How do I 'transition' from a PhD in research psychology to mental health counseling?

I have a PhD in developmental psychology, and since receiving the degree five years ago, I have led a successful research-oriented career. I am now a tenured professor, still doing research, but becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the 'role' that I am expected to play as a teacher and researcher. Although I have no training in mental health or counseling, I am seriously considering transitioning to a more applied career. The problem is that I have no idea how to make this transition, and do not know anyone who has done something similar to this. Would I be required to go through another doctoral programme, this time in clinical psychology? Or are there other ways for me to make the change, perhaps one that wouldn't require another 5 years of graduate school, given that I already have my PhD is psychology?

How do I 'transition' from a PhD in research psychology to mental health counseling?
One of the professors at my school has her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology and then went to a respecialization Psy.D. program. Several graduate schools have them. It usually takes 2 years in school (rather than 4) plus the required one year, full-time internship. Then you have to have one year of supervised practice before you can be independently licensed.





Or you can just get your Master's in Clinical Psychology, Counseling, or Clinical Social Work, which will allow you to work in an applied setting in about the same amount of time.





Here's a couple of schools that have the respecialization programs:


UMass: http://www.umass.edu/psychology/div4/mai...


University of Missouri:


http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience...
Reply:I would skip getting a PhD in counseling or clinical psychology, unless you have a "life long student" death wish.


You already have your doctorate degree, now all you need is the training and education in counseling. If I were in your shoes I would apply to a masters program in counseling. In 1.5 to 2 years you would be done and doing praticum training.





If the masters degree is in psychological counseling, then I bet that you would progress through the program with relative ease, given your background in psychology. Before launching into a second career, however, I would check out licensure requirements for the state where you want to work, and check out whether graduating from an APA accredited program is important to you. Anyone can put up a sign and claim to be a therapist; only relatively few can claim to be a licensed therapist.





One of my friends in graduate school faced the same sort of issue. He had a masters degree in counseling and was employed by a counseling agency. But he felt limited in his career because he did not have a PhD. Rather than go back and get a PhD in counseling, he got his PhD in Social Psychology. Now he is a PhD therapist.