Ok so here is the deal. I am currently in a PsyD program and I have a masters in Clinical psychology and have my LPC. I somewhat took my time with school so I have two years left and then an Internship and a Post-Doc. Here is my concern though. I have been in the process of applying for Diagnostic practicum and so many of these sites want PhD students. Also my interest area is in health psychology with an emphasis on pediatric oncology and that also is an area where Phd is wanted instead of PsyD and I can understand why. My question is whether or not it is best to put forth the effort to finish my PsyD and fight to get recognized in a very PhD world or to take many steps back in my education and apply to a PhD program that I know is very difficult to get into and would probably not accept my masters degree, but would increase my opportunities for the future. I know I am the only one who can answer this question ultimately for myself, but any thoughts would be appreciated!
Concerned about future!
- Thread starter Nicci1
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It is up to you to decide if it is worth the effort, but I have met a number of excellent PsyD holders working in Health and Peds at the local childrens hospital.
Psyclops said:
Psychbird said:
I will be 25 in October and I do believe that this plays a large part in things. I am still young enough to change my mind many times before I settle on one thing. I have been working in the field for almost 3 years as a crisis worker, case manager and running a victim/witness program at my agency. I also have been doing individual therapy for a little over a year and a half. I have accomplished a lot in a few years and I don't know if at the age of 21 when I started grad school that I had the right frame of reference to make a decision that important.
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I am a licensed psychologist who works primarily in medical settings. To be honest, once you are licensed, and if you can be effective NOBODY cares where you got your degree or whether it is a PsyD or PhD. I have a license based upon a no-name PsyD, and I have had zero problems. I am on staff at 3 hospitals with admitting privileges etc... It is a non-issue when you get away from the good-old-boy PhD academic lala land which is the only place this bias remains. Finish your degree!! 🙂
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Finish the Psy.D.
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PsyDRxPnow said:
And then get RxP.
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I agree that you should finish your PsyD degree and I want to add that I think the trepidation that you are experiencing is simply a byproduct of being a graduate student. Everyone whom I have connected with in my program has at one time or another doubted their choice, myself included, but that questioning and self-doubt will pass in time. I have planned on entering into a "predominantly PhD" subfield for some time now and worrying about the same things, but I am starting to see that my performance is what matters, not the letters on my degree. 
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PhD vs. PsyD is the same silly argument as MD vs. DO.
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I agree that it won't matter once you get out in the working world, but it seems like it is an issue from what you're saying about the practicum sites. If it's really going to get in your way to not have the practicum experience, you're young - I'm a good deal older than you and just starting my degree in the fall. If you're really feeling in your gut that you would prefer to get the PhD, then I am all about making that change. A grad student at my current school walked away from a program and came to the one at my school and she says she's never been happier. Go with your gut.
