Unrespected Degree now what?

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DrABA

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Hello,
I am graduating from a state approved school in CA with a PsyD. My degree is not Regionally accredited and does not require any practicum or internship. It was a good program, rigorous and many go on to do well in private practice.
As I go into the phase of trying to complete 3000 hours for licensure I am realizing a lot of the jobs I want will require me to do a lot of explaining and hoop jumping and some are just not available to me with this degree. (Forensic psychology, state jobs, academia, teaching etc) I completed the degree while my life only allowed for many reasons an online degree and no internship. I now am in a place where I can devote more time.
I looked at respecialization programs but I do not believe they will allow me to transfer any credits from the state approved program. I would need to start all over. I do have a Master's degree from a regionally accredited school as well.

I ideally want an APA approved program where I can do practicum and internship and begin to get hours for licensure and experience and end up with a respected degree. I am not too keen on writing another dissertation or retaking classes some for the third time as I already started an APA approved program years ago and then left a year in when I had my first child. (more than 10 years ago so those credits wont transfer anywhere either).

Is it worth starting over? Anyone have suggestions?
Programs I am looking at for respecialization are at Alliant and Fielding. Anyone have info on those?

For those looking at PsyD program my advice would be look only at APA approved schools if that is at all an option for you!!! Dont limit yourself if you can help it.
 
The respecialization programs are not well respected. Only you can decide if it's worth starting over. I am sure that, having been enrolled in an APA-accredited program in the past, you have been on the receiving end of some advice. Unfortunately there is not an easy way out of your predicament. Probably the quickest path to practice would be to get some master's level license.

DrABA said:
My degree is not Regionally accredited and does not require any practicum or internship. It was a good program, rigorous and many go on to do well in private practice.
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These statements are incompatible with one another. I cannot imagine the frustration and heartache this is causing you, but you seem to be rationalizing poor training, and until you recognize the divide between what you think you have and what you actually have, it's going to be difficult to make sound decisions that will pay off.
 
WisNeuro said:
If you want a respected degree, I would stay away from Alliant and especially Fielding. If I'm hiring/choosing interns/postdocs, those applications go directly into the round filing bin.
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o gosh really? I thought since they are APA approved programs they would be respected. I am in northern CA. Are there any programs that are respected that are near me? The APA website shows very few APA accredited programs
 
DrABA said:
o gosh really? I thought since they are APA approved programs they would be respected. I am in northern CA. Are there any programs that are respected that are near me? The APA website shows very few APA accredited programs
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Like MamaPhd said, unfortunately, I am not aware of a respected respecialization program. The diploma mills kind of took that over. IMO, starting over is pretty much the only way, or as was suggested, masters level licensure.
 
DrABA said:
Hello,
I am graduating from a state approved school in CA with a PsyD. My degree is not Regionally accredited and does not require any practicum or internship. It was a good program, rigorous and many go on to do well in private practice.
As I go into the phase of trying to complete 3000 hours for licensure I am realizing a lot of the jobs I want will require me to do a lot of explaining and hoop jumping and some are just not available to me with this degree. (Forensic psychology, state jobs, academia, teaching etc) I completed the degree while my life only allowed for many reasons an online degree and no internship. I now am in a place where I can devote more time.
I looked at respecialization programs but I do not believe they will allow me to transfer any credits from the state approved program. I would need to start all over. I do have a Master's degree from a regionally accredited school as well.

I ideally want an APA approved program where I can do practicum and internship and begin to get hours for licensure and experience and end up with a respected degree. I am not too keen on writing another dissertation or retaking classes some for the third time as I already started an APA approved program years ago and then left a year in when I had my first child. (more than 10 years ago so those credits wont transfer anywhere either).

Is it worth starting over? Anyone have suggestions?
Programs I am looking at for respecialization are at Alliant and Fielding. Anyone have info on those?

For those looking at PsyD program my advice would be look only at APA approved schools if that is at all an option for you!!! Dont limit yourself if you can help it.
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What is your master's in? Could you use that and/or hours from your PsyD to get licensed as an LPCC or MFT in California? It seems a shame to try to go through the whole process of getting another doctorate just to be able to call yourself a psychologist.

I completed a PhD in educational psychology at the top school in that field at the time. After being out doing research for several years in health education and behavior, I decided to do a respecialization program at Alliant. Unfortunately for me now, I was in a faculty position at a UC campus and decided that I would do a CAPIC rather than APA internship so I could stay in my faculty job. You know where this is going - life intervened, I left the UC job that I had planned to stay in for life, and am now in the purgatory of a non-APA internship. Sometimes when you make unfixable mistakes, you just have to learn to live with them.

If you do decide to try another doctorate and you're geographically bound to the Bay Area, you will likely struggle to be taken seriously by admissions committees. Before you try to apply to other programs, you might reach out and try to make personal contact with the Director of Clinical Training, head of the clinical area, or someone similar to see what kind of reception you get when you tell them your story. If they seem unsympathetic, no need to jump through all the hoops of a formal application to the program. But maybe you'll find a sympathetic ear and it's not all doom and gloom as you're hearing on this board.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.
 
That's a tough position to be in. Does your PsyD program have any networking leads to get jobs or alumni willing to supervise you as a psychological assistant until you get your 3000 hours? A psychological assistant position might be the way to go if you can find someone to supervise you in private practice. It might take 2-4 years to get the required hours, depending on whether it's supervised full-time or part-time. Still, could be an option if the state board allows it.

Otherwise, I would suggest what the others have said, and that is, to rally with your master's degree and go get your licensing hours and be supervised and get some money rather than start all over in another lengthy and expensive program.
 
My degree is not Regionally accredited and does not require any practicum or internship. It was a good program, rigorous and many go on to do well in private practice.
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I'm not sure how you can have a rigorous and good training program in clinical practice without any experience doing clinical practice. Would you let a surgeon who never saw a patient operate on you? I'd skip on down the street and miss that doctor. I don't know CA law, but I'm a bit confused how people are able to do private practice without any experience- are they life coaches?

I would recommend, as others have, starting over or considering the masters route.
 
"state approved" school?
 
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In California, schools that are not regionally accredited by WASC can operate if they are approved by the state. The hurdle to be state-approved used to be ridiculously low - $60K in assets. Now, that wouldn't even buy the broom closet in a Palo Alto house.

As of 2020, the BoP will no longer allow graduates of state-approved schools to apply for licensure as a psychologist in CA, only graduates of regionally accredited schools.
 
I think it means not APA-Acred, not regionally accredited, but the state allows it to be open.

For those wondering, what the heck is regional acred? Regional accreditation is like Northeast, Southeast, etc....but they have weird acronyms like SACS for for southeastern schools. They are like sports conferences, but obviously many more universities per grouping and they try to establish minimum standards for programs at the affiliated universities.
 
What do you want to do that requires the new degree?

If others are doing well in PP I'd just do that. Otherwise you're sucking up at least half a decade in direct and opportunity costs.
 
i think state approved schools as of 2020 can be nationally accredited as well (not only regionally accredited). The school requires a dissertation and course work as well as clinical coursework which includes a lot of dyad work, but none of it counts towards the 3000 hrs required for licensure or is done at an agency etc. that is supposed to come post grad through psych assistantship.

I don't necessarily regret my decision to attend. I am a good student but I could not financially or time wise attend a program that required full time plus practicum etc as a single mom. I learned a lot but I now end up with a degree that might get laughed at. I think a huge part of learning takes place on the job which is why the 3000 hrs are required. I just want to find a good place to train and I am worried that wont happen and want to make myself more marketable and get good training.

My masters is not in psych it's in behavior analysis, but I want to do psychotherapy so going for masters level licensure would put me I think in the same predicament where I need 3000 hrs of training.

I am thinking I may just try to take single courses, post grad certifications etc. to beef up my knowledge, skills and resume. and attempt to find someone in private practice that is willing to supervise me?
 
DrABA said:
i think state approved schools as of 2020 can be nationally accredited as well (not only regionally accredited). The school requires a dissertation and course work as well as clinical coursework which includes a lot of dyad work, but none of it counts towards the 3000 hrs required for licensure or is done at an agency etc. that is supposed to come post grad through psych assistantship.

I don't necessarily regret my decision to attend. I am a good student but I could not financially or time wise attend a program that required full time plus practicum etc as a single mom. I learned a lot but I now end up with a degree that might get laughed at. I think a huge part of learning takes place on the job which is why the 3000 hrs are required. I just want to find a good place to train and I am worried that wont happen and want to make myself more marketable and get good training.

My masters is not in psych it's in behavior analysis, but I want to do psychotherapy so going for masters level licensure would put me I think in the same predicament where I need 3000 hrs of training.

I am thinking I may just try to take single courses, post grad certifications etc. to beef up my knowledge, skills and resume. and attempt to find someone in private practice that is willing to supervise me?
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I dont understand what is going on here? You went to a program that provided no clinical training and expect to be license eligible by a board of psychology to practice professional psychology? What universe do you live in?
 
DrABA said:
i think state approved schools as of 2020 can be nationally accredited as well (not only regionally accredited).
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I don't think you know what this means. It's negative that your program allowed you to complete it, or even enroll at all, without understanding these issues.

I am a good student but I could not financially or time wise attend a program that required full time plus practicum etc as a single mom.
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It sounds like you actually could not afford to attend the program you attended....
 
I think people are jumping to conclusions and taking things out of context. I am well aware of what state approved means. I do know that with my degree I can become a licensed psychologist in CA on the planet we all live on.

The program requires clinical training classes but not formal practicum or internship. Most people who attend the program already practice at a masters level.
 
DrABA said:
i think state approved schools as of 2020 can be nationally accredited as well (not only regionally accredited). The school requires a dissertation and course work as well as clinical coursework which includes a lot of dyad work, but none of it counts towards the 3000 hrs required for licensure or is done at an agency etc. that is supposed to come post grad through psych assistantship.

I am thinking I may just try to take single courses, post grad certifications etc. to beef up my knowledge, skills and resume. and attempt to find someone in private practice that is willing to supervise me?
Click to expand...

If you think you can get someone to supervise you and then pursue psychologist licensure, that seems the most expeditious path, realizing as you said in your initial post that some jobs will be closed to you. It's 3000 hours after another degree or 3000 hours without more school.

My reading of the BoP rules is that you must apply for licensure by 2020 or your your state-approved school will prevent you from getting licensed.

Best of luck to you.
 
I agree with the surgeon example bc the harm that can be done can be as serious.

I'd encourage the OP to consider licensure at the masters level (with the requisite supervision and training hours) because I think it will be exceedingly hard to find an employer/psychologist to take on the added liability of supervising someone who didn't take the prescribed path to licensure (APA-acred program, APA-acred internship, etc).
 
  • Applicants for licensure that are enrolled as of December 31, 2016, in a doctoral program in psychology, educational psychology, or education with a field of specialization in counseling psychology or educational psychology at a nationally accredited institution, or an approved institution that meets the requirements of Section 2914 (h), will be able to apply for licensure at any time, and this requirement will not apply.
 
DrABA said:
I think people are jumping to conclusions and taking things out of context. I am well aware of what state approved means. I do know that with my degree I can become a licensed psychologist in CA on the planet we all live on.

The program requires clinical training classes but not formal practicum or internship. Most people who attend the program already practice at a masters level.
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Are you dense?

Qualifications for Licensure as a Psychologist - California Board of Psychology
 
I see an amazing MFT who has been practicing for 30 years came from a school that has been closed a long time and met requirements that were far inferior to those of today to get licensed. I would take the therapist who has life experience over the recent young grad from IV league school anyday when I choose a therapist to work with.
I think a lot of the criticism is arrogant. I did not say I believe the training I have is inferior, I said it is looked at as inferior and that is a problem. I didnt choose the program I chose because I could't get in anywhere else or I am somehow inferior. As I said I was accepted already to an APA approved program years ago. I could not complete it as a young mom because I chose to devote my time to raising my child instead of practicum and internships. I think whether you get all aspects of training necessary for licensure at once or in parts isnt really an issue. Surgeons are overworked, exhausted and work down right dangerous shifts esp during training which is usually post grad. Surgeons should not be required to give up all other aspects of life in order to specialize but thats a whole other feminist topic.
 
DrABA said:
I see an amazing MFT who has been practicing for 30 years came from a school that has been closed a long time and met requirements that were far inferior to those of today to get licensed. I would take the therapist who has life experience over the recent young grad from IV league school anyday when I choose a therapist to work with.
I think a lot of the criticism is arrogant. I did not say I believe the training I have is inferior, I said it is looked at as inferior and that is a problem. I didnt choose the program I chose because I could't get in anywhere else or I am somehow inferior. As I said I was accepted already to an APA approved program years ago. I could not complete it as a young mom because I chose to devote my time to raising my child instead of practicum and internships. I think whether you get all aspects of training necessary for licensure at once or in parts isnt really an issue. Surgeons are overworked, exhausted and work down right dangerous shifts esp during training which is usually post grad. Surgeons should not be required to give up all other aspects of life in order to specialize but thats a whole other feminist topic.
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1) You know it's unethical to treat based upon life experience, right?
2) Choices have consequences. Becoming a psychologist has inherent requirements because the profession determined so by consensus. Other people chose to delay having children, a career, financial security, geographic stability, certain lifestyle stuff, etc so that they could pursue their education in an APA program. The consequence of that action is that they became a psychologist. You chose to be a mom, which resulted in a choice to not pursue a career as a psychologist. You are free to do the training, like anyone else. Could do it now. Asking how to circumvent the requirements because you do not want to give up the same things others have is pretty cruddy.
3) Your opinions about licensure don't really matter. What the licensing board thinks matters. It's sorta like having opinions on paying the IRS. At the end of the day, either you pay or they just take it.
4) I thought feminism believed in the equality of the sexes.
 
DrABA said:
I think a lot of the criticism is arrogant. I did not say I believe the training I have is inferior, I said it is looked at as inferior
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I think it is looked at as being inferior because it is. I'm really sick of people taking the easy shortcut into my field and demanding they be treated as professional equals.
 
DrABA said:
I think a lot of the criticism is arrogant.
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People aren't saying you have to train at one of the best programs, but APA-acred status was developed by the field to be the minimum requirement. Over the years there has been a race to the bottom bc of for-profit businesses investing in psychology programs. They fought/lobbied hard to push regional acred and push a false equivalency in regard to training. APA-acred is faaaaar from perfect and IMHO at least the bottom 10-20% of programs should be cut based on their outcome data (i.e. Graduation rate, licensure rate, APA-acred rate, etc).

DrABA said:
I think whether you get all aspects of training necessary for licensure at once or in parts isnt really an issue.
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Training programs and state laws disagree. As someone who has work with a state licensing board and has written scope of practice regulations for them, educational training is already pretty relaxed in most states. Many states are tightening the regulations bc there is so much variance.

DrABA said:
Surgeons are overworked, exhausted and work down right dangerous shifts esp during training which is usually post grad. Surgeons should not be required to give up all other aspects of life in order to specialize but thats a whole other feminist topic.
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There have been some attempts to curb the crazy hours, but that's a side point. The example of the surgeon was given for the hands on training and experience. A clinician can do as much damage (e.g. bad treatment leads to a suicide/homocide) and needs to have strict standards bc the default pt is vulnerable and needs to be protected.

Becoming a surgeon/physician requires sacrifices, same goes for becoming a psychologist. The sacrifices are different, but the training is in place to protect the public and attempt to produce clinicians that have a minimum level of competency.

I don't want any shortcuts in training if I'm the patient because it puts me at risk. I'd want the gold standard option instead of the minimum option or less. It's unfortunate you have hit a snag in your training, but accreditation is one of many attempts at controlling for minimum competency levels. A program lacking didactic training and hands on mentorship and supervision is significantly lacking in training. Classroom training is probably 25% or less of actual training in a clinical psych program.
 
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It is amazing how quickly any criticism of a sub-par doctoral program turns to "you guys are arrogant". Hate to say it, but your school was misleading. That is how they stay in business. When they say graduates have private practice careers they are generally referring to those who already attained a license at the Master's level and went to this school so they could market themselves as a doctor. It sounds a lot like Cal Southern to me.
 
Let's keep the insults out of this thread!

OP, I hear you that feedback here isn't always tactful, but I think the main issue is that the program you attended is unethical if it grants you a (clinical or counseling) psychology doctorate without a shred of clinical experience; meanwhile, other graduates from accredited programs have 4-6 years of supervised experience to hone their skills and develop a theoretical foundation that translates into practice. It just isn't the same no matter how you look at it, and although there are awesome therapists who come from bad programs, in general, inadequate training doesn't bode well for our field as a whole. It's unfortunate that these programs prey upon hardworking folks who don't have time to attend school full-time and hope that the degree is equivalent in the state board's eyes.

I'd say your plan to go into an APA program is the best route if money isn't an issue and you want good training, because no matter what, you are going to have to earn those practice hours.
If money and time are issues, revert to your master's and get licensure hours, if you can practice with it.
Or, if you don't want to toss the baby out with the bathwater so to speak, you could get the 4-5 years of supervised experience you missed in your doc program before being licensed (working as a psychological assistant for up to 6 years), which might be an ethical way to proceed. I personally think it'd be unethical to get your required 3,000 hours, become licensed, and ignore the fact that you missed several years of pre-doctoral practice compared to other graduates. The more ethical choice would be to choose more years of supervised practice to be on par with your peers (I had 6 years of supervised practice by the time I got licensed). Whether that's via another doctoral program or just choosing more training for yourself is up to you. Best of luck in your decision!
 
foreverbull said:
OP, I hear you that feedback here isn't always tactful
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Not "tactful"? How about we label it as hostile instead? There's tough love, and then there's being a straight-up arse. And I mostly see the latter here.
 
JoePianist said:
Not "tactful"? How about we label it as hostile instead? There's tough love, and then there's being a straight-up arse. And I mostly see the latter here.
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Huh, interesting how the people throwing around accusations of hostility are the only ones actually insulting other people...
 
Things I am hostile towards:

1) people acting in a manner that could harm others.
2) people trying to break the rules and revive the same outcome as those who abided by the rules.
3) people who exploit others.
4) people who threaten the profession, and by proxy the livelihoods of others.
5) people who try to piggyback off of the efforts of others.

I see zero reason to be nice to those people.

Things I am blunt about:

1) realistic outcomes.
2) requirements of the profession
3) general information

IMO, there are many people who sugar coat stuff to the detriment of the person performing the action. I think this is mean in its own way. See audition shows for example.
 
LOL I often wonder who you people actually are? I try to imagine any of my co-workers or people that I've met in the field speaking/behaving like this on an internet forum and it's actually hilarious to picture. Are you real people? lol.
 
ikibah said:
LOL I often wonder who you people actually are? I try to imagine any of my co-workers or people that I've met in the field speaking/behaving like this on an internet forum and it's actually hilarious to picture. Are you real people? lol.
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Do you laugh at your coworkers and ask them if they are real people?

Because that's your answer.
 
ikibah said:
LOL I often wonder who you people actually are? I try to imagine any of my co-workers or people that I've met in the field speaking/behaving like this on an internet forum and it's actually hilarious to picture. Are you real people? lol.
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What a sheltered life you live.
 
ikibah said:
Hahaha case in point yoo - would LOVE to see who you peeps are lol.
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"You people??" Love it!

I think your perception may be of someone who seldom leaves the comfortable, PC language dominated domain of academia or an ultra buttoned up professional environment? There is nothing wrong with being "hostile" (whatever that really means?) towards ideas that have the potential to harm people....it's actually quite common.

Look, the field requires, or should require at least, a certain level of intellectual reasoning. Those who are too dense to see the obvious discrepancy between their training curriculum and licensing guidelines that are readily available on the internet probably are not up to par. And, lets be honest here...the OP apparently thinks about the time investment of surgical fellowship training as a "feminist" issue. I would hope such nonsense speaks for itself, as I didn't give a frog's fatass about "feminists issues" when my orthopedic surgeon was operating on my broken leg last month, and I doubt you would have either.
 
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As far as the people on here who I actually know in real life, who they are on here is who they are in real life. Hasn't hurt their careers at all. In reality, people who have a good grasp of the realities of the field and engage in very direct communication tend to do quite well.
 
ikibah said:
Hahaha case in point yoo - would LOVE to see who you peeps are lol.
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Apply to doctoral programs. You'll meet a lot of us if we interview you to determine if you would make the cut. Like Wisneuro said, the folks I know on here are just like they are in real life and it hasn't hurt them at all. Competence leads to successful careers.

Also, to be clear, are you supporting the notion that not doing any actual therapy practice during training is a reasonable thing to consider during clinical training?
 
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FWIW I know a number of posters in this thread and some others that have gotten the label of "blunt"/"rude"/"elitist"/"mean" in the past....they are now mentoring the next generation of trainees and some hold leadership positions in their depts and in the field. I did and do because I believe I owe the field that has provided me the opportunity to be a rehab psychologist/neuropsychologist.

Thankfully the newer generation of psychologists *are* more outspoken and are willing to call out problems in the field. Programs that are not APA-acred. do not meet the minimum standards within the field. Those programs aren't considered by the field or employers to be the same and treating them the same is a disservice to everyone who has completed the training as designed. Many in the field recognize the need for raising standards, whether it be through accreditation or ABPP boarding.
 
HooahDOc said:
I think it is looked at as being inferior because it is. I'm really sick of people taking the easy shortcut into my field and demanding they be treated as professional equals.
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THANK YOU.

Therapist4Chnge said:
FWIW I know a number of posters in this thread and some others that have gotten the label of "blunt"/"rude"/"elitist"/"mean" in the past....they are now mentoring the next generation of trainees and some hold leadership positions in their depts and in the field. I did and do because I believe I owe the field that has provided me the opportunity to be a rehab psychologist/neuropsychologist.

Thankfully the newer generation of psychologists *are* more outspoken and are willing to call out problems in the field. Programs that are not APA-acred. do not meet the minimum standards within the field. Those programs aren't considered by the field or employers to be the same and treating them the same is a disservice to everyone who has completed the training as designed. Many in the field recognize the need for raising standards, whether it be through accreditation or ABPP boarding.
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I think the profession of psychology, and the leadership of APA, dropped the ball in the last 20 years. The issue of people not knowing what they don't know, then forming a strong lobbying group and obtaining privileges in practice is huge. I have repeatedly seen harm done to patients and students from such providers. The answer to the mental health shortage is not to flood the job market with poorly trained individuals. I am a mother, and the sacrifice I made was to complete my program, internship, fellowship before I had my children. The risk I took was in being older when they were born. No one would tolerate a medical student with no clinical training! Absurd. I hope that ABPP can fill the gap that APA accreditation has not in terms of protecting our field.
 
As I've taken issue with before, there are some psychologists in here who think that being "direct" is equated with patronizing others. It's fine to be direct, but not all of us think that it's necessary to talk down to others and call people stupid or dense to make our points (or insinuate such). I'm a fan of offering the information or my opinion and leaving it to the OP to do as he/she wishes rather than tell them that they did this and that wrong. I trust that they will figure things out themselves after they evaluate the information itself.

Patronizing only creates defensiveness and takes away from the persuasiveness of your point, as would be expected. You can be direct while maintaining tact. I can't think of anyone in "real life" around me who appreciates being talked to like a child, looks upon that favorably, and says "wow, that person really made his/her point well." Quite the opposite.
 
foreverbull said:
As I've taken issue with before, there are some psychologists in here who think that being "direct" is equated with patronizing others. It's fine to be direct, but not all of us think that it's necessary to talk down to others and call people stupid or dense to make our points (or insinuate such). I'm a fan of offering the information or my opinion and leaving it to the OP to do as he/she wishes rather than tell them that they did this and that wrong. I trust that they will figure things out themselves after they evaluate the information itself.

Patronizing only creates defensiveness and takes away from the persuasiveness of your point, as would be expected. You can be direct while maintaining tact. I can't think of anyone in "real life" around me who appreciates being talked to like a child, looks upon that favorably, and says "wow, that person really made his/her point well." Quite the opposite.
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I disagree. Let me demonstrate:

Do you have proof that the only response to being patronized is defensiveness?

If the only possible response is for you to defend this opinion without providing proof, then you're correct. But you're also without any backing. And putting your own opinion as higher than anyone else's.

If you provide a citation, then both you and I have increased our knowledge base, but your initial statement is incorrect. Because your response is to sublimate the response to whatever you mean by defensiveness into something productive.
 
PSYDR said:
I disagree. Let me demonstrate:

Do you have proof that the only response to being patronized is defensiveness?

If the only possible response is for you to defend this opinion without providing proof, then you're correct. But you're also without any backing. And putting your own opinion as higher than anyone else's.

If you provide a citation, then both you and I have increased our knowledge base, but your initial statement is incorrect. Because your response is to sublimate the response to whatever you mean by defensiveness into something productive.
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I do agree that perhaps some things could be said in a way they would more likely be heard, but I think it is more problematic that the following theme keeps reappearing on this forum: someone gets a degree related to psychology, cites "life experience" in some way, shape or form, then becomes angry when that view is not supported by licensed or license-eligible psychologists. I find it demeaning to our field. "Life experience" can benefit any field, but for some reason in psychology people think it is equivalent or close to equivalent to the rigorous and exhausting training (practica, dissertation, internship [and the match], fellowship, research and so on) that we undergo. The other day I overheard some undergrad students mocking psychologists as med school rejects. All of these views demean and diminish the field in which I work hard every day within an evidence-based model (not my "life experience"). In a broader sense, when the behavioral health field is demeaned, we lose a huge part of what helps a person to be a functioning and healthy individual. In my opinion, it plays into the model of a pill curing everything and the patient having no personal responsibility.
 
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