Questioning which PHD I should go for looking for advice...

[RetroGurl]

I'm an LMSW, looking for advice on if I should get a PHD in human sexuality or another PHD?  I'm leaning towards wanting to do therapy part time and being a professor full time or part time, and keeping the topic in the realm of relationships, sexuality, and families.

[PsyZei]

You might want to look into marriage and family therapy/couple and family therapy PhDs. Relationships, sexuality, families, systemic contexts, etc... is basically our bread and butter ?

[Clinapp2017]

Do you really need a PhD? I just wanted to ask, seeing as they can take 4-6+ years to complete. If you are already a MSW and in practice, you can probably get adjunct jobs where you can teach if you want that to me your main gig. That being said, if you want to be seen as an expert in sexuality, dating, etc. and you think studying it in-depth for a long period of your life is worth it, go for it. 

 

All I am saying is that if I was already in practice as a MSW I would probably not want to go back to school for an extremely long period of time in the hopes of becoming a professor (job market is small for Tenure Track, if that's what you're thinking). The pay raise is probably minimal if you are not on the tenure track/generating a lot of grant money. 

[justacigar]

10 minutes ago, Clinapp2017 said:

Do you really need a PhD? I just wanted to ask, seeing as they can take 4-6+ years to complete. If you are already a MSW and in practice, you can probably get adjunct jobs where you can teach if you want that to me your main gig. That being said, if you want to be seen as an expert in sexuality, dating, etc. and you think studying it in-depth for a long period of your life is worth it, go for it. 

 

All I am saying is that if I was already in practice as a MSW I would probably not want to go back to school for an extremely long period of time in the hopes of becoming a professor (job market is small for Tenure Track, if that's what you're thinking). The pay raise is probably minimal if you are not on the tenure track/generating a lot of grant money. 

I concur with this information, I currently teach as a master's level instructor at a local university and I love it. It's a lot less pressure than being a full time professor as well. My pay is actually quite good, and I still get many of the benefits other full-time professors get like healthcare (paid by the school), retirement, etc. I don't know if I'd spend your time getting a PhD if you are envisioning part time therapeutic work and part time teaching. 

[RetroGurl]

1 hour ago, PsyZei said:

1 hour ago, PsyZei said:

You might want to look into marriage and family therapy/couple and family therapy PhDs. Relationships, sexuality, families, systemic contexts, etc... is basically our bread and butter ?

 

44 minutes ago, justacigar said:

I concur with this information, I currently teach as a master's level instructor at a local university and I love it. It's a lot less pressure than being a full time professor as well. My pay is actually quite good, and I still get many of the benefits other full-time professors get like healthcare (paid by the school), retirement, etc. I don't know if I'd spend your time getting a PhD if you are envisioning part time therapeutic work and part time teaching. 

 

44 minutes ago, justacigar said:

I concur with this information, I currently teach as a master's level instructor at a local university and I love it. It's a lot less pressure than being a full time professor as well. My pay is actually quite good, and I still get many of the benefits other full-time professors get like healthcare (paid by the school), retirement, etc. I don't know if I'd spend your time getting a PhD if you are envisioning part time therapeutic work and part time teaching. 

You might want to look into marriage and family therapy/couple and family therapy PhDs. Relationships, sexuality, families, systemic contexts, etc... is basically our bread and butter ?

I was considering that myself as I feared a PHD in human sexuality may be too limiting as I am interested in looking into relationships AND sexuality... I'd just like to do a fair amount of research on single people too and sexuality.

 

[RetroGurl]

I know that as an MSW, and eventually an LCSW that I am able to teach and practice and that getting a PHD isn't "worth it" as far as money goes, etc.  I am getting married to someone who has a GI bill that would cover rent and tuition for schooling so as it is in my reach I was considering it....there is just so much more I'd like to know, and things I would like to do research on.  Is there anyone on here who has got their PHD but regretted it?  I felt like my masters program barely taught me anything and that my real life work was more helpful, but am hoping that a PHD program would be a lot more... informative.  But unsure if a PSYD would be something I really want to do.  Would a PHD in say, family therapy give me much of any clinical skills or would it be more researched based?

 

[PsyZei]

25 minutes ago, RetroGurl said:

I was considering that myself as I feared a PHD in human sexuality may be too limiting as I am interested in looking into relationships AND sexuality... I'd just like to do a fair amount of research on single people too and sexuality.

 

This is a super common misunderstanding when it comes to the field- the whole not treating/looking at single people thing. MFT/CFT is a type of therapy that takes relationships and systemic context into account (there is actually talk I've heard of it being rebranded away from calling it MFT or CFT and just Systemic Therapy- to try and clear up this confusion). Most of my clients are individuals and all of my research participants have been individuals- not couples or families. MFTers are trained to work with individuals, families, couples, and whatever just like any other psychological clinician is- the name is representative of the way we approach context, not of who we work with ?

[PsyZei]

30 minutes ago, RetroGurl said:

I felt like my masters program barely taught me anything and that my real life work was more helpful, but am hoping that a PHD program would be a lot more... informative.  But unsure if a PSYD would be something I really want to do.  Would a PHD in say, family therapy give me much of any clinical skills or would it be more researched based?

 

It would likely depend on the program and where you applied. PhD will definitely have an emphasis on research, but all MFT/CFT degrees require you log a certain number of therapy hours and supervision hours. You've got a bit until the next application cycle, I would start by checking out AAMFT and schools with programs where you might want to go to see if anything speaks to you- along with any other degree types you might want to pursue. Take this time to narrow down what you really are looking for in a degree and if it's worth it to you. Good luck!