Didn't Get Into Clinical Psych Masters

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00:00 Introduction
01:18 My Original Career Goals & Losing Sight
02:11 Master Options (Clinical isn't the only one!)
03:00 The Psych Masters Hierarchy
03:40 An Experience That Provided Perspective
05:17 Evaluating The Legitimacy Of Hierarchies (Clinical VS General Psychs)
08:11 What Are You Chasing And Would I Still Do Clinical?
10:30 Doing Your Absolute Best Makes A REAL Difference
13:31 Main Takeaways From Video
15:20 Wrapping Up

[@GeorgiaNye]

No one talks about this!!! I had come to the same conclusion very recently after properly sitting down and researching pathways and career outcomes. This was triggered by worrying so heavily about my grades slipping during this year (3rd year); concerned that I may not even get into my honours year. After properly exploring my 4th year and Masters year/s options (this also followed by career outcomes and, like you said, seeing the common attributes of a clin and reg psych), I realised I should never have put so much pressure on one pathway. People do NOT talk about this enough and it infuriates me that even after so many years of this degree existing we are not properly educated about our options.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Well said! It creates such a troubling level of anxiety and stress that doesn't need to be there. Being challenged is good, but the negativity around this degree vs that is unhelpful and puts such a downer on the experience. I'm so glad you've had those realisations though! Good luck with honour applications and the rest of your pathway. You'll smash it!

[@erin9060]

Great video. Reg psych here > 10 yrs exp. I didn't do a clin masters. I do the exact same work someone with a clin masters does at my workplace, but they get paid more. Do what u can get into, there are not enough places in clin masters programs. They are expensive courses to run and cost you around 60k. You can always try for a bridging masters later if you really want it. These programs are also competitive like you said. There is a massive shortage of psychologists, so the challenges of these pathways will become more apparent over the next 10 yrs because ppl will simply give up after undergrad due to the stress, cost and time it takes. 'Its not the degree, its YOU that makes your career''. Very good point you make. 👌

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thanks for sharing your insight!! Definitely be interesting to see what the psychology field looks like in another 10 years

[@katieb1996]

In a first year class, each student in the room said aloud what their end goal was- every single student said clinical psychologist except for me (i said counseling psychologist). Even the lecturer raised an eyebrow and since that class, I've felt like I had to strive for clinical psych masters too, this video helped me reorient myself!

[@psychologywithbrooke]

It's really great you're aware of that, though, so that you're able to pull yourself out of going after something for the wrong reasons. And kudos to you for standing out and being your own person! I can tell with that ability you will have no problem staying on track :)

[@theotherknight]

Your videos are amazing, Brooke, and helping so many people! I'd love videos on applying for both honours and masters for all of us studying a bachelors - how many you can apply for, the process, etc! xx

[@sloandevries959]

Thank you for sharing Brooke! This is helpful!!!

[@psychologywithbrooke]

You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@CodySchmitt]

Great video, I'm doing honours next year but still deciding what I want to do and this was a good listen. You talk really well in front of the camera!

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you! Appreciate your feedback :) All the best with honours!

[@barca4971]

Would love to see an advice video for Masters applications!! :)

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Definitely!!! Will do :D

[@tenjisaga]

Ahhhh this is so accurate. I'm halfway through honours and it has been absolute chaos amongst the cohort for weeks. Everyone's been tearing their hair out (and each others) by comparing grades, challenging grades, etc.; apparently one even sent a death threat to a lecturer over their mark for a relatively insignificant assessment because it "ruined their chances of clinical masters" - it's a bloodbath out here. Thankfully, I have about 10-15 very full years on the others, so I'm able to see the bigger picture, but unfortunately for a lot of these kids who've come straight out of high school into university, they actually believe their life will be over if they aren't accepted. You raise too many great points to address them all, but I think the best one is the competitive narrative. I think if you completely removed this "clinical psych" hangup, the vast majority of students would happily accept, and be proud of, receiving a "professional psych" offer. The idea that it's a masters for the leftovers who will forever be condemned to ridicule by those with clinical qualifications as they sit upon their ivory thrones is absurd, but that's the narrative, right? This is totally insane given that most students (including myself) got into psych with the broader goal of providing psychotherapy in a one-on-one helping role. This is EXACTLY what the professional masters is, and the fact that nobody can tell you what the difference is beyond a medicare rebate is just further evidence of this narrative. I see this is around a year old... How is/was your experience in the professional masters program?

[@vimukthichristine8621]

Such an insightful video Brooke! You are very honest about your opinions. I'm starting my 4th year and your videos are very helpful. Thanks

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you so much!! I'm so glad you are enjoying them :D Good luck this year!!! If there's ever any aspect of honours or studying you are finding challenging please leave a comment and I'll see if I can talk about it

[@vimukthichristine8621]

@@psychologywithbrooke Aww you are so kind, I sure will come back to you and your channel with all the questions that I'm about to hit. Lol. Wishing you all the best for your Master years ahead. Can you please do a video about how to get into Master of Professional Psych and the entry requirements and so on.

[@elf10]

Oh thank you so much for this video! I’m 6 months late commenting but better late than never. Firstly, congratulations on your Masters offer - that’s incredible! 🥰 I think you made some great points about how some people who have their hearts set on Clinical Psychology are chasing a certain narrative rather than really reflecting on whether this role would be a good fit for themselves (or not). I’m in my Honours year, and I’ve so many classmates who have their hearts set on Clinical Psychology, but I get a sense that many of them don’t even seem to truly know why they’re chasing it. My personal opinion is Clinical Psychology makes sense if, say, a student is keen on research and has a very specific area of Psychology that they wish to specialise in one day e.g., eating disorders, Autism, etc. But if someone isn’t super keen on research and is unsure about what area of psychology they’re most interested (or wants to explore a wide range of areas), Professional Psychology might be a better fit. And in all fairness, I believe these days your generalist registration always precedes your endorsement (specialisation) in Australia anyway. So, even someone enrolled in Clinical Psychology needs to obtain their general registration first before becoming a Clinical Psychologist at a later point. Also, like you mentioned, there are bridging courses for endorsement at later stages. Although, I believe that they may not always be advertised very well publicly but that pathway does exist at certain universities. I suppose the point that I’m making is a that I agree with you, in a very long winded way, that a direct path into a Clinical Psychology program isn’t the only pathway, and that it may not even be the best fit for every single person who wishes to become a psychologist anyway 🥰

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you so much!! Absolutely, well said. Hopefully the different pathways become better known as more universities implement the professional psychology degree. I wish you the absolute best with the rest of your honours year! I hope it's treating you well and that you're enjoying it. Good luck too with masters application :) And thanks for watching!

[@elf10]

@@psychologywithbrooke Very welcome and thank you for the Honours and Masters well wishes! It’s been a stressful year but I’m pushing through. Yes, hopefully in the future, more people will be aware (and open) to a range of psychology pathways 🥰

[@mallukittens177]

Your contents really deserve more views!!!!. Do more contents. Waiting for more of your experience in psych ed journey.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you! I've started working which is why I haven't posted in a while, but am planning on making more videos :D Thanks for your support!

[@mallukittens177]

@@psychologywithbrooke Thanks for the reply. Im planning to do masters in clinical psychology. But I am really confused if thats what i actually need. So Im kinda watching all videos on how other psych students feel 😌😅

[@psychologywithbrooke]

somehow missed this comment! Yea it can be tricky knowing exactly what you need. I hope you were able to get clarity on which pathway you want :)

[@mallukittens177]

@@psychologywithbrooke I'm still confuses thou. I don't know what to do with my life. I'm in a mess rn 😂. But thank you for your videos.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Hello! Hope you're going okay! It can feel extra overwhelming when you're unsure what you're doing but just trust the process :) It's also okay to change your mind along the way.

[@maekarlie]

I’m in a Grad Dip of Psych and everyone seems to think they are getting in to clinical psych… it’s so draining to listen to. Everyone can’t do clinical, and other fields and pathways are no less valid or important. You should be so proud of the work you’ve done, and getting in to Masters is an incredible achievement!

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Thank you so much! I definitely empathise with that haha You'd just hope people's passion to help others is a bit broader than that one pathway. Really does just become about everyone trying to compete. Not a lot of fun. Good luck with the grad dip!!

[@lizaz6929]

Thank you for your sharing. Is it possible to get registered as a psychologist majoring in environmental or organisational psychology? During my bachelor study, I found it is too stressful for me to face negativity. I related too much. But the following degree and intern I found are mostly related to clinic sessions. Also the registration pathway is so hard and long in Australia. I am in the phase wondering all day what I can do with my degree and should I find another career. Almost anxious.

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Have you reached out to professors or a career's counsellor? They may be able to help :) I'm not familiar with environmental psychology, but organisational psychology should definitely be an option for you! I've heard that's an incredibly good path to take.

[@lianaliou]

Did you do the interview before being rejected? Or were you rejected without having the opportunity to do an interview?:

[@psychologywithbrooke]

Hi! For this round of applications I got rejected for the clinical psych programs after doing interviews. I got offered a professional psych spot post interview. I reapplied though and am currently in my second year of clinical psych :)

[@The-Great-Brindian]

What is the difference between going by intuition and gut instinct as well as using intelligent guesses to using your Psych Masters to understand and size somebody up ? For instance, some girls have a 'sixth sense' when it comes to sexual predators and pervs and will know something is 'off' about that dude etc Or when people in general get a 'negative vibe' from being around somebody.. We humans make up our minds about somebody within 2 or 3 seconds of meeting one another. What is the point of a Psychology degree then I might ask you ? I'm just intrigued and interested into where the skills attained from completing a Psych Masters become REALLY really useful. Are we delving into CIA/MI6 interrogation Q&A skills here ? Psych Masters useful for something like that ?

[@madeleinearmstrong3730]

generally the main part of being a psychologist is not evaluating them, it's helping them by using empirically backed therapy techniques- it sounds like you're talking about forensic psychology, which focuses more on criminal evaluations. Psychology degrees provide a strong scientific background which allows you to access the practical training needed later, its definitely more serious and empirical than just 'catching vibes'

[@psychologywithbrooke]

The role of a psychologist is not to 'size somebody up.' It is about using empirically based tools to help clients breaks through common thought barriers, so that people can look deeper at what's going on mentally, and to reach their own conclusions. It's all about helping people achieve introspection.

[@The-Great-Brindian]

@@psychologywithbrooke Say I'm sat next to someone with suicidal thoughts. They proceed to confide in me and drop hints about their intentions. I join the dots and realise the persons mind is clearly in a dark place. The next words that come out of my mouth will need to be useful otherwise its best not to say anything. Simply 'reassuring' that person everything will 'get better' is not good enough. What would a Psychologist be able to do in this scenario then I ask ? What words or 'empirically based tools' will come to that suicidal persons aid ?

[@user-yi1yx4gl9v]

@Manoj Kumar empirically based tools are inherently successful. Emphasis on empirical. Words are not all a psychologist uses. There are many cognitive based therapies, humanistic therapies, behaviour therapies, animal- assistance therapy, etc. Psychologists dedicate what 5-6 Years of their life learning about the brain, the nerves, and the chemistry of the brain. They are a bit different from people who give advice (also lovely people) They know what works, what behaviour they are seeing, and how they can dedicate a plan to help someone. I'm on the path, albeit in high school. I'm very interested in personality ( frontal cortex) but love everything except from research and stats.