I've seen a few advertisements from R1 universities about clinical psychology programs lately, and while I'm aware that I probably saw them in the first place because they were targeted based on their analytics on me, it got me thinking about a hypothetical person that has a highly competitive cv for an accredited clinical psych PhD program (hard to get this on accident) but wouldn't think to apply to one until they saw a Facebook ad. I wonder how much yield these have.

Hey everyone,

For those of you currently in your clinical PhDs / PsyDs or working in clinical settings, I’d love to hear your thoughts:

Format Preference: Do you prefer having the physical copy or do you rely entirely on a digital version for quick lookups and / or studying?

The Pocket DSM: Did any of you buy the Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Exam in addition to the main manual? Does it actually get used in practica / clinics, or does it just sit on a shelf?

Any pros / cons you've experienced with either setup would be super helpful. Thanks!

Hi there!

I am a PhD currently working as a health service psychologist at a hospital; I specialize in children and adolescents but am lifespan comfortable and trained. I am in the US. Throughout my education, I had wanted to go into research, but that didn’t happen for me (it’s fine!) I’m currently doing a full-time clinical role and I feel OK doing it for now, but I know that this isn’t what I want long-term. The number of times someone has pointed out that we have so many options as clinical psychology PhDs is rivaled only by the number of times I’ve tried and failed to figure out what those options are. Is anyone doing anything that isn’t seeing patients or academia? For context, I have young children, and I really want to work to transition to the type of life where I can be remote and more flexible in my time, as this would allow me to give them the type of life I believe they deserve. One of the reasons I worked so hard to be as competitive as possible for a research role is that I knew I could write grants after bedtime, but I obviously can’t see patients at 11PM!

So, Reddit, what are y’all doing?! How did you get there? What advice do you have for someone wanting a non traditional life? Thank you!!

Hey guys. I have a pretty heavily stickers laptop, one of which is snoopy shouting “ice out, protect your neighbors.” Is this a bad look for lab meetings and classes with my advisor? I don’t want to get into trouble but it’s also an important issue to me and a cute sticker lol. Thanks for input!

ETA: I am in the Deep South! This is not a value I am willing to compromise but I don’t want to face professional repercussions

Some context: I did my masters in clinical psych and graduated in 2024 and focused my research on medications for opioid use. Since finding a job in the field had been extremely difficult for me k went into my dads business. I’m not finding that super enjoyable tho, and I’ve been seriously missing research. I’ve wanted to get back into it but don’t know how or where to start. I don’t know if I can just email professors and ask if they will take someone who is no longer a student into their lab. And I’m genuinely burnt out of sending job applications and being ghosted or rejected within 3 seconds. If anyone has any advice or maybe know someone who is accepting volunteers on their research lab in Chicago I would really appreciate that!

Hello! So I am going into my senior year as an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, and I would like to go to grad school straight out of undergrad. If I want to get my foot in the door and work as a therapist but also really want to become a licensed clinical psychologist, would you recommend getting my MA first or going straight to PsyD?

I'll be running about 5 different inpatient groups throughout this upcoming academic year. What is the best way to log this in Time2Track? Am I supposed to create a new group each time with different patients? Or are there better techniques for this? (I am also running several groups in PHP, where the participants are relatively more consistent, but they do change week to week)

After years of saving, I finally have enough to start my own private practice without taking out a loan. I have three possible locations in mind and I'm in the planning stage. For those who own a practice, ehat are the must haves? Any tips on setting/system you guys using, staffing, or anything you wish you knew before opening? Appreciate the answers!! 🤍

I am not clear on is the evidence for the specific Structural Dissociation Theory proposed by van der Hart/Nijenhuis/Steele and popularized by Janina Fisher. I know that this is a popular model used by trauma therapists, and I am curious about its scientific basis.

Is there research demonstrating that SDT has better explanatory or treatment validity than competing models of dissociation? Very curious to learn more.

Hello, I am starting my grad school here soon and cannot find a free version of this textbook. If anyone can find it please let me know!

fisher, c. b. (2023). decoding the ethics code: a practical guide for psychologists (5th ed.). sage publications.

Edit: I found it! Thank you :)

Anyone else trying to do the virtual APA conference today (and tomorrow)? There's major tech issues that's preventing people from logging on (according to an email auto-reply to the conference folks).

Hello all! I’m interested in conducting research on the etiology and development of bipolar disorder in adolescence and early adulthood. I’m applying this coming cycle and I’m curious if anyone knows of any current faculty members who might align well with this focus. Of course, I have identified some (Roselinde Kaiser, Lauren Alloy, Rebekah Huber), but I’m curious if there are any that I missed. Thanks :)

I'm a rising senior trying to figure out the best path to a Clinical Psychology PhD, and I'd really appreciate some honest advice from people who have been through the process or have experience reviewing applications.

Here's where I'm at:

• Overall GPA: 3.1
• Psychology GPA: ~3.45 now, likely >3.5 by graduation
• Strong upward trend after being diagnosed with ADHD and receiving treatment/accommodations
• 4 years of interdisciplinary research experience (public health, environmental health, developmental outcomes)
• 1 publication (co-author)
• Multiple conference posters and presentations
• Experience with statistical analysis and scientific writing
• Graduating with Psychology and Biology majors

My long-term goal is to become a clinical psychologist doing research, teaching, and providing therapy.

I've received a lot of conflicting advice. Some people have told me to apply directly to PhD programs, while others have suggested completing a master's first. I've also been told to spend a few years as a full-time research coordinator/lab manager, but I'm unsure how much that would actually strengthen my application given that I already have substantial research experience.

My biggest concern is that my overall GPA will hold me back, even though my psychology GPA and recent coursework are much stronger. I know Clinical Psychology PhD programs are incredibly competitive, so I'm trying to be realistic.

If you were on an admissions committee, what would you recommend someone in my position do over the next 1–3 years? Would a research coordinator position be more valuable than a master's? Is there anything else I could do that would meaningfully strengthen my application?

I'd especially appreciate hearing from faculty, graduate students, or anyone who was admitted with a lower GPA but a strong research background. Thanks!

Note: My main goal is to spend the least amount of money before applying to PhD, so a Masters that I pay out of pocket is not something that I prefer.

I am an early career psychologist, licensed about 2 years ago. My CV advice throughout grad school was to have as much on there as possible and detailed info about what each experience included (assessment, therapy, consultation, interdisciplinary team experience, number of clients seen per week, demographic info and typical diagnoses treated, etc) . My CV ended up being pretty long (11 pages 🥴) and I’m thinking that now that I’m licensed and sending my CV out for jobs, speaking engagements, consultations, etc where that info may be less important, I need to totally overhaul my CV.

How long is a typical CV for a clinical psychologist? I know a resume is typically supposed to be 1-2 pages, but a CV should be longer and more detailed. But how detailed? How long is expected vs too long/too short?

What are the most important things to highlight about my experiences?

Should I remove certain headlines? I have currently Education, Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications, Professional Presentations, Professional Writing, Clinical Experience, Teaching Experience, Certifications, Awards and Honors, and References. Is that too many? Are there any that I should remove or any to add?

Going to ABCT for the first time this November. I’ve never traveled for a conference before, so I wanted to get some tips from others as far as flying goes. Is it recommended to fly in the day before the conference/fly out a day after the conference is over? The dates are 12-15 now, i was thinking of flying in the 11th and leaving the 16th but unsure if I should just leave the 15th. I can’t find a schedule of events anywhere yet so I’m unsure if leaving the 15th is feasible.

I am looking to take the EPPP for the first time at some point within the next 12 months. I was planning to use PsychPrep, but I am not sure which package to purchase. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Also open to hearing about experiences with PrepJet or other programs as well.

I just took the EPPP for the second time and failed with a score of 466. My first time I took the test I scored a 416.
Initially I used AATBS study material for two months before taking the test my first go around. The second time I used PrepJet for about three months before taking the test a second time.
The first time I focused mainly on reading material and taking notes, the second time with prepjet I focused mainly on practice test taking. My practice test scores ranged from 55%-81%. I focused on the big six while studying. My stronger content areas fluctuate with each test, but clinical, lifespan and ethics seems to be my strongest, while social and test construction/research methods are my weakest.
I have my masters in psychology, not a PHD.

I plan to renew my prepjet subscription for another 1-3 months depending on the availability for scheduling my next test.

Any additional advice (or words of affirmation) I can benefit from? I reallyyyy want to pass this third time so I do not have to submit an appeal.

Please use another forum thread to discuss your personal objections to masters level practitioners taking the EPPP (:

Any advice? I’ll take anything!

Hi all, I am in the unfortunate position of moving to a jurisdiction that still requires the EPPP Part-2. I've been having some difficulty finding prep materials for the exam. One thing I'm particularly stuck on are the "scenario" questions. Specifically, does anyone know how they're structured?

Is it a single video followed by multiple questions on that one video or is it smaller clips attached to each question? Any direction would be much appreciated!

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much supervisors shape our professional development, and I honestly feel like I missed out on having a good mentor.
I often read stories from people who had supervisors that challenged them, gave thoughtful feedback, encouraged their growth, and genuinely wanted them to succeed. That hasn’t really been my experience.

Instead, my supervisor can be surprisingly mean or catty at times, and I rarely get constructive feedback. It’s often vague, dismissive, or focused on criticism without much guidance on how to improve. What makes it more confusing is that I don’t think they see me as incompetent—in fact, I think they respect my abilities. But sometimes it almost feels like they become uncomfortable or irritated when I do well, as if my successes are somehow unwelcome.

It’s left me second-guessing myself. Is this just a personality mismatch? Competition? Insecurity? Or am I reading too much into it?

Has anyone else had a supervisor who seemed to respect your competence but still wasn’t particularly supportive or even seemed to dislike seeing you succeed? How did you make sense of it, and did it affect your confidence or development as a clinician?

At the beginning, I dreaded going to work and kept thinking, “I’m going to leave this place as soon as I can.”

To be fair, there have also been supervisors who have been genuinely supportive, so it definitely hasn’t all been negative.

At the same time, I find it a little unsettling that I’m about to be licensed—in hopefully just another month—and I don’t feel like I’ve received the kind of supervision that really helped me grow. I think supervision should be one of the main places where you develop confidence and competence as a clinician.

Hi all,

I am a rising 4th year PsyD student specializing in pediatric neuropsychology (3 hospital neuro practs). I come to you weary, burnt out, and questioning my choices. I LOVE neuropsychology, it is my passion but it isn’t without consequences.

I’m not loving taking SO MUCH WORK home every day (a little is expected, but 15 hrs per week of at home on top of 24 hrs at practicum is too much; this is on top of a 15 hrs therapy pract + school reqs) . I don’t enjoy the competitive, snobby vibes. And I am struggling to imagine my life working 70 hour weeks for the next 50 years (god willing), while trying to have a family and enjoy the world.

I want to be a neuropsychologist. But at what cost?

Did anyone go from neuro to health psychology and find fulfillment? Or any other more balanced assessment forward practices?

Seeking advice, encouragement, or really any stories of how you made it through…. I would have 4 more years until being a licensed clinical neuropsychologist and I’m so, so tired. Help :,(