College life is not easy, and it is something that we look back on fondly, especially the fun memories that we have and the people we have met or the broken hearts we had, but not really on what we have learned and mastered in those four years. After college, we are quick to find a job, one that allows us to use our knowledge and training and some find themselves very far from what they have studied in college, like a nurse who became a corporate secretary and the like. There are many disciplines and we often choose to pursue one that we envision ourselves to take on as a career in the future. Many students take up psychology since it is such a varied course with many subfields and it is almost impossible not to get a job after college. Psychology studies people, and wherever people are, there will be work for psychology graduates.
Getting a job after college with a psychology undergraduate degree is the easy part, finding your way through the many subfields of psychology and identifying your career goals and path is the difficult part. For those who are more inclined to the clinical aspect of psychology, a Psyd in clinical psychology is a must. The licensing requirements and accreditation standards for a clinical psychologist is high, and you can only get it if you have a Psyd diploma. That would mean going back to school fulltime and learning concepts and application of skills to real-life situations and cases which would prepare you for clinical work. If you love working with people who are a bit different from the average, or those who have certain issues and problems, then a Psyd in clinical psychology is the best option for you. With a few pointers, you can be able to choose which university to go to and how to successfully complete it and be on your way to becoming a clinical psychologist.
What is a Psyd?
Psyd is a doctorate degree in psychology, more specifically it is Doctor of Psychology, and is most often than not have a major in Clinical Psychology. For a psychology major who is interested in having his or her own practice in the future in psychological assessment and psychotherapy, this is the post graduate degree that you need. Before you can practice your profession and set-up your clinic, you first need to be licensed as a clinical psychologist and the only way you could get the license is to take the licensure exam, and you can only take it if you have finished a doctorate program in psychology.
A Psyd requires that you have completed a master’s degree in psychology, and would entail doing coursework for about four years, pass the comprehensive exam and produce a doctoral dissertation as well as experience internship in a clinical setting. There are many programs in psychology, but the clinical track is the one that will lead you to that clinical practice.
The Psyd program provides the student with the training and education needed to become a clinical psychologist. The coursework includes the core subject areas that are involved in clinical practice such as advanced counseling skills and processes, psychological assessment, theories of personality, abnormal psychology and other related subjects. Moreover, every Psyd program has a built-in internship program that enables the student to gain actual experience in the clinical setting doing almost every aspect of the practice. All of which are done to prepare the student for the practice of the profession after completion of the program.
Where to Enroll?
More often than not, those who dream of being a clinical psychologist in the future do not go back to school on a full time basis. Many are already working, have children and may even be in a place where access to a university education is not possible. The need to improve oneself and to do better in the future may be enough motivation to really commit to get that Psyd diploma. You can choose from whichever university you want, just make sure that it also has a thriving psychology department. Also, try to do research before committing to one university, you can even send out applications to several universities and see which one will have you.
If leaving work is not an option or if you are far from any university that offers a Psyd program, your best option would be to enroll in an online program. This would enable you to still complete that Psyd program and don’t have to make drastic changes such as relocating or taking out student loans. Online learning is a bit cheaper as you do not have to pay for the facilities and materials in a classroom setting. Thus, you can still work, pay for your tuition and in about six years finally complete the program and graduate.
Grit
Adult education works because as people get older, their motivation shifts into an internal state rather than externally. However, a Psyd would entail a kind of motivation and perseverance that is embodied by grit. Grit is the ability to pursue a long term goal and to continue doing it until it is achieved. People who have grit will endure all the difficulties and challenges with eyes on the prize, and for most people this is difficult to do, and they simply do not have the energy to persist in doing it. It is a reality that most who enroll in a Psyd program have lofty dreams, but without that personal commitment and persistence to see it through the end, then it is no wonder that dropout rates in graduate programs has been higher than in the college programs.
If one intends to take up Psyd, then you better have grit. You must be prepared to expend effort, resources and time to completing the degree. Most people who are high in grit would focus on the long-term goal but would also take each accomplishment as another step closer to their ultimate goal.
