Doctor of Psychology

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree is an American professional doctorate earned through one of two established training models for Clinical Psychology. In the United States, the other doctorate-level degree in Clinical Psychology is the Ph.D.. An individual who earns a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from an accredited program is eligible to become licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, TR (DSM-IV, TR). In most states this excludes pharmaceutical intervention. An Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) is sometimes recognized as a clinical degree, often with a limited scope that focuses on counseling or developmental psychology.

The practitioner-scholar model and the associated Psy.D. degree were recognized by the Vail Conference on models of training in clinical psychology. Practitioners and academics at this conference argued that the field of psychology had grown to a degree that warranted training persons explicitly in clinical psychology. While both the Ph.D. and Psy.D. models of training include basic science and a practical skills component, there are clear differences in relative emphases on the role of research versus clinical activity, with Ph.D. programs emphasizing research and Psy.D. programs putting greater emphasis on clinical applications and interventions. Graduates of both training models are eligible for licensure in all states (licensing exams and renewal requirements are the same for both degrees).

Definition

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is an American degree (abbreviated as a "D.Psych." degree in certain countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia) that puts primary emphasis on training for practice as a clinical, counseling, or school psychologist. The Psy.D. degree is an applied clinical doctorate on the same level as (in alphabetical order) D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine). D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery), D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy), D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine), D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology), M.D. (Doctor of Medicine), O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) and other applied or specialty doctoral degrees. Unlike many other professional doctoral degrees, completion of the Psy.D. requires submission of a (usually quantitative) doctoral dissertation. The Psy.D. dissertation is similar to the dissertation required in a psychology Ph.D. program, however the Psy.D. dissertation almost always focuses on clinical/applied topics, wheareas the Ph.D. dissertation tends to put a heavier focus on theoretical research.

Psy.D. coursework and practica are designed to produce a professional who is a practitioner first, and a scientist second. A solid understanding of scientific method and behavioral science is required of both Psy.D.'s and Ph.D.'s alike, however Psy.D. programs focus particularly on applying this knowledge to direct clinical intervention in the diagnosis and treatment of various mental illnesses, brain injuries, and other clinical impairments in which psychological approaches can be of use.

Background

In 1973, the American Psychological Association, at its Conference on Levels and Patterns of Professional Training in Psychology (The Vail Conference), endorsed the Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.). This supported applied training that would respond to a healthcare industry demand for psychologists who could function in a variety of practitioner roles. Ph.D. programs, usually quite small, were not producing enough professional psychologists to satisfy the needs of the growing field of mental health care.

Before this period, professional training for psychologists followed "The Boulder Model" (est. 1948) in which a psychologist earned a Ph.D. for competence both as a scientist and as a professional. The Boulder Model's ability to prepare its graduates for academic and research positions was unquestioned for years by the psychology establishment, by and large, but there was a growing interest in a degree that was self-identifying, as well as growing evidence that Ph.D. graduates in clinical psychology nearly always chose to be practitioners. The Vail Conference recognized that opportunities for psychological practice were now both diverse and complex and required training that focused on applications of psychology toward practice. It was decided that it was time to develop applied programs that awarded an applied doctorate, the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. The Ph.D. and the Psy.D. then stood as two different degree-designations for professional psychologists and provided more choices in training programs.

Each degree has its criticisms. The Ph.D. in professional psychology is criticized for taking too long to complete (typically 6–7 years). The length of the program, which may be twice as long as medical school, makes it extremely difficult to complete. Some even suggest that the high GRE score requirements and rigorous structure of the program is biased against minority candidates. Still others argue that the research emphasis in Ph.D. programs does not adequately prepare such candidates for actual practice.

The Psy.D. has been criticized by some for taking too many students. As demand for qualified psychologists grows however, the academic demands placed upon students are growing (see "Accreditation" below), gradually forcing programs to become more selective with regard to who can be admitted. In addition, Psy.D. programs typically require students to pay to attend just as medical, dental, and other professional schools would, while Ph.D. programs typically provide an assistantship package, a feature common among other academic and research oriented programs.

Ph.D.'s, with their heavier training emphasis on research, are often considered more likely candidates for academic positions in teaching and research institutions, whereas Psy.D.'s have gained favor in many clinical settings. Essentially however, a doctoral-level psychologist is licensed and qualified to perform the same functions whether she or he has a Psy.D. or a Ph.D.

Accreditation

The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits both Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs.

After a person obtains a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in psychology, most states require a year of post-doctoral clinical work (similar to a medical residency) to sit for state and national boards to become a licensed psychologist. Some states require two years of work, while a few have removed the requirement altogether. Some argue that the post-doctoral year, which originally provided clinical experience in research-heavy clinical programs, is obsolete given the considerable experience now afforded students in most accredited doctoral programs. In many states, one must have a doctorate and a license to refer to oneself as a "psychologist." In some states, master's-level school psychologists can still use the title. This has led to confusion among consumers. Consumers can discern psychologists from non-psychologists by checking with their state Board of Psychology.

Curriculum

Upon graduation, students are expected to understand psychology at a psychological-service-provider level, use their clinical skills as practitioners, use scientific findings for clinical practice, and conduct independent research.

One benefit of the Psy.D. is that by having a separately distinguishing degree, e.g., Doctor of Psychology, psychologists have a direct designation as psychologists. While the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) was once considered fully adequate for psychologists seeking an applied orientation, it was felt that a self-identifying degree fostered the perception of psychology as a clinical science rather than a primarily educational, social, or behavioral science discipline.

This type of clear designation is general and typical practice for applied degrees (e.g., Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Chiropractic). Arguments against a specialty degree include complaints about its applied nature, which some persons (primarily Ph.D.-trained psychologists) feel places it "below" research-emphasizing degrees such as the Ph.D. But such an argument spawns much debate; medical degrees such as the M.D. and D.O. for instance, are in fact specialized, practice-oriented, scientist/ professional degrees that have long since proven indispensable.

As is the case in other fields of professional practice (medicine, optometry, etc.) psychologists have diverse theoretical orientations. About 30 percent subscribe to various psychodynamic theories (e.g., psychoanalytic, Adlerian). Another 30 percent prefer various cognitive-behavioral orientations (e.g., CBT, DBT, IPT). About 20 percent adhere to a social systems/family systems orientation. The remaining 20 percent favor an array of theories, including behavioral, existential, and humanistic.

Historically, psychology was often housed in schools of education. After being widely recognized as a science (behavioral), especially in recent years as it has increased its emphasis on the the study of evidence-based practices, it has migrated from the confines of such schools. With the broadening of health care concerns to include matters of perception, attitude, and behavior, professional psychology has increasingly been incorporated into the medical realm of health professionals. For example, clinical psychologists are often trained in psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioral restructuring which can assist noncompliant patients adhere to their treatment regimens (taking medications, etc.) Likewise, clinical neuropsychologists use numerous assessment techniques to determine the impact of various brain illnesses and injuries on a patient's behavior. These specializations within the field of professional psychology are based firmly in a blend of biology, physiology and behavioral science, and while they are far removed from the stereotypical "couch therapy" portrayed in the media, they have proven themselves to be of great value in the provision of health care across many settings.

The Doctor of Psychology, or Psy.D., is the practice-oriented half of the two doctoral degrees at the top of the ever growing field of psychology in the United States. Trained as clinicians and leaders in the field, Psy.D.'s provide informed, collaborative care.

See also

• Practitioner-scholar model

References

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