Career Plan

[xXIDaShizIXx]

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So, I'll be starting a Psy.D. program next year and I was wondering, what should I do to set myself up to work with the severely mentally ill and in hospitals, in terms of practica during the second year? I'm also interested in health and neuropsychology. What would be the best plan for me? What provides a good exposure to a lot of these areas? Thanks in advance.

 

[erg923]

practica with the severely mentally ill and in hospitals. I would recommend that your first practicum be a little more of the basics, though (generally this is regulated for you in graduate school). "Crawl before you walk" and all that...

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

practica with the severely mentally ill and in hospitals. I would recommend that your first practicum be a little more of the basics, though (generally this is regulated for you in graduate school). "Crawl before you walk" and all that...

What would be a good place to start in then? An outpatient clinic or what?

 

[erg923]

Do they send you "out" for your first practicum year?

Usually, you cant just choose whatever you want. Your program will, I would hope, either have you in a in-house clinic that they control/run or present you with a very limited set of external options that would be appropriate for a beginning graduate student

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Do they send you "out" for your first practicum year?

Usually, you cant just choose whatever you want. Your program will, I would hope, either have you in a in-house clinic that they control/run or present you with a very limited set of external options that would be appropriate for a beginning graduate student

They do this. I was just asking if the in house clinic would be the best option?

 

[Sanman]

To work in hospitals with the severely mentally ill in hospitals? Have a pulse. Not a lot of people want those jobs. Seriously though, start by learning th basics, see what state hospital or inpatient rotations are available later on. Learn to do a good intake evaluation before you graduate.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

To work in hospitals with the severely mentally ill in hospitals? Have a pulse. Not a lot of people want those jobs. Seriously though, start by learning th basics, see what state hospital or inpatient rotations are available later on. Learn to do a good intake evaluation before you graduate.

Sounds good. Any other tips?

 

[G Costanza]

Sign up for workshops and seminars put on by people that work in places you would like to after graduation. Talk with them after/during the workshop if you can. You'll learn a lot and network.

 

[paramour]

To work in hospitals with the severely mentally ill in hospitals? Have a pulse. Not a lot of people want those jobs. Seriously though, start by learning th basics, see what state hospital or inpatient rotations are available later on. Learn to do a good intake evaluation before you graduate.

Sign up for workshops and seminars put on by people that work in places you would like to after graduation. Talk with them after/during the workshop if you can. You'll learn a lot and network.

Agreed with everyone.

And pay particular attention to these two folks. I landed my hospital gigs by knowing folks who had worked there prior to me and by having extensive experience with intakes, assessments, evaluations, etc.

The dept manager (and everyone else) who interviewed me stressed that there was a high turnover in the dept because people would come in all starry-eyed and bushy-tailed, without having the slightest what they were getting themselves into ... They'd unfortunately burn themselves out quickly because they couldn't handle the patients, the load, the hours, (should have never been there to begin with... ), or whatever.

Learn your basics. Excel at them. Then proceed to where you want to work.

G'luck.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Agreed with everyone.

And pay particular attention to these two folks. I landed my hospital gigs by knowing folks who had worked there prior to me and by having extensive experience with intakes, assessments, evaluations, etc.

The dept manager (and everyone else) who interviewed me stressed that there was a high turnover in the dept because people would come in all starry-eyed and bushy-tailed, without having the slightest what they were getting themselves into ... They'd unfortunately burn themselves out quickly because they couldn't handle the patients, the load, the hours, (should have never been there to begin with... ), or whatever.

Learn your basics. Excel at them. Then proceed to where you want to work.

G'luck.

Thanks everyone! Will do!

 

[eowyne]

I have the same goal as you 🙂

Two points of advice for practica, in addition to working with severely mentally ill adults in hospitals.
1. Make sure you get assessment experience, including writing integrated reports.
2. If you can, get experience working with SMI people as outpatients. An intensive oupatient setting is also helpful. These experiences will help you understand the full range of experience across phases of the disorders.