Clinical Psychology Education Resource Center

Why Clinical Psychology?

Why do people take on the challenging and lengthy pursuit of a doctorate, instead of less rigorous programs, such as an MA in Counseling, or a Master's in Social Work? Deborah Kerr, a second-year student in clinical neuroscience, emphasizes the wide range of job opportunities.

"The payoff is that I'm going to be able to do what I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm going to be able to help people, go places, do things. If you're passionate about the work, you won't mind the time it takes to reach your goal." Read more about careers in clinical psychology

Clinical Psychologist: Professional Interview

Dr. Jennie Snell, PhD
Seattle, Washington

Interested in psychology since her teen years, Dr. Jennie Snell earned both her bachelor's degree and her doctorate in Seattle, Washington, completing her PhD in 1998. She selected a program with comprehensive training and found that to be profoundly valuable. "My faculty was heavily focused on research, but we also had excellent clinical training programs."

During her pre-doctoral clinical training she worked in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and her postdoctoral clinical work was at the Child Study and Treatment Center in Washington. Read more about Dr. Snell's experience

Clinical Psychology: Graduate Student Profile

Deborah Kerr
Second-year PhD student of clinical psychology
Madison, Wisconsin

As a second-year student of clinical psychology, Deborah Kerr works long hours meeting class requirements, conducting research, and writing grants for her classes, but her excitement about her work is infectious.

"With neuroimaging technology we have insight into exactly what's going on inside of brains. It's amazing to see what's happening in the brain of someone who's snake-phobic." Read more about Deborah's experience