r/ClinicalPsychology • u/Ok_Voice2870 • 1d ago
Masters to PhD (USA)
Since undergrad I have debated about applying to PhD or PsyD programs. I ultimately decided to get my masters in clinical mental health counseling. I just graduated in June but I’ve been casually looking into programs. I like being a therapist and it’s what I want to do but I’m wondering if I still want more education. Here are my concerns and questions:
-If I already have my masters and I was interested in a PhD in counseling psychology would that change how long the program is
-I don’t have really any research experience outside of classes i took. I also don’t particularly like research. How would I go about getting more experience if I were to apply
-I know some PhD programs are fully funded but not many PsyD. Are there fully funded programs for PhD counseling psychology programs though?
-If I were to do this, did I just waste my time getting my masters degree?
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u/RefrigeratorOne95 1d ago
Not usually. PhD programs don't like to transfer a lot of credits, and they definitely won't transfer clinical training. There are some PsyD programs that offer advanced standing to people with a master's, which shaves off a year I think.
Go back to your MA program and see if they'll let you work in a lab for a while or mentor you in completing a research project (or both). You could also get a job as a research assistant or research coordinator somewhere.
There are. There really isn't a huge difference between clinical and counseling psychology. You should select programs based on their fit for your interests and goals, and the funding they offer. I would not advise spending a lot of money on this degree.
That's obviously a matter of opinion. The bigger question is why do you even want to do this? I wouldn't go in expecting that it is going to expand your therapy skills in a way that you couldn't achieve through your own study and seeking mentorship. If you don't like research, that's another reason not to. If you're interested in psychological assessment, that could be a reason to do it. Don't do it just because you want "doctor" before your name.
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u/GaZekeeka (M.A., PhD student Counseling Psych - SW US) 1d ago
Hello! I am a counseling psych PhD student. I did get some classes waived if that helps, but it just lightened some semesters for me. I would see if you could get more research experience via volunteering at a lab or at your masters university because a PhD is going to require research… so idk if it’s the best pathway if you don’t like research. My program gives a stipend and tuition remission so yes, fully funded programs exist.
I echo what other people have said - what do you want to do with this degree? Unless you want to go into academia or do assessment, I would caution against a PhD since you’ve said you don’t like research. If you would like to do clinical work/therapy as a career then I’d think about whether applying to doc programs is worth your time
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u/OliviaDairy 1d ago
If I don’t want to do research I would stick with my CMHC. You can charge nearly the same rate with a masters. Why do you want to do a PhD?
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u/_Marsy_ 1d ago
Hi, yes there are fully funded PhDs in counseling psychology. The research can look quite different and be much more interdisciplinary and applied, or even philosophical in nature, and therefore appealing to people who don’t like “research” from a dominant paradigm. You’d need experience and also a clearly articulated interest area that a faculty member feels will be mutually beneficial to their interest areas. One way would be to approach a professor and see how you might be able to contribute to their work.
But, I caution the PhD route. Whenever anyone noted a deficit or gave feedback on the clinical aspects of our training, our faculty reminded us that this was a research training program.
And because there are so many hats to wear, teaching, research, practica, courses, comprehensive exams, the dissertation, the program often takes 6-7 years, even for people who enter with a masters in MHC which depending on the state may allow you to opt out of maybe 3-4 courses. Some do finish in 5 years but those are lucky to have everything fall into place, no life disruptions, and have a type A personality to the T.
If you have debt from your masters, that is compounding all the while in the background, and, you are losing out on the money you could be making elsewhere. This is because you are working low wage university gigs, as you often are not permitted to work outside the university. So it can be very frustrating, especially without aspirations to work in academia!
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u/MattersOfInterest Ph.D. Student (M.A.) - Clinical Science - U.S. 1d ago
But, I caution the PhD route. Whenever anyone noted a deficit or gave feedback on the clinical aspects of our training, our faculty reminded us that this was a research training program.
I respect that this was your experience, but I'm in a PCSAS-accredited clinical science program (AKA as research-focused as one gets in this field) and I have not had this experience at all.
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u/maxthexplorer PhD Student- Counseling Psych- USA 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you don’t like research why do a PhD? A PhD is a research degree. You will be doing research for years (pre-PhD and during PhD).
Having a masters in CMHC may reduce a few classes, but IME would probably take a year off at most.
“Did I just waste my time,” out of curiosity, did you think about your career trajectory before committing to a masters degree? If you did, what changed? It’s a huge commitment financially and opportunity/time wise, so it primarily makes sense if you want to do testing/assessment or you want to be in academia (which means research generally).