught by William Whelton

Featured Publications

Secure your buffers or stare at the sun? Terror management theory and psychotherapy integration.

Major, R. T., Whelton, W. J., & Duff, C. T.

2016 January; 26


Dunn, J.C., Whelton, W.J., & Sharpe, D.

Evolution and Human Behavior. 2012 January; 33


Barford, S., & Whelton, W.J.

Child and Youth Care Forum. 2010 January; 39


Emmerling, M.E., & Whelton, W.J.

Psychotherapy Research. 2009 January; 19


Whelton, W.J., Paulson, B.L., & Marusiak, C.

Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 2007 January; 20


Whelton, W.J. & Greenberg, L.S.

Personality and Individual Differences. 2005 January; 38