LPCC or PsyD?

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Hello all, I am just finishing up my MA in clinical/counseling psych which will allow me to start accumulating hours for my LPCC OR I could go on to pursue my doctorate. Some potentially pertinent information about me:

• I have the research experience, grades, GRE, etc to get into a PsyD program I would probably like if I wanted to (I have done research with 2 of the professors there already and am close with another)
• I'm burnt out as **** from academia, I was in medical school for a while, I'm 27, I'm doing a pretty intense thesis project, I'd like a break from research for at least a little while
• My long term goal is working with sexual offenders, individuals suffering from sexual trauma, people with sexual paraphilias, etc, potentially having my own practice. I'd also love to have research be a part of this.
• In my state LPCC are licensed mental health professionals who can bill insurance

Thoughts/suggestions/questions?

 

[deleted343839]

If you are burned out, you could begin to work with sexual offenders/assault survivors in consultation with someone who is experienced in this area, and then later decide if you want to develop your expertise in greater depth. Staying involved with a research lab would be a reasonable way to keep your hand in for a year or two while you decide. I would not go back for a doctorate for clinical skills training alone, unless you believe that your training was lacking in some important way.

If you go on to do a doctorate in psychology (no reason not to consider a funded PhD - any PsyD worth its tuition cost will include research training), then it would be important to get postdoctoral training in this very misunderstood specialty area.

Caution: avoid the "sex addiction" crowd.