M.A in Clinical Psych (Neuropsych Emphasis)

[AfricanPsych]

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Hello ALL!!

im currently a senior at USC majoring in International Relations. I have taken a considerable amount of psych courses as well.

My Question:

I am extremely interested in mental health, most specifically conditions involving the brain (i.e autism, schizophrenia). My long term goal is to become a neuropsychologist but i have made the decision to first obtain my Masters in Clinical Psych to gain valuable work experience and connections before obtaining a Psy.D. I am wondering what type of job prospects i can expect with a Masters in Clinical Psych neuropysch emphasis??? Can i private practice with such a degree?? Can i become licensed and do some amateur therapy with a Masters?? Im REALLY interested in working with children with Autism.

Thanks in Advance??

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Neuropsychology is a speciality within doctoral training for clinical psychology. You most likely won't find a legitimate neuropsychology MS, and you definitely won't find a way to practice with it. There are no shortcuts for the training, it will require completing doctoral training AND the required neuropsychology coursework, training, and fellowship.

 

[AfricanPsych]

thanks for your response.....i understand the doctoral training in becoming a neuropsychologist.

My question was specific to the Masters though. I am going to HAVE to get my Masters and i will choose a neuropsych concentration within that program. AGAIN, my question is what are the job prospects for Masters in Clinical Training??? Hopefully someone can provide some helpful answers.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

thanks for your response.....i understand the doctoral training in becoming a neuropsychologist.

My question was specific to the Masters though. I am going to HAVE to get my Masters and i will choose a neuropsych concentration within that program. AGAIN, my question is what are the job prospects for Masters in Clinical Training??? Hopefully someone can provide some helpful answers.

It depends on the program and the state in which you live/practice. There are not that many clinical psychology MA/MS programs that are license eligible. If a degree is not licensable, then it needs to be a stepping stone towards a Psy.D. or Ph.D., or it is pretty useless. I'd be very skeptical of any program that pushes a "neuropsychology" focus at the MA/MS level because there is just too much involved for you to really learn what you really need to learn for it to be useful. I think of it similar to programs that push "forensic psychology" MA/MS....which is another speciality area that requires doctoral training.

 

[AfricanPsych]

Therapist4change,

Thx for your assistance. It's unfortunate that most of the psych Masters are primarily used as stepping stones. I would like to put this degree to a much greater use before applying to Psy. D programs. I've seen posts on this board describing School Psychologists with a Masters level education????? Masters in Clinical Psych to becoming a school psychologist?? This is something that interests me as if i am able to become a school psychologist before my doctoral training i would jump at the opportunity.

 

[Student4Life0]

Therapist4change,

Thx for your assistance. It's unfortunate that most of the psych Masters are primarily used as stepping stones. I would like to put this degree to a much greater use before applying to Psy. D programs. I've seen posts on this board describing School Psychologists with a Masters level education????? Masters in Clinical Psych to becoming a school psychologist?? This is something that interests me as if i am able to become a school psychologist before my doctoral training i would jump at the opportunity.[/QUOTEh

These are all very different types of training. Training in a school psych program, training in an MA/MS clinical psych program, and the training received at the doctoral level that is required to become a neuro psychologist. All very very different paths, with different possible outcomes.

 

[PsyDetective]

+1

Before you invest two to three years into a M.A. in Clinical Psychology (or School Psychology, for that matter) do some research. Do a LOT of research. An M.A. can be just what the doctor ordered, if you are fully informed and it is right for YOU. Explore realistically what you want to do in the long run, and what you're getting into. M.A. programs are a strange beast in terms of funding, transfer of coursework to doctoral programs, and employment prospects. There is significant variance across states in terms of licensure and across doctoral programs in terms of transfer of coursework / acceptance of applicants with Master's-level training and experience. Check to see if your state has a chapter of the Northamerican Association of Master's in Psychology. http://www.enamp.org