Clinical Psychology: Psyd vs. PhD

Clinical Psychology: PsyD vs. PhD

Today, there are two different methods for pursuing a doctoral degree within the field of clinical psychology. One can acquire the more traditional PhD or go for a more practice-based PsyD. The PhD is more broadly accepted and teaches excellent research skills; yet the PsyD offers more of a clinically-based practice model which goes beyond mere research into more specialized practice, therefore making it the better choice of the two.

The more traditional PhD is an excellent recognition of academic success within a particular field. It represents a Doctor of Philosophy, and is an esteemed recognition across a multitude of difference academic and professional fields. It is accepted world wide, whereas the PsyD is only offered in some American universities. The PhD is actually offered within the broader spectrum of sciences and humanities. It is trusted for "The PhD is a known entity," (Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman 2000:45). PsyD degrees and programs are offered only in a limited context, with only a handful of American universities with PsyD programs (Johnson & Mcminn 2003). With its broader acceptance, the PhD has become a requirement for teaching in a university setting. Its focus emphasizes research, and its acquisition is good practice for researching and also to fill requirements for researching positions. Additionally, most PsyD programs are professional based; meaning less working professors and more clinicians. This then results in larger class sizes and less individual attention. According to research, "traditional PhD programs in clinical and counseling psychology often have small enough class sizes to ensure such financial support for most of their students," (Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman 2000:45). Thus, a PhD is superior in these terms.

However, the PsyD is the better of the choice, especially in that it is based more in clinical practice than research. Most programs require a Master's degree as a way of proving prior academic standing to move past academics and into practice. Thus, the study involved is more practice-based rather than proving one's academic abilities. It is this which makes a PsyD more on point with other clinical doctoral degrees, such as a D.D.S or a Pharm D. It is focused specifically on clinical psychology. This then allows its learning to be more hands on; effectively destroying the passive stereotype of most psychology students. It follows a practitioner-scholar model, which creates "clinical scientist" out of its students (Walfish & Hess 2001:45). This means students already have immense professional experience right out of graduating from a PsyD program. Students are transformed into practitioners rather than theorists and researchers of truth; "With an emphasis on training students to become direct providers of psychological services, the role of scientific training was modified to educate students to be consumers of research rather than producers of it," (Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman 2000:42). In PsyD programs, students apply practice rather than researching it. Such programs prepare "clinical psychologists to intellectually consume and apply the expanding behavioral-science knowledge base," (Johnson & Mcminn 2003: 83). Additionally, a PysD program is the better choice because a large majority of its students are on average more satisfied with both their training and later career choices. There is an overall satisfaction with career choices "A recent survey of both PsyD and PhD program graduates revealed that although PsyD students are significantly less likely to be mentored by a faculty member during doctoral training, they are significantly more satisfied with their training programs than PhD students," (Johnson & Mcminn 2003: 84). Thus, PysD programs prove beneficial in terms of professional expectations.

This more practice-orientated path goes beyond research. PsyD programs offer a "Comprehensive, carefully supervised training for practice and thorough training for research cannot both be accomplished in the time allowed," (Walfish & Hess 2001:54).

Preparation for the student within a PsyD program comes from actual practice, rather than simple observation. It is within this scope of practice which allows for more thorough preparation for clinical practice. According to the research, "The PsyD students were to have class work as rigorous as that of their fellow students who were working for a PhD, but instead of doing research-based dissertations, they spent more time in practicum work and submitted a final document focusing more on a clinical demonstration project instead," (Walfish & Hess 2001:48). Students are allowed to go beyond the classroom and experience the reality of clinical practice within a psychology context. The result is better prepared graduates. In PysD programs, "Students are not expected to believe that the best way to prepare for a professional career is to do research. They are trained for practice," (Walfish & Hess 2001:53). Thus, there is an emphasis on more hands-on learning approaches. Yet, this emphasis on practice over research is not the only reason for its superiority.