how to get into specialities?

[patrickd223]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I have heard that if you specialize in something that your income is more like to be higher. How would you get into a speciality such as neuropsych? Does it depend on where you go to school? Does a psyd limit the types of specialities that you can get into? 😱

 

[50960]

Get your doctorate and then worry about that. Specializing in anything takes years of training and experience post-licensure, and getting your degree(s) and your license is enough to worry about.

 

[Dr.JT]

Get your doctorate and then worry about that. Specializing in anything takes years of training and experience post-licensure, and getting your degree(s) and your license is enough to worry about.

This is true for some specialties, but not for neuropsych. It is very competitive and getting more so. Where you go to grad school should at least provide you with a foundation of neuropsych specialty knowledge. If not, you will be out of luck in terms of specializing. Psy.D will not limit you, but you will need to show a higher level of interest in research than most Psy.d's have if you plan on doing a neuropsych postdoc.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Dr. JT is right. It is definitely competitive (moreso recently), and the more neuro specific classes and experiences you can get during your doctorate, the better. It is a great field if that is your interest (not my cup of tea for an everyday focus, but very interesting)

-t

 

[50960]

My point was that if you have not even completed a doctorate yet, how would you have a clue that you want to be a neuropsychologist? I thought my specialty would be child-psych during my schooling years, until I learned that it is basically dealing with messed up parents who want to blame and pathologize their kid, after years of doing child-based work. I figured out I wanted to specialize in medical/health psych after doing a medical psych post-doc.

 

[Dr.JT]

My point was that if you have not even completed a doctorate yet, how would you have a clue that you want to be a neuropsychologist? .

If you want to specialize in neuro, you need to know prior to grad school. That's the bottom line. You will not be competitive without the proper training.

 

[50960]

Competitive in what environment? I could go hang a shingle out saying I do neuropsych tomorrow. It would not be ethical, but I assure you I would get alot of business. Perhaps you are referring to academia??

 

[clinpsychgirl]

I am child-focused Ph.D. student in clinical psychology and I aspire to pursue an academic career. I had several years of predoctoral experience in children's mental health prior to selecting my focus. Of course it is possible for a person's area of interest to change. But, indeed, I think what he and previous posters were alluding to is that if you are interested in an academic career, it is often most benefical to go to a school that offers a speciality track in your area of interest.

 

[Dr.JT]

Competitive in what environment? I could go hang a shingle out saying I do neuropsych tomorrow. It would not be ethical, but I assure you I would get alot of business. Perhaps you are referring to academia??

No. Clinical neuropsych. I am faculty at an APPCN program and you will not have a chance at training here without the proper background.

Yes you can hang a shingle and do neuropsych. Then you will wind up on a forensic case at some point, whether you want to or not, and get slammed for not having the proper training. Your phone will stop ringing and so much for your practice. You will not be competitive for clinical work these days without proper training in neuropsych.

Neuropsych training has become very specific over the past ten years or so. There are certain requirements to gain entry into the field and they start at the graduate level.

 

[PublicHealth]

No. Clinical neuropsych. I am faculty at an APPCN program and you will not have a chance at training here without the proper background.

Yes you can hang a shingle and do neuropsych. Then you will wind up on a forensic case at some point, whether you want to or not, and get slammed for not having the proper training. Your phone will stop ringing and so much for your practice. You will not be competitive for clinical work these days without proper training in neuropsych.

Neuropsych training has become very specific over the past ten years or so. There are certain requirements to gain entry into the field and they start at the graduate level.

As a neuropsychologist, are you or any of your colleagues interested in prescriptive authority? How might it enhance your practice?

 

[Dr.JT]

As a neuropsychologist, are you or any of your colleagues interested in prescriptive authority? How might it enhance your practice?

I can't speak for all of my collegues, but to my knowledge nobody I know is particularly interested in it. I have absolutely no interest in pursuing it.

 

[brightness]

Dr. JT- What sort of things might you suggest for a neuropsychology specialization? I am currently in my junior year of a psych major and I've recently become interested in biological psychology. Any advice you have would be appreciated greatly.

 

[Dr.JT]

Dr. JT- What sort of things might you suggest for a neuropsychology specialization? I am currently in my junior year of a psych major and I've recently become interested in biological psychology. Any advice you have would be appreciated greatly.

It depends on whether you are interested in clinical neuropsych. If so, your first priority is to get into a clinical Ph.D program that provides a sequence of courses, a practicum in neuropsych assessment, and at least one neuropsychologist on faculty. Then its on to internship with specialty in neuropsych and finally postdoc. Keep in mind that these are not suggestions, but requirements for entry into the field.

 

[Logic Prevails]

Keep in mind that "Neuropsychology" is more learning about assessment than learning about the brain.

 

[Dr.JT]

Keep in mind that "Neuropsychology" is more learning about assessment than learning about the brain.

True that there is a lot of learning about assessment, however, there is a lot of learning about the brain also. Neuropsychologist study assessment and the brain and clinical psychology. Hence all the training requirements. Check out the div 40 guidelines.

 

[Logic Prevails]

True that there is a lot of learning about assessment, however, there is a lot of learning about the brain also. Neuropsychologist study assessment and the brain and clinical psychology. Hence all the training requirements. Check out the div 40 guidelines.

In my school, the "Clinical Neuropsychology" program means learning a lot about assessment and very little about the brain. Within this program, people are required to take a course in neuroanatomy - thats all they will learn about the brain in terms of any formal coursework. Personally, I think this is ridiculous, and in our geographical area, it seems that being a neuropsychologist has somehow turned into "being a person who can administer a boatload of psychological tests." One of my practicum supervisors actually pulled me aside and applauded me because he felt that I was one of the few students who actually use my knowledge of the brain (learned mostly on my own) to interpret a profile.

The moral of the story, is that, at least in my case, "Neuropsychology" turned out to be a totally different animal than what I had initially thought. Why does someone who learns these extensive batteries get to call themselves a "Neuropsychologist," when someone who knows the brain inside-out, but does not use these batteries is only entitled to "Pscyhologist."

What a crazy world we live in.

P.S. Just for the record, this is a reputable APA approved program

 

[PsiKo]

. . .Why does someone who learns these extensive batteries get to call themselves a "Neuropsychologist," when someone who knows the brain inside-out, but does not use these batteries is only entitled to "Pscyhologist."

Just curious, are you suggesting that there are people (test administrators, perhaps) presenting themselves as neuropsychologists who aren't already licensed psychologists? I haven't come across this.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

In my opinion, if you don't have the requisite background in neuroanatomy and brain-behavior relationships, you have no business practicing neuropsychology. But, as in other areas, we are our lowest common denominator.

I completely agree. What many people are describing is a clinician who primarily does assessments.........neuropsychology is (or at least should be) far more than that. Up until recently, I thought it was really hard to get the board distinction for neuropsychology, but it seems to be much more watered down that what I was expecting.

Frankly, I believe the average clinician needs MORE neuro related classes. I have always thought this to be a point of irony.....that our work is very much dependant on the brain, yet most clinicians do not have as strong of a background as you would epect.

-t

 

[Dr.JT]

Just curious, are you suggesting that there are people (test administrators, perhaps) presenting themselves as neuropsychologists who aren't already licensed psychologists? I haven't come across this.

I think he is saying that there are clinical psychologist, who lack appropriate training in neuropsychology, that are presenting themselves as neuropsychologists. And this does happen.

 

[Logic Prevails]

I think he is saying that there are clinical psychologist, who lack appropriate training in neuropsychology, that are presenting themselves as neuropsychologists. And this does happen.

Yes, that is what I meant

 

[Neuro-Dr]

Some interesting posts on the neuro field. Please do consult the HCG and be advised that the new "Summit" should be some time this spring. The issue of training and coursework will be discussed. AS for the "assessment" piece, I am not sure what program was being referred to but the standards involve a generic component made up of foundations courses, a clinical component made up of assessment, pathology, intervention course and these components are common to all ABPP member boards as well.

The following two domain involve courses in neuroanatomy, neuropathology, functional imaging, research in neuropsych, ethics in neuropsych, neurological interventions, neuropsych assessment and the like. If your program does not offer these domains, I would question it as being a neuropsych program and say that it is a clinical program with some np courses. Not that this can't be an appropriate avenue for training if matched with an appropriate internship and fellowship, just that it may not be adhering to the philosophical approach to NP that is intended

 

[Livethedream]

What is the difference between neuropsychology and neuroscience?...or is there a difference? How does one specialize?...Get your doctorate in clin psych and then go on and do a masters?

 

[Psyduck]

I thought a doctorate was required to do neuropsych testing but then I saw this on the employment page for NY Psychiatric:

Candidate will be responsible for the following: 1) Completing required training in neuropsychological testing and clinical psychological testing....3) Performing neuropsychological and clinical psychological testing on patients admitted to the Schizophrenia Research Unit directed by the Unit Chief, or his designee, as well as other participants in brain imaging studies of the division of Functional Brain Mapping.

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Psychology or related field preferred

So...is it just that you need the doctorate to interpret the tests? Or what is the point? I'm really interested in becoming a clinical neuropsychologist but this is all a little confusing 😕

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I 'think' you can be trained as a psych tech to administer the testing, but they wouldn't be able to interpret it. I'd be concerned with some of the neuro stuff though....not sure how that'd work without someone without the proper training to understand the assessment, etc.

-t