Student Doctor Network Forums - View Single Post - Does having a history of psychological trauma give you an advantage?

Member 450850 · 04-14-2012, 06:23 AM

Most clinical psychology programs encourage students to engage in their own therapy process. It used to be required up until the 90's but now it is optional in most programs. Therapy is encouraged as a growth process rather than a disease process of symptom management. The program where I attend has faculty who openly disclose about their process and encourage students to be in therapy. One plus for the OP is that they are aware of having some problem areas and this could be the first step related to having some insight. With a therapy process, their problems may become strengths after sometime. So, in this respect if they work through their problems and have more stable emotional health it may be viewed as a positive in their application for a PhD program. In clinical psychology, it is recommended that we go through a therapy process and to even list this as Didactic Psychotherapy Process on our CV when applying for internship. Many psychologist provide Pro Bono or reduced fee services for masters and doctoral level students in training to receive therapy.

So for the original OP, it may be a necessary move for you to engage in a therapy process before moving on towards being a therapist or making decisions to be a therapist. There are posters at different phases of training on this message board and my guess is most of us have been through a therapy process and it had life changing influences on our lives and gives us much perspective when working with our clients/patients in practicums/internships/and professionally. There was a post recently about students or psychologists having ADHD and how they struggled during their training with suggestions on medications. One poster even indicated fear of having UA's during their acceptance and training for internship or a job. ADHD symptoms may vary in severity but there are individuals who have severe ADHD and without adequate medications they would have a very difficult time maintaining focus and attention to engage as a successful therapist. Many on this site had positive feedback for people with ADHD, even though it is considered a Brain Disorder that effects executive function with an assortment of symptoms that may need management with medications and therapy throughout a person's life. I believe the posters on this site talking about their ADHD were actually doing their postdoctoral training and had graduated with their PsyD already. So, there is hope that the OP could find strength in working through their problems and eventually become a psychologists.

04-14-2012, 06:23 AM	#40
Member 450850 Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 354	Most clinical psychology programs encourage students to engage in their own therapy process. It used to be required up until the 90's but now it is optional in most programs. Therapy is encouraged as a growth process rather than a disease process of symptom management. The program where I attend has faculty who openly disclose about their process and encourage students to be in therapy. One plus for the OP is that they are aware of having some problem areas and this could be the first step related to having some insight. With a therapy process, their problems may become strengths after sometime. So, in this respect if they work through their problems and have more stable emotional health it may be viewed as a positive in their application for a PhD program. In clinical psychology, it is recommended that we go through a therapy process and to even list this as Didactic Psychotherapy Process on our CV when applying for internship. Many psychologist provide Pro Bono or reduced fee services for masters and doctoral level students in training to receive therapy. So for the original OP, it may be a necessary move for you to engage in a therapy process before moving on towards being a therapist or making decisions to be a therapist. There are posters at different phases of training on this message board and my guess is most of us have been through a therapy process and it had life changing influences on our lives and gives us much perspective when working with our clients/patients in practicums/internships/and professionally. There was a post recently about students or psychologists having ADHD and how they struggled during their training with suggestions on medications. One poster even indicated fear of having UA's during their acceptance and training for internship or a job. ADHD symptoms may vary in severity but there are individuals who have severe ADHD and without adequate medications they would have a very difficult time maintaining focus and attention to engage as a successful therapist. Many on this site had positive feedback for people with ADHD, even though it is considered a Brain Disorder that effects executive function with an assortment of symptoms that may need management with medications and therapy throughout a person's life. I believe the posters on this site talking about their ADHD were actually doing their postdoctoral training and had graduated with their PsyD already. So, there is hope that the OP could find strength in working through their problems and eventually become a psychologists. Last edited by 4410; 04-14-2012 at 06:34 AM.