I've heard a couple of different opinions from personal connections and would like to pose this question to those with more experience in the psychology fields: Which would be the most and least beneficial doctoral level programs for working with children and adolescents: clinical, school, or combined?
What I would like to do, ideally, is to work doing some testing and assessment and some psychotherapy. I do love working directly with children, and I've always had great quantitative and math skills. I'd like to earn qualifications that will be portable because I'm not sure exactly which U.S. state I'll settle down in. I had originally looked at clinical programs with a child focus, then switched my search to school and combined programs because of a) demand for in-school mental health services and b) the potential ability to work doing mostly testing as a school psychologist and also psychotherapy in private practice.
Recently, I've heard from two acquaintances in two different states. One said that in MA a school psychology PhD will allow me to work as described above and that the career outlook and demand for services looks good. The other said that in CA, school psychologists only do low-level educational testing and that more rigorous psychodiagnostic tests are farmed out to private practitioners. Therefore, people working as school psychologists in that state might not even have master's degrees and are limited in both the work they do and the pay they receive, while PhD psychologists take jobs in private practice or with hospitals or medical groups and can focus on child psych testing and therapy.
Working for a school system does also seem appealing for the flexibility. I do like a lot of variety in my work and would be open to teaching at the college/university level as an adjunct, as well as private practice work on the side. Now I'm questioning whether school psychology programs are really the better option.
I am planning on applying this Fall for programs starting next year and hope to get a research position in developmental or educational psychology in the mean time. If I need to put off the applications for another year, I will, but as I am an older-than-typical applicant I would really like to apply for admission next Fall.
For those with child psych and testing experience: Any recommendations, both for types of programs and for specific programs?
What I would like to do, ideally, is to work doing some testing and assessment and some psychotherapy. I do love working directly with children, and I've always had great quantitative and math skills. I'd like to earn qualifications that will be portable because I'm not sure exactly which U.S. state I'll settle down in. I had originally looked at clinical programs with a child focus, then switched my search to school and combined programs because of a) demand for in-school mental health services and b) the potential ability to work doing mostly testing as a school psychologist and also psychotherapy in private practice.
Recently, I've heard from two acquaintances in two different states. One said that in MA a school psychology PhD will allow me to work as described above and that the career outlook and demand for services looks good. The other said that in CA, school psychologists only do low-level educational testing and that more rigorous psychodiagnostic tests are farmed out to private practitioners. Therefore, people working as school psychologists in that state might not even have master's degrees and are limited in both the work they do and the pay they receive, while PhD psychologists take jobs in private practice or with hospitals or medical groups and can focus on child psych testing and therapy.
Working for a school system does also seem appealing for the flexibility. I do like a lot of variety in my work and would be open to teaching at the college/university level as an adjunct, as well as private practice work on the side. Now I'm questioning whether school psychology programs are really the better option.
I am planning on applying this Fall for programs starting next year and hope to get a research position in developmental or educational psychology in the mean time. If I need to put off the applications for another year, I will, but as I am an older-than-typical applicant I would really like to apply for admission next Fall.
For those with child psych and testing experience: Any recommendations, both for types of programs and for specific programs?