Gaining clinical experience prior to applying for Grad Programs

[Ceci]

Can anyone offer pointers on how I can go about obtaining clinical experience with only an undergrad?  I do have a little of a year's worth of research lab experience.  I've heard it's super difficult with only an undergrad?

 

 

[PsychGirl1]

It's not hard, but it just might not be things you want to do .

 

Some things I'm aware of where people can easily independently sign up to do:

- Suicide hotlines

- Rape crisis intervention

- Women's shelters, like for domestic violence victims

- Depending on your research interest, look for non-profit companies to volunteer with, for example, if you study eating disorders, you can find an ED awareness organization, or if you're interested in autism, there are companies like ACEing Autism that teach tennis to children with autism.

 

If you volunteer in a lab that does clinical research and actively has research going on, you may also get the chance to co-lead groups or the equivalent (even if they are the control group!).

 

For your career, you can also work as an RC- some positions have a very high amount of clinical experience and working with patients, and others have none, so be careful to pick a position that matches your interests and your gaps on your CV (ex. do you want to be some place where you get max clinical experience? do you want to be somewhere where you can get research pubs? etc.).

[HermoineG]

It's not hard, but it just might not be things you want to do .

 

Some things I'm aware of where people can easily independently sign up to do:

- Suicide hotlines

- Rape crisis intervention

- Women's shelters, like for domestic violence victims

- Depending on your research interest, look for non-profit companies to volunteer with, for example, if you study eating disorders, you can find an ED awareness organization, or if you're interested in autism, there are companies like ACEing Autism that teach tennis to children with autism.

 

If you volunteer in a lab that does clinical research and actively has research going on, you may also get the chance to co-lead groups or the equivalent (even if they are the control group!).

 

For your career, you can also work as an RC- some positions have a very high amount of clinical experience and working with patients, and others have none, so be careful to pick a position that matches your interests and your gaps on your CV (ex. do you want to be some place where you get max clinical experience? do you want to be somewhere where you can get research pubs? etc.).

 

 

Hi PsychGirl1,

 

Is it possible to work with these non-profit orgs if you are an international student? Do they have any specific criterias to accept people as volunteers? Can you do it when you are a master's student? Sorry for asking you too many questions. Please answer if you can. Thanks!

[PsychGirl1]

Hi PsychGirl1,

 

Is it possible to work with these non-profit orgs if you are an international student? Do they have any specific criterias to accept people as volunteers? Can you do it when you are a master's student? Sorry for asking you too many questions. Please answer if you can. Thanks!

 

Every organization is different, but they usually are open to everyone. Do some leg work yourself- google it, contact organizations, ask people in the field, etc.

[Ceci]

It's not hard, but it just might not be things you want to do .

 

Some things I'm aware of where people can easily independently sign up to do:

- Suicide hotlines

- Rape crisis intervention

- Women's shelters, like for domestic violence victims

- Depending on your research interest, look for non-profit companies to volunteer with, for example, if you study eating disorders, you can find an ED awareness organization, or if you're interested in autism, there are companies like ACEing Autism that teach tennis to children with autism.

 

If you volunteer in a lab that does clinical research and actively has research going on, you may also get the chance to co-lead groups or the equivalent (even if they are the control group!).

 

For your career, you can also work as an RC- some positions have a very high amount of clinical experience and working with patients, and others have none, so be careful to pick a position that matches your interests and your gaps on your CV (ex. do you want to be some place where you get max clinical experience? do you want to be somewhere where you can get research pubs? etc.).

Actually, I researched some hotlines they are just 2 - 3 hours away from where I live... I'm volunteering at the VA now mostly just events.