A PsyD degree is another name for a Doctor of Psychology degree. To become a
PsyD, or a Doctor of Psychology, students must first obtain their bachelor?s
degree in psychology. Most schools also require students to have obtained their
master?s degree, however; some schools will accept students that have a great
deal of experience working in the field.
Who Should Choose a PsyD
Clinical Psychology Degree?
Before pursuing your doctorate in psychology,
you must choose from two different training models. You may choose to follow the
scientist-practitioner training model and get your PhD or the
practitioner-scholar model and get your PsyD. Students that choose to earn their
PhD will focus on research. Students that choose to earn their PsyD will focus
on clinical psychology.
If you want to learn how to counsel patients,
test and diagnose mental disorders, complete evaluations, and administer
psychotherapy, you will want to pursue a PsyD clinical psychology degree. These programs mainly focus
on diagnosing and treating patients, instead of researching mental disorders.
Of course, that doesn?t mean that clinical psychologists aren?t trained
to perform research. Both models of study offer thorough training in many
different areas of psychology. A Doctor of Psychology will have received
training in psychotherapy, behavior therapy, family therapy, social sciences,
diagnosis, assessment, neuroscience, treatment, and different research
methods.
Also, it?s important to understand that a Doctor of Psychology
is not a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists have completed medical school and obtained
a medical degree. The main difference between the two is that psychiatrists can
prescribe medication, while psychologists cannot.
What to Expect from a
PsyD Degree Program
PsyD degree programs are very intensive. Before deciding to
pursue a doctorate, students must be willing to commit a great deal of time and
effort into furthering their education. On average, it takes four to seven years
to become a Doctor of Psychology. During this time, students will be placed in
different clinical settings to gain experience in the field, as well as complete
their required classes. The majority of programs also require students to
complete a doctoral dissertation.
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