What does it take to become an eating disorder phycologist?
Answer:
Hi. Because I am not sure where you stand in your academic career, I will start from scratch. Please don't feel that I am being patronizing in anyway, but I feel that an honest question deserves an honest answer. As a graduate student myself in psychology, I have found that there are many "aspects" of graduate life and academia that no one really tells you, you just have to find out while being there.
Because I am assuming that you are wanting to pursue an advanced degree in psychology, you should at least minor in psychology. It is also very helpful to take physio- and biology related courses, as psychology is sort of going in the direction of the sciences and away from humanities (in most fields but not all). Because graduate school may be difficult to get into (or not), you do want to have a basic understanding of how the body and brain work. So, majoring/minoring in psychology, philosophy, biology, etc. are good additions to your undergraduate transcripts and will provide VERY useful to you later. Also, if you have not actually started undergrad yet, then find a college that has someone on staff studying these types of disorders and apply for their lab. Having previous lab experience is great and may give you a "legup" on other applicants. If you are still in college, then see if there is someone within the faculty that studies something related to this. Most all universities are obsessed with research, so it is always a good thing to have. Because your time is donated for the "cause," not everyone will do it and those that do are seen in a positive light, especially if the lab you join is in your area and the professor gives you a great recommendation.
As for the actual application process for your graduate years, it varies from school to school. There are two types of programs that one can get into for counseling psychology - PsychD and PhD. The PsyD programs are more clinically based; but, it is usually unofficially recommended that you pursue your PhD. Though no one has actually told me that, it has definitely been an impression that I have gotten from those I have asked. But, it is not to say that PsyD's are not impressive. Anyway, if you really want to go this route, again look at schools that specialize in couseling or clinical, etc. programs. A good resource to begin looking is in the "Guide to American Graduate Studies" by Doughty book located in most bookstores - Booksamillion, Barnes and Noble, etc. It is usually around $20-25, but is great for reference (deadlines, school location, fees, requirements, faculty, programs, etc) as you research different schools on the internet. Again, you want to begin communicating with the school's faculty and find a lab for you to join. Some programs are straight programs, meaning that you can apply directly out of undergrad for the PhD program; whereas, some are MA-referred. So, you get your Masters, then apply again to a PhD program for the doctorate. If you get into the later, be sure to join a lab. Research, research, research... If you can, try to get a low-level job in the field or close to the field (i.e. - administrative assistant for a clinic). It can give you a hands-approach.
Then, you will need to take the GRE general test (at the very least) and possibly the GRE: Pscyhology subtest. (Request application to fill out, gather all records for submission, find/secure recommendations from professors). Apply by deadline and anxiously await response. During your undergrad years, most schools welcome you coming to take a look at their campus. So, you could arrange a visit beforehand to get a "feel" for their facilities/faculty. Nothing tells you better whether you could spend the next years of your life at a school than an actual visit. Since it really is such a commitment, you do want to be happy there.
Okay, so you have hopefull made it into a program. The work begins. If you are MA-referred, it takes about 2-3 years for the masters. Most programs need about 36 credit hours to complete the MA. For the PhD, it totals (including all MA requirements) from 62-80 credit hours, depending on the program. Then, there is a sort of internship/fellowship for some programs. This may or may not be part of the actual cirriculum. Meanwhile, you should again be in some sort of lab b/c you are competing for those fellowships. Basically, the credit hours are actual coursework, and the fellowships (which can be a part of the cirriculum OR post-study) are the part where you apply what you have learned in an actual setting. Think residencies in Med School. Though you have already completed the coursework, post-doc exams, dissertation, seminar work/colloquia requirements, lab/research hours/enroute research projects, certification trainings, and practicums, then you need an additional 2-3 years fellowship. Again, the requirements vary from program to program. Some of it may be a part of the cirriculum, while the rest is apart from it.
So, in conclusion, from obtaining your BA in psychology, most schools prefer that you complete your post-grad education within 9 years of enrollment. This is to include your MA requirements, disseration, and all variable school requirements (courses, exams, certifications, colloquia, practicums) plus two-three years "practice" or fellowships.
Though getting a PhD is highly competitive and not very lucrative, it varies from program to program. In addition to the above mention guide, also check out www.apa.org. About mid-page, there is a link to eating disorders. Under quicklinks on the left side, there is a Psychcareers link.
You have to specialise in seaweeds. That's what phycologists do!
Well like all psychologists you need a Ph.D, so you'll need about eight years of college minimum. There isn't much differentiating in the amount of nessesary years for what you want to specialize in unless you want to specialize in a huge amount of disorders. Out of curiosity, do you want to become an eating disorder psych because you've had or have an eating disorder?
Well to become a psychologist it takes about 10 years. As a doctor in psychology you will have specialties in many areas including human behavior/abnormal behavior.
Becoming doctor in psychology is very competitive and it is hard to get accepted into a doctor program.
I would say take your 6 years of college and get your masters degree then start working in the field. That helps to get into a good program.
Well first, I'll say you would need to learn to spell, "psychologist"! Your question reminds me of the old joke about Engineering students: "It usta bee I coun't even spel 'Injuneer', now I are one!"
Seriously, in the State of Ohio, USA, where I live, in order to become a licensed psychologist, one must have either a Psychology Doctorate or a PhD in Psychology! This would require a four-year undergraduate degree in Psychology, a, probably three-year, Master's Degree in Psychology, then three to four years in a doctorate program in Psychology. Many psychologists specialize in a particular field, such as counselling psychology, then even more specifically, in one aspect, like eating disorders.
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