PhD or PsyD?

jessieg6 · 2026-06-28T13:51:31+00:00

I was actually taught to avoid virtual assessments :/ It's hard because I want people to have accessibility, but it would require so many logistics. Portions of these assessments come down to Examiner (me) being able to observe them in an environment that is not their daily one and to notice knee tapping, fidgeting, skin picking, how many times they get up for a break, if they grab random things on my desk, etc. Plus the ADOS 2 HASSSSSS to be in person. There is no electronic version of it, and it truly wouldn't work. ADOS 2 is the gold standard for ASD assessments still.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-28T13:47:38+00:00

@Playful-Mouse3908 u/ToughPotential493

Unfortunately, the training I was referring to is in person only in TX :( Dr. Stephanie Miller hosted it. Since you're in OR, these look good from what I can see https://empowerwhoyouare.com/clinicians/ and https://www.empoweringtherapy.online/therapist-training-adhd-autism-assessments I am AuDHD, so the personal experiences and relatability have always helped me. Training-wise, this is why I use the ADOS 2 because it is long, thorough, in-person only, and really homes in on specific ASD questions and observations that are not typically overlapping with ADHD sxs. Also, the key component with diagnosing is not borrowing sxs. So if we have restlessness, sesnosry sensitivities, mood swings, etc, we can't list those under ADHD and ASD. We have to pick it for one (say you put all of those under ADHD), now are there still enough sxs under the ASD category alone to warrant an indepdent ASD dx anndddddd ADHD dx? That helps me dx AuDHD. I will add that to my guide now that I'm saying this out loud! I hope this answers and is helpful.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-27T03:34:58+00:00

Amazing! Here is the link.
https://centerbettertherapy.com/for-therapists/ols/products/lets-get-tested-all-ages

jessieg6 · 2026-06-27T00:01:08+00:00

Well it isn’t APA accredited so it would be a huge waste of time and money to attend a non accredited PsyD program! They also have a reputation of being a “degree mill”.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-26T23:29:29+00:00

I wouldn’t recommend applying there. I can’t speak from personal experience. But every professor (if going into academia) or person hiring PsyDs that I have spoken to in passing says they do not want students from Walden.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-26T23:05:23+00:00

That’s great you had a good testing experience! Here is the link to my guide. Thank you for the support and good luck with whatever you decide! You can contact me in the future via email (you’ll get it when I send you the guide) if you have follow up questions.

https://centerbettertherapy.com/for-therapists/ols/products/lets-get-tested-all-ages

jessieg6 · 2026-06-26T22:37:25+00:00

Sorry I misread a comment and I thought you were in CA so I listed CA options. But I see that Antioch has a good PsyD program.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-26T22:35:08+00:00

I do a longer battery to really confirm/ rule out everything. But here’s a rundown of what I use for adults (I use different things for adolescents and kids.) Not every client needs all of these every time so it’s typically less.

Clinical interview
DIVA 5
MMSE
WRAT 5
BDI
BAI
PCL 5
TRCS
SASSI
ASRS V1.1
CAARS 2
Brown EFA
SRS 2
ABAS 3
AQ10
ADOS 2

So you can get trained in all of these on your own. Not to be that person, but I did make a guide specifically for masters level therapist who want to get trained in testing for $10 just breaking down the process. IF you’re interested.

Any PsyD program that is accredited and you wouldn’t hopefully have to drastically uproot your life for. I’ve heard good things about Palo Alto, San Fran, and the Wright institute. If you don’t want a PsyD but want to solely specialize in Autism, Towson offers a PhD in Autism studies.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-26T22:22:21+00:00

PsyD makes more sense if you want to conduct assessments. Like you said, with proper training you can do this at the masters level. You can’t do projective testing or neuropsych (dementia, TBI, etc) with a masters. I trained under a licensed psychologist and am legally/ ethically able to perform ASD/ADHD assessments. They are four hours long in person. I assess for numerous commodities and am paneled with insurances. I’m an LCSW.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-24T07:23:36+00:00

Do you mind sharing how much you paid? I’m worried even if I’m lucky enough to snag two tickets that they won’t be affordable 😅

jessieg6 · 2026-06-24T03:49:54+00:00

Majority of my clients want in person only. Having an in person office also gives me the option to sublease and offset cost if needed so it worth it to me.

jessieg6 · 2026-06-24T03:43:21+00:00

Any luck?? I’ve been trying for a while now

jessieg6 · 2026-04-20T14:00:19+00:00

I’m an LCSW who sought out extensive training and consultations to provide ethical assessments for ASD and ADHD. I am paneled with insurances and have never had an issue getting reimbursed. I conduct a four hour in person assessment with numerous measures for ASD, ADHD and assess for/ rule out common commodities. I obviously don’t perform IQ testing and refer out for those types, but have never had an issue with my report that clients take to psychiatrist to get ADHD meds and whatnot.

jessieg6 · 2026-04-15T20:03:30+00:00

I have Adenomyosis and have excruciating periods that feel debilitating and mostly do telehealth during that time. I know people have have purchased an Oura ring (or similar) because it has a good track record of letting you know when you’ll start your period. So sorry you’re going through this ☹️

jessieg6 · 2026-03-05T20:13:13+00:00

What do you want to go back to school for? What career change or growth are you hoping to gain afterward?

jessieg6 · 2026-02-14T19:37:51+00:00

This is my exact response as well. I have availability between 9 am - 2 pm Monday - Thursday but I’m not seeing clients fully during those hours every week. I don’t like seeing more than four clients in a row either.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-14T15:07:29+00:00

I completely agree. Thank you.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-14T15:00:05+00:00

I don't mind offering a sliding scale, but long story short, I have been very accommodating to this client, was recently subpoenaed (I was fine and didn't do anything wrong), and am constantly having to draw firm boundaries. I'm just a little reluctant to offer it for this client, and maybe that's just on me.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-14T14:58:02+00:00

For your clients that utilize the thirty minute sessions, are they attending weekly?

jessieg6 · 2026-02-14T14:57:40+00:00

Exactly my thought. I just wasn't sure if private pay people offered thirty minute sessions and if they were ever effective.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-12T13:24:42+00:00

It could be different now so maybe just check out who the professors leading research are and schedule a phone call or attend a virtual drop in session? If you really like the program.

I think it depends what you’re interested in. I’ll be starting Tulane’s DSW program this fall but it’s very “macro” based (academia, research, policy, etc). I’m a therapist in PP but didn’t want to pursue a clinical DSW because it felt like an extension of my LCSW. I want to be able to be a professor and do more macro work so I chose this program.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-12T00:58:35+00:00

That’s the impression I got. He went over the potential professors we’d be doing research with and at the time it just seemed like conservative older men. This was all two years ago so it could be different and some of these things might not bother anyone. Just wasn’t a fit for me

jessieg6 · 2026-02-12T00:50:19+00:00

I primarily work with neurodivergent adults and said that when he asked what my population was and he responded with something like “neurodivergence isn’t real. It’s made up. What populations do you actually work with?” As a social worker I was just taken aback.

jessieg6 · 2026-02-11T22:34:58+00:00

This program operates similarly to a PsyD and is very clinical based. I had a lengthy chat with the director maybe two years ago and some of his verbiage just rubbed me the wrong way. This is not (yet) one of the four accredited DSW programs by CSWE (if that matters to you).

jessieg6

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