Free will...

[Psyclops]

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This one is for the research oriented of you out there, particularly those who might already posses their PhD, are close to getting it, or are already faculty members. I know that people's interests change over time, and that nothing is set in stone, but how much latitude is there following the PhD in terms of research focus. Is there much oportunity to change the program of research you are pursuing? Or are you set in following the path you picked when you picked your advisor? I'm really just curious, I personally don't think it's a good idea to try and get into a graduate program for any other reason than you are planning on following the researhc of your chosen mentor. But I have been told by professors in the past "just get the PhDd then you can do wahtever you want". But I tend to find doing research that I am uniterested in like getting dental work done. What does everyone think.

 

[50960]

Get the PhD, and then do what you want. Things change...don't be a professional student. If you can prove excellence in one area you can do it in others. 😉

 

[Psyclops]

Get the PhD, and then do what you want. Things change...don't be a professional student. If you can prove excellence in one area you can do it in others. 😉

This might sound ridiculous but the thought of being a professional student doesn't sound that bad to me. I've spent three years working in mental health treatment (mostly inpatient care). I think the field is a shambles. I've found practitioners, along with administrators, treatment and the "system" to be poorly guided and more poorly implemented. It's only been in academic settings (for the most part) that I have found people who seem to truly be inspired and have understanding balanced with skill. I tend to mistrust those who only want to "practice". I question their motives. I think that the field is about understanding, not about help. I think understanding will lead to better help and a bettering of the human condition. I think these are lofty and difficult to attain goals and they are to often perverted by those who work in the field. But I digress...

 

[50960]

Get a license, and then you can do what you want. THEN, go get some medical training so you can be marketable in the present world of health tx. I agree that being a professional student is great AFTER you get your license to practice...otherwise you are pissing in the wind.

 

[MI2005]

Get a license, and then you can do what you want. THEN, go get some medical training so you can be marketable in the present world of health tx. I agree that being a professional student is great AFTER you get your license to practice...otherwise you are pissing in the wind.

Go get some medical training? Can you say more about this? I am wondering what type of medical training you think would be helpful.

 

[soaringheights]

I think he means training to be a medical psychologist.

 

[50960]

Yes, that would be optimal I think, but even those who do not wish to do Med Psych could benefit greatly from some coursework in clinical medicine. How would you know to refer a depressed pt to an MD? You could tx someone with a thyroid condition with psychotherapy for ages and get no response.......

 

[PublicHealth]

Get a license, and then you can do what you want. THEN, go get some medical training so you can be marketable in the present world of health tx.

What level of medical training? Are you talking a post-doc in clinical psychopharmacology, mid-level training as a PA or NP, or MD/DO school? It sounds like you're encouraging psychology grad students to get enough medical training to be able to recognize when to refer patients for medical evaluation, right? If so, what level of training do you think is sufficient? Do you think your MS in clinical psychopharmacology prepared you well?

 

[Ratch1980]

This might sound ridiculous but the thought of being a professional student doesn't sound that bad to me. I've spent three years working in mental health treatment (mostly inpatient care). I think the field is a shambles. I've found practitioners, along with administrators, treatment and the "system" to be poorly guided and more poorly implemented. It's only been in academic settings (for the most part) that I have found people who seem to truly be inspired and have understanding balanced with skill. I tend to mistrust those who only want to "practice". I question their motives. I think that the field is about understanding, not about help. I think understanding will lead to better help and a bettering of the human condition. I think these are lofty and difficult to attain goals and they are to often perverted by those who work in the field. But I digress...

Go into mental health policy work...thats how you can change the "system"

 

[Annakei]

What level of medical training? Are you talking a post-doc in clinical psychopharmacology, mid-level training as a PA or NP, or MD/DO school? It sounds like you're encouraging psychology grad students to get enough medical training to be able to recognize when to refer patients for medical evaluation, right? If so, what level of training do you think is sufficient? Do you think your MS in clinical psychopharmacology prepared you well?

Psici you really should make a post/sticky about your background in medical psychology. This quesiton gets asked often!

 

[50960]

That would be sorta egotistical don't you think?? 😉

 

[PublicHealth]

That would be sorta egotistical don't you think?? 😉

Oh stop being so modest!

 

[clinpsychgirl]

Oh stop being so modest!

I don't think it would be egotistical at all. After all, the topic generates a lot of interest, both in this forum and in the field!

 

[50960]

OK. The comment was more a reference to Annakei's recent posts to me on another thread.

 

[mikaa]

I think he means training to be a medical psychologist.

pardon my ignorance, but what is a medical psychologist?