Clinical Scientist model

[dd123]

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The school that I'm about to interview at adheres to the Clinical Scientist model. Can anyone explain to me what that really means, especially in terms of what they may be looking for in a prospective student?

As far as I have been able to figure out, this model holds that research and clinical work are intimately intertwined, emphasizes evidence based treatment, and that the goals of training may or may not include practice.

But this sounds like the Scientist-Practitioner (Boulder) model.

Can anyone open this up for me?

thanks!

 

[irish80122]

I believe that the focus is more on research, hence clinical scientist, and less on being a practitioner. If you are applying to one of these programs I would stress your research goals and experience and state that your long-term goal is to be a researcher.

 

[kidpsychstuff]

As Irish said, these programs are more research oriented. I believe they focus on empirically supported clinical methods such as CBT and less on say psychoanalytic type methods.

Here is a link to the academy of clinical science website http://psych.arizona.edu/apcs/members.php

Most of the schools listed as members are big research schools training students for academic type careers

 

[dd123]

Thanks to you both for your thoughts, and for that link.

d

 

[numbereight]

i think that you have the definition down. A clinical scientist's research will focus on clinical issues and topics related to clinical work, but not usually psychotherapy practice. U Oregon is one clinical scientist program. check out their PhD student handbook on the web, there's a detailed description there

as a student in a clinical scientist program i've heard that often times "clinical work goes out the window" (one professor's description) in favor of research. the pressure to publish sometimes gets to people and the students end up graduating with only the bare minimum of clinical expereince. of course, every program and advisor is different.

best,

 

[Ollie123]

i think that you have the definition down. A clinical scientist's research will focus on clinical issues and topics related to clinical work, but not usually psychotherapy practice. U Oregon is one clinical scientist program. check out their PhD student handbook on the web, there's a detailed description there

as a student in a clinical scientist program i've heard that often times "clinical work goes out the window" (one professor's description) in favor of research. the pressure to publish sometimes gets to people and the students end up graduating with only the bare minimum of clinical expereince. of course, every program and advisor is different.

best,

Its often the case that graduates have minimal clinical experience (I'm at a clinical science program and many folks barely make it to 500 face to face hours). You make it sound as though we're all miserable about that though😉 For the most part these programs are quite open about the fact that they don't want people whose goals are primarily clinical - I know that was said within the first 5 minutes of the introduction at my interview. I won't speak for others, but the fact that I could spend 30+ hours a week on research activities and only carry a caseload of a few clients was a big draw for me!

 

[numbereight]

ha, sorry! admittedly, i was thinking of one of my research/clinical supervisors who graduated from a clinical scientist program. While he seems to be very happy with his career, he says that he hated his program and would not have done it again.

im glad to hear your perspective though. one of the great things about this message board is that everyone can share

👍

Its often the case that graduates have minimal clinical experience (I'm at a clinical science program and many folks barely make it to 500 face to face hours). You make it sound as though we're all miserable about that though😉 For the most part these programs are quite open about the fact that they don't want people whose goals are primarily clinical - I know that was said within the first 5 minutes of the introduction at my interview. I won't speak for others, but the fact that I could spend 30+ hours a week on research activities and only carry a caseload of a few clients was a big draw for me!

 

[dd123]

Thanks again for the help. #8, that handbook from UOregon helped.

d
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[GreenDR]

Hello Dr Snow. I am totally new to this clinical scientist business, and it sounds way to good to be true. I am wondering is this is only for PsyD or if this sort of program structure applies to MD as well? And is there anywhere for residency you would recommend? Thanks for your help.