Correctional psychology

[rachel54]

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For quite some time now, I've known that in the next couple of years I'd like to begin applying to phd programs. I don't believe I'm competitive enough to get into a clinical psych phd program (lack of research experience, average gpa), and began looking into school psych programs. I am largely interested in the assessment aspect of the field, though that's not to say I wouldn't enjoy other things as well. I recently left a position with children's protective services, and now have quite an interest in working with teens in detention centers. Is there a way to get there with a doctorate in a subfield other than clinical psychology?

Im currently in the Midwest and will be looking to attend a school further south. I've noticed spalding university has a forensic emphasis for their psyd program, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with people's general impressions of obtaining a psyd rather than phd. They do have an internship at a detention center, which is very appealing. University of Kentucky has a school psychology program I've looked into as well, and doesn't carry with it all of the debt. Again, am I able to achieve the same outcome with either degree? What research I've done I have really enjoyed, but again, it has been limited. I'm not afraid of the research involved in pursuing a phd, and I almost wonder if that is a better option, since I've always thought of going into academics later in life.

Can school psychologists work with youth outside of schools? Is Spalding's psyd worth the debt? It is partially funded...


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[Therapist4Chnge]

Is Spalding's psyd worth the debt? It is partially funded...

No. It is not a well regarded program, their attrition rate is traditionally quite high, and they struggle to match students to APA-acred internships.

As for alt options to Clinical Psych...besides Counseling Psych or School Psych most of the "speciality" areas are sub-specialities of Clinical/Counseling programs and aren't meant to be standalone, even though done programs market these type of programs.

 

[rachel54]

Do you feel that counseling may function better go get me where I'd like to go?


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[erg923]

Do you feel that counseling may function better go get me where I'd like to go?


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There will be little differentiation based on counseling psych or clinical psych degree in correctional settings so long as one has requisite experience and legitimate interest in the setting/population.

 

[modestmousktr]

For quite some time now, I've known that in the next couple of years I'd like to begin applying to phd programs. I don't believe I'm competitive enough to get into a clinical psych phd program (lack of research experience, average gpa), and began looking into school psych programs. I am largely interested in the assessment aspect of the field, though that's not to say I wouldn't enjoy other things as well. I recently left a position with children's protective services, and now have quite an interest in working with teens in detention centers. Is there a way to get there with a doctorate in a subfield other than clinical psychology?

Im currently in the Midwest and will be looking to attend a school further south. I've noticed spalding university has a forensic emphasis for their psyd program, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with people's general impressions of obtaining a psyd rather than phd. They do have an internship at a detention center, which is very appealing. University of Kentucky has a school psychology program I've looked into as well, and doesn't carry with it all of the debt. Again, am I able to achieve the same outcome with either degree? What research I've done I have really enjoyed, but again, it has been limited. I'm not afraid of the research involved in pursuing a phd, and I almost wonder if that is a better option, since I've always thought of going into academics later in life.

Can school psychologists work with youth outside of schools? Is Spalding's psyd worth the debt? It is partially funded...


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You sound like you're an open mind with a good head on your shoulders, and it's great to explore all of these options 🙂

I feel like I was in a similar boat, although not due to GPA or research experience, due to my GRE scores. I could not get into a funded clinical psychology program to save my life the first time around, so I got an M.A. I am also interested in juvenile detention centers and even adult penal settings. Don't stress about specialty areas or even so much what type of applied Ph.D. to get, as long as you know the training available (what practica, what externships, where do students go for internship) to you. Your instincts about applying to an unfunded program are spot-on, and since you are not afraid of pursuing research and are even interested in exploring academia, a Ph.D. sounds right for you. The position you had with CPS (I think) could really bolster your application, as you show you have a practical and "real-life" interest/experience in the subject.

1. I think erg might have said about to look into counseling and/or clinical, or combined, and I would echo that advice. The programs are practically the same, with counseling programs generally just having more of an emphasis on advocacy/justice, strengths-based approaches, culturally-humble counseling, and ecological systems (not that clinical doesn't, I've just noticed it seems to be part of the unique identity for counseling psych). Anyway, try to find some counseling, clinical, or counseling/clinical Ph.D. programs in the geographic area you stated you are interested in. From there, look at their incoming student statistics (GPA, GRE scores, etc)... usually in geographically less desirable areas these can be a tiny bit lower (although still super competitive), so you may be pleasantly surprised to see you could be a good applicant. Once you've found some schools that you have a realistic chance of acceptance to, begin combing the website for FAQs, student handbooks, student bios, and anything that would let you know where students generally complete practica and externship, or where students have matched to internships and post-docs. If you don't see anything correctional/forensic, cross it off your list.

2. I am unsure the extent to which School Psychs work outside of schools... I am in a combined clinical/counseling/school Ph.D. program, so I interact with school psych students frequently, and they are all currently placed in public K-12 schools, while the counseling/clinical folks go to inpatient hospitals, community mental health centers, etc. I do know of one school psych student who opted to take an additional practicum experience at a community mental health center. That being said, there are a number of researchers in the school psych Ph.D. that study gang prevention/intervention, restorative justice for juveniles, etc., so even if you are working within a school, your research and practice may be less academically-oriented for the students, and more oriented toward that type of work, but I'm just not familiar.

3. I just finished my university's required internal practicum experiences and am thrilled to be starting in a juvenile detention center this summer for an externship, and I am a counseling psych student in a combined program. You can PM me if you have any questions 🙂 best of luck.

 

[Vasilisa Jade]

Don't stress about being competitive for a corrections or detention setting (stress for your self only if you wish to do it for you). It may just be my geographic area but I suspect what I'm saying is true everywhere. Desperation commonly goes hand in hand with hiring procedure. You won't just be working with youth from bad environments, but youth from bad environments who are criminal. The criminal side can be overwhelmingly manipulative and lie on a level that's almost undetectable... because the lies they tell you are the lies they tell theirself that they truly believe at times. I've worked with many corrections deputies who say the adults we deal with are easy compared to juveniles. People say they are much much more emotional and hostile. Physical fights nonstop. Much much more hard headed, which I can't imagine them being more hard headed than the adults honestly lol. On top of that everyone who interacts with them is under a microscope due to them being juveniles. More liability. I'm not trying to deter you by any means please don't think that! I'm sure you've already experienced a lot of this in protective services and can totally handle it all... but people don't want to work in these places with these groups of people... It's hell. I'm similar to you and have a psych interest there as well however since I already have years of experience in Corrections and my creative flare apparently thrives in hell. I would honestly check first and see what the requirements are for the position you want. If you have the minimum... heck even if you don't have the minimum, I bet you'd still have the position. Go ahead and apply. I wouldn't be surprised if they called you next day and offered some legal loop hole to employ you while you finish getting the requirements needed. I've seen admin do stranger things.

 

[rachel54]

You sound like you're an open mind with a good head on your shoulders, and it's great to explore all of these options 🙂

I feel like I was in a similar boat, although not due to GPA or research experience, due to my GRE scores. I could not get into a funded clinical psychology program to save my life the first time around, so I got an M.A. I am also interested in juvenile detention centers and even adult penal settings. Don't stress about specialty areas or even so much what type of applied Ph.D. to get, as long as you know the training available (what practica, what externships, where do students go for internship) to you. Your instincts about applying to an unfunded program are spot-on, and since you are not afraid of pursuing research and are even interested in exploring academia, a Ph.D. sounds right for you. The position you had with CPS (I think) could really bolster your application, as you show you have a practical and "real-life" interest/experience in the subject.

1. I think erg might have said about to look into counseling and/or clinical, or combined, and I would echo that advice. The programs are practically the same, with counseling programs generally just having more of an emphasis on advocacy/justice, strengths-based approaches, culturally-humble counseling, and ecological systems (not that clinical doesn't, I've just noticed it seems to be part of the unique identity for counseling psych). Anyway, try to find some counseling, clinical, or counseling/clinical Ph.D. programs in the geographic area you stated you are interested in. From there, look at their incoming student statistics (GPA, GRE scores, etc)... usually in geographically less desirable areas these can be a tiny bit lower (although still super competitive), so you may be pleasantly surprised to see you could be a good applicant. Once you've found some schools that you have a realistic chance of acceptance to, begin combing the website for FAQs, student handbooks, student bios, and anything that would let you know where students generally complete practica and externship, or where students have matched to internships and post-docs. If you don't see anything correctional/forensic, cross it off your list.

2. I am unsure the extent to which School Psychs work outside of schools... I am in a combined clinical/counseling/school Ph.D. program, so I interact with school psych students frequently, and they are all currently placed in public K-12 schools, while the counseling/clinical folks go to inpatient hospitals, community mental health centers, etc. I do know of one school psych student who opted to take an additional practicum experience at a community mental health center. That being said, there are a number of researchers in the school psych Ph.D. that study gang prevention/intervention, restorative justice for juveniles, etc., so even if you are working within a school, your research and practice may be less academically-oriented for the students, and more oriented toward that type of work, but I'm just not familiar.

3. I just finished my university's required internal practicum experiences and am thrilled to be starting in a juvenile detention center this summer for an externship, and I am a counseling psych student in a combined program. You can PM me if you have any questions 🙂 best of luck.

That was so helpful! Thank you for your insight. It looks like both UK and Louisville have counseling...though I'm getting the vibe it isn't much less competitive than the clinical programs. I've thought of getting masters, like you've mentioned, but I'm graduating this months with my masters in health administration, and so I I kind of just see more debt when I think of doing that (not to say it wouldn't be worth it).

Some background: my undergrad gpa, like I said, is not bad but not very impressive. I knew I couldn't get into anything based off of just that, so I decided to get this degree (3.9 gpa-woohoo), and I'm now my county's administrator at our CMH. I'm hoping this helps me as a candidate rather than hurts me.

I hope you enjoy your externship! It sounds incredibly interesting 🙂


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