How many others originally thought they'd go for a clinical PhD/PsyD?

[grayone99]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Just out of curiosity, I wondered just how many aspiring and/or practicing clinicians went through their prereqs with the idea they'd be applying for some type of doctorate? I did, and I work in a research lab now, but I'm extremely excited to be applying to MSW programs this year.
For those of you who went through something similar, how has it worked out? Are you mostly glad you went this route? There's no one in my work environment I can talk to about this (sadly), so I wanted to ask you all 🙂

 

[psychstudent90]

Yes, I originally thought I'd take the clinical route too - without any breaks between my degrees.

I'll finish my bachelor's half way through next year, and then I plan to take around six months off just to find myself, and maybe work a little (which was never really part of the plan).

After that, I'll go on to do honours, and then hopefully a doctorate. I originally thought I'd do a clinical doctorate so that I could work with children, but now I'm thinking about heading down the path of health psychology - will just have to see where I end up!

Good luck!

 

[LivingOffLoans]

I often juggle the benefits and costs of going for a PhD. I always assumed I would go for one, but being in a master's program at the moment, I often wonder if I really want to put in the additional 5-7 years it would require. Truth is, psychotherapy is my main focus (which a master's degree covers in my state). However, I do want to be an adjunct professor at the graduate level, and I would like to say that I have published at least a handful of studies before my career is up. I know there is a certain level of competition that comes with applying for teaching positions, even at the adjunct level, and I'd like to have the advantage if I can. And who knows? I am a very creative and diverse person who likes to do different things, so maybe one day I will want to be a professor full-time and do more research. I think about these things a lot. I want to be a big name player in the field because I have very specific objectives I want to accomplish in my career, so I think a PhD serves me better in this sense. On the other hand, I really would enjoy working sooner than later and getting my license. We'll see, I guess. 🙂

 

[xena35o]

I'm in the same boat. I thought I'd be applying for a PhD in clinical or counseling psychology, but I am planning to apply to MSW programs instead.