Guide to graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology

Skip to content mytopbookspace. How do I choose where to apply? Are my grades and accomplishments good enough to get in? Who should I ask to write recommendation letters for me, and how should I approach these people?

How do I write my "personal statement? These are just a few of the many questions to which this well-researched, thorough, and extremely user-friendly book offers answers. Students who are contemplating graduate training in psychology, counseling, and related fields are often apprehensive and confused about applying to graduate school, but this book takes the guesswork and anxiety out of the process.

The book has been thoroughly updated to include coverage of new topics such as use of the internet and e-mail, as well as changing trends in the professions. The most obvious difference is that the book is now significantly shorter as a result of meticulous rewriting, making it even easier to use.

There have been attempts since the publication of the first edition to copy the format of this book, but none of the others have successfully duplicated the depth of research-based advice and the supportive style that make this book the guide of choice for thousands of graduate-school bound students and their advisors.

Reasons range from a desire to relocate for the sake of a Seven regional accreditation bodies, such as the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, oversee accreditation for the university or college itself. Beware of any institution that is not accredited by its regional accreditation body.

A degree from this institution will probably not be recognized by licensing boards, certifying organizations, or insurance companies Dattilio, It is necessary to be particularly careful about nontraditional or external degree programs that offer the option of obtaining a degree based on independent study, typically away from the institution itself. Many diploma mills have names similar to legitimate universities, so you must be vigilant.

For additional information about diploma mills, consult the fact sheets at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation at www. If you have any doubt, inquire thoroughly into whether the institution as a whole is recognized by professional associations.

You can access an updated list at www. The second type of accreditation pertains to the clinical or counseling psychology program itself. This accreditation is a voluntary procedure for the doctoral program itself, not the entire institution. Most programs capable of meeting the requirements of APA accreditation will choose to apply for accreditation. Accreditation of a clinical or counseling psychology program by the APA presumes regional accreditation of the entire institution.

As of , APA had accredited active clinical psychology programs 60 of these awarding the Psy. The Reports on Individual Programs in this book provide detailed descriptions of these clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and combined programs, respectively. The general areas assessed include institutional support, sensitivity to cultural and individual differences, training models and curricula, faculty, students, facilities, and practicum and internship training.

These criteria are designed to insure at least a minimal level of quality assurance. The APA Accredited, recognizes three categories of accreditation. Accreditation is granted to programs that meet the criteria in a satisfactory manner. This dual accreditation enabled United States citizens to travel north to attend APA-accredited Canadian programs and facilitated internship placement and licensure in the United States for both American and Canadian students.

Graduates of APA-accredited programs, whether located in Canada or the United States, were eligible for same privileges. In , the American Psychological Association decided to phase out accrediting Canadian psychology programs. The phase out will occur gradually over a 7-year period.

Mutual recognition agreements will continue, but formal APA accreditation of Canadian programs will not. Most jurisdictions in the United States recognize CPA-accredited or National Registerdesignated programs for the purposes of licensure. But a few do not. Thus, be aware of this transition and the potential consequences on internship and licensure in selected USA states. We do not want to discourage anyone from attending excellent Canadian doctoral programs in psychology; we do want you to be informed consumers.

Our Reports on Individual Programs provide crucial descriptive and application information on each APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical, counseling, and combined psychology. How important is it to attend an APA-accredited program? The consensus ranges from slightly important to absolutely essential. APA accreditation ensures a modicum of program stability, quality assurance, and professional accountability. Graduates of APAaccredited programs are practically guaranteed to meet the educational requirements for state licensure.

The federal government, the Veterans Administration, and most universities now insist on a doctorate and internship from APA-accredited programs. Licensure and employment as a psychologist are not precluded by attending a non-APA-accredited program, but the situation is tightening.

Five states now license only graduates from APA-accredited programs. All other things being equal, an accredited clinical or counseling psychology program gives you a definite advantage over a nonaccredited program.

Online Graduate Programs Practically every institution of higher education now offers some online courses and distance education. Some institutions have gone further to create graduate programs that are almost entirely online, with all discussions being conducted electronically on bulletin boards and all assignments being submitted by computer.

The only on-campus contact might be a couple of weeks or several weekends per year. Several of these online or distance learning institutions offer doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology, including Walden, Capella, and Fielding.

Fielding Graduate University requires several weeks of in-person residency per year, making it the only distance program that is APA accredited. Capella and Walden are both regionally accredited. We are frequently approached by students intrigued with these and other distance learning doctoral programs and asked whether we think they are credible programs. Our answer is that they are credible but definitely not preferred for several reasons.

First, we recommend that students favor APA-accredited programs, and only one of these programs has met the minimum educational criteria set forth by APA. Third, online programs lack quality control over their clinical supervisors, who are scattered around the country.

Fourth, much of the learning in doctoral programs occurs in close, interpersonal relationships with faculty on a daily basis. Frequent computer contact is useful, but in our opinion, not equivalent. And fifth, without sounding too stodgy, we believe online programs are still too new and alternative to have developed a track record of producing quality psychologists.

Most internship directors and potential employers feel likewise; graduates of non—APA-accredited distance programs have experienced difficulty in securing employment as psychologists. Of course, each online program needs to be evaluated on its own merits, and each graduate student must be considered for his or her individual abilities. In the end, graduate students will get out of a program what they put in—whether through a traditional, bricksand-mortar institution or an innovative, online program.

The early research on distance and online education indicates that it produces comparable outcomes to traditional education, at least in acquiring knowledge and academic skills. Unfortunately, there is insufficient research on the online preparation of professional psychologists to render any conclusions. We have classified these programs along the practice—research continuum. The practice-oriented programs are outlined first. Additional details on helping professions can also be accessed online at www.

A Student Guide to Careers in the Helping Professions by Melissa Himelein provides information on typical job duties, potential earnings, required degrees, and the like.

School psychology, as discussed below, is a viable alternative. Also note that psychology is only one of five nationally recognized mental health disciplines, the others being psychiatry medicine , clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, and counseling. We do not wish to dissuade you from considering clinical or counseling psychology, but a mature career choice should be predicated on sound information and contemplation of the alternatives. A primary consideration is what you want to do—your desired activities.

Conducting psychotherapy is possible in any of the following fields. Prescribing medication is currently restricted to physicians and some nurses, although psychologists are steadily securing prescription privileges around the country. Psychological testing and empirical research are conducted by psychologists. As discussed previously, psychologists also enjoy a wide range and pleasurable integration of professional activities.

Following is a sampling of alternatives to a doctorate in clinical and counseling psychology. School Psychology. Some undergraduates have a particular interest in working with children, adolescents, and their families. Admission into the Boulder-model programs with a child clinical specialty is particularly competitive.

A doctorate in school psychology is much more accessible, with two or three times the acceptance rate of clinical psychology programs. The APA Accredited, has accredited 56 of these programs, which provide doctoral-level training in clinical work with children in school settings.

If this limitation is not a concern, then training as a school psychologist can be an excellent option for those interested in working with children and families Halgin, At the doctoral level, school psychologists are credentialed to function in both school and nonschool settings. Some differences remain, of course—such as more courses in consultation and education in school programs and more courses in psychopathology in child clinical programs—but the core curricula are quite similar.

School psychology training at the doctoral level is broadening to include experience outside of the school setting and with adolescents and families as well Tryon, Community Psychology. This field shares with clinical and counseling psychology a concern with individual well-being and healthy psychological development.

However, community psychology places considerable emphasis on preventing behavioral problems as opposed to only treating existing problems , adopting a broader ecological or community perspective, and changing social policies.

Graduate training in community psychology occurs within clinical-community psychology programs or within explicitly community psychology programs. If your interests lean toward prevention and community-based interventions, then by all means check out a specialization or a program in community psychology.

The Web sites at www. Clinical Social Work. One big advantage of this option is a much higher rate of admission to M. Other advantages are GREs less often required for admission, fewer research requirements, an emphasis on professional training, and completion of the M. With legal regulation in all 50 states and third-party vendor status insurance reimbursement in 49 states, social workers are increasingly achieving autonomy and respect, including more opportunities for independent practice.

The major disadvantages lie in the less comprehensive nature of the training, which is reflected in a lower pay scale as compared to psychologists.

Students interested in clinical social work as a career should peruse an introductory text on the profession, consult career publications for example, Wittenberg, , and contact the National Association of Social Workers NASW. This organization provides detailed information on the emerging field, student membership, and accredited programs in clinical social work.

NASW resources can be accessed via the Web www. Three other Web sites on social work programs also prove handy: www. Psychiatry Medicine. Students often dismiss the possibility of applying to medical schools, believing that medical school admission is so difficult that it is out of the question Halgin, However, the student interested in neuroscience and the more severe forms of psychopathology may find this an attractive choice.

The average GPA of applicants accepted to medical school is between 3. Medical school thus remains an attractive option for many students headed toward a career in mental health. For further information and demystification of this subject, refer to the data-driven Medical School Admission Requirements The Most Authoritative Guide to U.

Prime Web sites include www. The advantages of a medical degree should be recognized. First, an M. Second, the average income for psychiatrists is higher than for psychologists.

Third, a medical degree permits more work in inpatient hospital facilities. Applicants should not dismiss this possibility out of hand, and should explore medicine as a career, especially if their interests lie on a more physiological level. Psychiatric Nursing. The employment opportunities for nursing are excellent at this time, especially for psychiatric nurses who have the flexibility of working in hospitals, clinics, health centers, or private practice.

They do not conduct psychological testing and rarely perform research, but psychiatric nurses practice psychotherapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Further, certified nurse practitioners now have the authority to write medication prescriptions in 47 states.

Consult a textbook on mental health nursing and visit the Web site of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association at www. The high acceptance rates of counseling programs, their two years of practical training, and eligibility for state licensure in 49 states represent definite assets. For those students committed to practice and untroubled by the lack of training in conducting research and psychological testing, the profession of counseling deserves consideration.

Psychology and the Law. There is a great deal of interest in the burgeoning amalgam of psychology and law, as evidenced by an APA division, two energetic professional societies, and many scholarly journals Bersoff et al.

Doctoral students must be trained in both fields, of course, increasing the length of graduate training. At least five programs now award law degrees and psychology doctorates together—joint J. Graduates pursue both practice and research careers—practicing law in mental health arenas, specializing in forensic psychology, working in public policy, and pursuing scholarship on the interface of law and psychology, for example.

This is an exciting career, albeit one requiring extra commitment in terms of effort and knowledge during doctoral studies. Another two dozen clinical programs offer Ph. Consult Appendix G and the following Web sites for a list of the programs.

These clinical psychologists specialize in the practice of forensic psychology. Marital and family therapy, student guidance, art therapy, occupational therapy, and a plethora of other human service programs present attractive alternatives to clinical and counseling psychology. Relative disadvantages of these programs, in addition to lack of a doctorate, include less prestige, lower salaries, diminished probability of an independent practice, and variable licensure status across the United States.

If one or more of these options seem suited to your needs, discuss it with a psychology advisor, interview a professional in that field, peruse the Web sites, or write to the respective organizations for additional information.

Research Alternatives Some graduate students enter clinical or counseling psychology to become researchers. They are less interested in working with patients than researching clinical phenomena.

If you are most interested in research, here are some nonpractice alternatives that might appeal to you. Social Psychology. Social psychology is concerned with the influence of social and environmental factors on behavior. Personality, attitude change, group processes, interpersonal attraction, and self-constructs are some of the research interests.

Social psychologists are found in a wide variety of academic settings and, increasingly, in many nonacademic settings. These include positions in advertising agencies, personnel offices, corporations, and other business settings. This branch of psychology focuses on the individual in the workplace. Academics find positions in both psychology departments and business schools. Behavioral Neuroscience. For the student interested in biological research, the workings of the brain, and the influence of the brain on behavior, programs in neuroscience may be a better match.

By employing animal subjects, researchers can control the conditions of their studies to a rigor often elusive when using human participants.

Research areas include learning, psychopharmacology, memory, and motivation. Go to www. Research demonstrates that neuroscience graduate programs expect entering students to possess course work and lab work beyond the standard psychology curriculum Boitano, Essential courses would include biology, chemistry, calculus, and introduction to neuroscience. Desirable courses would sample from cell biology, biochemistry, and anatomy and physiology.

These are all possible, with adequate planning, to incorporate into the psychology major, should you decide on this path relatively early in your undergraduate career. The Web site www. Developmental Psychology. The developmental psychologist studies behavior change beginning at the prenatal stages and extending through the lifespan.

Areas such as aging, identity, and development of problem-solving abilities are popular areas within developmental psychology. The characteristics of individuals at different age ranges, such as the work of Piaget on child cognition, are of particular interest to developmental psychologists.

Geropsychology, or the psychology of aging, has become a popular specialty as the elderly population in this country presents special needs that are insufficiently addressed. Employment opportunities in geropsychology are sure to grow over the next several decades. Cognitive Psychology. Cognitive psychology presents an attractive option for students whose interests lie in the exploration of human thought processes.

Major areas include language structure, memory, perception, attention, and problem solving. Research in cognitive psychology has gained insight into what in the past was considered inexplicable behavior. For example, research into how moods affect the interpretation of ambiguous events has implications for the study of depression.

Much research on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony has been conducted by cognitive psychologists. Cognitive programs emphasize artificial intelligence, cognitive neuroscience, and affective neuroscience. Indeed, interest in cognitive neuroscience and affective neuroscience has increased of late. Experimental Psychology.

Often a student is interested in research but has not yet defined an area of interest. Or a student is fascinated with a certain psychopathology but does not desire to practice. In both cases, a graduate program in experimental psychology might be the ticket.

These programs allow a student to explore several research areas, such as learning, measurement, and memory. Other programs focus on experimental psychopathology, which is geared more specifically for the researcher interested in clinical populations.

Experimental programs offer excellent training in research methods, statistical analysis, and a great deal of hands-on research experience. In fact, some experimental programs now classify themselves as quantitative or measurement programs.

If interested in these programs, consult www. Sport Psychology. This emerging specialization typically entails both research and applied activities. Research focuses on all aspects of sports, whereas application involves psychological assessment, individual skills training, and group consultation.

Research and training encompass stress management, selfconfidence, mental rehearsal, competitive strategies, and sensory-kinetic awareness.

A medical degree M. This option allows one to practice medicine and psychology while also affording a basic education in research and statistics. For an extremely bright and motivated student, this can be a real possibility, but it is certainly the most challenging of all the alternatives.

Earning two doctoral degrees will take longer than earning either alone. This choice is for someone interested in the biological aspects of behavior in addition to gaining a rigorous education in the scientific study of human behavior. Once again, if your interest lies in research, there are many options available besides clinical and counseling psychology.

Talking to a professional in the relevant discipline and consulting textbooks about the discipline will help you to explore that option more fully. An increasing number of Web sites also offer valuable career advice.

The first is to complete a doctoral program and formal internship in clinical or counseling psychology. The second is to obtain a nonclinical psychology doctorate and then to complete a formal respecialization program in clinical or counseling psychology, which includes the internship. Formal training and supervised experience, not simply the desire to become a clinical or counseling psychologist, are required according to the APA ethical code.

However, this educational and licensure process circumvents the established pathway, increases the prospects of inadequate training, and in some cases results in unethical representation.

Major universities, the federal government, the Veterans Administration, and practically all universities now insist on the doctorate or respecialization in clinical or counseling psychology for employment as a clinical or counseling psychologist. Although individuals with nonclinical psychology doctorates may be eligible for state licensure, they will be increasingly unable to identify themselves as clinical or counseling psychologists.

Circuitous routes to becoming a clinical or counseling psychologist may still exist, but they have become far less common and ethical. To Reiterate Our Purpose The purpose of this book is to help you navigate the heretofore unknown and frightening process of applying to clinical and counseling psychology graduate programs. But nothing can eradicate the fact that gaining admission to such competitive programs requires a good deal of time and energy.

There are the matters of taking the appropriate undergraduate courses, gaining clinical experience, acquiring research competencies, requesting letters of recommendation, locating the appropriate schools to which to apply, succeeding on entrance examinations, completing the application, creating personal statements, traveling to interviews, and deciding which program actually to attend.

We have known people who have quit jobs or taken months off just to invest all their time to the application process. However, with this book and a fair degree of organization, you can make such extremes unnecessary. Emotional strain is an inherent part of the application process. This is unlike many job interviews, where you are marketing yourself merely as a provider of services.

Here you are marketing yourself as a human being. This is a personal process. The application forms and interviews require self-exploration and even a certain amount of justification. Why do you like clinical work? What do you enjoy about spending time with people who are disturbed? Do you really like research? You may end up questioning your answers and may feel compelled to examine the beliefs that have led you to this point in your life.

With the help of this book, you ultimately become the consumer for a program best fitted to you. Many interviewers recommend that the final interview should be approached by the applicant in this way.

With this approach to the admission process, much of the stress can be allayed. Although the application process itself can appear intimidating, or the prospect of being rejected upsetting, we urge you not to allow fear to cause you to abandon the process altogether or to dismiss the option prematurely. Do not allow yourself to be one of the students who gets rejected unnecessarily. If you apply to the appropriate programs and present yourself with a certain savvy, your chances of getting in are vastly improved.

Our Approach Having now counseled thousands of clinical and counseling psychology aspirants and conducted scores of workshops on applying to graduate school, the three of us have gravitated toward a particular approach to the topic. It might be called realistically encouraging. It is realistic in that we present the hard facts about the competition for entrance into doctoral psychology programs.

Still, our approach is unabashedly encouraging in that we support people seeking their goals. With knowledge and perseverance, most of our students have made it. Consider the real-life story of Justin, a success story in the quest for a doctorate in clinical psychology. Justin almost flunked out of college during his first 2 years, before discovering his abiding interest in psychology.

He took his GREs late in his senior year without adequate preparation but obtained combined verbal and quantitative scores of His applications to doctoral programs that year were hastily and poorly prepared.

Justin was, to complicate matters, grossly unaware of typical admission requirements, acceptance rates, and application guidelines. He had no clinical experience whatsoever and had never engaged in research beyond course requirements.

He received dismal rejections, not even a hint of a possible interview or finalist pool. Well, as people are apt to do, Justin was about to give up and throw in the towel. They may also gain experience in multiple professional settings by completing field work in different clinics throughout the program. Students in this graduate program are required to complete experiential learning in real-world settings. Other clinics are available, depending on the professional interests of the student.

Northeastern University has a high graduation rate and accepts about 20 students into the Science in Counseling Psychology program each year. Most students complete the degree in two years, but part-time students may take longer. The school has a high graduation rate and low student-to-faculty ratio.

New students can begin the program each fall and are permitted to attend full- or part-time. An online study option is provided, and international students are encouraged to apply. In addition to core coursework and elective courses, students participate in counseling labs and internships. The internships allow students to apply learned concepts immediately while developing new skills for assessment, practice, case conceptualization, and advocacy.

The program focuses on issues of power and privilege to help students develop skills that are relevant to the modern world. This program requires the completion of 60 credit hours. It is MPCAC-accredited and prepares students to work in community mental health programs, trauma-focused programs, substance abuse treatment centers, and many other professional environments.

Students admitted to the M. The school counseling concentration prepares students to become MSDE certified and work in K schools. The clinical mental health counseling concentration prepares students for a wider variety of clinical settings and allows applications from students coming from many undergraduate programs. The clinical mental health counseling concentration requires students to complete 60 credit hours. The school counseling program gives students the option of 48 or 60 credit hours.

Both programs admit full- and part-time students and allow up to five years for program completion. The evidence-based counseling curriculum at Johns Hopkins has been nationally recognized. The program allows students to work with distinguished faculty while learning and growing at world-renowned institution.

The coursework is relevant for students interested in non-profit, public, and private work settings, including but not limited to prisons, mental health clinics, foster homes, hospitals, and schools. Students gain real world experience through experiential learning at the University Counselor Training Clinic, which provides affordable services to the surrounding community.

Students must complete 60 semester units to complete this program. This program is designed to prepare students to become licensed Professional Counselors or PCs in Ohio. The program focuses on training highly skilled counselors ready to work with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages and economic positions. Students may participate in research while completing this graduate program. That is recommended for anyone interested in doctorate-level education.

The hour program prepares students for doctorate-level study or further study in law, business, and public policy. Students planning to pursue graduate education need this guide to make the right graduate program decisions The authors are cognizant of the needs of undergraduates and returning graduate students. As in prior editions, the authors clearly share a considerable amount of insider knowledge in a genuinely logical manner This is the how-to guide for any undergraduate looking to apply to grad school in psychology.

This edition does not disappoint. Every edition evolves with the graduate process in psychology and honestly answers the questions that arise among those considering graduate study in psychology. Every undergraduate program should make this mandatory reading for their undergraduates and anyone considering graduate psychology education. I recommend it to all of my undergraduate students who are considering pursuing a career in psychology. Quite simply, it is the best guide on pursuing graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology.

Advice, warnings, and an easy-to-read format give this book an edge over resources providing program descriptions only, such as the American Psychological Association's Graduate Study in Psychology and Peterson's Graduate Programs in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.

I was one of those first-generation college students who really had no idea what I was doing until I came across your book. The Insider's Guide was truly indispensable and is largely responsible for my career today. Taylor, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of Arizona "I highly recommend that all applicants to clinical and counseling psychology graduate programs use this excellent guide to identify programs that match their specific career interests, goals, and strengths As the training director of an APA-accredited counseling psychology program, I appreciate the detailed instructions for preparing a compelling personal statement, creating a flawless CV, forging professional relationships that will lead to strong letters of recommendation, and interviewing successfully.

It will be a pleasure to meet prospective graduate students who have put this 'insider' information to good use! When applying to graduate programs in psychology, it can be difficult to navigate between counseling or clinical, and PhD or PsyD. This book is organized in a way that helps you compare and contrast programs There are so many programs to choose from--use this book to sort out those you are most interested in, and you will end up saving money on applications and finding the best fit.