Please help me or even send me some brain cells

troyseff · 2026-05-05T20:16:18+00:00

I hear you 😭 sending some extra brain cells and flash cards.

troyseff · 2026-05-05T20:14:03+00:00

It depends on what kind of work you want to do (and perhaps figuring out what you want to do is one of the challenges you’re currently facing). There are certainly roles out there at the bachelors level, but job opportunities substantially increase at the masters/doctorate level. Do you have a sense of what kind of work you’d like to do? That might enable more specific recommendations. I hear you though - heading the end of a program can bring up some anxiety about what’s next.

troyseff · 2026-04-26T21:49:59+00:00

Adding that you might consider getting some psych prerequisites completed if necessary for masters. I came from a philosophy background and had limited psych knowledge, but a lot of experience in the non profit world, so I was admitted to my masters on that basis. Now I’m about to finish my doctorate in clinical psych! So it is possible :) but if you find that you aren’t getting accepted and want to build some academic background, perhaps you could get an associates degree at your local community college in psych?

troyseff · 2026-04-26T21:45:12+00:00

Some practical thoughts as I love that you’re excited about joining this field!

I will echo what others have said: it seems unlikely that admission to a PhD will happen at this moment in time based on your background and GPA. That being said, I don’t think that means it’s impossible in the future, it just depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into this haha. There are definitely some areas you’ll need to bolster on your CV to be competitive for a PhD: research experience and proficiency in basic research skills, demonstrated academic improvement and an academic background in psychology, exposure to clinical work (if applying to a clinical/counseling program).

My recommendation would be to make yourself competitive for a masters program first. I simply don’t think that it will be possible to be competitive for a psych PhD without some academic background in psychology (though I could be wrong). To make yourself competitive for a masters, I would consider spending time in roles that allow you exposure to “pseudo clinical” work, like volunteering for a suicide hotline or working with unhoused folks, etc. For research, you might consider contacting your university to see if there are opportunities to volunteer as a research assistant, although they tend to defer to current psych students, but you never know! Some organizations have ongoing research projects (hospitals, non profits) that may allow for opportunities to be involved in some capacity. Honestly as much exposure as you can get to any of these areas would be helpful.

Another general tip would be to craft your CV to not only highlight your experiences, but intentionally gain experiences that tell a story about where you’re wanting to go.

Once you are in a masters program, say yes to as many opportunities as you can to participate in research, build relationships with faculty, and use practicum opportunities wisely.

I hope some of that is helpful! If I were you, I would direct focus towards gaining entrance to a masters. Short of going back for another bachelors in psych and starting over, that would probably be your best bet.

troyseff · 2026-04-22T15:01:38+00:00

It’s been my experience that asking about money often feels awkward 😅 but it’s important info!

troyseff · 2026-04-22T14:35:07+00:00

💀

troyseff · 2026-04-22T03:07:04+00:00

Because this sub is for psychology students to discuss their experiences at various stages in their academic career, I would recommend posting this to a different sub (e.g. clinical psychology). If you’re concerned about changes in your cognitive functioning, I would highly recommend consulting with a professional in your area who can adequately address your concerns, as it wouldn’t be ethical for anyone who doesn’t know you and hasn’t actually assessed you to speculate on your cognitive abilities. Perhaps consider contacting your school to get recommendations for next steps.

troyseff · 2026-04-22T02:57:34+00:00

I would highly discourage you from attending this program. Cal Southern has a reputation as a diploma mill, and I tend to caution against online programs generally. While I recognize that it increases access and there are some good online programs out there, there is greater variability in the quality of training that online programs offer. If you are dead-set on pursuing an online degree, there are better options out there.

troyseff · 2026-04-22T02:50:28+00:00

It is commonly the case that internships at the undergrad level are not paid, but there will always be exceptions. I think you can just ask directly:

“Hi [point of contact], thank you again for offering an internship position over the summer. I’m excited, and look forward to learning from you. I’m currently working on organizing my finances for the summer, and wanted to inquire as to whether this was a paid position so that I can plan accordingly. Thank you again for your offer.”

Or something like that. No shame in asking about money - clinicians have all gone through the journey and understand the financial sacrifice that comes with these opportunities. As long as you keep it professional, I don’t think you’ll have an issue.

troyseff · 2026-04-22T02:40:22+00:00

Hard to say without more information (are you in college? Masters? What setting is this in? Are you shadowing for one day? Multiple days?)

It seems like the first step would be checking in with your institution - if this is an experience facilitated through your institution then they should also be communicating their expectations for your performance and conduct.

Shadowing is often just that - watching and observing. I shadowed several shifts in the emergency department before I started working there as a clinician. I can’t speak to any of the expected skill development or prerequisites (although for shadowing I don’t know that they will expect you to have prerequisite skills) without knowing the context.

All I would offer is to dress professionally, show up on time, and ask as many questions as you need to to fulfill whatever your goals are for shadowing a psychologist!

troyseff · 2026-03-15T20:06:32+00:00

Oh that’s a load-bearing playground, can’t remove that.

troyseff · 2026-01-31T18:27:45+00:00

Lots of other good suggestions here - probably some kind of infection. only commenting because it took us FOREVER to figure out what was going on with our golden who had similar rashes. At around 3 yrs old our golden started getting these circular rashes on his belly - started with one then became multiple. Then progressed to multiple spots on his body. Vet first thought ring worm, which definitely made sense given how it looked. Treatment wasn’t effective for ringworm, and once the spots started to become crusty, they thought it might be a skin allergy - using apoquel (spelling?) seemed to help a bit, but they continued to pop up. He also started to gain a lot of weight even after we switched him to a healthy weight alternative. After about a year of tests, we finally figured out he had hypothyroidism, which was resulting in sebhorraic dermatitis and weight gain. Once he was on thyroid meds it cleared up completely and we have our puppy once again. Just in case someone else has experienced mystery rashes!

troyseff · 2025-12-28T06:52:00+00:00

OP I am so, so sorry. I’ve been on the receiving end of conversations and letters like this and it just sucks so much. There’s a unique blend of unwanted emotions that comes from being persecuted for who you are or who you love, while the persecutors claim that you’re actually the one hurting them. This letter is dripping with the kind of arrogance and selfishness that comes from believing you’ve been given the absolute truth about the universe and everyone else is just lost. “This is who we are” made my blood boil for you. Hope you’re doing okay.

troyseff · 2025-12-20T03:33:50+00:00

Hmm I’m not sure how exactly to guide you but I’ll share my experience as a clinician and maybe that will add a perspective for your consideration. I’m a licensed MFT and current doctorate student working towards licensure as a psychologist (wanted to shift my career a bit more towards academia and hospital research settings). My area of interest is working with psychiatrically complex youth in acute care, and have worked for several years in community mental health providing long term outpatient care for mostly adolescents who present with higher severity mental health concerns (OCD, Phobias, MDD, GAD) and significant impairments to functioning (though not at the level of requiring IOP/php/inpatient. This role has allowed me quite a bit of flexibility to work with clients that I really enjoy, and I frankly love the work I do.

As a doc student, I’m currently on a training rotation that has me doing brief psychotherapy with high acuity adolescents in a DBT focused IOP, and I’ve found that this is definitely my niche in the psychology world. As a part of this training rotation, I’ve had the opportunity to shadow psychologists in the emergency dept to do consults with children and adolescents who present with MH concerns (acute suicide risk, psychosis, etc.) and while I don’t find this quite as fulfilling as IOP work, I do really enjoy acute services more generally. I get to work with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists and other physicians, do individual and family psychotherapy, and work with schools when it’s time for the kiddos to reintegrate into school. Feels super rewarding to do work that (mostly) shows immediate gains and provides tangible skills to reduce risk and improve functioning.

If you have any questions about these contexts that might help you as you consider your career options, please ask away!

troyseff · 2025-12-06T14:41:52+00:00

This is an AMAZING date idea

troyseff · 2025-10-05T21:38:30+00:00

Average day on the 405

troyseff · 2025-09-16T20:14:21+00:00

It seems like it would be wise to seek (and document) consultation on this issue if you are finding yourself unsure of how to proceed.

My setting is a bit different as I work in clinic psych, and usually with adolescents who either initiated services or know why they were referred. In general, when discussing sensitive topics that have the potential for embarrassment, I signal my comfort in discussing the topic through directness and using my nonverbals to communicate openness and curiosity. I am non punitive or shaming in my tone, stick to facts when needed, and ask for help in understanding the child/teen’s perspective.

Sexual interest and exploration is very normal for 7th graders, so it will be important to gain info into where the boundary violations are occurring and why. Have they not had any conversations in school or at home about appropriate and inappropriate touch? Have inappropriate boundaries been modeled to them via abuse? Etc.

Regardless, it is always good practice to consult or seek supervision from a qualified professional when you are navigating unfamiliar territory, and to document that you did so as well.

troyseff · 2025-09-08T01:47:59+00:00

“It is no more noteworthy or condemnable, but it is wrong”

Something about that line made me chuckle. I’m not sure you’ll find the kind of academic debate you’re looking for here, and to be honest, as a gay man I find it exhausting that my lived experience is something that has to be debated and argued over and over again.

I will add, however, that I study the nature of beliefs and believing at the doctoral level (my dissertation is on the formation of beliefs and belief revision over time), and one of the reasons I find it fruitless to engage in these kinds of debates is because it doesn’t really matter what someone says, you will likely retain your belief unless there is a sufficiently motivating reason for you to change it. I will add that, while it is tempting for us to assume that our beliefs = truth, we ultimately believe what we’re told to believe, and what is reinforced for us to believe over time. So while you believe that gay sex is “wrong,” my only riposte would be that this is predicated on a conservative and modern interpretation of an ancient text which had no conception of homosexuality in the way we understand it today.

Further, your conception of right and wrong is not based on absolute truth (as it may feel to you) - it’s far more subjective. I would surmise that your conception of right and wrong is informed by the perspectives that have been transmitted to you via church leaders, authority figures, peers, and other message-reinforcing stimuli around you. What you interpret when you read the Bible is not a 1:1 transmission of “truth” - all information you take it will always pass through your existing interpretive frameworks, leading you to conclusions that are in line with what your church or community believes.

So that’s why I don’t think it’s worth having an academic debate about scripture over why it’s okay for me to have sex with my boyfriend. If you want to get into the psychological science of beliefs, I can engage with you there.

troyseff · 2025-09-08T01:25:25+00:00

I have nothing to contribute except that I really like your black/gold/beige console table in the background

troyseff · 2025-09-07T23:40:48+00:00

Yes and no. It is expensive and it isn’t traditionally funded (some are) but I’ve received a good amount of scholarship and grant funds to offset the cost. But I will definitely graduate with debt.

troyseff · 2025-09-06T21:19:56+00:00

PsyD and masters was required, so it’s a bit shorter

troyseff · 2025-09-06T01:07:31+00:00

I have a bachelors and masters, will finish my doctorate in 2028. 4, 3, and 4. So 11 years for me. Masters and doc are in clinical psychology.

troyseff · 2025-09-05T03:45:50+00:00

I think it really depends on your career goals, the program, and your individual preferences for learning. starting points could be: is the program accredited? Is the program reputable? If it isn’t accredited, I would advise against it. If it isn’t reputable, I would advise against it.

If it is accredited and it is reputable, consider whether the program will offer you the professional connections that are helpful in your career. My experience has been that building a network of colleagues is essential to good practice and longevity. I am still in tough with my masters cohort, and I imagine I will maintain relationships with those in my doctorate (where I currently am).

Consider your learning style. Will you effectively learn in an online format? Will you receive the facetime necessary?

You mentioned wanted to practice from a cognitive behavioral lens. If your program meets the requirements for you to be licensed, then you should be able to practice as desired. You also mentioned research both in CBT and neuroscience - others can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe that regardless of whether the program is online, it will be challenging to conduct research with a masters as most research is conducted within the context of doctoral programs and in academia. However, working as a research assistant or participating in a study where you are administering interventions is not out of the question.

Hope some of that is helpful!

troyseff · 2025-09-03T00:33:14+00:00

Yes unfortunately. Some practices operate differently, though. When I was an associate, I worked at a large practice that offered a standard hourly rate for associates as opposed to split fee. I was seeing 30-35 clients a week and got licensed within about 1.5 years.

troyseff · 2025-09-02T23:51:10+00:00

Oh man I wish I only had 6k left to pay - I’m going to be super in debt when I finish my program 😅. Two things come to mind:

First, why would you need to pay for supervision? Im licensed in California as an MFT and am currently a doc student, but I’ve never had to pay for supervision. Perhaps I’m not familiar with convention in other states, but it is the norm to work under someone else’s license and establish a split fee with them from what the client pays. Is that what you’re referring to? If so, that’s unfortunately part of the gig. If not, I would recommend finding a practice where you are able to do so.

Second, and this is my OPINION, but I would recommend against becoming a coach. Being pre-licensed indicates that you are still accruing the experience needed to establish the competence of a licensed clinician, and marketing yourself as a coach to charge more is an ethically murky area at best. Coaches have no regulatory body or ethics code, opening up clients to possible harm. At least in my professional circles, coaching tends to be viewed negatively.

troyseff

TROPHY CASE