entering a social exp. program, and getting clin. training later

[dd123]

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Here's my situation. I want clinical training. I have an offer from a clinical program at a uni at a have-not school, in a have-not area, with decent clinical training, and a pretty great supervisor.

I will likely get another offer, from a outstanding school, with an outstanding supervisor, with whom I feel an outstanding personal/professional match. Their clinical program is outstanding too. BUT, the spot I'll be offered will be in the social area, which is also outstanding, but not where I ultimately want to be. There is a chance that I will be able to move into clinical training in a year, but they cannot confirm that.

My question for you: have any of you heard of someone getting clinical PhD training after getting a PhD in experimental? How would that work? How long would it take? Would it be difficult to get in, because I would not want to do the research, but only the clinical training?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[terpskins10]

Here's my situation. I want clinical training. I have an offer from a clinical program at a uni at a have-not school, in a have-not area, with decent clinical training, and a pretty great supervisor.

I will likely get another offer, from a outstanding school, with an outstanding supervisor, with whom I feel an outstanding personal/professional match. Their clinical program is outstanding too. BUT, the spot I'll be offered will be in the social area, which is also outstanding, but not where I ultimately want to be. There is a chance that I will be able to move into clinical training in a year, but they cannot confirm that.

My question for you: have any of you heard of someone getting clinical PhD training after getting a PhD in experimental? How would that work? How long would it take? Would it be difficult to get in, because I would not want to do the research, but only the clinical training?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

You can do a respecialization program at some schools after getting your doctorate in another area of psychology. If youalready have an offer at a clinical program though, why go through a doctoral program and then spend an extra 3 years (and tuition) on training you could have gotten in the first place?

 

[thewesternsky]

There are clinical psychology re-specialization programs-- Sounds like this is what you're asking about? Some of them are good; some are not (as always, avoid professional schools and distance education). Most of the better ones seem to take two years full-time plus internship. I'm not sure if any are funded, but I would guess probably not.

What are the two schools you're debating between, if you don't mind me asking? I think I remember you're Canadian, and I'm familiar with most of the programs in Canada... Send me a PM if you'd like! 🙂

 

[dd123]

Terpskins,

It's only an issue because the other school will offer superior training in research (by far, as confirmed by multiple sources), and the match with the supervisor is far better.

Looking back over my life, I've learned that I can never say, "I must have X (eg clinical)" in order to be happy and fulfilled. Things change, I change, and Y (experimental) and Z (whatever else) might also end up making me happy and fulfilled. So I'm considering that I might even be happy without clinical training, which is why I'm even considering the other school. Being in a great school with a great supervisor might open up avenues for me that clinical training may not...but I'd still like to assess the possibility of tacking on clinical training later.