Graduate Study and Career Options in Clinical

Psychology

Bryan R. Loney, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Clinical

PsychologyFlorida State University

What is Clinical Psychology?

The field of clinical psychology integrates science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to promote human adaptation, adjustment, and personal development.

What is Clinical Psychology?

Clinical Psychology focuses on the cognitive, emotional, social, behavioral, and biological contributors to human functioning across the life span, in varying cultures, and at all socioeconomic levels.

Increasing interdisciplinary and collaborative nature to the science

What Do Clinical Psychologists Do?

Therapy Assessment Research Teaching and Supervision Program Development and Evaluation Administration Consultation Public Policy

Where Do Clinical Psychologists Work?

Private Practice and Counseling Centers Individual and/or group therapy

Colleges and universities  Hospitals Industries / Business  Legal & Governmental Agencies Military  Managed Healthcare Organizations

Doctorate Degrees Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy Scientist-Practitioner (or Clinical

Science) Psy.D.

Doctor of Clinical Psychology  Practitioner-Scientist History of degree

Other options?

Alternatives to PhD Program in Clinical Psychology

Other PhD options Counseling vs. Clinical Educational, School, Experimental, Combined… Developmental Neuroscience, Social, Cognitive, etc.

Masters Programs• Clinical• Counseling • Mental Health Counseling• School• Experimental

• Combined School-Counseling• Social Work• Marriage and Family Therapy• Art Therapy• Etc.

Getting Started Basic questions

Do I want to do therapy? Do I want to conduct assessments? Do I want to do research? Do I want to teach? Where do I want to work? As demonstrated by what?

Overarching importance of faculty advising and mentoring

Masters versus Doctorate? Trap of seeking letters rather than

appropriate amount of training Breadth of training and issues of

flexibility and autonomy Terminal versus non-terminal

masters? Back to initial questions

Desire to teach? Where? Investment analogy: Careful

planning, preparation, and diversification

Top 5 Tips for Getting into a Ph.D. Clinical Program

Focus on coursework and GPA Faculty mentoring Research experience Volunteer clinical experience Research Experience Thoughtful program selection and

preparation for standardized testing Research Experience

Alternatives cont. Overwhelmed?

Mentoring, the internet, and other resources A word about application criteria… Terminal masters degree in psychology

Where do graduates work? Can they be licensed (state/national)? Third party reimbursement? Research requirements?

Don’t lose sight of basic questions…

Books of Interest American Psychological Association (2006).

Graduate study in psychology. Washington, DC: Author.

Sayette, M. A., Mayne, T. J., & Norcross, J. C. (2004/2005). Insider’s guide to graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology. New York: The Guilford Press.

American Psychological Association (1993). Getting in: A step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology. Washington, DC: Author.

Web Sites of Interest American Psychological Association

www.apa.org/students Careers web site

http://www.psychwww.com Center for Civic Education and

Service http://www.fsu.edu/~service/

FSU Department of Psychology www.psy.fsu.edu