Advancing Your Education

Why Get a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology?

GARY SIBCY, PH.D., PSY.D.

Many students studying psychology at the undergraduate level wonder what they can do with their degree. “Why get a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology?” is a common question. The best way to address this question is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a Psy.D., as well as the training provided through the program.

Advantages of Liberty’s Psy.D. program:

› Saves you time — you can earn both a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology in 5 years, then obtain a license as a clinical psychologist in an additional year.

› Earns you more money — as a full-time, private practice-based, doctoral-level clinical psychologist, you can reasonably expect to earn $150k per year.

› Gives you more options — you can perform a range of psychological assessments from neuropsychological, cognitive, and intellectual for psychiatrists and other health professionals to assist in diagnosing conditions like ADHD, ASD, dementia, and more.

› Allows you to teach — with a Psy.D., you can teach as a full professor in psychology at the undergraduate and graduate level. You can also teach in a Clinical Mental

Health Counseling (CMHC) program.

› Gives your name weight — you’re a doctor in clinical psychology! The title itself carries substantial weight and credibility, opening doors to opportunities in writing, speaking, consultation, supervision, and leadership that may not have been available before.

Disadvantages of a Psy.D. program:

In an effort to be totally transparent, there are a few disadvantages that come with pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. First, the Psy.D. is an intense and expensive 5 years. A Psy.D. is more like medical school, requiring fulltime enrollment following a highly structured path.

However, the cost of the program is offset by the expanded range of professional opportunities with a higher earning potential. As noted previously, a full-time, private practice clinical psychologist can expect to earn more than $150k a year.

How is the training experience different from other graduate degrees in mental health?

The Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology prepares you for licensure as a doctoral-level clinical psychologist. The training consists of an organized, sequential program of study, which emphasizes four core areas:

› Discipline-specific knowledge › Scientific training › Advanced training in evidence-based psychological interventions

› Advanced training in psychological assessment

You’ll also go through six semester-long practicums that are 200 hours each in various clinical settings through the Lynchburg, Va., area. This provides the opportunity for you to work directly with actual patients in different settings.

You can become a licensed clinical psychologist in 6 years. Imagine this — you complete your undergraduate program in Spring 2022 as a 22-year-old. You immediately start the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in the fall of 2023. By the time you are 28 years old, you can be a fully licensed clinical psychologist, ready to launch your career as a doctoral-level professional prepared to make a difference in the world for Christ!

For more information on our Psy.D. program, scan the following QR code: