Misleading article on psychology training

[NNRC]

I was just wondering if anyone read this quick article on CNN posted on 9/1/08 on "15 jobs that pay 70K a year."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/08/27/cb.jobs.that.pay.70k/index.html

It just infuriated me and my friend (who's a veterinarian) because it included a psychologist and veterinarian as careers that avereage 70k/year that don't require "years of school, advanced qualifications, extensive training and many years of experience..." I don't think I need to preach to you all how that statement is incorrect and misleading.

I may be also a little sensitive to such a statement as I am currently in the thick of writing my dissertation.

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[scienceisbeauty]

wow...horrible horrible...WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG

 

[psychmama]

OMG! Is 5-6 years of training considered a quick path to 70k? And that's assuming we all make that straight out of grad school (when most post-docs pay like a fraction of that...)

Oh well, what does Career Builder know anyway?

PS - I was a lawyer before I changed fields. Three years of law school and then jobs with Wall St firms making big bucks -- now that's easy money (except you end up hating it after a few years -- at least I did).

 

[cara susanna]

Haha, I think I've seen that posted before. With the same angry reactions from psychology students.

Not to mention that admissions are so competitive. At least with law school, it's entirely about your numbers.

 

[deleted176373]

Why did I ever work fast food when I could have been a Psychologist, Veterinarian, Administrative Law Judge, or Nuclear Power Reactor Operator right out of undergrad.

Rachel Zupek, perhaps, should try to become one of the above without 10 years of experience or a Ph.D. degree/extensive training. Maybe they'll let me run a reactor today at work... What an idiot, I only hope that she is being paid what she is worth.

Mark

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I was going to drop her an e-mail, but it seems that careerbuilder.com doesn't publish one for her. A little bit of background research could go a long way for her.

 

[PsyDr]

cnn has a feedback section under "contact us" at the bottom of their home page.


I highly recommend everyone give feedback about this. If only to protect the profession.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

cnn has a feedback section under "contact us" at the bottom of their home page.


I highly recommend everyone give feedback about this. If only to protect the profession.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html

My feedback:

RE: Rachel Zupeck's article "15 Jobs That Pay $70,000".

Ms. Zupeck incorrectly implied that a doctoral degree is not required to be a "Psychologist". While the title "Psychologist" is a generic term, it is most commonly used to refer to a Clinical Psychologist, which is a protected title reserved for persons completing doctoral training within the field of Psychology. On average it takes five to seven years of full-time post-baccalaureate study (classes, research, practicum, supervision, internship, post-doc) to complete the requisite training to practice independently as a "Psychologist".

Becoming a "Psychologist" is merely one avenue a person can pursue if they are interested in the field of Psychology. The American Psychological Association has a nice outline of the basic differences in training and available jobs for people who study Psychology at the BA/BS, MA/MS, and Ph.D/Psy.D./Ed.D levels.

http://www.apa.org/ed/wanttobecome.html#b

 

[KillerDiller]

I did my bit and emailed CNN at that link. I hope they post a correction somewhere.

 

[cara susanna]

I wonder why they didn't list computer programmers. My brother only has his bachelors and he makes more than my parents do now.

 

[Ollie123]

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form.sound.off.html

My feedback:

You were much more polite than I was.

My reply contained the phrase "I'm disappointed CNN does not place greater emphasis on providing accurate information".

I'm convinced mainstream media is one of the greatest evils that currently exists, so perhaps I'm a bit biased

 

[PsyDr]

Their response so far:

Dear XXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting CareerBuilder.com. My name is XXXXX. I sincerely apologize for any frustrations incurred as a result of the article you have reviewed. I have submitted your feedback to the writer, Rachel Zupek, for review. Once again, I apologize for any information that you feel has been improperly represented. Please rest assured, your feedback will be reviewed and we appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I didn't even get a reply!

 

[PsyDr]

Try complaining to career builder .com. They originally wrote the piece.

I received no response from cnn.

 

[parto123]

Its not really misleading. There are types of psychologists that can make 70k a year with only a couple years post college training. Like school psychologist.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Its not really misleading. There are types of psychologists that can make 70k a year with only a couple years post college training. Like school psychologist.

This touches on the point i made in my feedback....the general public "assumes" psychologist = clinical psychologist, and not school psychologist....psychometrician....experimental psychologist....developmental psychologist...etc. Her lack of clarity supports the incorrect assumption.

 

[parto123]

This touches on the point i made in my feedback....the general public "assumes" psychologist = clinical psychologist, and not school psychologist....psychometrician....experimental psychologist....developmental psychologist...etc. Her lack of clarity supports the incorrect assumption.

The general public has no idea what a clinical psychologist is, and just think that all psychologists do is talk therapy, and conversely, everyone who gives therapy is a psychologist (or psychiatrist).

 

[psychanon]

The term psychologist is protected by the APA:

Please give APA's definition of the term: "Psychologist"

"APA policy on the use of the title "psychologist" is contained in the General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services, which define the term "Professional Psychologist" as follows: "Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology from an organized, sequential program in a regionally accredited university or professional school." APA is not responsible for the specific title or wording of any particular position opening, but it is general pattern to refer to masters-level positions as counselors, specialists, clinicians, and so forth (rather than as "psychologists"). In addition, it is general practice to refer to APA accredited programs as "APA-accredited" rather than "APA approved". The position as described must be in conformity with the statute regulating the use of the title psychologist and the practice of psychology in the state in which the job is available."

http://help.apa.org/faq_question.cfm?AskAbout=0007

I'm not sure how masters level school psychologists fit in there, but if they meant school psychologist, they really should have said just that-- a MA-level school psychologist is not a psychologist, despite the misleading title.


However, before we get too upset, note that the CNN article said that NOT EVERY job listed requires lots of training or a Ph.D.-- they didn't say that every job listed there requires little training. I agree it's misleading, but whatevs-- anyone who decides to become a psychologist after reading an article on CNN saying they make 70k is probably not going to get in anyway.

 

[KillerDiller]

The term psychologist is protected by the APA:

Please give APA's definition of the term: "Psychologist"

"APA policy on the use of the title "psychologist" is contained in the General Guidelines for Providers of Psychological Services, which define the term "Professional Psychologist" as follows: "Psychologists have a doctoral degree in psychology from an organized, sequential program in a regionally accredited university or professional school." APA is not responsible for the specific title or wording of any particular position opening, but it is general pattern to refer to masters-level positions as counselors, specialists, clinicians, and so forth (rather than as "psychologists"). In addition, it is general practice to refer to APA accredited programs as "APA-accredited" rather than "APA approved". The position as described must be in conformity with the statute regulating the use of the title psychologist and the practice of psychology in the state in which the job is available."

http://help.apa.org/faq_question.cfm?AskAbout=0007

I'm not sure how masters level school psychologists fit in there, but if they meant school psychologist, they really should have said just that-- a MA-level school psychologist is not a psychologist, despite the misleading title.


However, before we get too upset, note that the CNN article said that NOT EVERY job listed requires lots of training or a Ph.D.-- they didn't say that every job listed there requires little training. I agree it's misleading, but whatevs-- anyone who decides to become a psychologist after reading an article on CNN saying they make 70k is probably not going to get in anyway.

Thanks for looking up the official word from APA.

As far as getting upset about the article, I will admit that it partly wounded my pride (I have been known to be snobbish about my education from time to time) and that part of it angered me because starting the school year is always a very salient reminder of how hard pursuing this line of work is. On the more practical side, however, this article fosters the opinion in the public that being a psychologist is not demanding and that it is practically something anyone can do. This is potentially damaging to the client/patient relationship (moreso for things like assessment sessions where a sense of authority is important rather than in individual therapy sessions).