Narrowing down program choices

[kestrelcry]

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I’ve been wandering about your forum off and on for a few months now, and I thought I’d throw myself on your collective mercy. I'm currently in the process of researching doctorate programs to which to apply for the 2007-2008 academic year. I've been reading posts here about how important it is to have a good fit interest-wise with the research specialties of your program.
I have a pretty specific career goal - I want to grow up to be mostly a couples' counselor, possibly with a specialty in sex therapy. I’d like to do research as well, and I’m not ruling out individual therapy, but I for sure want to do couples counseling. I'm particularly interested in providing services to alternative communities that are under-served, such as the queer, kink, and polyamorous communities, among others. I assume that this means I need a program with strength in couples' counseling and human sexuality. I'm imagining that a fairly open-minded program is also going to be pretty damn important. On the other hand, I don't want to go to a school that is so out there as to not be reputable or academically rigorous. On more general notes: I racked up enough debt in college to want a funded program; and I'm not fussy about location, although the east coast would be nice.
The problem is that I'm not entirely sure how to go about finding out what programs are most appropriate, aside from looking for published articles on couples' counseling and seeing who has written them. I figure that can't be the only way to do it, although I am planning following that line of inquiry as well. I've been doing lots of googling, and I've talked with a practicing sex therapist, but I haven't been able to find out a lot so far. I now know that Widener has a good joint psychology/human sexuality program, but funding seems to be questionable. Also, The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality was recommended to me, but their website and admissions process (a current photo?!) kinda skeeves me out. Anyone heard anything about it?
I'm not expecting anyone here to do my research on programs for me, although I'm certainly not adverse to suggestions if anyone knows of anything off the top of their head. I'm mostly hoping for some hints on how find the information I need to narrow down school choices, and I haven't seen anything on current posts here. Any advice and/or suggestion would be hugely appreciated. I'm starting to panic about getting my process started. Heaps of thanks in advance, and my apology for the length of my ramble of terror.

 

[Psyclops]

I wouldn't worry yet, you have alot of time. The articles are probably the best way to find programs, most people are too lazy to do it that way though. Make sure the articles are current, and wehn you e-mail the professors you ask them what thye are currently doing , and where they see their program going over the next five or six years.

 

[kestrelcry]

Are there other ways to do it as well? I'd really like to have a couple of different ways of getting information - that way I can compare and contrast what I find out from different sources, and hopefully, not miss any particulary wonderful programs. And thanks muchly for all suggestions.

I wouldn't worry yet, you have alot of time. The articles are probably the best way to find programs, most people are too lazy to do it that way though. Make sure the articles are current, and wehn you e-mail the professors you ask them what thye are currently doing , and where they see their program going over the next five or six years.

 

[Psyclops]

Go to APA.org and for 19.99 they will give you access to their on-line database of graduate schools in psychology for 3 months. It's very worth it. It will give you links to each department and allow you to do seaches based on various criteria. The searches aren't super useful, but the time saved really is, and each school has posted infor opn finances and department size admissions data etc.

 

[konrad]

Look for professional organizations, special interest groups within those orgs, and possible listservs on your topic of interest. Spend endless hours on the internet following often-fruitless links. Find graduate students currently doing research in your area and ask them for a run-down of who the important researchers are. Look for review articles on your topic. Browse the library for books on your topic. Above all, remember that if you want to do research within a mentorship system, the quality of the mentor and your match with his/her interests is most important, above and beyond the reputation of the program.

 

[kestrelcry]

Ah yes, this is why I am panicked about time. Not that I haven't spent plenty of time doing searches on the internet - particularly for fruitless links - I'm absolutely brilliant at those. The rest of it I'll have to keep plugging at. Thanks to both of you for the suggestions.

 

[Psyclops]

Remember it's still early, no need to freak out yet.

 

[cheltsie02]

Ah yes, this is why I am panicked about time. Not that I haven't spent plenty of time doing searches on the internet - particularly for fruitless links - I'm absolutely brilliant at those.

Kestrelcry, I'm in the same situation! In fact, I found this site today while attempting to research professors and grad programs. I am extremely thankful for the internet, but sometimes too much information can be a burden! It's so easy to get sidetracked.

If I discover any secrets while doing my searches, I'll be sure to let you know! Otherwise, best of luck! 👍