PsyD bias!

[TMS@1987]

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I am sure that u have all heard this before, but I'm afraid I have to torture you guys with another PsyD question (sorry). I have been checking out yahoo answers for the past few months trying to test the waters of the psychology community to see what the reception is in regards to PsyD's. the message I got back was completely mixed! some people vouched for it (usually people with PsyD's) and some people ripped it to shreds (usually PhD's teaching in universities) and than their were others who's ignorance shown brightly in every uttered syllable (saying things like "PsyD's can write prescriptions, PhD's can't" or "PsyD's are what you get when you can't get a PhD"). I just wanted to hear (straight from the mouths of people who are either studying for a doctorate or have a doctorate) what exactly is the status on the PsyD? is it a viable option for someone who wants to get out into the world and help people, or will I be fighting an uphill battle of bias and snobbishness? will I be seen as a legitimate psychologist? or as a second class citizen?

 

[paramour]

Check out the Sticky: PhD vs PsyD comparison thread at the top of the first page.

 

[TMS@1987]

so, your saying that a PsyD is ok as long as its from a university and not a professional school?

 

[TMS@1987]

would you be able to point me in the direction of some of these programs?

 

[JockNerd]

I'm pretty sure Indiana at Penn gets on the list too.

Jon's explanation of why some people on the board and in the field have a bias is concise and, I think, very accurate. Almost no one runs around saying "PsyDs are bad!" (when someone did post something like that recently in another thread, they were decried by half a dozen board members).

Also, if you're interested in clinical practice remember that many (most?) people who go through PhD programs end up in practice anyway. If you have a strong clinical interest in a particular population, it might not be so rough to spend time in a PhD program doing research with that population. You'd have more options for funded programs and you'd be able to increase your knowledge of treatment or therapy options. Just a thought--make sure you're aware of all your options!🙂